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PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
Page
Winter 2013www.petsmag.co.uk
PLUS: ENTER OUR COMPETITION TO WIN A SUPERB PAINTING OF YOUR PET!
FACEBOOK FOR DOGS?The rise of pet social media
LIGHTS, CAMERA?Top tips from our guest pet photographer
Dog-Friendly Devon...
the lifestyle magazine for pet owners
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
2
CONTENTS
COMPETITION ..............................................Win a portrait of your pet 4
THE NAME GAME ................................Is your pet’s name on our list? 5
PET TALES: ............................... When handbags and poo bags meet! 6
HEALING TOUCH: ...........The low down on canine remedial massage 8
PET MAG’S PET HERO 2013 .............................................................. 10
HOLIDAYS: ........................................................... Dog-friendly Devon 12
THE PETOSPHERE: ............................................ Facebook for dogs? 15
PHOTO CALL: .................Tips from a professional pet photographer 17
BREED PROFILE: ............................ The cute and cheeky chihuahua 21
INSIGHT: ..............................Nasty bugs we can catch from our pets 23
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
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Happy New Year and welcome to the second edition of Pets Magazine, the new online lifestyle magazine for pet owners.
We hope you enjoy our magazine. which is packed with exciting pet-related news and features, not to mention our fabulous competition!
In this issue, win a watercolour portrait of your pet by renowned pet artist Sarah Spofforth McQuat (see page 4.)
If your photography skills need a little improvement, our guest pet photographer Sue Lax, owner of Star Paws, reveals the tricks of her trade, illustrated by her own amazing work (see page 17.)
There’s much, much more inside!
If you would like to contribute to future issues, please email [email protected].
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: the healing touch, p8; dog-friendly Devon, p12; top photography
tips, p17; Handbags & Poobags book review, p6; chihuahuas, p21; pet portrait comp, p4.
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
4
Make a bold statement and hang a painting of your pet on your wall.
Textual artist Sarah Spofforth McOuat looks to portray an animal’s soul in her striking paintings.
Sarah, who lives on a 400 acre farm in Dunblane, Scotland, with her husband Tom and two sons is inspired by the animals on their farm – particularly a grumpy looking Highland Cow called Hamish.
Sarah also takes commissions across the UK for people's pets.
Sarah says: ‘You need to look into an animal’s eyes to see its soul and as soon as I make that connection I know I can recreate it on a canvas.’
For more information or to discuss a commission go to www.mcspoffart.com. Prices start from £130.
Sarah is offering one lucky Pets Mag reader the chance to win a pen and ink A4 watercolour of their pet. For your chance to win, email [email protected] saying why you’d love to win the prize. Please keep responses to around 150 words. The deadline for entries is Sunday March 31st, 2013.
WIN a portrait of your pet by artist Sarah Spofforth McQuat
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
5
If your pooch is called Alfie or Molly, then you’re bang on
trend. Similarly, if your feline best friend is named Charlie or Poppy, then you’re in with the ‘in crowd’, according to the
latest survey revealing the top pet names in 2012.
Britain’s most popular dog names for last year are Alfie,
Molly and Poppy, with Charlie and Max following, while the most popular cat names are Charlie, Molly and Poppy
closely followed by Oscar and Alfie. The new stats show that Britain has done away with traditional pet names such as Rover and Whiskers, and have opted for far more popular
human names.
The findings from Co-operative Pet Insurance follow recent research which revealed that 40% of couples would prefer a dog to a child*, and their naming process seems to
run parallel with the top baby name choices.
Mat Ward, animal specialist from Pet Behaviour Sorted said this of a pets naming process: "It's no surprise that the top baby names in 2012 were similar to the top pet names.
“This reflects a continuation of the on-going change in
the role pets play in our lives. Greater numbers of people view their pets as very important members of their family, and are therefore comfortable giving them human names.
He added: “The actual name itself is of little importance
to a pet, it is how you use the name that is significant. If a pet's name is not followed by anything meaningful, it will not register as important to a pet, and if it's used only to berate
them, it may develop negative connotations.
“The tone of voice used should be consistent, and it helps if only one name is used rather than a range of nicknames! In the early stages, a treat can be given to a pet
after their name is spoken to help them recognise their name.”
Lee Mooney, Head of Pet Insurance at The Co-operative Insurance, said: “We’ve seen a trend in our customers’
choosing more humanised names for their pets. We also see on a day to day basis how passionate our customers are
about their pets and we recognise that they are an important member of the family.”
Most popular PET NAMES of 2012
Top 10 Dog Names1 Alfie
2 Molly3 Poppy4 Charlie
5 Max6 Bella
7 Daisy8 Millie9 Ruby
10 Oscar
Top 10 Cat Names1 Charlie
2 Molly3 Poppy4 Oscar
5 Alfie6 Daisy
7 Millie8 Tilly9 Bella
10 Tigger
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
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Jessica Brown reviews
‘Handbags and Poobags: Tales of a Soho Boxer
Dog’ by Alice Wright.
Alice Wright’s debut book is a thoroughly enjoyable read and Basil
the Boxer is a wonderful leading character.
This is an incredibly honest, genuine and captivating personal memoir
about owing a dog in a busy, modern world.
Set in hustle and bustle of London’s busiest nightlife district Soho, Basil is
soon the top dog about town, attending parties, driving around in a
Porsche and having his poobags carried in a Marc Jacobs handbag.
It’s packed to the rafters with amusing anecdotes and heart-
warming stories about owning a loveable, four legged friend.
Initially the tale focuses heavily on expensive designer handbags, posh
members-only bars and pretentious London parties. However, it soon becomes a real page-turner, witty,
sentimental and enjoyable for dog owners, or pet-less readers, alike.
