Bits for Pets Blog

Close monitoring and rapid, targeted vaccinations may be the best way to protect the Ethiopian wolf, the world’s rarest canine, against extinction.

Scientists suggest that immunizing just 30 percent of the wolf population at the first sign of an outbreak is sufficient to safeguard the endangered species from major outbreaks of rabies and other deadly diseases.

Only about 500 Ethiopian wolves remain in the wild, and the species has been ravaged by rabies epidemics at least twice in the recent past. But completely immunizing all of those animals is too time-consuming, given current technology.

The new study shows that even limited immunizations of wild canine species such as the Ethiopian wolf against rabies is “safe and effective,” said lead author Dan Haydon, an ecologist and epidemiologist at the University of Glasgow in Scotland. “[That is] something that’s not always been agreed upon in the conservation community,” Haydon added.

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Chip the Labrador went for his fortnightly weigh-in at the PDSA PetAid hospital in Hurst Road last week, delighting staff with his progress.

Chip, who lives with his owner in West Croydon, is the heaviest of 10 pets all over the country taking part in the Pet Fit Club, organised by the veterinary charity PDSA.

At 10st 4lbs, Chip is more than double the weight he should be and is even heavier than Croydon supermodel Kate Moss.

His owner, 64-year-old John Turnball admitted he “eats anything” and says whenever he takes him out to exercise he gets distracted by bitches.

But Chip has lost 1.3 kilos - 2.8lbs - since starting his new diet and exercise programme, which has been designed by vets and nurses at the PDSA.

Ann Radford, the PDSA veterinary surgeon at the Hurst Road surgery who is looking after Chip, said: “His weight has stablised a little bit. We would have liked him to lose a bit more, but he has also lost a couple of inches from his waist so overall I’m pleased with him.

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An online animal blood register has been set up by a driving instructor after her golden retriever fell seriously ill with a blood disorder.

Diana Cruttwell, 56, from Peterborough, joined forces with her vet Dr Clive Elwood to create the site when her dog had to have several blood transfusions.

The free database brings together potential donors with vets, who then match and check the blood.

The service is thought to be the first of its kind in the UK.

It is the canine equivalent to the human blood bank system, but stores information on potential donors, rather than actual blood.

Mrs Cruttwell’s own dog, Abi, had to have three transfusions, but her vet was able to use blood from three of her other dogs to treat Abi’s condition.

However, the experience highlighted how difficult it was for dog owners to find suitable donors in a medical crisis.

Mrs Cruttwell, a former police officer who now runs her own driving school, said she hoped the database would save lives.

She said: “I think it’s important that people know their animals can be donors.”

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The number of stray dogs being put to sleep has dropped this year, according to the Dogs Trust.

The animal charity reported that 7743 dogs were put down by councils because they were unable to find them homes, compared to 7798 in 2005.

The charity said pet owners should do more to help reduce the number of strays wondering the streets.

It recommends you get your dog an ID tag and a microchip so that if you lose it you can easily be reunited.

It also said you should get the vet to do a special operation on your dog, called neutering, to stop it having unwanted puppies.

Dogs Trust Chief Executive, Clarissa Baldwin, said: “Unless dog owners think about the commitment needed to look after a dog, dogs will continue to be put to sleep.”

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Dog destroys £40,000 Elvis teddy

A £40,000 teddy which used to belong to Elvis Presley was among scores of toy bears destroyed when a dog meant to guard them went on the rampage.

Dobermann Barney was looking after the rare Steiff bear, named Mabel, which had been loaned for an exhibition at Wookey Hole Caves near Wells, Somerset.

The dog ripped the head off the bear and attacked scores of other teddies.

Barney’s owner could only suggest that the bear had a rogue scent on it - or that Barney had become jealous of it.

The bear, made in Germany in 1909, was bought at auction in Memphis, Tennessee, by Somerset aristocrat Sir Benjamin Slade.

Wookey Hole general manager Daniel Medley told the BBC: “About 100 bears were caught up in this frenzied attack, some were merely little chews, whereas some of them had some quite devastating injuries.

“Heads pulled off, arms, legs here and there, it was a total carnage really. I’ve never seen such a mess, there was stuffing, fluff and bear bits everywhere.”

‘Model dog’

Barney also caused an estimated £20,000 damage to other bears in the collection.

Security guard Greg West, who was on duty at the time, is at a loss to explain what happened to make Barney go so “berserk”.

