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IN THE NEWS….
GET CHIPPING!!!
The Government, still scrabbling round for a solution to the dangerous dogs situation, is proposing that all dogs should be microchipped. This is a laudable idea, and wouldn't half make the bureaucrats feel proactive...in some ideal world where all pets would be licensed, inoculated, properly trained, etcetera, etcetera...but does anyone seriously imagine that the kind of irresponsible people who keep 'weapon dogs' or breed dogs for fighting would go along with this? Of course they wouldn't.If breeders are capable of hacking the ears off greyhounds in order to mask their ID tattoos, what would prevent similarly sick individuals from gouging out microchips, assuming their animals had them, so as to make dogs unidentifiable? THIS WHOLE LEGISLATION NEEDS THINKING THROUGH, STARTING WITH A CRACKDOWN ON BACK-STREET BREEDERS.
HILLSIDE ROMANIAN DOG-RESCUE  
THE THREE DOGS PICTURED ABOVE ARE, BELIEVE IT OR NOT, SOME OF THE LUCKY ONES. BRICK (ON THE LEFT) HAD SPENT HIS WHOLE LIFE CHAINED UP, WITH HIS COLLAR EMBEDDED IN HIS NECK. LITTLE PETRONEL, WHO HAD BEEN BLINDED, WAS CAUGHT IN AN AGONISING TRAP. AND SANNI, THE PUPPY WAS BLIND AND ABANDONED. THANKFULLY, THESE THREE, AFTER TREATMENT, ARRIVED AT THE HILLSIDE ANIMAL SANCTUARY (SEE LINK BELOW) ON FEBRUARY 2nd., TO BE FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER THREE ON FEBRUARY 6th, AND TEN MORE IN MID-MONTH. AFTER NEUTERING AND VACCINATION, ALL OF THESE LOVELY DOGS, AND MORE TO COME, WILL BE LOOKING FOR LOVING HOMES IN THE U.K.
ROMANIAN STREET-DOGS FACE HIDEOUS CRUELTY AND SHORT LIVES. HORNSEA DOG-OWNERS HAVE CONTRIBUTED TOWARDS THIS APPEAL: PLEASE LET'S JOIN TOGETHER IN HELPING THESE UNFORTUNATES FIND THEIR HAPPY-EVER-AFTERS. HILLSIDE HAVE PLEDGED NEW HOMES FOR 25 ROMANIAN DOGS. HILLSIDE ANIMAL SANCTUARY: BEAGLE PUPPY BREEDING FACILITY REFUSED!!!WELL DONE TO THE BUAV FOR ITS STERLING CAMPAIGN, TO ALL 28,000 PEOPLE WHO SIGNED ITS PETITION, TO THOSE WHO DEMONSTRATED OR WROTE LETTERS OF OBJECTION, AND MOST OF ALL TO COMMUNITIES SECRETARY ERIC PICKLES FOR STOPPING THIS OBSCENITY IN ITS TRACKS.
BATTERY BEAGLES SHAME US ALL, AND THEY'RE COMING TO THE EAST RIDING!The Sunday Times recently reported shocking facts about Beagles bred for medical testing. Harlan Laboratories (based at Wyton, Huntington, Cambs) is Britain's biggest breeder of laboratory animals. The puppies, which are sold on for medical experiments and usually killed afterwards, are evidently viewed as 'commodities', undeserving of any quality of life. Undercover investigations revealed that they spend their lives in cages, which are hosed down, unable to play or socialise, and are let out for a paltry 20 MINUTES' EXERCISE PER WEEK. WORST OF ALL, SUCH TREATMENT IS NOT ILLEGAL.