Alice manages to capture your attention immediately with her honest
writing even at times leaving you thinking, ‘Poor Basil, why did he not
run away?’
These real life tales range
from spraying him with bleach when his paws were covered in another dog’s
poop, accidentally shoving her finger up his behind in a
moment of madness and dressing him in a array of fancy dress outfits, most
notoriously Dracula.
No stone is left unturned when it comes to the trials and tribulations of owning a dog.
Alice makes the mundane task of
cleaning up her dog’s business hilarious, explaining it was something she took pride in. Even getting “turd
envy” some days...
“I found myself looking at other dog’s droppings,” she writes. “Thinking ‘now that’s a good one, I wish Basil
would do one like that.’”
She even admits to using the plastic bags filled with fresh poo as “hand warmers” on a cold, winters morning
walk.
No secret is safe, no matter how silly. Alice is refreshingly open and honest admitting she and her husband
Patrick create flamboyant personalities for Basil, so he can
“chat” to them in ridiculous voices. She admits, “Patrick and I used Basil to talk to each other, both pretending
to be the dog,”
Despite attending puppy training school, there are few rules. Alice’s
unconditional love for Basil means he sleeps pride of place in their bed, turning it into a pit of hair and saliva.
“It’s not enough that he sleeps on the bed,’ she claims. “He has to have his
head on the pillow too.”
Some chapters of the book are
enough to put wannabe dog owners off for life. Alice explains her life now
consists of beds covered in hair and slobber, unthinkable brown gunge under her fingers nails, 5am woofing,
soiled carpets, a sofa which has been chewed to bits and a slowly
diminishing sex life, as Basil is the dominating third person in her relationship.
However, Alice easily portrays the
absolute joy of owning a dog… the responsibility, the fun, and the never-ending love. This is a real life take on
modern day doggie living, it’s brutally honest yet heart-warmingly brilliant. A
must for all animal fans!
Handbags and Poobags is
available from www.amazon.co.uk.
Pet Tales book review
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
7
Tiny Gizmo the Yorkshire Terrier bit off far more than he could chew
this Christmas after devouring a nine centimetre long skewer which
somehow left his stomach and got stuck in his rib cage - putting him at major risk of developing deadly
peritonitis.PDSA vets in Gillingham removed
a 9cm wooden skewer that had migrated from his stomach to the muscles between his ribs after he
swallowed it at a family gathering.Mischievous Gizmo, 5, gobbled
up the stick along with some party food which he managed to pinch
from the table while guests were enjoying themselves during the family gathering at owner Ruth Dalton’s
home in Rochester, Kent.Gizmo became unwell and
developed a huge abscess on his side.
Ruth, 46, took her beloved pet to
PDSA Gillingham PetAid hospital where vets took x-rays but could not
find anything untoward as wooden skewers usually don’t show up on an x-ray. However, after carrying out
exploratory surgery the team discovered the skewer lodged in the
muscles around Gizmo’s rib cage and operated to remove it.
PDSA Head Nurse Jennie Keen
said Gizmo had been extremely lucky.
“The stick was actually wedged in the muscles between the ribs but it could have easily have punctured a
lung, or led to him developing a life threatening peritonitis on its
voyage from Gizmo’s stomach to his chest area,” she said.
“Once Gizmo was under an
anaesthetic, we had the opportunity to thoroughly investigate the abscess
on his chest and were amazed to find out what was the cause of the infection. Gizmo was a very lucky
dog indeed, as the potential damage to Gizmo’s body from the skewer
could have been much, much worse.Thankfully Gizmo is now making
a good recovery and he is due to
have his stitches removed next week.
Ruth, who lives with Gizmo and her 14-year-old son Samuel, said she
was now extra careful when having a barbecue.
She said: “I’d advise people to keep a close eye on their pets or put them in another room when you’re
serving food.”
Gizmo became unwell and developed a huge abscess on his side...
Gizmo the Yorkie has lucky escape
PDSA vets remove 9cm wooden skewer from Yorkshire Terrier Gizmo
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
8
The healing touchHere we meet Lizzie Harrison, owner of Healing Paws (www.healingpaws.co.uk.) She reveals why massage therapies can be of enormous benefit not just to you, but to your pooch as well!
Q What is canine remedial
massage?
Canine remedial massage is the manipulation of muscles, tendons,
ligaments and connective tissue. The therapy also aids the joints and
bones in the dog's body and can improve range of movement in these areas.
As therapists we have a strong
understanding of the muscular and skeletal systems in the dog's body, how these work and what they
should feel like when they are functioning normally. This knowledge
allows us to assess your dog and discover if they are feeling any discomfort, and then to manipulate
the muscles and joints through massage and stretching to help ease
any pain they might be experiencing and let your dog move more freely.
Canine Remedial Massage can also help with post-operative
rehabilitation. After surgery involving muscles, bones and joints it is important to strengthen the problem
area to prevent further injury and excessive strain, which could result in
another problem, due to the dog over compensating for this injury. Healing Paws also tailors exercise
programmes to help with rehabilitation from surgery and this,
combined with massage, will significantly improve
the speed at which your dog recovers.
Q What are the benefits
of canine remedial massage?
