Bits for Pets Blog

The RSPCA found 32 dead horses after receiving a tip-off about an enclosure in Buckinghamshire. Almost 100 other animals were found at the site, which was described as a “horror story” by the Horse Trust.

More than 80 animals were removed from the site yesterday, where dozens of ponies, donkeys and horses had been found in an advanced state of neglect.

The RSPCA was given an anonymous tip-off about an unwell horse at the site, but had not anticipated the scale of cruelty its officers were about to find. With no food and water, rows of emaciated horses were found tethered in pens, standing among the carcasses of those that had not survived the grim conditions.

The scene of devastation that greeted rescuers has been described by some as the worst they have ever witnessed.

Click Here! for the full story

Click Here! to make a donation to the Horse Trust

We hope all our customers will tune onto December 10th episode of 60 Minute Makeover, as our Aquavista wall mounted aquarium will be featured.

We were approached back in the summer and asked if we would donate 2 Aquavista Aquariums to the show. Knowing the 60 Minute Makeover like to help deserving people - we gladly agreed.

The Aquavista wall mounted aquarium, make a brilliant addition to any home or office and makes an ideal Christmas present.

Police at a north London railway station have got mice running scared - after recruiting a 13-year-old cat.

Tizer was adopted by British Transport Police (BTP) from the Cats Protection charity in September and inducted into the force as an honorary constable.

In his role as the Chief Mouser Pc Tizer walks around King’s Cross rail station to keep it rodent-free.

An “essential member” of the team, he has unfettered access to all areas and shares an office with a senior officer.

Insp Roy Sloane, who enlisted the tabby, said: “Pc Tizer is already an essential member of the team.

“Since we got him we haven’t seen any mice in the building at all… Prior to his arrival we were spending a fortune on pest control and it wasn’t really working.”

Insp Sloane said he visited the charity’s adoption centre in north London with the aim of finding a cat to clean up the station’s rodent problem.

He met Tizer, who arrived at the centre in August after his owner died.

Insp Sloane, who shares his office with Pc Tizer, added that his feline colleague helps other officers “de-stress” and has given a boost to the force’s morale.

“Everyone is always asking after him, and he is probably the most popular member of staff,” he said.

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A clam dredged up off the coast of Iceland is thought to have been the longest-lived animal discovered.

Scientists said the mollusc, an ocean quahog clam, was aged between 405 and 410 years and could offer insights into the secrets of longevity.

Researchers from Bangor University in north Wales said they calculated its age by counting rings on its shell.

According to the Guinness Book of Records, the longest-lived animal was a clam found in 1982 aged 220.

Unofficially, another clam - found in an Icelandic museum - was discovered to be 374-years-old, Bangor University said, making their clam at least 31 years older.

The clam, nicknamed Ming after the Chinese dynasty in power when it was born, was in its infancy when Queen Elizabeth I was on the throne and Shakespeare was writing plays such as Othello and Hamlet.

Professor Chris Richardson, from Bangor University’s School of Ocean Sciences, told the BBC: “The growth-increments themselves provide a record of how the animal has varied in its growth-rate from year to year, and that varies according to climate, sea-water temperature and food supply.

“And so by looking at these molluscs we can reconstruct the environment the animals grew in. They are like tiny tape-recorders, in effect, sitting on the sea-bed and integrating signals about water temperature and food over time.”

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We have tried to help make things as easy as possible for new bunny and cavy owners, by introducing a selection of starter kits ranging in price from Basic to Deluxe. Our kits include all the basics such as water bottle, ceramic feeding dish, hay and bedding, but some kits also include bunny warrens, wooden log cabin retreats, toys, hides, cleaning products and more!

Take a look at our selections to provide your new pet with some much needed hutch accessories, or use to update your animals current accessories.

Guinea Pig starter kits
Rabbit starter kits

This year National Pet Week has got bigger and better! From 7 April - 7 May, you are invited to be a part of National Pet Month, supported by Iams. For the charity’s 18th birthday, thousands of people up and down the UK will be celebrating life with their pets, spreading the word on responsible pet ownership or raising money for their favourite charity in fun-filled events. Why not be a part of this?

National Pet Month’s aims are to:

* promote responsible pet ownership
* make people aware of the benefits of pets for people and people for pets
* increase public awareness of services available from professionals who work with animals
* raise awareness of the role, value and contribution to society of working companion animals

2007 theme - Love is …

Each year the responsible pet ownership is conveyed by running the events under a central theme. In 2007 it is ‘Love Is …..’ where we will be looking at how pets are a part of family life, the love they bring to all family members, and how we can repay that love.