Thousands sign BUAV petition opposing beagle farm05/09/2011
A BUAV petition opposing the replacement of a beagle breeding facility in Yorkshire by Bantin & Kingman (B&K) has received an overwhelming response. The petition, which has now been submitted to The Planning Inspectorate, collected over 28,000 signatures in just over two weeks. In June, the Planning Committee of East Riding Council rejected the original proposal by B&K following objections lodged by the BUAV, other animal groups and thousands of members of the public across Yorkshire and the UK. B&K subsequently appealed to The Planning Inspectorate. The BUAV's Chief Executive, Michelle Thew said, “The BUAV urges The Planning Inspectorate to refuse B&K’s appeal to build a beagle breeding farm. There is widespread public concern about the use of dogs in research which is reflected in the large number of people who have signed the BUAV’s petition objecting to B&K’s plans. This will be a production line with the dogs treated as commercial products, bred to suffer and die in laboratories. Allowing such a facility to go ahead is likely to increase the number of dogs used in research as they will be more readily available. This is at odds with public opinion and the recent Government pledge to reduce the numbers of animals in experiments." The BUAV's opposition to the farm and petition against the farm has received national and regional media coverage, appearing in The Independent on Sunday. Beagles are chosen because of their gentle, malleable nature, and I'd lay bets that these lovely, playful animals are delighted to see those who supposedly care for them. AND IF, NEXT MONTH, COMMUNITIES SECRETARY ERIC PICKLES GRANTS U.S COMPANY B&K UNIVERSAL PERMISSION TO EXTEND THEIR PREMISES AT GRIMSTON, THE SAME OBSCENITY WILL BE PEPLICATED ON OUR DOORSTEP. When are we going to end the barbaric practice of animal experimentation? If you care about dogs, then please DO SOMETHING! Picket Grimston, shout it out on Facebook and Twitter, bombard your MP with protest letters!
VIGILANTE MOB TARGETS GRIMSBY DOG-ABUSERDog-lover Michael Currie filmed a neighbour beating and punching his Staffordshire bull-terrier and posted the clip onto YouTube, (I couldn't bear to watch it all) where it went viral. Within an hour, a mob surrounded the man's house, breaking windows, and attacking him. Police intervened, the dog-beater was arrested, and the dog taken in by the Blue Cross. A police spokesman condemned the mob-action, but most right-minded people will applaud it. Mr. Currie had apparently contacted the police, who passed him on to the RSPCA, to no avail. SO GOOD ON YOU, THE PEOPLE OF STANLEY STREET, FOR INTERVENING AND SAVING THAT POOR LITTLE DOG!!! SEASONAL CANINE ILLNESS ALERT
Dog-owners beware: there's a nasty disease about, and it's a killer. The main symptoms are diarrhoea, sickness and lethargy, and no age, size or breed is immune. SCI is at its worst from August to November, and seems more prevalent in forested areas. For more details, go to: http://www.aht.org.uk/seasonal_illness.html
WORLD'S UGLIEST DOG
Meet Yoda, officially the worl's ugliest dog. Spindly-legged and virtually hairless, the Chihuahua/Chinese Crested bitch was initially mistaken for a rat when she was rescued from behind an apartment block. But beauty being very much in the eye of the beholder, it's good to know that Yoda's owner, along with those of all the other entrants, genuinely love their dogs, however unprepossessing...as we all should. POLICE DOG-HANDLER OUTRAGE Surely all right-minded dog-lovers shuddered at this week's news that a dog-handler left an adult Malinois and a German Shepherd puppy shut in an airless car on the hottest day of the year. Both died an agonising death, and, worse, the same handler had caused the death of another dog in exactly the same way in 2004! Why wasn't this man prosecuted and banned from ever working with dogs again? Police authorities, get your house in order!! PRONG HORROR
These dreadful devices are known as 'prong', or 'pinch' collars.: The one on the right was recently confiscated by Humberside Police, and photographed at our training session. It was tried out on everyone's forearm, and believe me, even moderate pressure is evtremely uncomfortable. Freely available from Amazon, e-Bay and many other websites, they are intended to stop a dog from pulling, and exponents insist that they don't cause harm. If only! There have been many reported incidents of idiotic owners leaving such collars on permanently, so that they become embedded into their dog's neck, necessitating surgical removal. Incredibly, prong collars, like their electronic counterparts, are not illegal in England....but they should be. Let it be said, and further said, if you can't control your dog, then get help from a professional. There's no substitute for proper training, and absolutely no excuse for resorting to such inhumane methods. POOP-SCOOP INSANITY!