Canine remedial massage and rehabilitation
can help your dog in a variety of ways:
- Positively influences
the dog's body to heal - Relaxes muscle
spasm and releases trigger points (commonly known as knots)
- Improves circulation - Relieves tension, soreness,
stiffness and tightness - Helps to relieve pain and
soreness
- Aids the removal of waste products in the body, such as lactic
acid which causes pain after exercise - Myofascial release stretching
techniques help to improve range of
movement and flexibility in both muscles and joints
- Increases ability to exercise - Improves posture - Improves gait and moving
pattern - Reduces boisterous behaviour
- Promotes relaxation
- Reduces adhesions, scarring and swelling
- Helps with depression and anxiety
Q Would you recommend
massage therapy for all dogs?
Yes. Unlike humans dogs can not tell you something is wrong until it is so
bad that they are limping or crying in pain and discomfort. With a massage treatment all the muscles and joints
are assessed and treated allowing for injuries or problems to be picked up
on early and therefore treated before they become worse. Having muscles and joints working as well as possible
will also help prevent problems such as arthritis and other muscular-
Lizzie Harrison with a terrier
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
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Q What qualifications do you
need to become a canine remedial massage therapist?
I went to ICAT, the Institute of Complementary Animal Therapies in Devon. I did a diploma in Canine Remedial Massage Therapy.
Q Can you tell us something
about your business and the satisfaction you receive from making animals feel better?
Nothing can explain the way that you feel when an owner tells you that their dog (that was arthritic or in pain) has been running around on jumping on the sofa (something it previously hasn’t been able to do). Also, finding areas that are probably painful to the dog but have gone unnoticed, as they are not bad enough yet to show a change in behaviour. My very first client as a qualified therapist was an arthritic Rottweiler. She has chronic arthritis and couldn’t get up the stairs or jump onto anything, walking was difficult, as was getting in and out of the car. After her second treatment the owner called me a few days later and said she was a little bit annoyed. My stomach turned with worry but she went on to say that she had come home from work to find her dog on the bed upstairs. She hadn’t needed a stair gate as the dog couldn’t make it upstairs and definitely couldn’t get on her bed. From that moment I knew that this was going to be an amazingly rewarding job. It's lovely to make a difference in a dog’s life when they are such amazing animals that touch our lives in the most special ways.
Q Do you think the demand for
your services is increasing and why do you think that is, if so?
Definitely. Firstly I think people and vets are starting to understand that
dog have joints and muscles the same as humans so why not treat the problems in the same way? With more and more therapists becoming qualified in the UK it is starting to become better known and people are becoming educated to the fact that these services exist for their pets.
Secondly, I think that people don’t like the idea of treating their animals’ medical problems with drugs alone if possible. In a similar way to children, I think dog owners prefer to try a more natural way of healing rather than just drugs. Plus the understanding that drugs only masks the problem and don’t always cure the underlying issue.
Q What is the future for the
industry, in your opinion?
With the results that are seen from Canine Remedial Massage it can only continue to grow. An increasing number of Insurance companies are starting to include alternative therapies on their policies due to the effect of the results and with more vets understanding the benefits of Canine Remedial Massage and the attitude of their patients I hope that we can work along side more vets to
help give dogs the best possible care.
Q Do you see your business
expanding and diversifying to include additional therapies?
Yes, I hope to learn more about other therapies and with additional knowledge be able to help more dogs by combining different therapies. This has already started by the launch of a new service this month. I have started working with Karl Curling from The Brook Hydrotherapy Centre to develop a dual product called 'Hydro-Massage' which combines the benefits of both Hydrotherapy and Canine Remedial Massage in a multimodal approach to canine rehabilitation.
Hydro-Massage will involve an initial assessment and movement evaluation, followed by a session of Hydrotherapy which will be tailored to the findings of the initial consultation. However, as an innovative approach to the rehabilitation programme, Canine Remedial Massage will be performed in the water, allowing the dog to benefit from the therapeutic qualities of the water at the same time. Following the session your dog is washed and dried in preparation for any additional massage that may be required in the therapy room.
Lizzie HarrisonHealing Paws www.healingpaws.co.uk [email protected] 07590 316603
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
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The winner of Pet Mag’s Pet
Hero 2013 goes to two-year old moggy Jessi-Cat, a beloved family cat that transformed the life of a
boy with a severe anxiety disorder.
Two-year-old Jessi-Cat, who was also crowned National Cat of the Year at Cats Protection's National Cat
Awards 2012, helped transform seven-year-old Lorcan Dillon’s life,
enabling him to cope with selective mutism, a condition which affects his ability to speak and express himself.
Thanks to his pet cat, Lorcan has
finally been able to say “I love you” and has even learned ways to share his emotions when he finds it difficult
to speak to people.
Judge Rick Wakeman, star of BBC’s Grumpy Old Men and self-confessed cat lover, said: “The bond
between Jessi-Cat and Lorcan is incredible and it has clearly had a
hugely positive impact on Lorcan’s home and school life.
“Jessi-Cat helps Lorcan to communicate and express emotions
that ordinarily Lorcan wouldn’t be able to do.”
Lorcan and his mum Jayne Dillon, 44, of Davyhulme, Greater
Manchester, were at the awards ceremony to accept Jessi-Cat's prizes – a star shaped trophy, three
months’ supply of cat food, a year's supply of Verdo Cat Litter and a
framed photograph of Jessi-Cat.
Jayne said the
family decided to get a cat to help Lorcan
communicate and cope with his
condition, which makes it hard for him to speak to
people and leaves him feeling
isolated and lonely.
“Lorcan is able to connect
love to Jessi-Cat, something he can't do with
people and she's been a great
support to him when things have been really hard.
“He does not
express his emotions, he would not say 'I love you Mummy',
he just doesn't do it. But with the cat he can cuddle her, he can stroke her,
he can talk to her and he can say 'I love you Jessi-Cat.'
