Bits for Pets Blog

A greedy dog who wolfed down 20 competition pies was entered in the eating contest put in jeopardy by his raging appetite.

Charlie, a bichon frise, raided the fridge of 1995 champion Dave Williams while his owner was distracted by a pigeon flying up his chimney.

The contest was saved by frantic calls to bakers for a new batch for the World Pie Eating Championship, in Wigan.

But instead of being in the doghouse for his antics, Charlie was entered.

The dog saw his chance when Mr Williams was busy attending to the pigeon at his home in Preston, Lancashire.

He wolfed down 20 pies and damaged a further 10, organisers said.

Tony Callaghan, owner of Harry’s Bar which stages the competition, said: “Charlie could have jeopardised the whole competition but luckily we managed to get a fresh bake this morning.

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“The twist is that Dave has turned up this morning saying he wants Charlie to enter the contest.

“We’ve nothing in the rules to say dogs can’t compete so he will be lining up against the other pie eaters and judging by his performance yesterday he’s got a great chance of winning.”

However, it seems that Charlie was still full from Wednesday’s mammoth eating session as Mr Williams revealed that he did not even finish his competition pie.

Rescue dog

The winner was 42-year-old Adrian Frost from Wigan who downed his pie in a record-breaking 34 seconds.

Mr Williams said: “Charlie was a rescue dog and has habit of picking food up from the street.

“We think this trait has stuck with him because he never knew where his next meal was coming from as a youngster so there was no way we could be angry with him for eating all the pies yesterday.

“However, it seems that he didn’t have much room for anymore today when the competition was staged.”

Past competitions used to be judged on the number of pies eaten by competitors in a three minute period but after falling victim to the “healthy eating lobby”, the format was changed last year.

A separate vegetarian competition was also introduced after “relentless pressure” from the Vegetarian Society, Mr Callaghan said.

A blind dog that was dumped when he was just five-months-old has been voted the nation’s RSPCA Dog of the Year.

Bullmastiff Oliver fought off stiff competition from five other rescue dogs in the RSPCA Dog of the Year final stealing an impressive 23 per cent of people’s votes.

Oliver was thrown out onto the street by an unscrupulous dog breeder when he was a puppy simply because he had an eye infection. He was found by a dog warden just before Christmas 2005 - thin, distressed and in severe pain from his eye.

Bullmastiff Rescue came to his aid but despite urgent veterinary treatment the infection spread and Oliver ended up losing his sight, and one of his eyes was actually removed. But his luck changed when, after reading his distressing story in the local paper, Julie Harkess and her family decided to give him a chance of happiness and offer him a home.

Now aged two-years, Oliver has overcome his disability and lives a fulfilling life with the Harkess family and their other dog Simba. He even has a special artificial implant in his one remaining eye to give him a normal appearance, even though he cannot actually see through it.

Julie, 38, said: “I can’t believe that Oliver has won the competition! He’s a true inspiration and clearly the rest of the country think he is too. We’re so proud of him. Oliver has been through so much but he’s made such good progress that we forget he’s blind. No matter how down we might feel Oliver always lifts our spirits.

“I just can’t believe that he lost his eyesight simply because his previous owner didn’t want to spend the money on vet’s fees. He’s a huge dog now, weighing 50 kilos, and he’s a huge part of our family. He really deserves to be the RSPCA’s Dog of the Year.”

Commenting on his incredible story of triumph over adversity RSPCA chief vet Mark Evans said:

“All of the finalists are winners but Oliver’s story particularly captured the heart of the nation. He had such a tough start to life but despite everything he’s been through - even losing his eyesight - he’s now such a happy dog. Oliver really does deserve to be the RSPCA’s Dog of the Year.

“Over 17,000 dogs are rehomed from the RSPCA each year and Dog of the Year is a chance for dogs like Oliver, who were once unwanted, to really show just what fun and loving pets rescue dogs can make.”

Sarah Alexander from Dog of the Year sponsor Butcher’s Pet Care said: “We are delighted that Oliver is the winner – he’s got so much character and is a great example of what joy rescue dogs can bring to their owners.

“At Butcher’s Pet Care we believe very strongly in ensuring that dogs lead a fit and healthy life, which is why we are delighted to be working with such a worthwhile charity like the RSPCA. The Dog of the Year competition is a great way to recognise the hardship many dogs have to go through before they find a happy and secure home. We hope that our support can help make a difference.”

Oliver will receive a whole host of prizes including a year’s supply of dog food from Butcher’s Pet Care, RSPCA pet insurance cover for one year and he will get to star on the front cover of leading dog magazine Dogs Today, plus much more.

For more information about RSPCA Dog of the Year or for an RSPCA spokesperson please contact the RSPCA press office on 0300 123 0244/0288.

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The Forestry Commission is running a special event for dog owners in Devon in a bid to encourage them to use its land more sensitively.

The Commission is working together with the Kennel Club after it was estimated that around 30% of visitors to the countryside bring a dog with them.