Dog-fouling understandably enrages everyone, from the anti-canine lobby to the responsible majority who feel tainted by the couldn't-care-less brigade. One small town in Portugal has proposed collecting the DNA of every local dog (at the owners' expense, naturally) so that they can find out whodunnit. Absolutely fine if this database could be used for the benefit of lost or injured dogs, but I'm not holding my breath. Lincoln City council is currently pursuing Pooperman, if they can find him, an anti-dog-poo crusader, who leaves stern notes in piles of dog-mess (that'll do it!) on the grounds that he is adding to the city's litter-problem. Naughty naughty. And finally, one Louise Willows, of Crouch End, north London, has received a police warning for chalking cupcakes(!) at dog-fouling sites and leaving messages which read: "Clean it up! Children walk here!" Ms Willows, who has so far drawn 25 cupcakes, has vowed to carry on with her campaign, and even stand trial if necessary. FAT DOGS!
A recent Dogs' Trust survey found that 35% of pet dogs are now overweight, with all the attendant realities, including reduced mobility, quality of life, and overall lifespan. Hands up those who haven't fed their dogs treats? But many owners have completely lost sight of their pets' diets, along with their own. Chips? Cheese? Curry? Cakes? No, no, no! If this is you, STOP it before it's too late!
MALAMUTES LEAD THE WAY!
Alaskan Malamutes are emerging as one of Britain's most popular breeds. According to the Kennel Club, almost 2,000 puppies were registered in 2009. These handsome, muscular animals are said to make great family pets, but aren't suitable for everyone, because they're bred to pull, as well as needing space and exercise. As with all canine 'fashion breeds', please consider your circumstances before you adopt, and most of all put the dog first.
CLASH OF THE TRAINERS!
There's been a skirmish between top behaviourists Caesar 'Dog Whisperer' Millan and Victoria 'Me or the dog' Stilwell. Millan believes you should treat dogs as dogs, Stilwell that it's all about instilling confidence. Both are right to some degree, because in dog-training, there are no absolutes except for kindness and consistency. A happy dog is one that knows her place whilst retaining her spirit and character.
SIGN HERE, MR. HOODIE Yet another well-meaning but essentially toothless government proposal: this one aimed at breeders and would-be owners. So-called 'puppy contracts' would ensure that all animals come from good, healthy stock and that buyers have a duty of care towards their pets. Yobs using fighting dogs as weapons could be issued with 'dog asbos.' Yeah, right. Haven't we been here before? Whilst applauding the principles of responsible breeding/ownership, who's actually going to police these new laws? Won't the offending breeders/ youths threatened with legal action simply exterminate their dogs? One proposal that did emerge, however, was the re-introduction of the dog-licence, which was scrapped in 1987. Why couldn't all the above suggestions be incorporated into it so that dogs would once again come under the protection of the police and local authorities?
. DOGS MORPH INTO OWNERS?
Owners often say their dogs resemble them. But according to new collaborative research by the universities of Oxford and Vienna, dogs also behave like their owners. In an experiment involving the opening of a wooden box, animals which were rewarded for copying their handlers' actions got it right 17 times out of 20. Trainers have welcomed this research as proof that owners can positively influence their dogs' behaviour. One fascinating example of this was the report by veterinary surgeon Pete Wedderburn, whose sick dog refused food until a veterinary nurse got down on the floor and pretended to eat from his bowl. All of which speaks volumes about dogs' long interaction with Man, and also, as any dog-owner knows, about their ability to read human body-language.....as anyone who's watched Mary Ray's heelwork to music routines will attest!