“She is without a doubt the best friend a boy could have and has had
a huge positive impact on his life. We’ve had her for a couple of years and in the last year alone he seems
to be making excellent progress at school. In the past two weeks he’s
started communicating with people he doesn’t know very well and even
reads to one of the teachers now – something he’s never done before.”
Well done Jessi-cat for being a true boy’s best friend!
Cats Protection, the UK's leading feline welfare charity, has around
6,200 cats and kittens in its care at any one time and re-homes and reunites over 48,000 every year.
To find out more about the
charity, or to adopt a cat, please visit www.cats.org.uk or call the charity's national helpline on 03000 12 12 12.
PETS MAG’S PET HERO 2013!
Lorcan with Jessi-Cat. Photo copyright of Paul Maven Photography.
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
11
A hedgehog rescue charity has received a cash boost thanks to an
oven valeting business.
Ovenu, a Warrington based oven
valeting business, has donated 5% of their fee from each oven clean carried
out to the charity.
Warrington Hedgehog Rescue
provides lifeline care and rehabilitation services to rescued
hedgehogs in Warrington and surrounding areas. Ovenu business owner Paul Clarke is fundraising and
aiming to boost awareness of the charity after learning that hedgehogs
could be extinct in the UK by 2025.
The most recent data from the
Mammals Trust UK has revealed that the number of hedgehogs in England
and Wales declined by more than 20% between 2001 and 2004.
Virginia Jones, Manager at Warrington Hedgehog Rescue,
explained: “The charity is totally self-funded, so fundraising efforts such as Paul’s are crucial to our survival.
“Many people are still not aware that
if their current rate of decline continues, hedgehogs will be extinct in the UK by 2025. It is not an
underestimation to say that, we have little over a decade to save the
hedgehog.”
Virginia added: “The work we are
doing to save the species on the
frontline is so valuable to their survival. If we can raise awareness of
things that people can do, such as being more vigilant when they are using lawn mowers or strimmers in
their gardens, avoiding laying slug pellets and ensuring that garden
fences have spaces for our native mammals to pass under safely, then will be helping to save the
hedgehog.”
Paul Clark, 49, whose business provides an environmentally-friendly oven cleaning service to residential
properties and businesses including letting agents, private landlords and
local schools across Warrington, explained: “I am delighted to be helping in some small way to make a
big difference to the future of one of our most endangered native
mammals.
Aside from the money, which is vital
to the work Virginia and her team are
doing, I hope that many more people will now be alerted to the plight of the
hedgehog.”
He added: “The rescue centre is also
appealing for urgent donations of cat and dog food, as this forms the
staple diet of the rescued hedgehogs.”
For more information about Ovenu, or to make a booking with Paul,
call: 01925 453377 or visit: www.ovenuwarrington.net.
For more information on how you can help save the hedgehog, visit
the British Hedgehog Preservation Society at: www.britishhedgehogs.org.uk.
To donate cat or dog food to
Warrington Hedgehog Rescue, please contact Virginia Jones on 01925 837 527.
Oven boss comes to the rescue of hedgehogs
Paul Clark has helped raise vital funds for Warrington Hedgehog Rescue
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
12
Dog-friendly Devon...Planning your holidays but struggling to find the perfect dog friendly holiday?
Here we meet Isabelle Broom and her four-year old Bolognese dog Max who discovered that Devon could be the perfect bolthole for pooches and their human companions.
My four-year-old Bolognese dog Max is very clever in lots of ways. He holds up his paw for a treat, climbs trees, and manages to move his food bowl to a different corner of the house every single day. But when it came to choosing where to go on holiday, he had to leave that up to me. Luckily for Max, I decided on South Devon as the destination for our very first trip away – and I don't think we would have had a better time anywhere else.
South Devon is famed for its beautiful countryside, quaint villages, wooded valleys and sandy beaches, and when we arrived into the village of Kingston one afternoon in July, we found all of those things right on the doorstep. The three of us stayed in the adorably cosy Emily Cottage, which I discovered quite by chance
after typing "dog friendly cottages South Devon" into Google and being directed to Toad Hall Cottages. Snug without being cramped and decorated with a delightful jumble of crockery, paintings and ornaments, the two-bedroomed cottage was clean, functional, comfortable and in the perfect location.
Kingston itself is the epitome of Devonshire charm, from the cows peering over the garden
wall in the morning to the thatched white-stone houses lining the lane. The village's crowning glory, however, has to be The Dolphin Inn, a 16th-century-built traditional pub where Max was not only welcome to sit up at the table, but was also the happy recipient of a number of free dog treats from a jar behind the bar. The pub serves delicious, locally-sourced food (the mussels chowder is still making my mouth water even now) and offers good wine, beer, local ales and enough friendly banter to keep you propped up for the whole evening.
While the local pub may
tempt you to overindulge, the local area provides the perfect way of walking it all off again. Starting in the centre of the village, there are six different walks you can take, ranging in length from just under one mile to a thigh-burning nine miles, and including coastal paths, woodland and every dog's paddling dream, Wonwell Beach. Situated on the east bank of the River Erme and Estuary, Wonwell can be reached by
car, but it's much more fun to trek there along the South West Coast Path – especially if you have a dog that's never encountered sheep before! – or through the enchanting wilderness of Wrinkle and Furzedown Woods. The low tides, rock-pool clusters and green banks at Wonwell make it a perfect haven for a dog, and it was a very exhausted and blissed-out Max that passed out on the cottage rug later that day.
