Veterinary associations have welcomed the cross-party Environment, Food and Rural Affairs Select Committee (EfraCom) response to the Government’s draft Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill, which calls for preventive measures such as Dog Control Notices, and has called on the Government to think again.

The Committee took on board evidence from the British Veterinary Association and British Small Animal Veterinary Association, as well as a number of key dog welfare organisations and enforcers, and reiterated the call for consolidated legislation on dog control including strong preventive measures.

Whilst consolidated legislation would have been preferable, BVA and BSAVA accept that the Government’s plans are entirely concerned with amending the current legislation under the Dangerous Dogs Act.

Both organisations are pleased to note that EfraCom supports the principle of ‘deed not breed’ in terms of not extending the list of banned breed types, since, as the report states, “any dog may become aggressive on an irresponsible owner”.

Commenting, BVA President Peter Jones said: “We are delighted that this cross-party group of MPs has given such strong support for more preventive measures. We all support the proposed changes to the Dangerous Dogs Act but they simply don’t go far enough.

“Instead of making more mistakes with hastily made legislation we are asking the Government to think again and reconsider introducing Dog Control Notices. DCNs have already been introduced in Scotland and have the support of veterinary surgeons, dog welfare organisations, and enforcers, as well as many parliamentarians.”

Professor Michael Day, President of BSAVA, added: “EfraCom has clearly listened to the contributions made by BVA and BSAVA in this report. There are challenges remaining to make sure that any amendments to the Act are effectively enforced, and so we are glad to see that EfraCom recognises how vital it is that dog warden and enforcement services are properly resourced by local authorities.

“We hope the Government takes the Committee’s report on board and looks again at the legislation.”

The BVA and BSAVA gave written and oral evidence to the Committee’s report on Dog Control and Dog Welfare and gave written evidence as part of the pre-legislative scrutiny.

EfraCom are due to publish its pre-legislative scrutiny report on the Draft Dangerous Dogs (Amendment) Bill on Thursday 16 May 2013.

As experts warn of the rapid spread of Lyme disease across the UK because of an increase in ticks, protests and public events are taking place around the world, including at Whitehall, to illustrate the lack of awareness about the disease and how it is spreading here.

Lyme disease is the most common tick-borne disease in the Northern Hemisphere and there are concerns in the UK about the lack of public awareness, given recent warnings by leading animal health experts and parasitologists about a considerable increase in the disease-carrying tick parasite, posing a growing health threat to humans and their pets.

The tick parasite, which is commonly found in long grass and areas of dense vegetation, attaches itself to dogs, cats and humans. In the past, ticks were only considered a hazard in select parts of Britain at particular times of year. But because of our changing climate they are now prevalent year-round, across the country.

Lyme disease in humans has increased threefold over the past decade, with up to 3,000 cases of Lyme Disease estimated to occur every year in people in England & Wales, according to The Health Protection Agency.

A recent study from Bayer Animal Health as part of their ongoing ‘It’s a Jungle Out There’ parasite awareness initiative reveals that more than one in ten pet owners surveyed have found ticks on themselves or a family member, and that 53% of pets are not treated for this parasite.

The tick parasite uses highly developed mouthparts to pierce the skin and feed on the blood of its host. In humans, the first sign of Lyme Disease is commonly a circular rash around the area of the bite, and symptoms include fever, muscle and joint pain, tiredness and headaches.

So how can you keep your dog, yourself and your family safe?

To help pet owners understand the dangers of ticks and other parasites Bayer Animal Health have produced a series of short films featuring botanist David Bellamy, TV vet Steve Leonard and an array of parasite experts. This video focuses on the risk from ticks.

Pet owners can also find information about the most common parasites in the UK at www.itsajungle.co.uk, where they can complete an online risk assessment. You can help spread the word by liking ‘Jungle for Pets’ on Facebook or by following ‘JungleForPets’ on Twitter.

