UK dog owners warned about thieves staking out parks and luring puppies
14/08/2021 - Blue Cross cautions about black market for popular breeds as government reportedly considers new Expand
14/08/2021 - Blue Cross cautions about black market for popular breeds as government reportedly considers new offence of pet abduction‘World turned upside down’ as boy’s therapy dog stolenStalking parks in affluent areas and luring puppies out of gardens with treats are among the methods dog thieves are using, campaigners have said, amid suggestions the government is preparing to clamp down on pet abductions.Criminals mug dog-walkers for their pets and raid boarding kennels in an effort to steal in-demand breeds, whose price tags have soared during the pandemic. They are also on the look out for pets that have not been neutered or spayed and are capable of breeding. Related: ‘He grabbed the lead and said: give me the dog’: can pet detectives stop the rise in animal theft? Continue reading... Collapse
A flash of a badger, a brazen fox, an angry bull – why I love a really wild show | Hannah Jane Parkinson
13/08/2021 - I could well end up as one of those people mauled to death in an attempt to get a selfie with a Expand
13/08/2021 - I could well end up as one of those people mauled to death in an attempt to get a selfie with a tigerI have come to accept that I am an animal lover. There is nothing wrong with this, but the term itself is not great. It has the slightly saccharine air of little girls hugging ponies, or the over-the-top chaos of Steve Irwin (RIP). If I saw it on someone’s dating profile, I might even dock points. And yet, I am an animal lover – especially given the way people always seem to disappoint these days – so I am finally embracing the label.Domestic pets, naturally, are one of life’s great joys. (Sometimes a friend and I message each other randomly – she has a dog and I a cat – to say: “Isn’t it weird the way we just have these animals roaming around our houses?”) But there is something especially thrilling about encountering animals in the wild. Related: Summer is upon us, the world is opening up – get me to the beer garden | Hannah Jane Parkinson Continue reading... Collapse
‘It’s not a photo opportunity’: adopting a pet is hard work, Victorian shelters warn as returns surge
10/08/2021 - New owners urged to reach out for help instead of giving up – or consider fostering firstThe past Expand
10/08/2021 - New owners urged to reach out for help instead of giving up – or consider fostering firstThe past year has seen a large increase in the number of people returning adopted pets to shelters in Victoria, some after only hours with their new animal.The number of people returning adopted pets to the Lost Dogs Home in Victoria has surged by 67% in the past year. Related: ‘A bond unlike any other’: dog-lovers in for a treat at Brisbane festival Sign up to receive an email with the top stories from Guardian Australia every morning Continue reading... Collapse
Shops accused of failing to publicise recall of food linked to cat deaths
06/08/2021 - Cat owners share evidence of chains including Sainsbury’s stocking food suspected of causing pet Expand
06/08/2021 - Cat owners share evidence of chains including Sainsbury’s stocking food suspected of causing pet deathsRetailers have been accused of doing too little to warn customers about recalled cat food that has been linked to the deaths of potentially thousands of pets, prompting concern that some remains on sale in shops.As more details emerged of the scandal, cat owners spoke of their distress at watching their pets suffer and die. Related: Toxic cat food fear as UK vets struggle with mysterious illness Continue reading... Collapse
Toxic cat food fear as UK vets struggle with mysterious illness
05/08/2021 - As cases of blood condition pancytopenia persist, investigators suggest food fungi could be to Expand
05/08/2021 - As cases of blood condition pancytopenia persist, investigators suggest food fungi could be to blameCats are still dying in significant numbers from a mystery illness that investigators believe may be linked to widely sold cat food brands, prompting concern that not enough is being done to warn owners about a nationwide product recall.Vets around the UK are understood to have been swamped by cases of pancytopenia, a condition in which the number of red blood cells, white blood cells and platelets decreases rapidly, causing serious illness. Continue reading... Collapse
Professional dog walkers in London sound alarm over curbs on numbers of pets
01/08/2021 - Four-dog limit on Hampstead Heath means up to 700 animals could miss daily exerciseWhen drizzle Expand
01/08/2021 - Four-dog limit on Hampstead Heath means up to 700 animals could miss daily exerciseWhen drizzle engulfs the northern edge of Hampstead Heath, the only people to be seen are dog walkers.Alex Marchant prefers it this way. On sunny weekends, he and most of the other members of the Hampstead Professional Dog Walkers Association (HPDWA) avoid the heath. Continue reading... Collapse
How can you prevent dogs jumping at children? How should I respond when it happens?