‘low tides, rock-pool clusters and green banks at Wonwell make it a perfect haven for a dog’
Best of friends: Isabelle with Max, the Bolognese
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
13
After a few days of exploring Kingston, we headed out in the car and drove the short distance along the south coast to the town of Kingsbridge, where a pretty hillside high-street offers a veritable feast of local vegetables, cheese, meat and even dog treats.
It's definitely worth setting aside a day to visit the village of Thurlstone, too, where the wide sandy
beach is dog-friendly all year long and the café serves the most delicious honeycomb ice-cream you'll ever taste.
Be warned, though, the seaweed makes the rocks very slippery indeed. I'm very glad that Max can't laugh, because he definitely would have! You can save yourself a few pounds by parking
at the locally run car park, which is a few hundred metres from the main entrance.
Unfortunately, we picked the one day that it piddled down to pop along the coast to the town of Salcombe, but even the dark clouds and lashing rain couldn't detract from the breathtaking views of the waterfront. Set in an area of outstanding natural beauty, Salcombe is a great
place for a stroll. Soak in the atmosphere, stop for a cream tea and then take friends of a four-legged variety down to the North Sands Beach for a paddle.
You'll find a whole host of towns and villages dotted along the south coast of Devon, each offering their
own unique selling point, so exploring is an absolute must. Some beaches, such as Bigbury-on-Sea and Salcombe South Sands, do not allow dogs from May to September, so it's always worth checking locally before you go bounding down to dig for shells.
Despite these very few restrictions, South Devon was wonderfully welcoming to both Max, and us, and whether your pet is small and dainty or long-legged and adventurous, they'll be guaranteed to have a fabulous time.
Further information:
www.toadhallcottages.co.uk
www.dolphin-inn.co.uk
www.kingstonparishcouncil.co.uk.
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
14
A Stockton-on-Tees Housing Association welcomed a canine VIP
to an event organised in partnership with the Dogs Trust as part of a campaign to promote responsible pet
ownership.
Stockton’s Mayor, Councillor Lynne Apedaile, attended the dog welfare day and brought along her Border
Collie, Sally.
The dog awareness event, organised by Stockton Council's Animal Welfare Service in conjunction with the UK’s
largest dog welfare charity and Tristar Homes, was held at Low Grange
Community Centre, Billingham.
Access to vets, micro-chipping, flea
treatment, parvo virus vaccinations and neutering were provided free at
the sessions.
Councillor Apedaile, who has chosen
the Dogs Trust as one of her Mayoral charities, said: “The work of the
Council's Animal Welfare Service is second to none and they do a fantastic job in raising awareness of
responsible dog ownership such as microchipping and neutering which is
carried out partnership with the Dogs Trust.
Paul Noddings, Housing Operations Manager at Tristar Homes, said:
“Taking a proactive approach to encouraging responsible pet ownership is a key element of Tristar
Homes’ commitment to supporting
and improving residents’ quality of life.
“Micro chipping is an effective way of permanently linking pets to their
owners, increasing the chances of them being reunited if the animal is
lost, stolen or strays.
When a chip is implanted, it gives a
pet a unique code number, which is
then stored along with the owner’s contact details on a national
database.
This information can be updated if an
owner moves house or a pet’s ownership changes.
Canine VIP puts spotlight on responsible
pet ownership
Stockton Mayor councillor Lynne Apedaile with her dog Sally and
representatives of Tristar and the Dogs Trust.
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
15
Social ‘petworking’ on the riseWe get the lowdown on the latest craze...
At the height of Olympic fever last summer,
Andy Murray’s dog Maggie May posed with his owner’s gold medal on Twitter, and
became a star in his own right, and Karl Lagerfeld’s
cat Choupette regularly gives fashion advice to her followers.
It’s 2013 and pets on the net are bigger, better
and fluffier than ever; the nation’s obsession with their pets means we are
increasingly likely to give pets their own social media
status from sharing photos to tweeting their thoughts.
Research from Petplan,
the UK’s largest pet insurer, reveals a 36% annual
increase of pets with their own social media profile, as well as a 25% rise of pet
owners sharing photos of their pets online.
Cats have traditionally dominated the World Wide Web but now it’s the
socially savvy hounds who are the true social
‘petworkers’ as 7% of pooches have their own Facebook page, compared
to only 4% of felines. Boo, nicknamed ‘the
world’s cutest dog’ started and still leads the online trend. Currently Facebook’s
most popular pet, this adorable Pomeranian has
more fans than the Dalai Lama. Along with Boo, four
out of the top five most popular pets on Facebook are dogs including
Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg’s pooch Beast.
Since the explosion in popularity of Britain’s Got Talent winner Pudsey, dogs
are now 12 times more talked about on Twitter than
cats. Dogs also dominate YouTube with ‘the ultimate dog tease’ being the most
popular pet video with over 100 million views.
Despite dogs’ dominance online, cats are still strongly represented.
83% of cat owners who put their pets online also
regularly share photos of their felines compared to 69% of dog owners.
Although it seems that pup parents demonstrate a
greater sense of humour with 42% posting status
updates on behalf of their dog.
Francesca Keefe, Petplan Social Media Executive comments:
“We’ve long known that animals are the stars of the
internet, but in the last year since we started tracking pets’ presence online there
has been an explosion in ‘pet pride.’
Increasingly pet owners are giving their pets a more active role in their life and
Well-connected: Facebook for dogs is not as far-fetched as it sounds...
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
16
spreading the joy that owning a pet can bring.”
As well as the fun side of social media, we’re also seeing more and more pet
owners take to Twitter as an effective way to look for
lost pets.”Jan Rezab CEO at
Social Bakers comments:
“As a global social media and digital analytics
company we track online engagement levels across
Facebook and Twitter and over the last year
we have seen a significant rise in the interaction with pets on
social media. There are many social media
profiles dedicated to pets, but at the top of our Facebook pages, in
the animals category, are dogs with cats
coming in fifth.”