TICKS: The facts

• A tick is a small, blood sucking   arthropod
• Normally ticks live on blood from larger animals, like deer, but they may also attach themselves to dogs, cats and even humans.
• Ixodes ricinus is the most common tick in the UK and Ireland
• Ticks lie in wait in vegetation and attach themselves to their host as it brushes past
• Ticks have highly developed mouthparts, which allow them to pierce a hole through the skin to feed on blood
• They can cause reactions at the site of attachment
• Ticks may cause anaemia if there is a severe infestation on a young animal
• The most important risk associated with ticks is the diseases they can transmit, eg. Lyme Disease in the UK and Ireland
• Up to 3,000 cases of Lyme Disease are estimated to occur every year in people in England and Wales, according to The Health Protection Agency
• Diseases such as Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis can be transmitted to pets travelling abroad, therefore regular tick treatment of travelling pets is important

A ‘dating’ website for dogs and humans has been set up by two Hampstead men to help potential dog owners find their ideal pet.

The site, Noah’s Dogs, pairs pet owners and canines based on extensive compatibility tests, with the same precision and care used to pair couples by hit dating websites such as match.com.

The compatibility test asks questions on everything from home set-up to climate and weekly exercise routines.

But unlike other sites, Noah’s Dogs goes a step further and scans shelters nationwide for suitable dogs, giving the owner the chance to arrange ‘dates’ before a final decision is made.

The site already features over 500 dogs looking for a home from a number of different shelters. Charities are invited to upload their dogs for adoption for free.

Noah’s Dogs is also the place for anyone considering dog ownership in general. It provides advice on how to choose a dog for life.

Visitors can browse comprehensive profiles of over 200 breeds and cross breeds, including videos of the most popular breeds. The profiles are written from the dog’s point of view. They express the dog’s needs and their suitability based on their origins, character, temperament and real owner reviews. Dog owners, past or present, are asked to pass on their knowledge to help dogs find their ideal owners and a loving home for life.

To help potential owners find the most suitable dog, they are invited to take Noah’s Dogs comprehensive compatibility test and answer questions about their lifestyle and wishes.

Noah’s Dogs then matches the needs of the dog with the requirements of the owners to suggest the perfect match.

Just like personal dating and relationships, Noah’s Dogs advises against choosing a lifetime partner on looks alone. All puppies look cute but many require more training, exercise and time than some owners can provide.

“Going just on looks never works – there has to be more, so we want the website to help with that. For example, some dogs need to walk every day, some dogs like children, others don’t, and all of this is important in creating a happy life for the dog and owner.”

Sadly, many dogs have to endure the stress of being abandoned or returned to breeders and rescue homes as owners chose an inappropriate breed in haste. Before choosing a puppy from a breeder, potential owners are invited to choose from hundreds of wonderful and deserving dogs looking for a forever home from shelters across the country.

To celebrate the launch, Noah’s Dogs have introduced a fun video featuring 35 of the most popular breeds and cross breeds.

The website is founded by his owner David Lethbridge, an internet entrepreneur (Confetti, Eharmony and Joy of Clothes) and his friend and neighbour Farokh Khorooshi, an animal loving film director and conservationist.

Mr Korooshi had the idea for the site when he saw how sad his business partner’s dog, Barnaby, was when his canine pals on Hampstead Heath disappeared.

“Barnaby would make so many friends when he was out walking, but then they would disappear,” he said. “It was because they were bought when they were little puppies and then their owners would realise the dog wasn’t going to be right, so they would have to return the dogs to the shelter.

“This website prevents dogs ending up back in shelters and it promotes rehoming, rather than just going to a puppy farm and getting a dog for Christmas.”

Noah’s Dogs believes that no dog or puppy deserves to end up in the wrong home and suffer the sad prospect of ending up in an animal shelter.

What a fantastic idea! We would like to wish Farokh and David all the best of luck with their venture and congratulate them on acknowledging the importance of compatibility when it comes to acquiring a pet.

ITV have confirmed that “Paul O’Grady: For The Love Of Dogs” will return to our television screens in May this year, with the first of eight episodes airing on the 9th of May at 8:30 pm (ITV).

The following is an extract from their official press release:

“Paul O’Grady is back where he belongs, at Battersea Dogs and Cats Home, meeting the latest residents to trot through the front door.  From assisting vets during surgical procedures, to hand-rearing puppies and helping to train a naughty beagle, Paul is determined to get his hands dirty like never before. 