SUPPORTING GREYHOUNDS WITH A GOOD READ: DO BUY! Hounds At Home is a collection of true stories about adopting and living with greyhounds – the ups and downs, the funny and the sad. We have a foreword by the remarkable Annette Crosbie, OBE, and endorsements from novelists Wendy Perriam, Katie Fforde and Gilda O’Neill, not to mention some lovely photographs. The price is a mere £4.50 (p&p 1.50, plus 50p for each additional book) with all proceeds going to the greyhounds at Hersham. The books will be available from the WGW website after the launch date – www.hershamhounds.org – or you can order an advance copy or copies NOW(!) from me. (hilary@hilaryjohnson.demon.co.uk /1, Beechwood Court, Syderstone, Norfolk, PE31 8TR. Tel: 01485 578594) Near neighbours may collect and save on postage! Or I can deliver. Payment can be made by cash or cheque – made payable to me, Hilary Johnson – but if you want to pay by credit card or using PayPal, you’ll need to wait to order online from the WGW website.
NO WALKIES FOR NOTTS DOGS! Newark and Sherwood council in Nottinghamshire has banned dogs from almost all its parks and open spaces, after some owners allegedly failed to clean up after their pets. 72 desgnated sites have now become canine no-go areas, with £75.00 on-the-spot fines or £1,000 penalties for non-compliance. The Kennel Club and Dogs' Trust described the actions as 'the most draconian' they had ever encountered, warning that similar approaches by other authorities would be disastrous for canine welfare. So where's the common sense in all this? Wouldn't it have been better to have pursued errant owners and enforce the dog-fouling bye-laws...or, call me cynical, would that have proved too expensive? And where on earth are pets supposed to run free?
GORGEOUS GIANT GEORGE Just had to include this, for those who missed it....meet George, officially the biggest dog in the world. This glorious Great Dane stands 43" from paw to shoulder, and a staggering 7'3" when standing on his hind legs. Weighing in at 17.5stone, he gets through 110lbs of food per week.
AN END TO INBREEDING? Following a damning 2008 BBC documentary and its refusal to broadcast Crufts, Professor Sir Patrick Bateson has weighed in with a proposal to end to the Kennel Club's 137-year monopoly of the Pedigree breeding industry. It is hoped that tighter regulation, including spot-checks, compulsory regulation and mandatory microchipping of all puppies will put paid to what has been dubbed 'a parade of mutants' and 'a freakish beauty pageant', with overbred dogs paying the high price of debilitating health problems. The grim statistics speak for themselves: Cavaliers with heads too small to accommodate their brains, bulldogs with heads so huge that 90% of puppies are delivered by Caesarean, flat-nosed breeds that struggle to breathe and large breeds condemned to early immobility, we can only applaud Sir Patrick's recommendations, and hope that compulsion will triumph over greed.
PUPPY FARMING ALERT The Dogs Trust today warned that owners are inadvertently buying puppies which have been 'farmed' in horrendous conditions. Bitches are kept in small 'battery' pens, without daylight, exercise or contact with other dogs, are bred continuously and then 'discarded'. Unwitting owners are buying via the Internet, through small ads, pet superstores, or even from people posing as caring owners, and this abhorrent practice must be stamped out. ALWAYS buy from reputable breeders, check their history and reputation, and insist on seeing the puppies with their mother. If something seems wrong, then it probably is. FOR MORE INFO, SEE: http://www.dogstrust.org.uk
COUNCILS' PARK DOG-ASBOS
IT'S ALL IN THE WAG!
FIRST AID COURSES FOR PET OWNERS
ANCIENT BREEDS FACE THREAT OF EXTINCTION
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NEW BREEDS ON THE BLOCK!
Take your pick! Labradoodle, Puggle, Jug, Sprocker, Jackahuahua…..