Case Study:Denver the dog, owned by
Morgan Taylor:
Someone who has
experienced the phenomenon of social
petworking first hand is Morgan Taylor, owner of Denver, a Nova Scotia
Duck Tolling Retriever. Morgan started taking
photos of Denver because he was his first puppy, and he wanted
to capture those moments before they
disappeared into memories. He added the photos to his Flickr account under his
"Littlest Duder" set. There was an instant
interest in Denver and a picture of him in the park made it to number 11 on
Flickr’s Explore page. As page views of Denver went
up, new people added him to their contacts, and Denver's fame train was
solidly in motion. After that a number of people
contacted Morgan asking if they could post his photos on their blogs, requests he
always granted. Brekend.nl was one of these blogs,
and he regularly sees traffic coming through from that post. Another surge in
popularity occurred when a friend posted one of
Denver's photos to reddit.com, resulting in 73,000 views to that photo
in a single day and 147,000 total views to his Flickr
stream.
The most recent surge
came from the UK’s Daily
Mail posting an article on its website. Following this
publication, The Huffington Post ran a similar piece, with further information
about Denver; as a result Morgan received 248,000
page views of his Flickr page in a 24-hour period.
Statistics from a survey conducted by Vision Critical
and the Petplan Pet Census, both of which surveyed over 1,000
respondents.
Pick of the best pet social
media:
http://textfromdog.tumblr.com/
http://maddieonthings.com/http://dogswaiting.tumblr.com/
http://foodonmydog.com/
Most ‘liked’ pets on FacebookBoo 5,014,674
Beast 880,336
Joe 310, 767
Mishka the talking husky
286, 450
Professor Meowingtons pHd
101, 870
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
17
Capturing the heart and soul of your pet
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
18
Sue Lax, owner of Star Paws (www.starpaws.co.uk), a photography business specialising in pets, uses her own photos to illustrate how you can take the best photos of your pet.
Our pets mean the world to us and keep us constantly entertained
with their cute expressions and funny ways. I wasn't at all surprised when a nationwide survey revealed that we
take more photos of our pets than we do of our children!
My mobile phone is full of snaps of my pets, and I'm sure yours is probably the same. These images,
usually taken on the spur of the moment, are a great way to capture
an expression, a funny moment or something that just simply makes us smile.
I hope these tips inspire you to take even more pictures of your pet,
no matter what type of camera you have, because you really don't need
expensive equipment to take
great pictures.
Capture your pet's personality
Capturing a pet's personality in a
photograph is the most rewarding
aspect of my work.
It's a sad fact of life
that our pets can't be with us forever,
and the time will come when any images we have of
them will be priceless.
Think about the sort of pictures that will best reflect your pet as you see
them.
Are they a lazy bones whose favourite pastime is curling up in bed
for a snooze, or a Tasmanian devil who never sits still?
Do they have favourite toys or places they love? You'll want to
catch them at their happiest, so really give this some thought.
Take it easy
Some pets are more camera shy than others, so let them get used to the camera. Point the camera
away from them and fire the shutter a few times just so they
get used to the sound and seeing you use the camera.
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
19
IIf they seem nervous, encourage them to come to
you and check the camera out before you start pointing it at them, which
can be quite intimidating to some pets.
Check the
background
Many otherwise
great shots can be spoiled by distracting elements
in the background – we've all seen
pictures where people appear to have trees or lamp
posts growing out of their heads, or
general clutter in the background distracting the eye from what it should be
focusing on.
If there are unwanted items in your view either move
them or, if that's not possible, change your angle or position so they're
out of shot.
Get down - and
possibly dirty!
Be prepared to get down to
your pet's level and see the
world from their perspective. Take photos
from different levels and angles – they'll probably be
far more interesting than those taken from
our usual view of the world.
As a pet photographer I spend an awful lot of
time crawling around on the floor, lying face down in fields or
sloshing about in water to get the best
shots!
Outdoor photography
Bright sunshine often doesn't make for the
best photos – dark shadows and squinting
pets aren't a great combination!
Bright but slightly overcast days are far preferable, as
the light is softer. If it is sunny, try shooting early in the morning or late
afternoon, avoiding the midday sun, or just
move your pet to a shady area.
Keep the sun behind you but off to one side
so your pet doesn't have to squint when they look at you.
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
20
Indoor photography
Try to void using the flash - it can be scary for some
pets, but it's also a harsh light and can give your pet
those spooky looking eyes, similar to the red-eye effect in humans.
You'll need to use natural
light to get the best indoor shots, so use a room with large windows and/or open
a door to let more light in, if it's safe to do so.
Get to know your
camera
Familiarise yourself with
your camera's settings. Even the camera on your
mobile is likely to have settings you can change according to the type of
picture you want to take: Portrait, Sports/Action,
Indoor and so on.
Read the manual, or just experiment a little - you
might be surprised by the results!
Get your pet’s attention
There are several ways to get a pet's attention
focused on you for the shot - commands, treats,
squeaky toys and funny noises can all work, and
you'll know what's likely to succeed with your
pet. Some become so treat obsessed that you end up with the glazed
"Gimme the treat! Gimme the treat!"
expression – which is fine if that's the look you're going for, but
may not be ideal in all cases!
Focus
You'll usually want to focus on your pet's eyes and get
them really sharp in a portrait style shot.
However, you can also get some great
images by getting in close or
zooming in on some
details - paws,
noses, whiskers, ears, fur, feathers or whatever they
may be!
