Hire a husky and challenge yourself for charity

Driving a team of huskies, watching the Northern Lights and witnessing the world famous Ice Hotel in Lapland may sound like a distant dream, but you could be part of this unforgettable experience in March and April 2010 while raising money for charity at the same time.

National charity Meningitis Research Foundation (MRF) is offering you the chance to truly live like a Laplander in this 7-day Husky Trail Challenge. You will travel 250km across stunning Norway and Sweden wilderness, drive your own team of huskies and camp in traditional Swedish tents. The hard work will pay off when you will finally be met with the breathtaking views of the Ice Hotel in Jukkasjarvi. Best of all, if you raise enough in sponsorship, your trip is free.

If you are looking for more than your average charity challenge, this one is for you. You will be pushed to your limits and feel the satisfaction of completing this demanding but rewarding trek. You will be expected to pitch your own tents and cook for yourselves as well as harnessing, feeding and cleaning up after your spirited companions. This challenge is about more than just witnessing the wild forests and ice valleys of Lapland, it is about becoming a part of it and gaining the true Lapland experience.

Taking part in this once-in-a-lifetime opportunity will also give you the chance to raise vital funds for MRF. Money raised through sponsorship will go towards funding research into meningitis and septicaemia, supporting those affected by the diseases and raising awareness of the dangers.

MRF spokesperson, Kat Lacy says: “this really is an amazing opportunity, not only will you have the time of your life you will be helping support a great cause which relies on sponsorship money to continue its valuable work.” she continues, “Anyone can take part, no previous dog sledding experience is necessary, but if you love animals and love the outdoors, this challenge will be perfect.”

The MRF offer a number of dates to fit around your schedule. Get in touch with us on 01454 281814 or visit 

www.meningitis.org for more information.

A teenager who admitted causing unnecessary distress to a litter of puppies, found starving in a cage, has avoided a ban on keeping pets.

Police raided Gemma Muir’s council flat in Alloa, Clackmannanshire, after a tip-off from neighbours in October.

They found three Staffordshire Bull Terrier pups starving and emaciated.

However, Stirling Sheriff David Mackie said Muir was an “animal lover” who was out of her depth keeping the dogs. Muir was admonished by the court.

An earlier court hearing was told that the dogs had come from a litter of nine pups. The others had been sold for between £120 and £160 each.

Trevor Smith, prosecuting, said despite the sums of money involved, Muir had claimed she had “struggled” to feed the puppies.

The absence of a punishment means that this individual may not fully understand or appreciate the consequences of her actions  Louise Seddon Scottish SPCA

After their discovery, the animals were taken into care and later re-homed by officials from the Scottish SPCA.

Muir, 19, of Pine Grove, Alloa, pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to the puppies.

Her lawyer said she had taken advice from others about how to feed the puppies and that they were improving by the time they were seen by police.

Jim Savage, defending, said his client had found it difficult to cope with the animals

He said: “She found food was expensive and the bills were piling up.”

‘Adult dogs’

Mr Savage said Muir was still looking after an adult dog and bitch – and Scottish SPCA inspectors had confirmed they were in good condition.

Muir had been warned by the court at a previous hearing that she could face a ban on keeping animals.

However, in sentencing, Sheriff Mackie said: “I am sorry that this has brought you to court.

“You have learned the hard way how easy it is to get into difficulties with animals.

“You have now demonstrated you are looking after your adult dogs well and I have no doubt you are a lover of animals.

“You will be admonished and dismissed.”

Scottish SPCA inspector Louise Seddon, who investigated the incident, said she was disappointed that Muir had not been given a ban on keeping animals or forced to pay a fine.

She added: “The absence of a punishment means that this individual may not fully understand or appreciate the consequences of her actions.

“However, Ms Muir did comply with our request to have her adult Staffordshire Bull Terriers neutered, which are being cared for adequately.”

Why is my Dog Hyperactive?

Many owners are caught unawares by the excessive energy that their dogs display. Sadly, this can be such that many dogs find themselves in animal shelters simply because their owners are unable cope.

Living with an over active dog can be extremely challenging and many young dogs can be particularly testing during this phase. It is important to understand that there are many things you can do to reduce over activity, but before we discuss this further I would like to touch on the term ‘hyper-activity’.