Paul meets the dogs who come into the home needing treatment, training and ultimately new homes. Every dog has its own story and each dog needs a new place they can call home. 

There is nowhere quite like Battersea, which is tear jerking and uplifting in equal measure.  And although Paul immerses himself in the positive work the charity do, he is also forced to confront the heart-breaking reality of stray dogs deserted on the streets and those left starving and mistreated.

In episode one, Paul falls in love with two-year-old Frankie, a British Bulldog and King, an English Mastiff.  He also helps care for a litter of newborn puppies.

Having spent time with both adult dogs, Paul desperately hopes they can both find loving homes despite the problems they face.  The magic of Battersea is in matching all kinds of dogs with all kids of owners.”

The first series of “For The Love Of Dogs”, which is affectionately referred to as “Pogdogs” on Twitter, won a National Television Award in the Factual Entertainment category, beating “Top Gear”, “The Apprentice” and “The Great British Bake Off”. It has also been nominated for a BAFTA for Best Features Programme (winners announced May 12th).

Battersea commemorated Paul’s work for the charity by unveiling a statue of his late dog Buster at their center in South West London in October 2012.

As the second series, which is sponsored by Pedigree,  begins, Paul finds himself falling in love with Frankie, a two-year old British Bulldog with a huge personality and a very expressive face who has problem with his legs. Vet Phil can’t work out what the problem is but suspects it might be neurological. He also meets King, an English Mastiff weighing in at 75 pounds. He snores and has sores on his joints from sleeping on hard floors, he also has skin problems; it looks like the Battersea staff have their work cut out.

Paul is a huge animal lover: “I’ve got four dogs, four barn owls, eight chickens, ten sheep and six pigs” he says. “When I got home from filming at Battersea my dogs would sniff me and look at me like I’ve been unfaithful.”  Hopefully they will forgive him his ‘infidelity’ once they see the show!

Dogs and their owners are currently preparing for the popular annual sponsored dog walk Best Paw Forward, which will be taking place on Sunday 19 May 2013 in aid of Cancer Research UK.

Now in its fourth year, the event attracts up to 100 dogs and families, who come together to follow a beautiful four mile route along the banks of the River Thames, starting and finishing at leafy Barnes Green in SW London. Best Paw Forward has proved to be an incredibly successful and enjoyable fundraising initiative, having raised a staggering £110,000 for the cancer charity to date.

Cancer Research UK volunteer Abi Hayhoe, who is organising this year’s walk, said, “It’s amazing what we can achieve with the help of our four-legged friends. Everyone involved has so much fun and it’s extremely rewarding to know that we’re helping to support Cancer Research UK in the battle against cancer.”

All money raised will go towards supporting Cancer Research UK’s vital work into the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of all types of cancer.

Natalie Brownless, local fundraiser for Cancer Research UK in South West London, said, “This is a great event for dog lovers and their canine friends alike. The money raised makes a huge difference, funding vital cancer research which will help bring forward the day when all cancers are cured.”

Many local businesses are kindly sponsoring the event, including UK Pets Company, For the Love of Dog, Savills, Sociable Paws, Medivet, Richmond Vets and many others.

Registration is £12 per dog. To register your dog to take part, please visit http://supportus.cancerresearchuk.org/bpfbarnes or ring 08701 60 20 40.

With both the Huffington Post and The Independent now reporting that Spring is finally here, we thought it was time to re-introduce our annual drive to raise awareness of the dangers of leaving your dog in a hot car.

Dogs die in hot cars. The RSPCA knows it, PETA knows it, The Dogs Trust knows it. “Hot dogs are not cool in cars” warns the British Kennel Club.

Every year we report tragic headlines from all over the world of dogs who have perished or suffered after being left in a car in the heat. Even on relatively cool days. Even with the windows left open. Even when water was provided.

In June 2011, two police dogs “baked to death” after being left in a car. Chay, a Belgian Shepherd Malinois, was used by police for breeding and Milly, a GSD (who was only five months old) was still being trained.  They died after being left in a civilian vehicle outside a police centre, while their handler attended a meeting.

The dog world were outraged when this news hit the airwaves, but one magazine decided to do something proactive rather than just get angry.

