Page 1

SPRING 2014

www.petsmag.co.uk

Confessions of a cat convert...

Become an expat with your pet

Petsies are new selfies!

Are dog owners from Mars?

2

CONTENTS

....................................................................Dog owners are from Mars 5

............................................................Confessions of a ‘cat convert’ 7-8

.........................................................................................Pet food Q&A 9

.......................................................................‘Petsies‘ are new selfies 10

.................................................................Happy ending for Lucky 12-13

..................................................Becoming an expat with your pet 15-16

...........................................................................Pet product selection 17

..........................................................................................Teacup pups 19

3

Welcome to the spring edition of Pets magazine.

In this issue, we look at what your pet preferences can reveal about the real you. We join the great dog food debate in our interview with Smaranda Jim, a leading pet nutritionist.

We also delve deep into the wonderful world of the ‘petsie’ and how where celebs lead, we usually follow. Our ‘confessions of a cat convert’ takes to the road with leading therapist David Cliff and his pet cat, Lola.

Thinking of emigrating with your pet? We get the low-down from someone who’s made the leap.

Luxury products for you and your pet can also be found on pages 17-18.

There’s much, much more inside!

If you would like to contribute to future issues, please email editor@petsmag.co.uk.

I look forward to hearing from you.

Welcome to Pets Magazine!

Marie CarterEditor

www.petsmag.co.uk

Join us on Twitter @Pets_Mag

Clockwise from left: Cats not allowed (p7-8), Lovely dog tags (p18), the low down on pet

food (9), dogs are from Mars (p5), Millie Mackintosh & pug share a ‘petsie’ (p10-11.)

4

Dog owners are from Mars, Cat owners are from Venus...Dog owners are hard-working and sociable while cat lovers are messy and lazy, according to new research

Are you a cat a dog person is a question that is asked

regularly. It seems that the answer could reveal more about you than you

intended.

Research has found that not only are dogs the most popular animal of choice to

have in the home - dog owners are hardworking

early risers, and most likely to be married.

Meanwhile cat owners are shy, single and messy, and

people who own rabbits are more likely to be creative, laid back

scatterbrains. 

Elsewhere, rabbit and dog owners said they were early risers, while cat lovers

claimed to be night owls. The poll was conducted by

UK pet insurer Petplan to celebrate the launch of its Find a Pet website.

The most popular pet

among the respondents was a dog, at 77 per cent. Cats owners made up 21

per cent of the respondents, while only two

per cent owned rabbits.

Each participant was asked to describe themselves in

three words.

Over half of dog owners

described themselves as hardworking, a third said

they were outgoing and logical, while a fifth also described themselves as

neat.

The most common description among cat owners was introverted (21

per cent), followed by messy (20 per cent) and

couch potato (13 per cent).

Rabbit owners were the most likely to describe

themselves as creative (56 per cent) while a third said they were laid back, and 16

per cent admitted to being scatterbrains.

The most hardworking dog lovers owned German

Shepherds and the neatest dog owners had Border

Terriers.

Among cat lovers, those

who owned Persian cats were the most laid back,

but people with Tortoise Shells were the most shy.

Pooches were most likely to be owned by married

men who live in the countryside, while single females in their twenties

owned the most cats.Dog owners were the most

likely to describe themselves as hardworking (55%), a people person

(34%), logical (32%) and neat (23%).

Cat owners were the most likely to describe

themselves as introvert (21%), messy (20%), couch

potato (13%) and a cool cat (13%).

Dogs v cats - but what if you’re both a cat and dog person?

5

Regal Cavalier voted top dogTwo thirds of Brits now think the bulldog is the wrong mascot for Britain.

Research by MORE TH>N Pet Insurance shows that

the ‘bulldog spirit’ is a thing of the past, with the key traits of the nation now

seen as apologetic, polite, inquisitive and indecisive.

Dog expert suggests that the Cavalier King Charles

spaniel could replace the bulldog as the national

animal of the UK – and 67% of nation agrees.

The British bulldog has been a national symbol

since the time of Winston Churchill, representing the UK’s determination,

defiance and pugnacity.