Hyperactivity term is often used to describe all excessive activity by dogs, but it is important to understand that true hyperactivity relates to a fairly rare medical condition that may even require veterinary attention. The symptoms of true hyperactivity include frantic abnormal behaviour, moving endlessly whilst panting and appearing restless. Compulsive movements such as tail chasing are also symptoms. Although these habits can also be displayed in perfectly normal dogs, it is always worth taking veterinary advice if you are in any doubt.

In the vast majority of cases, over activity is just unruly behaviour for which there are many things you can do to help. For the purposes of this article we have divided them into five categories:

RESEARCH:

Some dogs are simply very active and indeed have been bred that way. Hunting and herding dogs have been breed to have bondless energy to carry out the work at hand. Unfortunately many prospective dogs owners fail to research this aspect of their breed preferences prior to bring a new puppy home.

REGULAR TRAINING

This is a must for dogs that simply don’t want to stop and don’t want to listen. Your dog must understand the rules of the house and when and where they need to be calm. Regular training sessions of 3-4 minutes will help develop your dog’s focus on you. Keep session’s low keyed and calm, favouring verbal praise rather than physical praise.

Don’t spend to much time on one particular exercise before moving onto the next. Practice the ‘stay’ command regularly between other exercises. The ‘stay’ command is probably the most import command for your dog to master.

PLENTY OF EXERCISE

All dogs should get regular daily exercise, but for over active dogs it is more important than ever. Two long walks per day with plenty of games of fetch and find-it. Really focus on expending that energy.

At home, ensure your dog has plenty of chew toys , particularly when left alone at home. There is now a large range of dog activity toys that help develop puzzle solving ability and further simulated brain activity.

If your dog likes digging, build a digging pit in your garden.

TIME OUT

Dogs need plenty of rest time and there is no better way to encourage this than crate training your dog. Nearly all dogs grow to love their crates and see them as a place of security and calmness. They soon learn to settle in their crate giving both you and your dog a valuable cooling off period. 

DIET

The debate around hyperactivity within children has raged for years and now medical evidence has proved that in many cases this is related to food additives within diets. Although little scientific research has been carried out, many believe that the same can be said for dogs. So avoid artificial preservatives, flavourings, food colouring, and overly high protein and of course sugar. That means no more sweets or pizza, and use only natural treats during training or to keep them occupied.

There are a number of excellent ‘natural’ dogs foods available these days. Just look closely at the ingredients. There are also some good herbal supplements available. These are added to your dog’s meal and usually contain Chamomile and Valerian herbs.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home launches ‘Lost Dog Kit’ to prevent flood of stray dogs in summer holiday season

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home is launching a new free online tool www.lostdogkit.org.uk to help owners find their lost dogs, in order to prevent a flood of stray dogs into the Home over the summer holiday season.

The rescue charity has traditionally seen a more than 10% increase in stray dogs in July and August, as owners go on holiday. Research carried out by Battersea has also shown that only 5%* of owners know to start the search for their lost dog with their local authority.

The Lost Dog Kit is an easy to use online tool, which takes owners through a four stage process in order to help them find their lost dog.

Scott Craddock, Director of Operations at Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, said:

“The number of strays coming into Battersea invariably rises over the summer months, however at present only one in four stray dogs are reunited with their owners.

“The Lost Dog Kit gives people all the information they need to help them find their dog in four simple steps, including contacting their local authority, reporting the dog missing to Battersea’s Lost Dogs & Cats Line and identifying local animal rescues and veterinary surgeries. We hope that the Lost Dog Kit will mean more dogs are reunited with their owners in their local areas without ever having to come to Battersea.”

The Lost Dog Kit is designed to help people like Irene Witts, who lost her dog Pip in Victoria, London, in May 2008. She said:

“A year on, and we’re still heartbroken by the loss of Pip. We did everything we could to track him down and still call Battersea every week to see if he has turned up there.”

In an online poll carried out by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, only 5% of people surveyed said that they would go to their local authority first to look for their stray dog. Local authorities took over responsibility for stray dogs from the Metropolitan Police in April 2008 and should be the first point of contact for anyone who has lost a dog. 24% of people said they would still go to the police to look for their stray dog, while 71% said they would start their search with their local animal sanctuary or veterinary surgery.

Battersea hopes that the Lost Dog Kit will help make people aware that local authorities are the best place to start looking for a lost dog.

