Hot Dog Weather!

It's official, this week is set to be a scorcher and at Animal Assistance we are working hard to make sure our customers' animals do not become casualties of the heat. We asked our local vet Ian McConnell's for their top tips for helping our dogs stay healthy when the weather turns tropical. 

•  DO NOT lock dogs and cats in conservatories in sunny weather
  
• Try to avoid walking dogs at the hottest part of the day (between 11am and 3pm)
• Carry plenty of fresh water with you and a fold-up water bowl or plastic bag that you can roll down.
• DO NOT leave pets in parked cars in warm or sunny weather (not even with the windows open).  This video will tell you why you shouldn't 
• Take extra care with brachycephalic short-nosed breed dogs (bulldogs, pugs etc)
• If you can't put your hand on the floor for more than five seconds, it might be too hot for your pet's paws

If you think your dog might be overheated there are things you can do to help cool them down:

• Place the dog in the shade
• Ensure they have plenty of fresh clean water to drink
• Use cool (not cold) water to gradually reduce temperature by:
   
• Placing moistened cool towels over them
• Spray cool water onto their coat and gently rub it in
• Spray cool water onto their tongue
• Get veterinary advice soon

Let's hope the only over-heated hot dogs this year are those on the barbecue. Enjoy the sunshine, keep your animals safe. 

Is the New Dangerous Dogs Act Anti-Dog?

Let me share a scenario. This actually happened to us on a beach this morning and gave us cause to think.

Our dogs were playing in the sea swimming for balls that we threw. Further down the shoreline we could see three other people walking towards us. They had a dog and a child aged about 7yrs. Apart from us and them, the beach was deserted.

They didn't alter their path to avoid us and when they were quite near One of our Collies, coming out of the sea thought they were too close and barked at them. She was closest to the child and one of the adults exclaimed:

'Oh my God it went for the boy!'

The dog wasn't being aggressive she merely barked. We of course immediately apologised if the child had been frightened and the dog came away immediately it was called.

Here's the thing that made us think.

Under the new Dangerous Dogs Act all that is required for a dog to be deemed 'Dangerously out of control' is for someone to be in fear that they MAY be harmed. 

In this case was the woman who exclaimed that our dog had 'gone for' the child thinking they may have been bitten?

What would the police have said about the dog if that was the case?

Nowhere in the legislation is there any suggestion that people should understand a dog's behaviour in the context of it being a dog. Nor is there any suggestion that the court will consider any contributory actions on the part of a victim of an incident in judging a case.

So where does this leave dog owners? 

Always presumed to be in the wrong? 

It certainly made us consider whether we should constantly be trying to avoid other people and situations on the off-chance that our dog may bark at someone.

How has the new act made you think about your behaviour  as a dog owner?

Enjoying Spring in the Countryside with Your Dogs

It's perhaps timely that National Pet Awareness Week is in April. It aims to promote responsible pet ownership, and April is a Month when, certainly for dog owners, there is a greater need than ever for a keen sense of responsibility.

Even if you haven't been following Lambing Live you will doubtless know that this month is the height of the lambing season when thousands of new lambs will be in fields and on open land across the country. Sadly this fact passes many dog owners by who let their dogs stray onto land populated by new lambs. This increasingly has disastrous consequences for farmers and dog owners alike. This Farmers Guardian article uses data from a Freedom of Information request to show that dog attacks on sheep are on the increase.  

In our own area we have acres of farmland together with managed moorland. This means that it's not only sheep that are at risk from straying dogs but nesting game birds too. The law provides protection for farmers to destroy animals that interfere with sheep; and gives gamekeepers powers to ban owners who allow their dogs to stray from being on land where there are nesting game birds.



The bottom line is if your dog is not under control in the countryside it could be shot and killed by a farmer quite lawfully. 

Our local newspaper, the Oldham Evening Chronicle, reported this story with a shocking photograph not only of dead lambs but the body of the dog responsible for killing them too. It is probable that the dog was a loved family pet whose family never believed could do  something like that; but as we've said before: dogs are predators and will act like them out of instinct, no matter what breed or size they are.

The law is also clear that in open country dogs must be on a lead no longer than 2 metres  between 1st March and 31st July. There is a good leaflet produced by the Forestry Commission that explains the law on dogs and the countryside here.

So, lets keep our dogs safe and respect farmers' stock, and nesting birds.

Don't Let Your Pet Become a Crime Statistic: National Pet Theft Awareness Week

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.

Dogs, Runners, Cyclists - We Can Exist Together!

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.

Holiday Time: Home Care or Cattery?

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!

How to Choose a Dog Walker

We love our job. Meeting and spending time with dozens of different dogs of all types and sizes is a great way to earn a living. 

Having a dog in your family is a fantastic experience that research shows is good for you, so it is a privilege for us to be able to help busy families share their lives with a dog. We make sure their dogs get the care they need when family members are working, or when older people can no longer give a dog the exercise they need.

So it's no surprise that dog walkers are busy. 

But how do you choose a dog walker when so many people offer dog-walking services?

We are not the only dog walkers in our area and often recommend others when we are too busy to take on new dogs, so what standards do we insist on, and what should you look for when choosing someone to come into your home to care for your pet? 

 Trust Your Dog Walker

This seems like a no-brainer but is easily overlooked when someone seems 'nice'. Someone who is going to probably have a key to your house and be responsible for your dog (that may have cost many hundreds of pounds) should be police-checked to make sure they have a trustworthy background and should be happy to provide references from other customers that you can check.

Reputation is a good guide, so ask around your local area – in the vets or local pet shops who they recommend.

Is Your Dog Walker Insured?

Your dog walker should have third party liability insurance as a minimum, and should be happy to discuss the cover provided. How will your dog be transported? Is the vehicle fit to carry animals and is it insured specifically for that purpose as a business?

Knowledge and Expertise

What experience and knowledge does your dog walker have? They don't have to be dog trainers or behavioural experts but they certainly should be experienced handlers of a wide range of types of dog.

If they are interested in dogs they will probably also be able to tell you about loads of other interesting courses or workshops they have attended too – for example they may be involved in training clubs, or breed clubs with their own dogs, or have done animal first aid training for example.

A Professional Dog Walker

Your dog walker should want to record a wide range of information about you and your dog to make sure they are equipped with enough information to look after your dog for you, including emergency contacts and vets. 

They should also been in regular contact with you with updates about your dog's behaviour, health, socialisation to help you care for your dog. 

The National Association of RegisteredPet Sitters is a membership organisation with a code of practice. Membership is voluntary but is a good guide to the standards and professionalism of your dog walker. 

We are proud to be members and agree to their code of practice and are happy to answer any questions about the service we offer, or about us or our own lovely dogs. You can find out more about us at www.animalassistance.co.uk