According to the research, conducted with 4,000 British adults, the national

character of Great Britain today can be defined as:

1. Apologetic - 51%2. Polite - 49%

3. Strong willed - 43%4. Inquisitive (bordering

on nosey!) - 41%5. Relaxed and laid back - 40%

6. Outspoken - 40%7. Considered - 37%

8. Serious - 36%9. Lazy (we do

enough to get by) - 35%10. Indecisive – 30%

Using the 10 national

characteristics as a blueprint, researchers from the pet insurers,

with the help of the UK’s foremost pet

behaviourist Karen Wild, set about working out which British dog

breeds most closely matched the list and

best captured the essence of modern ‘Britishness’.

While there were a number

of mutts in the mix, the dog that matched more national characteristics than any

other was the Cavalier King Charles spaniel; a popular

toy breed once owned by Margaret Thatcher, Princess Margaret and X-

Factor’s Sharon Osbourne. The stubborn, tenacious

and resolute bulldog, however, was among the British canines that shared

the fewest traits with modern-day UK**.

Commenting on the

research, Karen Wild said: “The national attitude research reflects a different

view of what ‘Britishness’ means nowadays, one that

matches the Cavalier King Charles spaniel very well. Indeed, in terms of like-for-

like traits, few British dog breeds match the modern

national character better. It might be a small dog but that doesn’t mean it is a

lesser symbol for the nation than the bulldog.

“As a versatile breed,

healthy Cavalier spaniels can be both laid back and relaxed but also incredibly

inquisitive, active and determined, following their

noses everywhere they go as their canine instincts dictate. They can

sometimes be loud, vocal animals when excited but

by and large they are agreeable dogs that behave in a very polite way when at

home with their human companions.”

Top dog: the Cavalier King Charles Spaniel

6

Thanks to the quick-thinking of PDSA’s “angel” vets and nurses pint-

sized Chihuahua Pical ina was brought back from the brink of death after suffering major heart failure.

 Lying lifeless in his panic-stricken

owner’s arms after collapsing in the waiting room at Glasgow PDSA pet hospital, the beloved 10-year-old pet

was rushed into the PetAid hospital’s theatre room. Vets performed

emergency life-saving care including cardiac massage, in a bid to restart his heart.

 PDSA vet Sus ie Hermit sa id:

“Everything happened very quickly and after collapsing, blood was pouring from Picalina’s nose due to

his heart’s inability to pump blood around his body.

 “We rushed Picalina through to theatre when his heart stopped

beating. We put a tubedown his throat so we could give oxygen

directly to him    and gave him adrenaline, to stimulate the heart’s muscle and to make sure that

Picalina’s vital organs were supplied with blood. We also performed

cardiac massage and gave him a virtual cocktail of

drugs to try and revive him.” 

As vets battled to save little Picalina they also had

to warn Sara that there was very little chance of success, recalled Susie:

“X-rays confirmed Picalina had a huge enlarged heart,

which meant that his heart wasn’t pumping the blood around his body as well as

it should – the heart muscles simply weren’t

a s s t ro n g a s t h e y should be.   

“Picalina was effectively dead after his heart stopped, but we did

everything we could to get his heart beating again and to make sure that his body got enough

oxygen by providing it through the tube we’d put down his throat.  We

couldn’t just give up on him!  “We didn’t expect him to survive but

we told Sara that we were doing all we could. Picalina’s survival spirit

meant he rallied and we were able to get his heart beating and to breathe again. He is a very lucky dog.”

 Thanks to PDSA, Picalina was

brought back from the dead – a feat his owner Sara Bethwaite, 35, from Glasgow’s West End, describes as a

“miracle”. 

Picalina was so ill that he was kept at the hospital for several days before

being allowed home. He has gone on to make a good recovery but due to a grade five heart murmur, one of the

most severe, he now relies on a cocktail of drugs. He must be given

these every day to keep his condition under control.

She said: “Picalina had already been diagnosed with a heart murmur and

on this particular day he seemed to be gasping for breath and really struggling, so I rushed him to PDSA

for a check-up. 