The Lost Dog Kit will be available from 28 July 2009.

Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has also created a Lost Cat Kit, to help people locate their lost cat. If you would like some tips on finding your lost cat go to www.lostcatkit.orgt.uk.

The ASPCA(R) (The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals(R)) issued a statement from ASPCA President and CEO Ed Sayres prompted by suspended NFL star and convicted dogfighter Michael Vick’s release on Tuesday (21/07/09) from federal custody:

“I have spent over 35 years in animal welfare, and currently serve as President of an organization whose very mission it is to prevent animal cruelty. So I do not exaggerate when I say that my thoughts surrounding the future of Michael Vick test the very limits of my objectivity. I have dedicated my life to bringing an end to the very activities that Mr. Vick himself admitted to perpetrating — yet it is with the utmost level of objectivity that those of us in the animal welfare world must employ when discussing ‘What next?’ with Mr. Vick’s career in the NFL.

“Being as objective as possible, the facts are clear: Mr. Vick participated in a six-year pattern of illegal activity. His plea clearly stated that along with these activities, he savagely electrocuted and beat dogs to death after they lost their brutal fights. It is this barbarism that sets the crime apart. This was not a one-time transgression or crime of passion — this was a multi-year pattern of behavior that demonstrates a startling lack of moral character and judgment.

“Regardless, Mr. Vick most decidedly deserves to be employed. However, the question isn’t whether he deserves to earn a livelihood. . .. The question is whether Mr. Vick should be able to re-join the ranks of the elite athletes in the NFL. The NFL is not your average workplace — with stratospheric salaries, licensing agreements, corporate endorsements and tens of millions of adoring fans, the NFL represents, to many, the achievement of ‘The American Dream.’ These athletes are looked upon as our heroes. . . our role models… and with Mr. Vick in the enviable role of quarterback, they are viewed as leaders.

“Given the stature of what it means to be a part of the NFL, it is crucial that Mr. Vick first express remorse for what he has done — something that he has yet to do throughout his incarceration. It is also critical that Mr. Vick take advantage of the opportunity granted to him by Wayne Pacelle and the Humane Society of the United States. Through his association with HSUS, Mr. Vick has a tremendous opportunity to address those many years of horrific judgment and finally demonstrate responsible community behavior.

“It is this conscientious presence in their communities that truly made heroes of men like Walter Payton and Jack Kemp. These men had a sense of integrity, compassion and dedication that was apparent throughout their illustrious careers. It is these legacies that Mr. Vick should aspire to emulate.

“Most people will be seeking a cut-and-dried answer to the question of whether Mr. Vick should be allowed to return to the NFL. It is simply not my place to make such an assertion — instead, this is the challenge that awaits NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell. But Mr. Goodell has amply demonstrated his capacity for leadership in the past, and as a representative of a community that truly has been tested by Mr. Vick’s ruthless actions, I ask that we give Mr. Goodell the time and space to deliberate on what will undoubtedly amount to a precedent-setting decision.”

The ASPCA worked closely with federal authorities at every step of the case, first assisting in the investigation itself through the involvement of Dr. Melinda Merck, senior director of Veterinary Forensics with the ASPCA, and later when Dr. Stephen Zawistowski, CAAB, executive vice president of ASPCA Programs, led a team of several Certified Applied Animal Behaviorists in the behavior evaluations of the seized dogs.

Science Needs a ‘Roadmap to Replacement’ Says Dr Hadwen Trust For Humane Research

Home Office statistics released on Tuesday (21 July 2009) reveal that Britain’s animal experiments have reached a shocking 17 year high at 3.7 million experiments, a 14% rise since 2007. The Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research, the UK’s leading non-animal medical research charity, today reacted by saying that far greater progress to replace animals with alternatives should have been made but instead animal numbers are now as high as they were in the early 1990s.

On this the 50th anniversary of the birth of the 3Rs (Russell and Burch’s concept of the replacement, reduction and refinement of animal experiments), the Dr Hadwen Trust says this is ‘a wake-up call moment for policy makers’ and is calling on all major political parties to commit to devising a ‘roadmap to replacement’.

There were 3.656 million animal experiments started in 2008, involving 3.583 million individual animals – a shocking 39% increase since Labour came to power, a 14% rise since 2007 alone. There were significant increases in the experiments on GM animals (now 36.5% of all procedures); monkeys (16% rise); cats (17% rise); pigs (95% rise) and fish and amphibians (85% and 82% rise respectively). (see below for statistics of particular note).