27/07/2021 - The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from Expand
27/07/2021 - The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical conceptsWhenever we go walking in the countryside with our three-year-old, dogs approach him and frighten him. He has never come to harm, but there is always a concern. It happens within seconds. Typically, the owners either airily tell us their dog is harmless, or they more aggressively say: “What are you afraid of?” Does anyone else have this problem? How can you prevent dogs jumping at children? How should I respond when it happens? Tracey Lewis, Diss, SuffolkPost your answers (and new questions) below or send them to nq@theguardian.com. A selection will be published on Sunday. Continue reading... Collapse
20 of the best (and dog-friendly) alternatives to motorway services
24/07/2021 - Ditch the the drab chains and head for these lovely gardens, farm shops, pubs and cafe, where your Expand
24/07/2021 - Ditch the the drab chains and head for these lovely gardens, farm shops, pubs and cafe, where your dog is welcome too. Chosen by Sawday’sA1, Junction Catterick; 10 minutes from the main road Continue reading... Collapse
Brace yourselves! The original Tamagotchi is making a comeback
23/07/2021 - Original Tamagotchi is not yet available to buy in the UK but could be launching soon
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‘World turned upside down’: therapy dog stolen from boy, five
14/08/2021 - Mother of Oscar in Derbyshire says her son and his cockapoo were ‘like peas in a pod’UK dog owners Expand
14/08/2021 - Mother of Oscar in Derbyshire says her son and his cockapoo were ‘like peas in a pod’UK dog owners warned about thieves staking out parksWhen five-year-old Oscar was introduced to his puppy, Elvis, his life changed.Oscar is on the autistic spectrum and had previously struggled to maintain friendships but his cockapoo therapy dog filled that gap, said his mother, Natallie Cobden. Continue reading... Collapse
I have separation anxiety. I’m stuck in locked-down Sydney without my dog | Van Badham
12/08/2021 - My sausage-shaped shadow and I have been a constant pair but the Delta variant has kept our little Expand
12/08/2021 - My sausage-shaped shadow and I have been a constant pair but the Delta variant has kept our little family apartWhen I was at my lowest lockdown point – maybe three or even four lockdowns ago – my sensible friend Jenni offered me some consolation. The pandemic may be miserable for humanity, she said, but we should take heart that it was a true golden age for dogs.I glanced down. Our dachshund, Germanicus, was curled up beside me on the couch, in the shape of a fur croissant. His little bronze head was tucked against my leg. He was napping and smiling, and Jenni was, as she usually is, quite right. Related: ‘It’s not a photo opportunity’: adopting a pet is hard work, Victorian shelters warn as returns surge His demand for routine has prevented us from sliding into the fog of lockdown’s indistinct hours Related: How I fell in love with my dog | Van Badham Continue reading... Collapse
Dog theft law gets more bite with new ‘pet abduction’ offence
08/08/2021 - Ministers say new crime will carry tougher sentences following rise in dognapping as pet ownership Expand
08/08/2021 - Ministers say new crime will carry tougher sentences following rise in dognapping as pet ownership soared in lockdown A new offence of “pet abduction” is being drawn up to tackle a rise in dognapping since the start of the first lockdown last year. This is the primary recommendation from the government’s pet theft task force, which was launched following soaring cases of stolen pets.As demand for pets grew with people forced to spend more time at home during the pandemic, the cost of dogs and cats rose sharply, and soon organised crime groups were coordinating pet thefts to exploit the inflated prices.Prices for some sought-after breeds have risen by as much as 89% on pre-pandemic levels Continue reading... Collapse
Cat owners: have you experienced issues with pet illness related to cat food?