“It was absolutely terrifying when he stopped breathing but I can’t thank the staff at PDSA enough for

everything they did to save him – they worked miracles! They really are

angels as, without them, Picalina wouldn’t be alive today.

Miracle recovery for Chihuahua

Miracle recovery: Picalina with owner Sara Bethwaite

7

Pets are what they eat...

Q Are dog owners starting to demand quality?

There is a clear trend

towards natural, high quality foods as pet owners

become more aware of the risks associated with poor diets, often through bitter

experience. Equally, people understand that good

nutrition is as important for pets as it is for humans. We are what we eat! I strongly

advise dog owners to do their research, consult a

good vet, a reputable pet shop and ultimately trust their own common sense

as they know their dog better than anyone.

Q Why is processed food so bad?

Commercial diets vary

enormously and are, I believe, the best way to

ensure a balanced diet for your dog. There is nothing wrong with occasionally

cooking for your dog, I also enjoy doing it sometimes,

but it’s safer to provide your four legged friend with a

complete diet developed by

experts.Q What do you think of the raw

food diet?

I’ve heard lots of good things about raw diets, and

hopefully in time there will be more

studies that will support the empirical evidence.

However, just like

with any other diet, it doesn’t suit all dogs. We know this as we have

customers who come to us having fed raw previously.

Our vet, Ray O’Mahony, believes that ‘commercially

available raw foods need to be examined with the same

degree of caution as other commercial foods’. He also believes that you can feed

a combination diet.

Q Any recipes you can share?

Yes, sure, A simple and tasty recipe that I tend to

cook for my dog is as follows:

- 500g of minced meat - one carrot

- one apple- peas and/or broccoli,

spinach etc- salmon oil- Phytoforce Active8 herbal

tonic

Place the minced meat (I tend to use turkey) in 200g of boiling water. After 5

minutes add the grated carrot. Turn the fire off after

another 5 minutes. At the very end, add the chopped apple (no seeds), peas and

spinach. Add a splash of

salmon oil and Phytoforce Active8.

Feed according to your dog’s size, age and level of

activity. This recipe will provide approximately two

meals to an average-sized dog.

Smaranda’s brand of dog food, Nose2Tail, was the

first grain-free wet food in the UK. The range was developed with the help of

leading herbal vet Ray O’Mahony. For more

information, please visit:www.nose-2-tail.co.uk

To celebrate National Pet Month (April 1 - May 5), Pets magazine editor Marie Carter talks to animal lover and businesswoman Smaranda Jim who owns food brand nose2tail, the first grain-free wet food in the UK. Smaranda, who came to Britain from Romania 13 years, believes passionately that what we feed our pets can affect their health and lifespan.

Smaranda and Dogue de Bordeaux

8

I have spent most of my life carrying

the usual prejudices that are formed, somehow

in childhood, when parents and

others are disdainful of cats. Add to that lifelong allergies when cat fur would

have me reaching for the steroid sprays and cats were avoided at all

costs.

All of this changed one day when my

daughter acquired a second kitten that was rather small and seemed to

be used as a puck by my daughter’s adult cat in a game of one-sided feline hockey. The despairing kitten

looked at me and we connected.I found my allergies easing and I

discovered the closet cat person within…

I always thought, even as a therapist, that people were quite neurotic about

their cats. I understood entirely the importance and attachment of animals in people’s lives, especially

those who live alone. But I could not countenance the dread of separation

that occurred as a small animal sat upon a suitcase looking mournful as my partner and I prepared to leave for

a five-day visit overseas. I now well understand how owners find it very

difficult to leave their cats in catteries and indeed, have discomfort in leaving them at home with visiting

carers, even if trusted relatives.

We decided to try and resolve this dilemma of leaving Lola the cat by

acquiring a decent

motor home with a view to

taking her with us.

It’s only when you begin this

task that you realise

that “pet” friendly camping

and caravan

sites are really “dog” friendly and in fact, although

most tolerate other animals, cats are an issue, even when kept on a lead.