The event, to be held at Holden Forest, near Exeter, will include dog agility, obedience and fly ball demonstrations.

There will also be a pooch parade featuring an award for “waggiest tail”.

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IT IS a case of double trouble for Duo the two-nosed dog.

Not only does the Staffordshire bull terrier have two noses, he is also looking for a new home.

Potential new owners are being put off because of the loveable dog’s harelip.

The three-year-old was either lost or abandoned by his previous owners and was handed over to the Newcastle Dog and Cat Shelter by police.

Staff at the centre in Benton, Newcastle-upon-Tyne- who named him Duo because of his double nose - are having problems finding a home for the well-trained dog because of his unique appearance.

Michelle Pyle, head of fundraising at the centre, said: “We’ve had a few people come and see him and say he’s a freak.

“Duo is not a freak, he’s just unusual. Not many people can say they’ve got a dog like that.”

Duo’s double-nose is caused by a condition which in humans is called a harelip, but rarely occurs to such an extent in animals.

Ms Pyle said vets had not seen a harelip to such an extent in a dog before.

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When asked by Keep Britain Tidy, the public cited it as totally unacceptable not to clean-up your dog’s mess and as a top spending priority for councils over other environmental blights such as litter, fly-tipping and graffiti.

Ian Clayton, Deputy Chief Executive, Keep Britain Tidy said: “There is widespread upset across the nation about dog fouling. Many people find it highly offensive. Some parents are concerned that when their children go out to play in their local park, they will come back with dog fouling on their shoes, clothes or person.”

Dog fouling is a scourge on one in ten areas with its occurrence increasing by 2% in the last year. It is mainly found in public open spaces like parks and recreational fields – the areas where children play and local sporting events, such as football leagues, take place.

Keep Britain Tidy believes that for everyone to enjoy pristine parks and spotless streets – free from dog mess – all owners should take responsibility and clean up after their dog. And, that includes teaching children that when they take their dog for a walk, they have to clean up its poo. It is not an excuse for an owner to say that their dog ran off and fouled out of sight.

There have been various approaches by councils to help eradicate dog fouling and encourage people to clean-up after their pet. They include spraying piles of dog mess with yellow paint or sticking a flag in it to raise awareness. And some have even resorted to banning dogs from particular areas or ordering owners to keep them on the lead.

“Leaving your dog mess on the streets and in parks for others to endure is not acceptable. There is no excuse for not being a responsible owner, everyone should pick up after their pooch” added Ian.

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A guide dog is helping to lead the hymns every Sunday at a Welsh chapel.

Teddy has become a member of the small congregation at Rehoboth in Five Roads, near Llanelli, where he is adding his bark to the singing.

The five-year-old has been attending services with his carer Nona Rees since February but in the last month he has started to play a more vocal role.

Mrs Rees said the dog only joins with the rousing hymns and often takes a break to sleep during sermons.

She has been looking after the golden retriever while his owner recovers from illness.

“Everywhere I go he goes,” she said.

“He just used to put his head down and sleep but then one day started to join in - I did not know where to look.”

But she said other members of the congregation seemed quite happy with the extra voice so he has continued attending on Sundays ever since.

“It’s not every hymn - its the faster ones and the higher ones he joins in,” added Mrs Rees

“He’s a lovely working guide dog and I will be very sorry to see him go when he returns to his owner.”

Chapel organist Jim Jones said the congregation would also miss him.

“I was playing one Sunday and then all of a sudden he started.

“We are only a small chapel - usually there are less than 20 of us - but they are all singing a bit louder so they can be heard over Teddy.”

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Dogs and dog lovers are in for a real treat on Sunday as Dogs Trust Snetterton Rehoming Centre hosts this year’s Open Day and Fun Dog Show.

Classes for the Fun Dog Show include best footballer, egg and spoon race, waggiest tail, best oldie (for dogs over eight years of age), prettiest bitch, handsomest dog, and, of course, best ex-Dogs Trust dog or bitch, the class for dogs who have been rehomed from Dogs Trust.

There will also be a special “Judge’s Secret Category”, where only the judge knows what he’s looking for. The final category of the day will be Best in Show, where the winner of each class gets to show off their rosette.

Broadland Agility Club will be holding a demonstration and competitions throughout the afternoon. Other highlights of the day include a display by the Prison Service Drug Dogs (Eastern Area) and also NSARDA Anglia Search and Rescue team, featuring search dog Ollie.

In addition to this, there will be the Kennel Club Good Citizen Bronze Award Testing, giant tombola, raffle, trade stands, refreshments with a tea tent and home-made cakes and a burger van, as well as loads of fun and games for the whole family.

Gates will open at 11.30am for registration of the dog show, and the event will begin at noon in the field adjacent to the Rehoming Centre, in North End Road, and will close at 4pm. Entrance to the event is £1 per person, with children and OAPs free. Parking is also free. The Rehoming Centre will be open for viewing, but no rehoming will be able to take place on this day.