Mr West, 36, of Totterdown, Bristol, said: “Barney has been a model guard dog for over six years. I still can’t believe what happened.

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A brave dog who saved the lives of two sailors during the Second World War is to get a very special honour - 62 years after his death.

Giant Bamse the St Bernard was based on the Norwegian warship the Thorodd.

The 89kg dog saved a young lieutenant who was being attacked by a knifeman and also rescued a sailor who fell overboard, going in after him and dragging him to the shore.

The dog, whose name means cuddly bear, was also loved by the people of Montrose, Angus, where the ship docked during the war.

Bamse the heroic Norwegian sea dog
All the schools in the town were closed as a mark of respect when he died at the dockside on 22 July 1944.

The People’s Dispensary for Sick Animal’s chairman, Freddie Bircher, will present the rare award to Vigdis Hafto, daughter of Bamse’s owner Commander Erling Hafto, on Saturday, exactly 62 years after the dog’s death.

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LIFELONG dog lover Debbie Mackay, having been made redundant by the RAC, has set up a service for animal owners in crisis with their pets.

Doggy Dilemmas is Ms Mackay’s way of offering help to people who have specific problems with their dogs whether behavioural or just logistical.

She said: “I have been mad about dogs for as long as I can remember. All my projects at school had something to do with them.

“So when my job at the RAC disappeared due to outsourcing to India, I decided to do something I’ve always loved doing.”

Ms Mackay, from Worton, near Devizes, is a member of the Association of Pet Dog Trainers and has applied for Kennel Club accreditation.

She has already achieved much success in training wayward pooches and is also prepared to offer a home from home in the event of someone needing their dog babysat at short notice.

She offers all sorts of other solutions to doggy problems, including dog walking, animal meals on wheels and accommodation if the owner wants to go away on a weekend break.

She has three dogs of her own, all Briards Darcy, six, Dexter, four and ten-month-old Della. The two older dogs have qualified for Crufts and at least one of them is likely to be entered next year.

But she is keen to foster responsible dog ownership and will offer the Kennel Club’s Good Citizenship Scheme, with its bronze, silver and gold awards.

Ms Mackay said: “This is not an easy thing to set up as you have to put all sorts of things in place and then approval from a championship show judge and your local dog warden.”

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Lifelong Hammers fan and guide dog owner Chris Petrou, from Ilford in Essex, is currently starring on a special page of The Guide Dogs for the Blind Association’s website, in celebration of the 75th anniversary of the first guide dogs in the UK.

Chris, 49, is one of 75 guide dog owners from across the UK to be featured during 2006 to commemorate the day in 1931 that the first four guide dogs led their pioneering blind owners to independence.

Chris, who is the proud owner of guide dog Tiffany, says: “The emotional and financial shock of registering blind was immense, and I took about a year sorting myself out; then another nearly 15 months getting rehabilitation training. I was taught to use a long cane, and then I applied for a guide dog. I couldn’t believe what good company a guide dog can be, as well as restoring my independence. Now Tiffany and I are up for any amount of travel which Hammers fixtures put our way.

“When I was on my own, winter games, when it was already going dark at 5pm, were frustrating and the crowds were intimidating. It wasn’t just about feeling vulnerable - although that came into it - there was a definite sense that I couldn’t any longer ‘let go’ and really enjoy the game, because there was always something to worry about.

“As soon as I got my confidence as a new guide dog owner, training Tiffany to pace herself with the football crowds, to take me in the lift and up to our third floor seats, was the first new thing I tried. I would never have dreamed that I could take a guide dog to football matches, but even away fixtures present no problem.”

www.guidedogs.org.uk/75partnerships - is dedicated to celebrating the unique partnerships between guide dogs and their owners.

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LUCKY puppy Jasper had a miracle escape when he fell 50ft down a sheer cliff face - and survived.

He was chasing rabbits when he lost his footing and slipped and tumbled down the cliff to the sea.

The two-year-old dog was saved after a rocky ledge two metres above the water broke his fall.

Summa Calaghan an RNLI lifeguard at Crantock Beach in Newquay, Cornwall, found the whippet-spaniel cross after two hours ??” but had to call for help from an lifeboat to rescue him.

Now he is back with owners Clifford and Joan Day, from Worcs, nursing only minor injuries.

Clifford said: “He went charging past us like a rocket and just didn’t come back. We thought we wouldn’t see him again. He had a few cuts but is back to his usual self. ”

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