We currently find that heading for caravan sites that were accredited by the Caravan Club, or similar, made a

huge difference to the order kept on the site and therefore Lola’s ability to

adjust.

Our first overnight jaunt with Lola was

a disaster. We were left with a quaking, drooling cat after only 50

miles. In fact, we thought we might lose her through dehydration. After a few hours she settled down and had

an easier return journey; however, we realised that motion sickness rather

than fear was in play here.

We researched the net for all of the

current advice but the fact is, Lola is happiest sitting on the top bunk of

the motor home where the centre of gravity is at its worst, with the

freedom of the van. Clearly with a flighty cat this might not be

recommended, but in our experimental runs with the vehicle, before undertaking main holidays, we

found this was the way that settled her best and the place she took was

safe and secure, even in acceleration and deceleration of the vehicle. For long journeys, our trip was broken up

with two or three overnight stops so she did not have to travel for more

than a couple of hours at a time.

We found Feliway spray has an

amazing calming effect on cats in transit this eased the first long

journeys with her. Lola is a house cat and so only goes out on a lead. So it was vital to ensure doors were

secured at key times and we always identified where she was before

opening the vehicle, even when on a site.

Confessions of a cat convert...By David Cliff

Check before you travel: many caravan sites are only ‘dog-friendly’

9

For more adaptive cats that can be let out in novel environments and

stay close, I can imagine it is important to give the cat a period of supervised orientation on a site,

although similar theories say allowing a cat out, it finds its way back. For

some, however, a suddenly frightened or disorientated cat can get scared and wander off, not to be

seen again, so caution needs to be exercised.

Once settled Lola was happily left to relax in the afternoons in the van,

obviously with air vents left open.What was fascinating is that Lola

actually seems to enjoy the time away. She enjoys the walks, the fresh air, the stimulation and more

company than she enjoys during a normal working week.

It’s hard work but for those who feel hesitant about leaving their cat to

holiday, the rewards are well worth it.

David’s

travel tips

Spend some time with your cat

in the vehicle;

Keep your cat secure first in a cat carrier or harness.

If this is working, great, but do not be

afraid to let it find its own point for security;

Take your cat

out for short journeys. Remember cats

have an inferior ear

structure to humans in terms of adaptation to motion and so

need to get their sea legs whilst travelling,

especially for long journeys;

Feed your cat a couple of hours

before you travel and not during travel;

Feliway is fab for calming most cats –

just a couple of sprays;

Contain your cat or agree a system for

handling doors, etc. in your car or motor

home, whilst transporting him/her. Be

really careful at petrol stations;

Make sure your cat is well watered during breaks en-route, as in cars or

motor homes, especially with air conditioning, they can easily dehydrate;

Praise your cat when it settles.

Use treats;

Negotiate on sites to be away from

dog areas. Tell the site your needs clearly;

Consider using a cat tracking device such as Locator or similar.

You may never need it but if a sensor is attached at a collar, it can be a god

send in tracking your cat, should it get out.

David Cliff is MD of Gedanken, a company specialising in coaching-

based support and personal development.

Cool as a cat: Lola

Lola chills out in David’s motorhome

10

Forget weddings, babies and selfies, its photos of our pets - or

'petsies' - that we really love posting on our social networks, according to new research.

The survey by Samsung Digital

Imaging reveals that we're a nation obsessed with taking and sharing more photos of our furry friends than

of our own friends and family.

Almost two-thirds (63%) of pet-

owners in the UK confess to taking photos of their pets on a regular basis, with 62% of us admitting to

frequently taking photos of our dogs, 52% of our cats, 8% of our rabbits

and 4% even taking ‘petsies’ of guinea pigs.

In a sign of the social world in which we now live, nearly two thirds (62%)

of people admit to regularly uploading and sharing photos of their pets on Facebook and Twitter, with a

further 16% revealing that half

of the photos they upload onto Facebook are of their pets.