Dogs Today launched the “Don’t Cook Your Dog” campaign within days of the tragic headlines. It aims to to educate dog owners not to leave dogs in hot cars, how to respond if they see a dog left in a car in distress, and how to recognize and treat the symptoms of heatstroke.  You can read all about it HERE.

One of the key components of the campaign is a car window sticker, which aims to spread the word about the dangers of leaving a dog in a car to other motorists and prompt them to think twice before doing so.

Dogs In The News, who have been supporters of the campaign since day one, are proud to offer these window stickers free of charge to anyone who wants one.

We would love to see one of these in every dog-lover’s car, and to never have to read about a dog dying in a hot car ever again.

This drive to spread the message is more important than ever as summer approaches and the weather finally warms up.  Click HERE to order your sticker now.

Further Reading
International “Don’t Cook Your Dog” campaign unites the dog world
“Don’t Cook Your Dog” campaign shortlisted for BSME award
Police dog handler who inspired international campaign gets off lightly

TV Vet Emma Milne talks all things microchipping in light of impending legislation

With an average of one pet going missing every two minutes of every day, that’s a total of nearly 300,000 lost or stolen animals each year across the UK. These stats, coupled with new legislation set to make microchipping of dogs compulsory by 2016 and the threat of £500 fines for non-compliance, mean it is now more important than ever to ensure your pet is chipped.

To make sure you’re prepared we’ve got everything you need to know about all things microchipping from where to take your pet to be chipped safely, what to consider when getting a microchip and what you need to do to give you and your pet the best chance of being reunited if ever they were to be lost or stolen.

Do you know what to do if your pet goes missing? Are printing out the missing posters any use? What does the new legislation mean for you?

Join Emma and Celia Walsom from Petlog, the biggest missing pets register in the UK for all the advice you need, to answer any questions you have about safeguarding your pet.  The show will be broadcast at 2:45 pm on Monday 29th April. 

Click HERE to submit a question before the show.

For more info visit: http://www.tracer-microchips.co.uk

52 miles on four feet – and all in the name of dogs. Aaron Smith and Richard Fairlamb from the Kennel Club are preparing for the gruelling task of running the London Marathon together and hope to raise thousands of pounds for dogs in the process.

Last year, Richard took over the role of Kennel Club Charitable Trust Administrator. In this role, he receives letter after letter from charities desperately seeking support. Now, vowing to help as many as possible, he has decided to raise more money for the Kennel Club Charitable Trust.

Richard, along with his colleague Aaron, set about seeing how they could best raise money for the Charitable Trust together and decided that running one of the toughest challenges in the UK would do the trick.

Calling on the support of friends, family and dog lovers around the country, the two are hoping to raise more than £5,000 for the charity which helps make a difference for dogs by supporting research into canine diseases, assisting support dogs and providing much needed funding to a variety of welfare charities.

The boys are only halfway to their target, with just a few days to go until the big event.

The two dedicated young men have not let painful Achilles tendon or knee problems dampen their enthusiasm as they prepare for the challenge that awaits. Aaron, who had done little exercise for the last few years following the arrival of his daughter Daisy, has been training since November, taking only the week off over Christmas. Richard has been making sure he runs three times a week but suffered a setback in January due to a knee injury.

Aaron said: “Richard and I have been training hard for what is bound to be the most difficult challenge that either of us have ever faced. Neither of us are actually dog owners but we were keen to take part in the London Marathon to raise money for the Kennel Club Charitable Trust as we’ve seen the great work that it does to make a real difference for dogs.”

Richard and Aaron raised money at Crufts by training on a treadmill on the Kennel Club Charitable Trust Stand (in the middle of a busy Hall 3!) Visit their Virgin Money Giving page to donate towards their cause.

The Kennel Club Charitable Trusts mission statement is simple, this being: “We make a difference for all dogs by funding a wide variety of work ranging from supporting research into canine diseases to welfare initiatives and the promotion of support dogs, all of which give dogs healthier and happier lives.” Since its formation in 1987, the Trust has provided grants of over £5 million.

Given the recent tragic events in Boston, organizers have announced that there will be a 30-second silence at the start of the London Marathon on Sunday (21^st April), and that runners will be given a black ribbon to wear in tribute.