Hybrids---deliberately crossbred , as opposed to the happy accidents that are mongrels---are becoming increasingly sought after in the dog world.
Puggles, labradoodles,cockapoos, shepadoodles, bullmatians and labradingers are just some of the new 'breeds' created for their unique combination of desirable characteristics, and potential owners are prepared to pay several hundred pounds for their designer dogs.
Is this trend a good thing? It could be---after all, the existing 400 pedigree breeds were all deliberately created! But crossing breeds with extreme physical characteristics, such as pugs and pekes(flat noses/bulging eyes) or giant breeds with a tendency to hip-dysplasia would be a disaster. It would pay us to remember that dogs are sentient creatures---not fashionable accessories.
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TO DOCK OR NOT TO DOCK?
The contentious issue of tail-docking is back in the spotlight, following the Government's proposal of a total ban, backed by the RSPCA and 98% of the veterinary fraternity.
Needless to say, blood-sports enthusiasts are up in arms and doing their best to justify the practice on the grounds of canine-welfare! Apparently, a ban will lead to a pandemic of tail-amputation, and is yet another political assault on rural pursuits.
Utter rubbish! Ban this mutilation once and for all, and let's have dogs as nature intended with no exclusions for either field or show-ring.
FAT DOGS & FAT OWNERS!!!
According to the Chartered Society of Physiotherapy, there's an epidemic of human obesity/inactivity--and our pets aren't far behind!
A survey of 200 animal physiotherapists found that 81 specialists cited obesity as being the no. 1 health-risk facing dogs: two-thirds said that this was down to over-feeding and under-excercising. This problem, a new phenomenon, now affects 40-50% of dogs!!!
So please, don't over-indulge your pet at Xmas or any other time...you're not doing him any favours. Instead of lying around eating junk, get yourselves out in the fresh air for a good, brisk walk...I guarantee you'll both feel better for it!
THE RETURN OF THE WOLF???
Paul Lister, Laird of the 23,000-acre Alladale Estate in the Scottish Highlands, is seeking permission to import a pack of 20 wolves onto his land, along with lynx, brown bears, and wild boar.
Promises to install an 8ft electric fence have mollified neither local farmers, nor the Ramblers' Association. Wolves, which have been extinct in Britain since the 13th century, have nevertheless been re-introduced into the Mercantour National Park in the French Alps...conservationists are delighted; local farmers less so.
Will this experiment succeed there, or in Britain? Opinion is divided...the acquisition of 'native' wolves should be a wonderful thing, and they should be fully protected...but will the trigger-happy, once again, hunt them to extinction?
FIRST CLONED DOG
Snuppy, the world's first cloned dog, is an Afghan hound (son of an Afghan father and a Labrador surrogate mother). He was 'created' by Professor Wop-Suk Hwang, of Seoul University, and seems, to all outward appearances, a perfectly normal, rambunctious puppy.
Cloning of rare or 'desirable' breeds is happening in all areas of the animal world, primarily those of the racehorse and cattle breeders...lotsa money to be made?..or is this a cynical take on eugenics??...and the whole scenario sounds fine, until you realise that the cloned animal assumes the age and genetic characteristics of the parent from whom it was cloned...a chilling thought.
MAKES YOU THINK!
Average pet dog costs £20,000 per lifetime!!
Taking into account food, grooming, kennel-fees and vet. bills, dog-ownership costs more than a new BMW or a world cruise on the QE2!
Great Danes come in top at £31,840 over 10 years: Rottweilers at £24,340, and even Jack Russells at an astounding £17,476!
Leading insurers Churchill said that 79% of owners seriously underestimate the cost of pet-ownership
DOG-NAPPING: A NICE LITTLE EARNER
Dog-napping is reaching epidemic proportions in Kent, Sussex and Surrey.
One owner handed over a £25,000 ransom for his pet English bull-terrier (a former Crufts finalist), and last month a man in Sussex paid £7,000 for the safe return of a labrador bitch and her five puppies.