We now share an average of six photos a week of their pets

versus just five a week of their friends and family. When asked why people are increasingly

sharing photos of their pets, 16% of proud pet

owners say it is to ‘show them off’ to their friends and family,

whilst nearly half (42%) say

they do so

because their loyal dog or cat is

‘just another member of the family.’

With viral videos of talking dogs, sneezing

pandas and super hero cats taking the nation by storm, it comes as no

surprise that a quarter (25%) of us take photos

of their pets to capture their most comical moments.

Twenty-four per cent of pet owners

like to snap their pets in unusual places, such as in the driving seat of a car, whilst 16% admit to papping

their pets in human-like positions

such as at the dining

table.

A further 21% capture their pets red-handed doing something they

shouldn’t be, like chewing up the house, whilst 17% admit to simply snapping their pets ‘smiling.‘

‘Petsies’ are new selfies!

Petsie: Millie Mackintosh & her pet pug Mabel

Sixty two per cent of people admit to sharing ‘petsies on social media

11

In the same way many of us would with our friends and family, a quarter

(25%) of us are now sharing photos of our furry friends’ birthdays on

Facebook, whilst 23% share photos of their pets while on the family

holiday.

Despite our love of taking ‘petsies,’

getting our pets to strike a pose proves challenging; one in five

(20%) have had to hold food in the air to get their pets to stay still, whilst 16% say the only way to

keep them in situ is to wave their favourite toy around the room. Over

two thirds of Brits (71%) say that zoom lenses and action modes on cameras help them to take the

perfect shot of their pets. A further 15% even admit to using filters to

touch up photos before posting them online.

Millie Mackintosh, who will be on the panel of judges for the Petsie

Awards, comments: “My dog is my best friend and I’m constantly taking photos of him. I’m thrilled to be part

of the Samsung Petsie Awards and

look forward to

celebrating the weird and wonderful

things our dogs do to

make us smile.”

Russell Taylor, Vice

President of Corporate Marketing,

Samsung UK and Ireland, adds: “The explosion of

social media has meant that we are sharing more information about our lives with the rest of the world than

ever before. Our pets are a big part of this, so naturally, we want to capture

images of them at their funniest and share these moments with others. That’s why Samsung has launched

the Petsie Awards, which will be sure to set tails wagging across the

nation.”

Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club

Secretary, says: “Samsung's Petsie Awards tap into this national phenomenon, where people are

taking and sharing pictures of their pets. For all the wonderful dogs we

have at Crufts, by far the most popular posts on the Crufts Facebook page are those asking

people to upload photos of their own four-legged friends, which are quite

rightly the most cute, funny and wonderful of animals in their owners' eyes."

Samsung has launched an online search to find Britain’s best

‘petsies’. To take part in the Petsie Awards, all you have to do is

upload the coolest picture of your pet dog on Facebook by visiting www.thepetsies.com.

Top dogs!

The Andrex puppy is revealed to

be Britain’s favourite dog, with

the majority of Brits (18%) saying

they would most like to own the

Labrador retriever puppy. The

top five most wanted dogs are:

1. Andrex Puppy

2. Lassie

3. Scooby Doo

4. Gromit

5. Beethoven

12

A Border Terrier who was born blind is

now living life to the full, thanks to his faithful father taking

on the role of guide dog.

 Two-year-old dog Lucky was born

without retinas which meant he’s

never been able to see. But thanks to his father Scruff and

support from vet charity PDSA

helping to manage his condition, the cute canine is now a

confident, happy

family pet. When

Lucky first started venturing outside his Glasgow home he had real

difficulty getting around and would often run head-first into things, resulting in lumps and bumps.

 But thanks to the protective instincts

of his dad, Scruff, he is coping amazing well with his disability and it’s a bond that cannot be broken.

 Proud owner Jim Leonard, 65, from

Glasgow, said the pair were “inseparable” and claims the older dog would do anything he could to

protect his son from any harm:

“Lucky was blind from birth and it seemed that he was always running

or knocking into something and hurting himself.

We were really

worried about how he was going to cope.

“But we started to take Lucky and Scruff on walks together and it was

amazing to see Scruff starting to take charge, looking after Lucky and checking he was okay.