06/08/2021 - After a spate of cat deaths possibly related to pet food, we would like to hear cat owners’ Expand
06/08/2021 - After a spate of cat deaths possibly related to pet food, we would like to hear cat owners’ experiencesCertain batches of Sainsbury’s hypoallergenic cat foods, Applaws and AVA, were recalled by their manufacturer in mid-June after significant numbers of cats died from a mystery illness. The Royal Veterinary College (RVC) and the Food Standards Agency (FSA) believe the deaths could be linked to cat food brands, although they are yet to confirm the causes.We would like to hear from anyone who has experienced issues with these cat foods, or pet food more generally. Do you think enough was done to warn pet owners? Continue reading... Collapse
On a short leash: ‘Walking our cat in the front garden has become a daily ritual’
02/08/2021 - Walking a cat may seem peculiar, but it can be an enriching experience for owner and pet – once Expand
02/08/2021 - Walking a cat may seem peculiar, but it can be an enriching experience for owner and pet – once you get past the staresAs the owner of an indoor cat – a short-haired tabby, named Monkey – I’m in a bit of a pickle. I want to keep him safe from the thousand natural enemies outside, including the storm drain and the Range Rover, but I also want him to live a full life: to feel the breeze on his whiskers, fresh grass under his paws; to have exotic adventures stalking the wild tundra like some primal cat god.In the end, my wife and I compromised and decided to walk Monkey on a leash in our front garden. It wasn’t quite the wild tundra I had in mind, but it was the best we could do in suburban Melbourne. Related: The hidden world of cats: what our feline friends are doing when we’re not looking Walking a cat is somehow aberrant and peculiar, like walking your accountant Related: Keep pet cats indoors, say researchers who found they kill 230m native Australian animals each year Continue Collapse
Original Observer Photography
31/07/2021 - The fastest British woman in history, the return of the music festival, and a collection of Expand
31/07/2021 - The fastest British woman in history, the return of the music festival, and a collection of canines – the best photography commissioned by the Observer in July 2021 Continue reading... Collapse
How Islam conquered my mother’s fear of cats
25/07/2021 - She’d always found them evil and scary, but when I wanted a cat in lockdown I appealed to my mum’s Expand
25/07/2021 - She’d always found them evil and scary, but when I wanted a cat in lockdown I appealed to my mum’s faithCats are perfect to most people, but not to my 42-year-old mother. She is just like any of my 17-year-old friends’ parents – she is spirited, sparky, generous and can be feisty when she needs to be. She cooks arguably the best chicken parmesan in the world, and also has impeccable taste in Bollywood music. But there is one annoying trait that makes her different from the other mothers – she unequivocally loathes all animals, unless they are in a palatable format, like her chicken parmesan.In Britain, a hatred for pets is unheard of, any bitterness towards animals is considered completely unacceptable. After all, we are considered a zoophilist nation. Throughout lockdown, pet ownership has surged. According to statistics from the Pet Food Manufacturers’ Association, there are now 34m pets in the UK including 12m cats and 12m dogs, along with 3.2m small mammals, such as guinea pigs Collapse
Lyrics on freedom that strike a chord | Brief letters
23/07/2021 - Dawn Butler | Periods | Cats | Song lyrics | Misheard namesI applaud Dawn Butler for her honesty Expand
23/07/2021 - Dawn Butler | Periods | Cats | Song lyrics | Misheard namesI applaud Dawn Butler for her honesty in calling out the lies of this morally bankrupt prime minister and cabinet (Dawn Butler ejected from Commons for saying Johnson has lied repeatedly, 22 July). Is it not time that Westminster faced up to replacing the antiquated rules regarding vocabulary in the chamber and allowed honest people to tell the truth?Alison Dodds Melbourne, Victoria, Australia• An interesting article (There will be blood: women on the shocking truth about periods and perimenopause, 22 July), but for some of us the problem of heavy period flow has blighted most of our reproductive lives, not just those years before the menopause. A cycle of heavy, unpredictable periods and anaemia with little useful medical help and a lifetime of embarrassment. It would help if some men didn’t treat the whole subject of menstruation as a joke or a female weakness. Jan Cawser Ripley, Derbyshire Continue reading... Collapse
Dogs go grey with stress, just like humans
23/07/2021 - Dogs exhibit similar behaviour to humans when they are anxious
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Tim Dowling: hallelujah, the dog’s gone on holiday
14/08/2021 - No dog sleeping on my feet or barking when the bell rings, or staring at me intently as I make Expand
14/08/2021 - No dog sleeping on my feet or barking when the bell rings, or staring at me intently as I make coffee or try to watch TVI wake and stretch my legs until they reach the end of the bed. The sun is shining and my mood is unaccountably light. I can’t think why I feel so untroubled. Then I remember: the dog is on holiday.Three days earlier: I am sitting in the kitchen while my wife and the oldest one sort through his laundry and certain items are dropped into a suitcase for his week’s vacation in the West Country. Related: Tim Dowling: I’ve decided to try Working From Hammock Continue reading... Collapse
A dog’s inner life: what a robot pet taught me about consciousness
10/08/2021 - The creators of the Aibo robot dog say it has ‘real emotions and instinct’. This may seem over the Expand
10/08/2021 - The creators of the Aibo robot dog say it has ‘real emotions and instinct’. This may seem over the top, but is it? In today’s AI universe, all the eternal questions have become engineering problemsThe package arrived on a Thursday. I came home from a walk and found it sitting near the mailboxes in the front hall of my building, a box so large and imposing I was embarrassed to discover my name on the label. It took all my strength to drag it up the stairs.I paused once on the landing, considered abandoning it there, then continued hauling it up to my apartment on the third floor, where I used my keys to cut it open. Inside the box, beneath lavish folds of bubble wrap, was a sleek plastic pod. I opened the clasp: inside, lying prone, was a small white dog. Related: The race to build the world’s first sex robot Continue reading... Collapse
Berger & Wyse on cats – cartoon
07/08/2021 - Continue reading...
