The relationships we have with our pets sometimes we mean we forget their value in financial terms. This makes the tragedy of having a loved pet stolen even greater when it happens.
This week is National Pet Theft Awareness Week, aimed at helping us to take common sense precautions to combat the increasing number of thefts of dogs and cats.
Sadly it is not only the expensive pedigree dogs and cats that are stolen. A number of dogs are stolen to use, horrifically, to use as bait dogs for the sick people who still think dog fighting is an acceptable pastime.
If you saw the first episode of Dangerous Dogs this week you'll know how some unscrupulous people see what, to a dog lover, is a valued family member, as little more than a commodity to be traded.
Many dogs are stolen when unattended from gardens, so there are obvious steps we can take to ensure this doesn't happen. There are also other ways we can ensure that, if pets are stolen, they have the best chance of being reunited with their owners:
- Microchipping - ensure pets are chipped and registered: if your pet is scanned by a vet your details will be displayed as the owner
- Secure your garden - not only so your dog can't escape, but so people cannot have easy access
- If your dog goes missing, quickly get the word out on social media - at least two stolen dogs have been recovered recently when social media made them 'too hot to handle'
- Ensure that the national lost/found dogs database - DogsLostUK - is updated with your details
- Make sure that the professionals who help you care for your animals are trusted, have references and a good reputation.
The aim of National Pet Theft Awareness Week is to give us all the best chance to make sure our loved pets are never stolen, or if it does happen to make sure we are equipped to give us the best chance at getting them back quickly.
You can find out more about protecting your pets and how to use social media to spread the word about stolen or lost pets here.
What has happened to the notion of the UK as a nation of dog lovers? To judge from the media recently most dogs are savage and not to be trusted, and most dog owners are selfish people bent on spoiling everyone else's day.
As dog walkers, our own experiences are of people who simply don't understand how to be around dogs. Cyclists or runners in open country, for example, who startle owner and dog by zooming up behind them without warning, and are then highly critical of a dog who reacts apparently aggressively by barking at them (or worse).
Yet if the animal was a horse, everyone knows you slow down and take things easy around to ensure the safety of rider and their mount.
When we were young we were brought up around dogs. At the risk of sounding like a Hovis advert, things were different in those days: everyone had a scruffy dog and it was normal for dogs to play out with the kids of the neighbourhood. You grew up knowing how to behave around them.
We seem to have lost that.
The increasing number of dog 'incidents' in the news suggest that people have forgotten that a) dogs are dogs, and not designer items to own - as in our first blog post, and b) we need to behave appropriately around them.
For runners and cyclists bearing down on dogs off the lead, with their owner, it is really quite simple: make sure the owner knows you are there. Give the owner chance to make sure the dogs are not going to be startled and react badly - as you approach, slow down, ring your bell and/or give a cheery 'hello'.
There is good advice here for runners for the occasions when a dog barks or reacts badly, but much centres around the sort of common sense things most dog owners know:
- Don't carry on running/cycling - dogs have a 'predatory chase drive' and will chase you
- Ignore the dog (be boring, don't engage with it)
- Hi-Vis vests and jackets upset dogs, be aware of that (our Leo hates the Lollipop man!)
- If the dog attacks, if possible let it have an item of clothing if you can get it off
- If the dog knocks you over and attacks, roll up to protect your face neck and abdomen
Incidentally, advice on many US websites seems at odds with what dog trainers in the UK would suggest. They suggest that an aggressive response is likely to get the dog to back down - a bit of a gamble in our view! But equally many of the US sites assume that runners will be carrying Pepper Spray or a firearm to use.
As if to underline the problem, Victoria Stilwell is heading up a conference aimed at preventing dog bites, click here for details.
Ultimately we've all got to use public open space together safely and enjoyably and all of us: cyclists, runners and dog owners need to give each other space and patience.
Cats are highly territorial animals, so are they better off at home being looked after while you are away or are they safer in a cattery while you are on holiday?
We researched a number of sources for expert opinion to help you decide, and the results are interesting.
Expert advice
Both International Cat Care (ICC) and Cats Protection Society (CPS) are great sources of cat information. Both say that some form of responsible care for your cats if you aren't at home is essential, with both suggesting either catteries or cat sitters.
ICC say that although some cats find catteries stressful most settle after a day or so.
CPL recommend that cat owners seek out good cat sitters who are registered with the National Association of Registered Pet Sitters (NARP), this leaflet from them gives plenty of good advice.
Economical
Cats tend to be loners but are also quite social animals: if you have more than one cat, twice-daily visits from a home carer will probably be more economical than a cattery.
The Purina website comes down slightly on the side of home-care for cats citing their love of home and territorial nature as reason enough to prefer a visiting carer.
Of course with home care you also have the added advantage of someone to keep an eye on the house, perhaps putting a light on in the evening and drawing your curtains, as well as putting the bins out on the right day!
Relaxing
Looking after cats is one of our favourite jobs. When you've been running around with dogs all day it's nice to be able to have a relaxing cuddle in the evening with a purring feline friend.
If you decide that a cattery is the right place for your cats you will find help here to choose a good cattery, also the Purina website gives advice on both catteries and cat-sitting here.
We are happy to discuss our cat sitting services, so drop us line or give us a call. You can find more information and contact details on our website here.
And this post wouldn't be complete without some gratuitous pictures of some of the very pretty cats we look after regularly!
This is Pepper,
This is Chloe
Here's Bobby
This little scamp is Fidget, rescued from Greece:
There are many more but we'd be here all day! Bet this lot would cause a riot at Crufts this week!