Dr Sebastien Farnaud, Science Director at the Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research and a molecular biologist at Westminster University, believes far greater progress to replace animals should have been made:

“This year is the fifty-year anniversary of the very concept of replacing, reducing and refining animal experiments and yet instead of an alternatives revolution we are marking the occasion with the highest level of animal experiments in seventeen years.” says Dr Farnaud. “It has repeatedly been shown how irrelevant to human patients animal disease models can be, so sustaining such high animal use is not in the best interests of science. With the scientific expertise this country has to offer, we should have seen far greater progress to replace animals with more advanced techniques. Instead animal numbers are now as bad as they were in the early 1990s. Such a shocking increase in animal experiments should be a wake-up call moment for policy makers that considerably more effort must be focused on alternatives development in biomedical science not simply to avoid animal suffering, but crucially so that medical research can benefit from the advantages that non-animal approaches can bring.”

The Dr Hadwen Trust has today written to the main political parties calling on them to commit to building a ‘roadmap to replacement’. A roadmap is needed to identify key target areas for increased funding, technology development, R&D and political support in order to progressively reduce and ultimately replace animal experiments.

The Dr Hadwen Trust for Humane Research funds cutting-edge research at universities across Britain. Our projects aim to replace the use of animals in medical research and by so doing, improve the relevance and quality of research into debilitating conditions such as multiple sclerosis, cystic fibrosis, skin cancer and brain disorders. For example, in March a Dr Hadwen Trust-funded three-dimensional human cell model of early breast cancer won the NC3Rs’ animal replacement prize. The model offers a more human-relevant approach and replaces experiments that can use up to 400 mice per test in tumour studies. Click here for our Media Briefing on non-animal replacement research. http://www.drhadwentrust.org/media-briefings/media-briefings

Statistics of note:

- There has been a 39% increase in animal experiments since
Labour came to power in 1997.
- 14% rise in animal experiments since 2007
- 16% rise in procedures on GM animals since 2007
- 16% rise in monkey experiments since 2007 (61% increase in
monkeys used for cardiovascular experiments; 34% rise in nervous system
research)
- 17% rise in cats, and 9% rise in mice used since 2007
- 95% rise in pig experiments (mainly immunology)
- 65% of procedures conducted without any form of anaesthesia
- Genetic modification of animals now represents 36.5% of all
procedures
- Decreases in use of dogs (18%), rabbits (13%)
- All animal procedures are defined by the Animals (Scientific
Procedures) Act 1986 as likely to cause “pain, suffering, distress or
lasting harm”.

The police officer in charge of two dogs who died after being left in a sweltering hot car in Nottinghamshire last month is to face prosecution over the deaths.

The two dogs – both German Shepherds -  were discovered, dead, in a private car outside of Police HQ at Sherwood Lodge, Nottinghamshire.

The RSPCA has confirmed that legal proceedings will be brought against an officer for allegedly causing unnecessary suffering to the animals.

Labrador Retriever Temperament

The most popular of all the AKC breeds, the Labrador Retriever is a good natured, loving, and loyal dog that makes a wonderful family pet. These dogs are intelligent, responsive, and obedient, which makes them one of the easiest breeds to obedience train. The Labrador Retriever is well suited to both inexperienced and experienced dog owners. He is very quick to learn, and is friendly and sociable, with a mild manner and a very amiable attitude. The temperament and personality of the Labrador Retriever reflects his number one position on the AKC popularity list. He is full of energy, loves to join in with a wide range of activities, and has plenty of love and affection to shower upon his family.

The Labrador Retriever is not a dog that is suited to those with little time for their pets, as these dogs thrive on companionship and affection from their loved ones. Some do have a tendency to chew, and in particular can indulge in destructive chewing if neglected. Although these dogs have plenty of spirit and some can be quite independent, they are usually easy to train, as they are clever and eager to please. This breed gets along with just about everyone, from children and strangers to pets and other animals. These active dogs do require regular exercise, and will fare well with a secure, safe area in which to play and enjoy some exercise.

