Bits for Pets Blog

Volunteers are being sought by a Nottinghamshire animal shelter – to read to the dogs.

As well as keeping them relaxed and calm reading also helps to get the animals used to human company, making it easier to find them homes.

The RSPCA shelter in Radcliffe-on-Trent believes it could be one of the first in the UK to use the technique.

The dogs’ senses are also stimulated by the use of diluted aromatherapy oils during the sessions.

‘Quite bizarre’

Volunteers will be given training on reading to the dogs, ensuring they use a soothing tone of voice.

There are no restrictions on what they can read, “within reason”.

Assistant manager Ella Herring said: “People will think it’s quite bizarre and quite unusual but I think obviously once they understand why we’re doing it and the benefits the dogs are getting out of it, then people will come forward and want to do it.”

The shelter hopes all 50 of its dogs will benefit from the “Read and Relax” sessions.

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With thousands of keen competitors, this was a victory that required dogged determination.

And that must have made it all the more sweet for this champion, called Charmin, and his American owner.

The Sealyham Terrier won the Cruft’s crown last night, ending months of controversy for the world famous show.

With his owner, Marjery Good of Pennsylvania, USA, he fought his way from the Terrier category to victory in last night’s Best in Show final.

He beat off competition from six others, including a Hungarian vizsla, and a papillon and a pharaoh hound, to take the title.

His delighted owner said she was very excited to have won Crufts: ‘I’m feeling very excited and very pleased’, she said. It’s been a very exciting evening.”

Speaking about Charmin, she added: ‘He’s such a special dog. He is my best buddy. He proved himself tonight and made every step just right.’

The Sealyham Terrier is a Welsh breed named after Captain John Edwardes of the Sealyham Estate in Pembrokeshire, who created the breed in the 19th century.

It was initially popular in dog shows but has declined in recent decades and has been added to the Kennel Club’s list of vulnerable native breeds. Only 60 Sealyham puppies were registered in 2004.

A poodle called Donny took the reserve prize in the show at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Centre.

Despite months of controversy surrounding the dog show and allegations of cruel dog-breeding practices, a record 28,000 animals took part in this year’s extravaganza according to organisers The Kennel Club.

Thousands of spectators also attended the four-day event despite the RSPCA and major sponsor Pedigree Chum pulling out and the decision to drop long-standing BBC coverage of the show which has in previous years attracted 14 million viewers worldwide.

Visitor figures were down on last year, as 145,000 came through the doors compared to around 160,000 in 2008.

A cloud of controversy hung over this year’s Cruft’s after a damning documentary last year claimed the show allowed damaging breeding practices that caused disease and deformities.

At the time, the Kennel Club condemned many of the programme’s assertions as ‘far from accurate’.

But two months later it announced it would review each of the 209 pedigree breeds in the UK and introduce revised standards for the breeds.

Animal charities the RSPCA and the Dogs Trust had already severed links with the show in the aftermath of the August 2008 documentary, called Pedigree Dogs Exposed.

A spokeswoman from the Kennel Club said the club was pleased with the numbers who attended.

Thousands of dog-lovers cheered as Charmin was crowned Best in Show by judge Peter Green.

Mr Green then named five-year-old poodle Donny, owned by Jason Lynn from Preston, Lancashire, as reserve prize winner to rapturous applause.

Other dogs competing for the title were a Pharaoh Hound, Papillon, Hungarian Vizsla, boxer and an old English sheepdog.

The show was broadcast live on the internet for the first time this year. Caroline Kisko, Kennel Club secretary, said: “This has been the most wonderful event and we are so proud of all of the happy, healthy dogs that have taken part.

“We have become the most popular channel on You Tube for our Crufts coverage this year and we are so pleased that dog lovers have been tuning in all around the world to watch this wonderful event.

“Anyone watching this year’s show would have seen the wonderful diversity of dogs, the fact that they truly are fit for function and how dogs and people enrich each other’s lives.”

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An increasing number of pets are being abandoned because of the credit crunch, animal welfare charities say.

As owners count the cost of the day-to-day upkeep and see insurance premiums and vet’s bills rise, thousands of families are saying goodbye to their four-legged family members.

The Dog’s Trust is the largest dog welfare charity in the UK. They have twice as many pets on their waiting list to be rehomed than this time last year.

“The dogs unfortunately are the first to suffer when financially people can’t afford to pay the bills, or feed themselves,” said one rehoming centre manager.

“It’s very sad that a family member, like a dog is the first victim of the credit crunch, but this is clearly what we’re seeing,” he explained.

The average vets’ bill for a dog is thought to cost some several hundred pounds, while the cost of treating more serious conditions can run into the thousands.

It is not only dogs which are affected by the crisis. Animal charities are seeing a similar trend with cats, and even horses as owners feel the financial pinch.

Staff at the Blue Cross animal welfare charity are seeing a three fold increase in the numbers of abandoned pets this year, with many owners citing economic problems, job losses and house moves.

They say there are certain factors struggling owners should consider.

Christian Bamber, the charity’s director of veterinary services, said: “I would urge all pet owners to think about neutering their animals if they haven’t.

“The other key thing is that people really should consider is insurance before they get a pet, because it can certainly mean the difference between life and death in the case of an emergency.”

Life and death may seem a bleak prospect, but it is one that is facing an increasing number of abandoned pets.

With no end to the credit crunch in sight homeless animals across the UK are facing a very long winter.

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CALLOUS dog owners are abandoning their pets in parks and on the street, and the credit crunch is getting the blame.

The borough, which has the highest dog ownership in the UK, is seeing a soaring number of animals abandoned as the financial crisis deepens, according to Kirsty O’Sullivan, a volunteer with animal welfare groups, Scruffy Angels and Animal Action.

But she believes families are using the economic downturn as an excuse to ditch their pets.

Barking and Dagenham Council says it finds one dog a day, on average.

But Miss O’Sullivan says people are also finding dogs and taking them to other agencies.

She says three Staffordshire bull terriers were found in Dagenham in one hour on Monday – one outside Old Dagenham Park, Siviter Way, one outside the Cross Keys pub, Crown Street, and one tied to a tree.

It later turned out one had been lost for several days before it was discovered tied to railings. It has now been reunited with its owner.

She said three other dogs were found the same day.

Miss O’Sullivan, 28, told the Recorder: “I don’t believe it’s the credit crunch. I think they’re using it as an excuse.”

She says keeping a dog costs just £5 a week.

Animal Action is picking up a number of Staffs. Because they are a very popular breed and can be sold for between £250-750, depending on the age and colour, many residents have decided to breed them.

Litters are typically between six and 10 puppies.

Miss O’Sullivan said: “I think, with Staffs, everybody has a go at breeding them. There’s so many of them.

“But people need to realise the work that goes into looking after them. Once they’ve gone past the cute puppy stage is when they dump them.”

Puppy adverts have been placed near the Bull roundabout in Rainham Road South, Dagenham.

Data collection company Experian released a survey last year showing one in 10 households – 11.42 per cent – owned a dog in Barking and Dagenham, the highest in the UK.

A council spokesman said many of the dogs it picks up have not been abandoned, but are lost and are later collected by their owners.

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