Now Scruff licks him on the face and

guides him where to go. If they are

separated for a little while, Scruff will rush over to Lucky and lick him

as if to say ‘sorry I had to leave you’.” 

After discussing the situation with PDSA vets, Jim and his family also

made changes to help Lucky around the home when he was very young,

including taking the unusual step of

wearing bells at the bottom of his trousers to let him know where they are in the room.

 “When he hears the noise he will

follow you,” said Jim.

“We also put strong smelling scents

like lemon or lime in parts of the room where there are dangers and Lucky

knows not to go there.

“Scruff licks him on the face and guides him where to go.”

Happy ending for ‘Lucky’ the Border Terrier

Lucky was born blind and it seemed he was always knocking into something...

Eyes and ears: Scruff leads as Lucky follows.

13

“It’s hard work to care for a pet with a disability but so rewarding. We’re

extremely grateful to the PDSA vets and nurses at the pet hospital in Tollcross for the help and support

they have given us and Lucky, which has helped him to blossom into a

loving, confident dog.”

PDSA senior vet Elaine Pendlebury

said the bond between Lucky and his dad was touching and a reminder of

how dogs never fail to surprise us with their character and abilities. 

She said: “Dogs can behave in a unique and extraordinary

way. They’re extremely social animals and can help both pets and people in ways that never fail to amaze. It’s

inspiring to us all that Scruff acts as a guide dog to his canine companion

and how he looks after his son to the best of his ability. 

“It’s nice to see that all of Lucky’s family – both owner and fellow dog –

are working together to make sure that he can live life to the full.” 

Blindness in pets can be

challenging to owners but, with the right

support, it is possible to

help pets adapt well to their

surroundings.

“Sight is not the primary sense in all

pets; dogs, for example,

have an extremely well-

developed sense of smell

which can be up to 100,000 times more

sensitive than a human’s,

depending on the breed.”

The part of a dog’s brain that deals with smell is about 40 times bigger

than ours. Elaine added: “If your dog does

have a problem with their sight, your vet will be able to discuss treatment

options.

“They can also offer support

and guidance in dealing with the condition, to help give your pet the

best quality of life possible.”

For more information about the

PDSA and the vital work they do, please visit: http://www.pdsa.org.uk/

Owner Jim Leonard with Scruff and Lucky

Lucky has been blind since birth

14

Become an expat with your pet

Sick and tired of the wet and windy UK weather? Moving abroad is something we’ve probably all considered at some point. For those that do make the move, the opportunity to take the much loved family pet along on the adventure is an added bonus.

Of the pet owners questioned in a recent survey by http://www.ixpvisas.com/ the most common pets that people wanted to take with them were dogs (42 per cent), cats (36 per cent) and rabbits (16 per cent). The pets people were most likely to leave behind were fish (29 per cent), and guinea pigs (22 per cent).

“Working out the right rules for the family pet is often described as the most difficult part of relocation, but thankfully help is available from a number of specialist companies,” says Nigel Ayres, CEO and founder of World of Expats – the first destination for expats.

Taking pets abroad does require detailed planning and sometimes there are pre-travel veterinary requirements which need to take place up to six months prior to the intended export date - so early research for your individual destination is advisable. Also remember

that not every country will accept every breed of pet - for example Australia will not allow the importation of rodents, among others.

When shipping your pet, it is essential your animal is properly looked after by professionals and you are comfortable with the company you choose. Check out their reputation and make sure you understand what is included in the quote and what will be your responsibility.

Pets are normally transported as ‘live animal’ cargo - but your pet will be carried in the specialist cargo hold of the plane, which is heated and pressurised. Pets can also be shipped to some destinations as ‘accompanied baggage’, but only if you are on the same flight as your pet.

Points to remember:

• Crates must meet current IATA regulations.

• Your pet’s ticket price is directly related to the volume of the crate.

• Make sure that the carrier has sufficient quantities of water for the journey.

• Food is not permitted during the flight, as it can be deemed as a choking hazard.

• Pets are not permitted to be sedated for travel, but there are some natural remedies you can use.