Labrador Retriever Appearance

The Labrador Retriever is a handsome, sturdy, and robust dog that is large in size. He has dark, wallowing eyes, and an eager and intelligent expression. The coat of the Labrador Retriever is short, close fitting, and sleek, and the coloring can be black, yellow, or chocolate. The weight of the Labrador Retriever is around 55-70 pounds for females, and around 65-80 pounds for males. In terms of height the Labrador Retriever reaches around 21-24 inches for females, and around 22-25 inches for males.

Labrador Retriever Grooming

The Labrador Retriever is a low maintenance dog when it comes to grooming, and his coat needs to be brushed on a weekly basis to keep it sleek and in good condition. He is a medium shedder, and can shed more heavily on a seasonal basis, so he is not the ideal choice for those with allergies. You will also need to step up the grooming at times of the year when he is shedding more heavily.

Labrador Retriever Health Problems and Life Expectancy

There are a number of health issues and disorders linked to this breed, and some of these include: eye problems, HD and elbow dysplasia, CMO, thyroid problems, vWD, diabetes, PRA, OCD, allergies, seizures, and heart problems. The life expectancy of the Labrador Retriever is around 10-12 years. The parents of the Labrador Retriever puppy should have OFA and CERF certificates.

Labrador Retriever History

Originating from Canada, the Labrador Retriever was once used to retrieve fish that fell from nets as well as water birds. This is a very versatile breed, and has since gone on to perform all sorts of duties, from assisting police to working with the blind.

The dog days of summer are officially here, but every day is now dogs’ day at the American Airlines Terminal at John F. Kennedy International Airport.

American has installed a new Pet Relief Area at the terminal’s departure level, so that passengers with pets can give their canine or feline friends a final chance to relieve themselves before packing them away in their kennels for the flight.

“American Airlines is sensitive to the needs of passengers who travel with their pets,” said Joseph Daly, American’s Facilities Maintenance Manager at JFK Airport. “Pets that travel have comfort needs, too, so we wanted to provide a way for them to be comfortable before boarding their flight, just like the rest of us.”

The new Pet Relief Area is a 30 feet by 50 feet enclosure, including a 1,000-square-foot patch of natural grass. It has a five-foot wide entrance gate, a walkway and two benches. A “Mutt Mitt” dispenser is provided, together with a trash barrel at the gate for waste disposal. A bright red fire hydrant stands at the far end of the grassy area.

American worked with the International Association of Assistance Dog Partners in creating the area.

Pet owners and farmers will soon get better information on the feed they buy their animals and pets after EU agriculture ministers approved new EU feed marketing rules today.

The new legislation will considerably simplify the existing procedures and help promote innovation and competitiveness in the European feed sector, as well as reducing red tape for feed operators.

Androulla Vassiliou, EU Health Commissioner said: “I welcome the Council’s decision today and that of the European Parliament in February. While maintaining our high standards of protection of animal health, welfare, food and feed safety, this new legislation represents a major step forward for the simplification and modernisation of procedures for labelling and marketing animal feed and pet food. At the same time it will help boost the competitiveness of the EU livestock sector.”

The regulation, based on a Commission proposal from 2008, was endorsed by the European Parliament on 5 February and is expected to enter into force later this year.

The main provisions:
· creation of a guide to good labelling for farm animal feed and one for pet food on the initiative of feed manufacturers and users and approved by the Commission. The development of EU codes of good labelling practice improves customer information, ie how much chicken a pet food contains if it is labelled “with chicken”, or on how feed additives are labelled.

· responsibility of the feed business operators is extended to those dealing with pet food, an area in which the recent melamine incidents revealed a gap;

· list of prohibited substances for feed use;
· obligation to undergo a pre-market authorisation procedure for “bio-proteins” (feed materials manufactured by certain procedures) is abolished. Now “bio-proteins” have to comply with the general provisions for feed materials;

· mandatory labelling particulars for feed materials and mixed feed.
· solution to the controversial issue of the declaration of feed materials in compound feed (so called “open declaration”) in a balanced way to allow innovation and, at the same time, appropriate information for the customers.

· establishment of a Community catalogue of feed materials. The regulation transfers the initiative for updating the EU’s list of feed materials, specifying the most relevant compounds used in feed, from the legislator to feed operators. Market transparency will be improved because the list of feed materials will better reflect current formulations and incorporate innovations such as co-products from bio-fuel production quicker

For more information please visit:

http://ec.europa.eu/food/food/animalnutrition/labelling/index_en.htm