Anyone with any inquiries, or who wants further information on the work of Dogs Trust, can contact Barbara Emons, support relations officer on 01953 498012, or email Barbara.emons@dogstrust.org.uk

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It’s not such a dog’s life for pets in Norwich after a graduate set up a business specialising in holiday homes for dogs.

Paul Reeve, 24, runs Norfolk Home Boarding for Dogs, and makes sure when the rest of the family jets off to sunnier climes, their canine companion can enjoy the homely atmosphere of another dog-lover’s house.

The company has just catered for its 100th dog - a golden retriever called Sophie - while her owners were abroad.

It works by arranging for dogs to stay with a specially selected carer, someone with experience of looking after their own dog, in a relaxing homely atmosphere away from the hustle and bustle of kennels.

Paul said: “Each carer must fulfil our criteria. They must have experience looking after dogs, be at home all of the time, have no other pets and no young children.

“We have a whole host of people keen to do it, from people who work part time or from home, to people who want a pet but work abroad for half the year and can only have one at certain times.

“We interview all of them personally and look around their homes to make sure we match them up with the right dog.”

When a dog owner enquires about the service Paul is quick to assess what sort of carer a dog will need.

He said: “We wouldn’t send a labrador puppy to a frail, elderly, lady.

“We would send bigger dogs to people with bigger gardens and perhaps more opportunities for walks nearby, we always have the dog’s interests at heart.”

Penny Clay, 59, who lives near Catfield, has been a carer since May 2006. She gets paid £8 a day, or £12.50 if she is looking after two dogs together.

She said: “Paul insists you meet the dog and its owners before it comes to you and the owner provides all the food and things, and a few toys and comfort things to make the dog feel at home. It is so much better than a kennel.”

Norfolk Home Boarding for Dogs operates from Mr Reeve’s house in Hellesdon where he lives with his parents Sally and Malcolm.

After suffering an accident while at university, Mr Reeve started working from home and came up with the idea when he returned to Norwich in 2004.

The company charges £14 a day for a single dog and £21 a day for two dogs together.

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MAN can claim to be a dog’s best friend thanks to first-aid courses that teach devoted owners how to perform “mouth-to-snout” resuscitation, heart massage and dress wounds on their injured pets.

At least 15 pet first-aid courses are run by veterinary colleges and animal charities around Britain and they are proving increasingly popular with owners.

The courses include advice on how to treat a variety of less serious ailments, such as burns, poisoning, heatstroke and bee-stings.

Like first-aid courses for human patients, some let students work on dummies, substituting the human version for lifelike dogs and cats made of rubber and fake fur.
Background

* Taking the lead at Crufts: Day one

* Crufts: Best of breed results day two

* Crufts: Best of breed results day three

* Crufts: Final results

The popularity of the courses is testament to the growing notion that animals are treated as additional members of the family rather than being seen as just a pet. It may also be, however, that some owners would rather learn to treat minor injuried than pay increasingly expensive vet bills.

“People are more aware about how to treat each other and, as dogs increasingly become part of family, they also want to learn more about caring for their pets,” said Leslie Heaton-Smith, director of the College of Animal Welfare, which runs the monthly courses. Sessions cost £140, last one day and are taught by a vet in Leeds, Edinburgh, Huntingdon in Cambridgeshire and Potters Bar in Hertfordshire. Heaton-Smith added that the college would launch a first-aid DVD at Crufts today.

Owners attending the courses are told to leave their pets at home. Instead, they practise medical techniques on two dummies imported from America: Fluffy the cat and Jerry the dog.

As well as learning to dress wounds and apply splints, the models allow the students to practise more serious first aid, such as blowing into the nostrils and pumping the chest. Without training, someone attempting this might kill their pet or simply blow air into its stomach rather than its lungs.

The courses have been welcomed by vets. However, they warned that owners who thought they would be able to diagnose their pets could end up giving the wrong treatment.

Mark Johnston a vet in Sussex and spokesman for the British Small Animal Veterinary Association, said: “They may try to do things which are not necessary and make things worse. In some cases it is far better to get the animal to the surgery and get them seen to quickly by a vet.”

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A Tibetan Terrier called Willy has been named Best in Show at the 116th annual Crufts dog show.

The six-year-old, whose full name is Araki Fabulous Willy, won the award at the NEC in Birmingham on Sunday.

Willy is owned by John Shaw and Neil Smith of Gloucester, who said winning the prestigious title was “the biggest accolade you could ever wish for”.

More than 25,000 dogs and 143,000 visitors attended the event, which opened on Thursday.

Mr Smith, 48, breeds dogs and also owns a boarding kennel in Brockworth, near Gloucester.

He said: “We may have to think about retiring him now because there is nothing left for him to do.”

Willy’s handler, Larry Cornelius, from California, said: “It was definitely worth the trip, he has won the breed here four times in a row, but it’s the first time I’ve shown here.

“He’s done everything I’ve ever asked of him, and I think he is a truly fabulous dog in every way.”

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