• Ensure that the crate is marked with all appropriate details and has ‘this way up’ labels clearly visible on all sides.

•The more exotic your pet is – the more complicated the paperwork; you may have to contact a more specialist shipper.

“For many of us, our family pet is just that – a very real part of the family,” says Nigel. “But, the good news is, that with planning and research, there’s every chance they can make the trip with you.”

For more information, visit: www.worldofexpats.com/moving-pets

Sick and tired of the wet and windy UK weather? Moving abroad is something we’ve probably all considered at some point.

15

Katie Wood, originally from London, who works

for a global engineering company recently relocated with her job

from Sydney, Australia to Toronto, Canada. Here’s

her and husband Rob’s story of successfully relocating their pet cat,

Shelley.

Katie and her husband, Rob, had taken in a rescue cat Shelley, while living in

Sydney. Shelley been incredibly nervous when

she first moved in. But over the months, Katie and Rob

had gained her confidence and the playful feline had become very much part of

the family.

When Katie was offered the opportunity to move to

Toronto, she was adamant that Shelley would make

the move with them.

“We’d spent too much time

making Shelley part of our family and she had grown

to really trust us during those months – it didn’t seem fair to send her back

to the rescue centre or even try to get neighbours

or friends to take her on,” says Katie.

Once Katie had found a house to rent, the couple

sorted out the necessary paperwork to

relocate Shelley from one side of

the world to the other. It was surprisingly

easy, as many pet relocation

specialists now exist. The firm they used made

all the arrangements,

collecting Shelley from her home in Sydney, arranging

her long journey (flying from Sydney to Vancouver, then

onwards from Vancouver to Toronto), providing her travel crate, arranging

paperwork, and the vet inspection on arrival in

Canada.

As Australia does

not have rabies, import requirements were

reasonable, with only current

certificates for the usual vaccinations required. Shelley

was required to be chipped, but she

already had one from her registration in

Australia. Pet passports do not

exist outside the EC.

Shelley travelled in a comfortable crate with a

blanket and a water bottle, but no food. She was not drugged and the crate sat

in a special climate controlled section of the

plane hold.

Katie went to Toronto

airport to collect her cat. This did involve some

paperwork; firstly Katie had to collect the arrival paperwork from Air

Canada’s cargo area, then she had to drive across to

the customs offices, obtain approval and pay a fee, then go back to Air Canada

to finally collect Shelley. This was frustrating as she

had been traveling for over 24 hours by this point.

Late at night in a deserted customs office, Katie says she had the surreal

experience of being asked to confirm that this was her

‘personal use cat’.

Finally, Shelley arrived in

her new home in Toronto. After an initial spell hiding

under the bed, she settled down happily and seemed none the worse for her long

trip.

“I’m so glad that we took Shelley with us,” says Katie. “All being well, she

will be moving with us again when we (hopefully)

move back to the UK in a few years time.”

Shelley’s Big Adventure...

Globe-trotting cat Shelley

Rob taking Shelley to the vets in Tortonto

16

A Pet’s & Owner’s FancyHere’s our selection of the coolest products for you and your pet to enjoy.

LOVE DACHSHUNDS?

An original fun and charming white mug with smart little brown smooth-haired and wire-haired dachshunds chasing little green

bones.

Dashing Dachshund print bone china mug £9.50 from Flossie & Bumble.

MEMORY FOAM MATTRESS...

Underneath the plush microfibre cover is a 4"-thick cushion of supportive memory foam designed specifically for dogs.

Deep dish dog bed, £149.00-£179.0 from Orvis.

CAT HAMPURR - NEW CAT HAMPERS

These hampers or ‘hampurrs’ are due for launch in April. This is a great idea for cat lovers as the packs will be full of cat treats, food, grooming and health products which fit the

company’s “interesting, innovate and fun!” criteria. They are delivered direct to your door on a monthly basis.

To sign up to the new service, please visit:http://signup.cathampurr.co.uk/

17

REAL EGGS FOR EASTER?