Take lots of pictures
Remember to experiment and take lots of different pictures, but make sure
your pet is happy and comfortable at all times
while you're doing so.
Never, ever get cross with
them if they don't do what you want today - you can
always try again tomorrow.Most importantly of all, be patient and have fun with
your pet!
Reader Offer£10 off the standard shoot fee, plus 10%
off any canvas, framed or acrylic products.
(Additional mileage fees may apply for locations outside a 25 mile radius of
Consett.) Quote PMG12. Offer valid until
March 31st 2013.
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
21
Rachel is the proud owner of chihuahuas Romeo and Paco. She tells us what life is like with this small in size but big in personality breed.
There is nothing more fun than seeing a couple of hyperactive chihuahuas sprinting around your
living room or garden at 100mph! But they are hard work, they want to
be the boss, they can be grumpy, irritable, naughty, cheeky, funny, loving, loyal, intelligent and the most
wonderful pet you could ever wish for.
They are addictive – you
can’t stop at one and if
you’re prepared to put in the hard work, you will have the most
beautiful, kind and trustworthy friend for life. Just make sure you ignore the
fashionable media stereotypes of a fluffy, little quiet dog that likes to be dressed up, never needs to wee or
poop and is quite happily carried around in a handbag!
I have two Chihuahuas, Romeo has just turned one and I bought him from
the breeder when he was nine weeks old. It is said that you don’t choose a
puppy, but that the puppy chooses you and my little Romeo stole my heart from the first second I met him.
My other Chihuahua, Paco came to live with us when he was already a
year old and
Romeo was six months.
A recipe for disaster people said, but
they get on brilliantly. Romeo was incredibly accepting and Paco settled in quickly.
They have completely different
personalities which makes a happy and chaotic home. Romeo isn’t a cuddler, he’s independent, feisty and
always into mischief – he likes to receive affection through play.
I can be dozing on the sofa in the evening and all of a sudden, he’ll
jump up on his hind legs and his little head will poke up with a sock in his
mouth which means it’s play time. He
is totally loyal to me, but still loves the attention he gets from my friends.
When he’s tired he will have a little knap across my neck or snuggle up on my lap with a real urgency and
promptly fall asleep. But his personality is spritely and always on
the go!Paco is a big Chihuahua and a total lap dog; even though he’s the biggest
and the oldest, he’s the baby. He’s a lot more streetwise when we’re out
but he needs ‘big boy cuddles’ regularly.
Chihuahuas have a reputation of being stubborn and difficult to train,
but in my experience they love to please as they crave praise and attention. Romeo learned to use
puppy pads quickly with lots of over the top praise, cuddles and rewards,
however it did take him longer to
BREED PROFILE
The cheeky but lovable chihuahuaBy Rachel Baker
Rachel with Romeo the chihuahua
‘Chihuahuas are addictive - you can’t stop at one....they are the most beautiful, kind and trustworthy dogs’
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
22
learn how to, “sit”. He and I both knew that he
knew it, but he’s an arrogant little chap and didn’t see why he
should have to sit on demand!
When Paco came to me at a year, he didn’t
seem to know “sit”. But as he’ll do anything for
a cuddle, he soon picked it up and now likes to sit in front of
people randomly, looking them eagerly in
the eye waiting to be told he’s a good boy.
Romeo became much less of a baby when
Paco came to live with us. At six months Romeo refused to eat unless I hand fed him – but after watching
Paco’s first meal, he’s eaten off his own plate ever since.
I was very fortunate to be able to adopt Paco. Romeo is such a
character that I hoped if another Chihuahua came to live with us, I
may not need to crawl along the floor, pushing a ball along with my nose at
11 o’clock at night! However as Paco takes himself off up to bed at about
9pm, I’m still left
entertaining hyperactive
Romeo.
The wonderful
thing about adopting a dog is
learning about their personality. Paco loves to
dance, and must have enjoyed
music in his previous home.
When a dance song comes on the radio, he jumps up on his hind legs
and leaps about to the music and I join in whilst Romeo watches looking confused.
Paco also grooms Romeo which is the cutest thing ever, as I love to
watch them bonding without being involved.
Chihuahuas need regular exercise and stimulation and I’m a great
believer that a tired dog is a good dog. Mine enjoy being out in all weather, especially chasing leaves in
autumn. They both love summer but neither of them like the driving rain -
they dig their little claws into the ground and refuse to move so I have to carry them home, one under each
arm.
Chihuahuas are wonderful dogs and don’t need to be restricted by having limitations imposed on them. Of
course, take into consideration that they are smaller, but anything a big
dog can do, Chihuahuas can do in miniature!
It’s a dog’s life: Paco and Romeo
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
23
Mark Hedberg is an experienced veterinary surgeon who's worked in the UK and the Middle East. Having
treated a wide variety of animals large and small, he currently works for The College of Animal Welfare, a non-profit animal care and veterinary nurse college in Huntingdon, Cambridgeshire.
If you are reading this article,
chances are you are one of the estimated 13 million households in
the UK that own at least one pet. (PFMA 2012). And if you’ve ever owned a pet, chances are someone’s
told you stories about all the nasty bugs and diseases you can get from
your animal friends.
The scientific word for a disease
you can get from an animal is “zoonosis”. (plural: zoonoses.)
It’s true: there are over a hundred diseases humans can get from
animals. The good news is that if you live in the United Kingdom, you’re
probably only going to meet with three or four of them.
In this article we’ll cover the three most frequent zoonoses in the UK,
and one very famous disease. All of them are treatable, and all of them are preventable.