US study finds potential dog food link to canine heart disease
05/08/2021 - FDA research sheds light on ingredients in dog food that could be associated with canine dilated Expand
05/08/2021 - FDA research sheds light on ingredients in dog food that could be associated with canine dilated cardiomyopathyA new study by the Food and Drug Administration highlights research linking certain dog foods to canine dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM), a severe heart disease.According to a new report published Thursday, researchers compared traditional dog foods with those that the FDA associated with DCM, looking at more than 800 compounds. Currently, peas are at the top of the list of ingredients linked with compounds that might be related to DCM. Continue reading... Collapse
Readers reply: how can you prevent dogs jumping at children? How should I respond when it happens?
01/08/2021 - The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from Expand
01/08/2021 - The long-running series in which readers answer other readers’ questions on subjects ranging from trivial flights of fancy to profound scientific and philosophical conceptsWhenever we go walking in the countryside with our three-year-old, dogs approach him and frighten him. He has never come to harm, but there is always a concern. It happens within seconds. Typically, the owners either airily tell us their dog is harmless, or they more aggressively say: “What are you afraid of?” Does anyone else have this problem? How can you prevent dogs jumping at children? How should I respond when it happens? Tracey Lewis, Diss, SuffolkSend new questions to nq@theguardian.com.Calmly put out your flat hand and firmly but gently say “down”. Calmly say “good dog” in a quiet but happy voice when the dog obeys.Pick up your child to keep him safe/reduce fear but also model that dogs aren’t scary by speaking positively about the dog.Pay attention to where you are going for walks. In my local area there Collapse
Horny dogs: what can Boris Johnson do about his pet Dilyn’s romantic urges?
28/07/2021 - It’s important to remember that dogs don’t hump things only for sexual reasons – it could be that Expand
28/07/2021 - It’s important to remember that dogs don’t hump things only for sexual reasons – it could be that they are overexcited, attention-starved or have a bladder infectionName: Horny dogs.Age: Since the first time a dog humped a caveperson’s leg. Continue reading... Collapse
‘They had a date to kill the cow. So I stole her’: how vegan activists are saving Spain’s farm animals
24/07/2021 - Spain may be famous for its love of meat – but sanctuaries across the country are coming to the Expand
24/07/2021 - Spain may be famous for its love of meat – but sanctuaries across the country are coming to the rescue of its doomed cows, bulls, pigs, sheep and geeseIn the north-east Spanish region of Catalonia, an enormous bull called Pedro is poking his head over a barn door to look at some sheep. He’ll stay there for two hours if the sanctuary volunteers let him; he’ll have to be tempted away with treats so that the sheep can be let out to graze. Pedro knows the routine; he’s been here since he was a calf, when he was bottle-fed by volunteers. He lives a charmed life – he is fed, he roams, he watches sheep, he sleeps; and when he dies, it will be of natural causes.“He’s enormous!” I say to Olivia Gómez de Zamora, a veterinary assistant from Madrid who spends a lot of time coaxing Pedro from the barn. Continue reading... Collapse
Gallery: LG's Rolling Bot is a pet-tormenting marvel
23/07/2021 - Want to subject your pet to a whole new level of tech-enabled torture? Consider the LG Rolling Bot
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