The NEW Keeping Chickens DVD from The Ideal Life Collection 

If you would like a few extra eggs this Easter and can spare a corner of your garden, then why not buy the NEW

DVD Keeping Chickens? The DVD is part of The Ideal Life Collection and it tells you everything you need to know - from a list of essential kit to expert tips to ensure that your

hens are healthy and happy! Keeping chickens is easier than you think and also extremely rewarding. You could

soon enjoy warm, freshly laid eggs every day and, next year, your very own Easter chicks! 

Keeping Chickens is part of a series called The Ideal Life Collection which builds into a library designed to help you

learn how to learn and love new skills.

Keeping Chickens - The Ideal Life Collection DVD

RRP £14.99. Stockist enquiries:www.stitchcombe.co.uk

DOG TAGS WITH A DIFFERENCE

We love these hand-crafted breed-specific dog tags from hoobynooworld.

They are created from original illustrations and feature a signature polka dot background. The tag is

double sided so dog owners can have their contact details printed onto the back.

The dog tags retail at £8.50.

MAKE YOUR DOG LEADER OF THE FASHION PACK!

Hand-crafted in the UK by Matt Fothergill using District moquette fabric and a waterproof lining, this coat is extremely versatile and hard wearing! The brightly coloured

geometric fabric is reputedly designed by the Design Research Unit in the late 1970’s for use in a new fleet of

trains then about to be introduced on the District Line (D78 stock). The coat retails at £44.95 from the London Transport Museum Shop.

18

A group of cinema goers and their canine friends enjoyed an exclusive dog-friendly screening to mark the launch of Mr. Peabody and Sherman at a Vue cinema in London.

Gracie (Miniature Poodle), Chance (Golden Labrador Retriever), Chilly (Belgian Shepherd) and Brazen (Jack Russell) were among the 20 pooches donning RealD 3D glasses with their owners for the screening of

the new animated adventure, which features a time-travelling, super intelligent talking dog, Mr. Peabody and his adopted human son, Sherman.

The canine cinema goers shared boxes of treats while enjoying the animated film.

With around 8.5 million dog owners in the UK and new research highlighting that consumer spending on pampered pooches is up by 4%

year on year, the dog-friendly screening provided the ‘paw-fect’ opportunity to give some well-behaved hounds and their owners a special treat.

Dog lover Ashley Mitchell, 29, owner of Gracie, said: “I loved being part of this exclusive dog-friendly screening as I’ve never had the opportunity to take her with me to see a movie before, so it was a first for both of us. Gracie seemed to really enjoy it and I was able to watch the film without worrying that she was at home alone.”

The dogs didn’t have to lift a paw during the screening at Vue Acton, as bowls of water and food were provided, and sound and lighting levels were monitored for optimum canine comfort. The cinema chain can confirm that no dogs were harmed but very much entertained during the screening.

First  ‘dog-­‐friendly’  movie  gets  a  paws  up!

Dog-friendly: Gracie (Miniature Poodle)

Enjoying the show: Wizz (Irish Red Setter) and Gracie (Miniature Poodle)

19

Cuteness overload: Teacups!ere are only a few breeds that come in teacup size. !e most common ones are the Poodle, Maltese, Chihuahua, Yorkie, Terrier, Pug and the Pomeranian, but the most popular is the poodle and the ever popular Yorkie. !ey all have that awww factor, I’m sure you’ll agree!

20

SUMMER EDITION: ONLINE IN JUNE

Sponsorship opportunities

Sponsorship opportunities are available.

In the !rst instance please contact the editor at editor@petsmag.co.uk for more

information.

Advertising rates

Full Page: £199Half page (vert/hori): £75

Production schedule

(Deadline for receipt of all materials, including advertorial, and payment.)

Summer 2014: May 1, 2014 (publication June)

You can also download our media pack from the home page of our website at

www.petsmag.co.uk.

We are also looking for the following:

• Products to review for both pets and their people.

• Places to review, including pet-friendly holiday accommodation, hotels, restaurants to review.

• People and their pets to feature.

• Pet charities to feature.

Email: editor@petsmag.co.uk.