If you want to learn more about National Pet Month or get involved, check our the National Pet Month website.

Click Here! To visit the official Pet Month website

ANIMAL rights activists are seeing red after a scheme to breed pink rabbits was unveiled by a South Cheshire firm.

Richard Kirkup and David McHugh, the men behind OCPRS - Orkney Celebrity Pink Rabbit Suppliers - breed Orkney Pinks on the Scottish islands.

They say they stumbled across a formula for the new breed of rabbit after a mix-up in food supplements.

Realising its business potential, the two, who are based in Winsford Road at Wettenhall, fed rabbits with a vitamin supplement which resulted in baby pink bunnies!

They were officially launched at the Marriott Hotel South in Speke at Liverpool on Thursday with the help of ex-Atomic Kitten singer Kerry Katona.

But animal rights campaigners were thrown out by hotel security before the official launch and the venture has been slammed by the RSPCA. They say there is nothing in a rabbit’s natural diet which would turn it pink.

A spokesperson added: ‘It is totally unacceptable these rabbits are being sold purely as a fashion accessory. They need lifelong care and committed owners.

‘This sets an atrocious and worrying example to fans of celebrities who are endorsing them as a fashion accessory.

‘Our inspectors are looking into this and we will ensure the welfare of these animals is not compromised.’

Described by the firm as ‘must have’ celebrity pets, they come in three different types and are priced between £550 and £700.

But despite the accusations, OCPRS says the rabbits are handled with utmost care and attention throughout their lives, and receive regular veterinary care.

Spokeswoman Andrea Winders said: ‘Our pink rabbits make the perfect house pet. They are delivered in air conditioned cars - pink of course -are house trained, and well handled.

Click Here! for the full story

A man whose dogs killed a rare animal at Belfast Zoo in January has been ordered to pay £3,500 compensation.

Emma, an adult vicuna (a member of the camel family), was killed and Boris II, a six-month-old calf, badly injured after being attacked by four dogs.

The dogs were uncontrolled and unaccompanied at the time.

John Hennessy, of Ben Madigan Heights, was found guilty on Tuesday of 11 charges arising from the incident. Two of the dogs are to be destroyed.

Belfast Magistrates Court ordered him to pay fines and compensation totalling £3,500 to Belfast City Council, which runs the zoo, as well as issuing destruction orders against two of the animals.

Speaking on behalf of the council’s Dog Warden Service, which brought the prosecution, a spokesman said: “None of the dogs were covered by the Dangerous Dogs legislation but they were clearly dangerous.

“This prosecution again underlines our determination to deal effectively with aggressive behaviour and actions by dogs, irrespective of breed, in order to protect the people of Belfast.”

Zoo manager Mark Challis said dog owners must understand the importance of controlling their pets, “particularly those who live in close proximity to the zoo”.

Click Here! for the full story

Pet Smile Month is determined to try and help combat the biggest infectious disease of pets.

During September 2006 Pet Smile Month is providing FREE dental check-ups for pets. These check-ups are being carried out at registered Pet Smile Month veterinary practices throughout the UK. The veterinary staff are giving up their time to provide free dental check-ups and to complete a survey of pets’ oral health.

As well as the Pet Smile Check-Up, it is hoped that owners will receive a Goody Bag from Pet Smile Sponsors and the Pet Smile Month vet.

All the goody bags contain information leaflets about using a quality diet to help avoid dental disease and information about Pet Insurance.

This year Pet Smile have also created a “Pet Smile Club” – here you will be able to keep track of your pets’ vaccination reminders, worming and flea control – as well as those all important dental health checks. Pet Smile hope to bring you information and special offers from leading pet companies.

Please take the opportunity of Pet Smile Month in September 2006, to help tackle dental disease

Click Here to visit www.petsmile.org for further information

The team here at Bits for Pets have updated and improved our site to make your shopping experience with us easier and more enjoyable.

Check out our new section called ‘kid zone’ its our new kids page where you will find games and puzzles to play, and don’t forget to enter our competition to win a family day out at the cinema. This is a new section and its contents is growing all the time, we hope you check in with us from time to time to see whats been added sice you have been gone.

We hope you ejoy the new site, as much as we enjoyed putting it all together.