This month, the creative minds at ‘Go Compare’ are taking their consistently annoying adverts in a new (doggie) direction.

The first ad, which aims to stop people getting a ‘ruff’ deal on their insurance, features Gio Compario, the Welsh Tenor, coming into a meeting, saying that he gets that his singing was irritating. He proceeds to introduce a new idea; a scruffy Jack Russell wearing a costume which makes him look like two dogs carrying an advertising box. This is, not surprisingly, met with bemused delight by the advertising executives.

In the second advert, Gio takes the idea of capitalising on canine cuteness even further, by suggesting that they train the Jack Russell, this time dressed in a simple tux, to play the Go Compare song on a tiny piano.

“He can’t play yet,” says Gio, while a rather sorry looking dog hunches at his feet, “I just got him. But in an ideal world he’ll be knocking out the theme tune. I think if I put bits of sausage on the right notes, we could be in business…”

Now, while we applaud Gio’s intention to use reward-based training on his new dog, we would like to warn him of the pitfalls of using dogs in advertising.

John Lewis, Morrisons and VW Polo have all faced backlash from dog lovers in recent years when they used man’s best friend in ill advised video ads for their products, and Harvey Nicols raised a few hairy eyebrows when they featured Bull breeds in a recent print ad campaign for their handbags. Word to the wise, Gio, if you and your dog are going to attempt to challenge Aleksandr Orlov for the cutest comparison site commercial prize, do your research first, and do it properly!

On the other hand, the Andrex puppy is probably singlehandedly responsible for uncountable numbers of loo roll sales. And he’s been around since 1972. Perhaps a spokesdog for Go Compare is the best way to go.

Frankly, we’re just glad he’s stopped singing…

However, the JRT still has a long way to go before he’s anywhere near as good as this fellow:

“We are really excited about unveiling this new campaign,” said Gocompare.com chief finance and marketing officer Kevin Hughes. “It’s a totally different format for us but Wynne Evans, who plays Gio, is in his element, and we’re sure viewers are going to enjoy seeing a totally different side of his character.”

When Ruth Bliss started noticing her beloved Cocker Spaniel X Retriever, Crumpet, losing weight and not being her usual loveable self, she began to worry.

Ten years earlier Ruth had picked out the gorgeous Crumpet from a friend’s litter, having decided her family, which consisted of her husband Jeff, and three daughters Rosanna, Ilana and Tamsin, needed a family pet.

The family, who were living in Hong Kong at the time, enjoyed many years with Crumpet, who loved long walks, chewing the girls’ toys and sleeping in front of the fire. But tragedy struck shortly after the family moved back to the UK.

Ruth started noticing that Crumpet wasn’t her usual playful self, preferring to take longer naps and generally being a lot slower. Her fur had started looking dull and Ruth decided she needed to take action. Following a blood test at the local vet, it was revealed that Crumpet’s white blood cells where virtually non-existent and blood test results came back positive for two types of tick-borne disease.

Ruth and the family were devastated as it confirmed, as suspected, that Crumpet was seriously ill. Ruth had not treated Crumpet regularly for ticks and when the results came back realised she hadn’t known enough about the real dangers of ticks – they are second to mosquitos in transmitting infectious diseases! Not only that, but after carrying out research of her own, she found out that ticks can carry diseases such as Lyme disease, canine Ehrlichiosis and canine Babesiosis.

Crumpet was treated by her vet and she lived for a few years longer but sadly suffered set backs such as a glaucoma in her right eye, resulting in loss of sight. She eventually succumbed at 16 years of age, but following her illness years earlier, she was never the same and had lost her zest for life, not even being able to muster up the energy to chase after a ball, something she used to love doing.

Ruth comments: “We were all so sad when dear Crumpet started to become ill. The vet felt that the likely reason for her illness was down to ticks. Although she lasted a few more years, those years were miserable for her and she was never the same again. Although I had known about ticks, I didn’t know enough – I would recommend to all dog owners that they should regularly use a tick prevention treatment so the same doesn’t happen to other families”.

Crumpet’s case study is part of the wider “Be Tick Aware” campaign, by Frontline® Spot On, raising the awareness of ticks and tick-borne diseases.