Gastrointestinal disease
Gastrointestinal disease is what
we call a ‘tummy bug’ or
‘food poisoning’. It happens when
bacteria or viruses get into
our food or into our mouth. Most
commonly this occurs when
you forget to wash your hands before
eating, especially after playing with animals.
Reptiles are often accused of carrying salmonella, but the truth is,
dogs and cats can carry it too. The prevention: never let your pets eat off
your plate, and always wash your hands after playing or working with your pets. Always wash your hands
before eating, no matter what.
Skin disease
One of the most common things people pick up from stray animals is
ringworm. No, it’s not a worm. Ringworm is a skin fungus; you first
notice it when you get a ring-shaped itchy bad spot on your skin. It’s easily treatable with anti-fungal skin creams
from your chemist. Stubborn cases should be seen by your GP.
Fleas and mites can also pass from a pet to a human; this usually
only happens when your pet has a severe flea or mite infestation.
Treatment with an anti-flea spot-on solution can help control this. In case of severe infestation, you may need
to get a prescription-strength product from your vet. (Always read the
instructions before using any medicine on your pet! Dog flea
INSIGHT
Zoonosis: Diseases You Can Get From Your
PetBy Mark Hedberg, DrMedVet MRCVS
Flea faeces is clearly visibly in this pet’s fur.
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
24
Bites and Scratches
The mouth of a dog is full of germs – they’re constantly sniffing,
licking, digging and chewing their way through their daily walk. Cats
can scratch and dig with the best of them, as well as catching mice and birds. Is it any wonder that many
bites and scratches become infected?
Untreated bite and scratch wounds can cause severe
discomfort, and in extreme cases may require hospitalization. Yes,
this is a zoonosis too – you’ve gotten this disease from an animal! As long as we spend time with
animals, there is the risk of catching a disease from them. Don’t panic -
common sense precautions and good hygiene are your best ally to prevent catching most diseases
from pets!
Exotic animals are frequent culprits too – the NHS estimates that bites and injuries from reptiles
caused 760 consultations, 709 hospital stays, and 2121 days in
hospital for patients between 2004 and 2012!
The Truth about Toxoplasma
No article on zoonosis would be complete without a mention of
toxoplasma. This disease is responsible for a huge number of wrongly re-homed cats. I’ve heard
people believe all kinds of things about toxoplasma. Some people
think toxoplasma can cause harm to women and children. One gentleman informed me that he wanted to re-
home his cat, as a cat would cause his pregnant wife to die. (This is
absolutely NOT true.)
Toxoplasma is a parasite – and
cats can carry it. If a pregnant woman
is infected with toxoplasma, her unborn baby may suffer birth defects.
Toxoplasma is transmitted through undercooked or
contaminated meat, contaminated dirt, and cat faeces. Fortunately, the
only way to catch toxoplasma is to eat it. You heard me – cook your meat thoroughly, and don’t eat cat
poop!
Handling your cat is perfectly safe. If you are pregnant – have someone else clean your cat’s litter
tray; and have them wash their hands when they’re done. Dispose of the
used litter and cat faeces promptly.
If you are pregnant and have to
clean the litter tray, use gloves. Wash your fruit and veg thoroughly before
eating them, and don’t drink unpasteurized milk.
Still worried? A blood test can check if you have ever been exposed
to toxoplasma.
If you have, you’re safe – you can’t catch it twice.
Life, of course, isn’t risk free. As long as we spend time with animals,
there is the risk of catching a disease from them.
Don’t panic - common sense precautions and good hygiene are
your best ally to prevent catching most diseases from pets!
Toxoplasma can be contracted from cat faeces
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
25
Promotions
Pet-friendly bark preventionDavid Chamberlain, Petsafe® Veterinary Consultant, talks about pet-friendly bark prevention.
Barking is a natural dog behavior but prolonged nuisance barking can be distressing for both dogs, owners and neighbours alike. It’s unrealistic and unfair to train a dog to stop barking altogether but relationships will be stronger and the home would be a much happier place if barking was kept under control.
Dogs bark for many different reasons, but in most cases barking serves as a form of communication. Dog owners will generally recognise four different types of bark; warning, alarm, playful, and need. For instance, continuous fast barking is a warning, perhaps alerting that someone is entering their home territory, and long, drawn-out barks at a high pitch, with pauses between each one, indicate that a dog is in need and is possibly lonely.It is very important for dog owners to try to establish why their dog is barking. Some barking may be completely normal, when someone knocks at the front door,
but other barking may be associated with a need, such as separation anxiety. Bark control should not be used on dogs whose barking is a component of an anxiety or stress related condition. In these situations the cause of the anxiety needs to be determined and addressed.If a dog’s barking is normal but unacceptable, then barking control maybe a helpful solution. Following extensive research, PetSafe® has developed a new line in vibration training – the VBC-10 Vibration Bark Control system. The new Vibration Bark Control system provides a training solution to this problem by interrupting a barking dog with a harmless but annoying vibration.Offering 10 combinations of vibration stimulation, the collar has patented Perfect BarkTM
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environmental noises or another dog’s bark.Nuisance barking can be highly stressful for owners and vibration stimulation is one of the gentlest and safest methods of tackling it. With careful training and, when used in conjunction with the instructions, the collar safely reduces and in most cases eliminates nuisance barking; it is suitable for all sizes and breeds and dogs quickly learn the association and stop the unwanted behaviour.There is a solution on the market for every dog, however always start by understanding what is causing the dog’s behavior first. Seek advice from a vet if you are at all unsure.”
For more information about PetSafe products visit: www.petsafe.net.
PETS, PEOPLE, PRODUCTS
26
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