Bits for Pets Blog

THE owners of border terrier Charlie who returned home on Sunday after being missing for 20 days believe there could be a sinister reason for his loss.

Charlie disappeared while on a walk with his owner Liz Carr in woods near their home in Oare on October 9.

When he returned after three weeks, there was sand and dust in his coat.

Mrs Carr and her husband Mike believed the terrier had been trapped in a badger sett or fox hole until he lost enough weight to get out.
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But now Charlie’s vet Julia Hayward has suggested that the terrier may have been dognapped.

After giving Charlie a thorough inspection on Monday, Mrs Hayward told Mrs Carr that Charlie had hair missing from the back of his legs.

Mrs Hayward thought he might have been kept in some form of harness.

She wondered if he had been stolen and then dumped back near home after the thieves discovered he had been micro-chipped.

The dog would have been no good for breeding because he had been neutered as a pup.

Border terrier puppies sell for anything up to £500 and there is concern about a growing trade in dog-snatching and demanding high ransoms from owners.

Mr and Mrs Carr are delighted that their pet is back home.

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RSPCA urges public to buy lower-noise fireworks this November -

The RSPCA is appealing to the public to buy lower-noise fireworks this Bonfire Night to help save the thousands of animals frightened of loud fireworks from fear and misery.

A shocking 82 per cent increase in calls about distressed and injured animals was recorded by the Society last year - members of the public can help reduce this unacceptable figure by avoiding fireworks with big bangs.

It’s not surprising that the RSPCA receives so many calls about the distress fireworks cause animals - research commissioned by the Society showed that 49 per cent of dog owners questioned said their pet was frightened of loud noises. Forty-five per cent of owners reported that their dog was frightened of fireworks.

An RSPCA report ‘Keep The Noise Down’ concludes that a noise limit of 97 decibels (dBAI) should be set for fireworks available for private use by the public. This noise level, similar to that of a car door slamming, would help reduce the distress and suffering loud fireworks cause animals.

A survey of vets showed they treated 3,639 animals for stress caused by fireworks on and around 5 November last year. The Society fears this is just the tip of the iceberg and that it could be even worse for pets and wildlife this year.

In August this year, a four-month-old puppy was killed after being so terrified by a firework that he jumped over a fence in fear and was run over.

Gozo, a New Zealand Huntaway puppy, was in his outside run in Plumpton, near Lewes, when a firework went off in a neighbouring garden. Gozo was so scared he jumped over a four-foot wall and ran off. His owner found his body later the following morning.

The RSPCA’s acting chief veterinary adviser David McDowell said: “Thousands of animals up and down the country suffer distress or injury every year because of firework noise. Our research shows this distress could be reduced dramatically if fireworks no louder than 97 decibels were available to the public for private displays. The current legal noise limit is 120 decibels.

“Fireworks don’t have to be loud to be impressive - most people enjoy the visual display as much, if not more than, the huge bangs. We urge members of the public to buy lower-noise fireworks which are registered as category two under the British Standards mark.”

He added: “It is possible to find lower-noise fireworks in shops now, but if your store doesn’t stock them, why not complain to the manager - we need to make a big noise about keeping the noise down!”

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