Pedigree breeds, and trained gundogs are apparently being stolen to order, and the worst thing about this despicable crime is that the perpetrators often get away with it, because of the emotional ties between dog and owner.
An early day motion tabled in Parliament, calling for more effective ways of tracking stolen animals, has so far been signed by 56 MPs--it's a start, but the whole issue needs to be taken far more seriously. Lobby your MP now!!
Top 10 breeds for dognapping:
1. Staffordshire bull terrier |
2. Bulldog |
3. Boxer |
4. Labrador |
5. Yorkshire terrier |
6. Shit Tzu |
7. West Highland white terrier |
8. Springer or Cocker spaniel |
9. Cavalier King Charles Spaniel |
10. Lurcher |
PET OBITUARIES IN NATIONAL DAILY!
The Daily Telegraph is introducing a Pet Tributes service into its Saturday Obituaries column. At £10 per line, this might seem a little expensive, and, with no provision for an accompanying photograph, relatively uninformative, but there you go!
To place an ad, contact: The Announcements Team Tel: 020 7531 3000 020 7531 3000 Fax: 020 7513 2501
e-mail: announcements.ads@telegraph.co.uk
DOG GETS REPLACEMENT ELBOW
A 5-year old labrador called Koff has become the first dog in Britain to receive a replacement elbow. After being hit by a car, Koff developed severe arthritis in the affected joint.. (a dog's elbows are on the front legs, the knees on the back ones)..and could hardly walk.
The new joint, made from cobalt, chrome and polyethylene, was fitted in a pioneering 3-hour operation carried out at the University of Liverpool's Small Animal Hospital, and should last Koff the rest of a long and active life!
POLICE-DOG PROTECTION
The Daily Telegraph reports that West Yorkshire Police is the first force in the country to issue its dogs with protective boots (protection from glass-shards)--and body-armour--the latter long-overdue, given the situations police-dogs face these days. Let's hope other forces follow suit (or armour!) as surely they owe it to their loyal, conscripted members to offer them maximum protection.
CANINE BLOOD-BANK
The Retired Greyhound Trust this year co-ordinated a pilot blood-transfusion after being approached by veterinary practise Medivet.
Blood taken from 20 former racing greyhounds forms the basis of the proposed new scheme: Greyhound blood can be matched to all breeds, and so it is hoped that a national canine blood-bank will soon be up and running--if not racing!
FIREWORKS BILL LATEST
The Bill to control fireworks received royal assent on 18th September. This is intended to restrict their sale and usage to specific times of the year: the RSPCA is pressing for enforcement of this bill, as well as a noise-limit of 95 Db
CANINE GENOME SUCCESS
A standard poodle called Shadow is the first dog in history to have his genes mapped: hopefully this will mean great advances in the diagnosis and treatment of canine disease. Watch this space!
DOG THIEVES
The Daily Telegraph (3.5.03) carried a heartbreaking article about the organised theft of pedigree dogs--some for intensive breeding, some for a quick profit, and worse, some destined for fighting, as well as sporting breeds, such as lurchers, the ultimate blood-sports accessories. Others have been kidnapped for ransom, sometimes more than once. Gangs who will steal to order are sometimes responsible, along with Travellers, and, in extreme cases, drug-addicts with an eye for a decent pay-off.
All of this leaves the bereft owner with no information, and usually, no hope. An extensive poster-campaign is often the only way forward, as the police show little interest in this most despicable of crimes, and there is little liaison between the law, the veterinary profession, and bodies like the dog-warden service.
Shocked by this apathy, Jayne Hayes, whose miniature French bulldog was only recovered after a tip-off, has set up a website www.doglost.co.uk, showing pictures of lost dogs, and also, for a small fee, faxing details of missing pets to all vets within 10-20 miles of the owner's home.
