Shout About Pets

The registered charity Pet Blood Bank UK (PBBuk) was launched in March 2007 and since then has received over three hundred blood donations.  Unsurprisingly the charity is looking out for more.  You may not realise this but from just one donation from your pet up to four animals can be helped. 

The law was changed in October 2005 which now allows for pet blood to be stored for the first time.   Pet Blood Bank UK was therefore established to collect, separate and store pet blood that can then be supplied to vets as and when required across the UK.

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There are thousands of pets abandoned or given up every week.  There are still many irresponsible cat owners who don’t get their cat’s spayed or neutered and end up with kittens on their hands that they cannot re-home.  Smaller breeds of pets such as hamsters, gerbils and rabbits are also to be found at most rescue homes.

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Losing one of your pet can be terribly upsetting and stressful but with dogs and especially cats there is always that possibility.  The press has also been full of stories about distraught dog owners who have experienced dog theft.  Following a week’s holiday my cat Tabitha went missing.  I had registered her with the Petlog database and when I returned there was a message for me.  Sadly Tabitha had been knocked down and a kindly passerby had noticed her tag and contacted the Petlog number to let them know.  Although it was a very sad outcome for me at least I knew what had happened to her.

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I’m currently looking after my neighbour’s pet rabbit and guinea pig while they go on holiday for a week.  It occurred to me as my neighbour handed over the food and gave me vague instructions on how to care for them what a huge responsibility it is taking on board the care of some one else’s beloved pet.  I felt the urge to stick post it note all around the house to remind me of my daily duty should I for one terrible moment forget!

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A holiday lettings website based in the UK called holidaylettings.co.uk has just released the findings of a customer survey carried out this year.  The results of the survey revealed that a mere 6% of British pet owners who regularly travel to their holiday destination abroad have bought an EU Pet Passport for there furry friend.

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A Blue Cross Survey has revealed that 25% of pet owners are worried about their pet’s weight.  Dick Voigt, the Blue Cross veterinary services’ director commented:

“We frequently see pets with obesity-related diseases at our hospitals. Diabetes, heart disease and arthritis are some of the most common. But there are many things owners can do to help ensure their pet stays at an ideal weight”.

So what can you do to keep your pet trim?  Dogs and cats are best kept on dry food.  These are nutritionally balanced food mixes and do not need to have anything added to them.  Dry food is great for cats who like to graze but if your cat is prone to eating too much you’ll have to restrict his servings.  Limit treats to a minimum and use healthy alternatives such as broccoli stalks and chopped carrot.

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