Just had a great skiing holiday in the Swiss Alps with 3 very happy children but sadly no Toffee...not that she knew what she was missing and in any case she was being utterly spoiled while staying with her other no 1, Granny! I did however promiss the kids to drive Toffee out there next year, after all she has her passport and in this ski resort at least,dogs are very welcome!
I was struck by how happy dogs of all shapes and sizes seemed to be in the mountains! The snow makes a playground with endless exercise potential and with a huge frozen lake to walk on pets and parents alike reep the benefits of the clean air and sunshine! A snow spa for dogs and happy moods all around, what more could you want? Perhaps it is the altitude that has a positive effect on animals generally, and the lack of car fumes puts a spring in their step..even the horses seem to make light of their loaded sleighs as they trot up and down the steep roads...
Those of you who have to deal with pets facing a long cold winter might have a different view, but please post your snow and travel tips for us on Paws Connect, it would be really appreciated I am sure!
When I first heard of Dog-napping, the thought occured that Disney might be plotting another dalmation movie! However, Cruella's revenge aside, I did not realise how very real this frightening prospect is! More of that later but for now some simple safety tips, that should help ensure that no one can take advantage of the lifelong emotional ties we develop with our pets.
Micro-chip your dog
Don't inscribe or use your pet's name on its collar, it makes it too easy for a thief to befreind your dog...do however put a contact number and even your vet's contact details.
Try and regularly update your pet photographs, and be sure to take them from all angles!
Make a note of all distinguishing marks, weight and height, as this could be vital for the search.
Last but not least, if you walk your dog regularly in the same park, try and get the parks' police number and put it straight into your mobil phone!
Don't be as trusting as your dog!!
Remember these tips, and chances are you will never need them!
I was reminded by a friend today of how the real despair of loosing your pet, can be soemtimes miraculously reversed with the help of the microchip tracker. This story is incredible but true! A veterinary nurse was reunited with her lost dog, seven years after it went missing! She had moved to a new house 200 miles away from where she lived with her lurcher puppy named Rhia, and had all but given up hope of being reunited with the lost puppy. Luckily she had remembered to register her new address with the microchip tracker data base. Out of the blue the nurse received a call from staff at Battersea Dogs home in London after the dog was handed in at the shelter. Needless to say she rushed to London to be reunited with Rhia, how emotional that must have been, but after such a long wait, who wouldn't have shed tears of joy!
Well this is the latest news about British breeds. According the the Kennel Club. some of the most well known types could become extinct in the U.K. The Club's 2007 Endangered list is quite surprising since it includes some real classic breed such as the Bloodhound, the Irish red and white setter, the field spaniel, greyhound and the Cardigan dorgis, the latter being closely related to the Pembrokeshire corgis favoured by the Queen.
Who to blame, well if dog owners really do copy celebreties, and how sad is that, then look no further that the likes of Paris Hilton and her chihuahua! With many such as Spice girl Geri Haliwell opting for a small dog, it appear that registrations of traditional breed puppies have dropped enough for the Kennel Club to warn about a real danger of extinction in the U.K. The trend for the pint sized pooch that fits in a designer hand bag is quite different: The Chihuahua's popularity has sent prices soaring so that a puppy can cost up to £2.000 (not far off $4,000) which is about five times the average for a pedigree!! Other so called teacup breeds such as the pug,pomeranian and the shitzu are also enjoying high popularity stakes. How real is the celebrity impact? Well Caroline Kisko of the Kennel Club is quoted as saying 'Celebreties seem to have a huge impact on which breeds are deemed popular each year, we are working alongside breed clubs to keep these great British breeds from extinction. It's essential that we do all we can to protect these breeds so that people can discover what great characters they are.'
One British classic is fighting back from the 'big dog' corner: the bulldog it seems is considered a fashionable canine companion!