In the meantime, apart from commonsense measures like keeping your dog in sight, the best deterrent is still microchipping, which, although not infallible, can in many instances identify your dog. Because the very worst aspect of dognapping has to be the not knowing. Don't let it happen to you.
VETS TO GIVE PET KIDNEY-TRANSPLANTS
Under new RCVS guidleines, organ transplants are to be allowed in Britain. The first kidney-transplants, at an estimated cost of £8,000, will be performed on cats, but the same technique cannot be far behind for suitable dogs. Pets are now living longer than ever, with all the attendant ailments of old age, and veterinary procedures have grown increasingly complex.
Uncertainty remains, however, on the subject of donor animals, with the RSPCA quite rightly opposed to the use of strays. It would be horrendous if a 'body-snatching' mentality prevailed, with the well-off sacrificing less fortunate animals to treat their own pets. In America, owners whose pet receives a transplant are expected to also adopt the donor animal, and care for both together. This would be seem an ideal solution, as long as ethical considerations obtain. Watch this space.
GRAPES & RAISINS WARNING!
Grapes and raisins seem so innocuous, don't they? They're handy-sized treats, and fun for your dog to chase or catch. But be warned!
In 1989, the American ASPCA poison control centre first noticed that a large proportion of dogs that had eaten grapes and raisins developed acute kidney failure. Typically, the afflicted dogs began vomiting within hours of ingesting the fruit, irrespective of the amount eaten or whether they were bought, home-grown, or even organic. Pesticide tests came back negative, and no-one knows why these fruits should have such a toxic effect.
So take care! Many owners use raisins as training-aids, but in the light of these findings, would be well-advised not to. If your dog does suffer an extreme reaction, induced vomiting and/or charcoal can help to offset some of the effects until you can reach the vet.
FUR-TRADE PLUMBS NEW DEPTHS
News has reached the E.C. of cat and dog fur being used and imported by the fashion industry. Our friends in the far east again, particularly Korea and China, where animals in the cold provinces grow thick and luxuriant coats.
There's talk of stricter E.C. labelling rules. But it has to be said that fur-farmers are hardly going to label their garments accurately--indeed, many are already marked 'other fur imports', or simply dyed to look like fun-fur. And the E.C. says it's powerless to impose a ban, because 'World Trade Organisation rules do not permit moral or ethical considerations!!!'
One Brussels campaigner is in possession of a coat made from the fur of four golden retrievers, and another comprising the skins of 42 Alsatian puppies. These poor animals are also 'farmed' in appalling conditions. But objections to the use of pet-fur are hypocritical: NO animal should die for its pelt to adorn some ignorant human. Wake up, you heartless fashion-industry! THERE'S NO NEED FOR IT!
PUSHCHAIR DANGER
A Worcester mother, out with dogs and toddler in pushchair, recently had a near-miss. She'd looped a dog-lead onto one pushchair handle and was strolling along, holding loosely onto the other, when her dog spotted a cat. Instinctively giving chase, it took child and pushchair with it, dragging the whole lot across a road, up a kerb, and onto a grass bank.
Fortunately, there wasn't a tragedy--but there could have been. Dogs are unpredictable, so you've got to be alert and in control. How often have I seen a pram or pushchair outside a shop with faithful dog attached and presumably 'on guard'?? DON'T DO IT! Accident waiting to happen! Always tie your dog to something secure that can't move if he does!
AVOID EXTENDING-LEADS!
Two local dogs have this year died tragically because they were exercised on extending leads. The first got itself tangled up with a horse, and couldn't escape: the second jumped sideways under a lorry. Both owners thought they had their pets under control, but, sadly, didn't.
Extenders have their uses, in the short-term, and under controlled conditions. But they also have their dangers, because, in a moment of panic, it's too easy to lose control. THEY ARE THE LAZY OWNER'S EXERCISE-AID, AND NO SUBSTITUTE FOR PROPER LEAD-CONTROL!! Don't let your dog be a victim!
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