A ban on giving puppies and cats for Christmas

A ban on giving puppies and cats for Christmas

Animal sanctuary bosses have put a ban on kittens and puppies being given as Christmas presents to children.

None will be available for rehoming until after the festive season at Animals in Distress, in Silver Street, Irlam say staff.

Refuge worker Brian Donaghy said: "We have had several enquires over the phone about whether we have any cute kittes or puppies and we always say we do not rehome them as Christmas gifts.

"It's just so wrong - the animal is made a fuss of for a while, then the child gets bored and can't be bothered feeding it or taking it for a walk.

"The lucky ones end up being looked after by the parents - the unlucky ones are just abandoned.

"Our message to the public is always the same. Wait until after Christmas and if you still feel the same, then come and see us."

His remarks come as another waif and stray - a young black cat called Puddles - is being cared for by the Silver Street sanctuary after being abandoned one night in the yard.

The cat narrowly escaped drowning after its carrier was left near the cattery shed during a downpour.

Because that area of the yard is prone to flooding, when staff arrived in the morning, the terrified moggy was standing in its cage in four inches of water.

Brian said: "Whoever, left it there knew where the cattery was but was very stupid not to think it through.

"He could clearly have drowned if we had not got there in time.

"He's recovering very well and we have renamed him Puddles. He is a beautifully natured youngster and we will make sure he goes to a good home."

Also looking for a new home is a very nervous stray female cat called Jill, who sanctuary staff think may have been semi-feral before she was rescued.

She will need careful rehoming and lots of patience, say staff, before she becomes more confident.

On a happier note, all the degus have found new homes. Although no young animals will be rehomed over the Christmas period, the public will be able to adopt the more mature animals, but only they have visited them at least three times and been interviewed by staff.

Article provided by kind permission of Salford Advertiser

Holiday Pet Care Advice

Holiday Pet Care Advice From Animal Friends Pet Insurance: Your Ethical Choice

The Christmas season can be wrought with dangers for our furry friends, but thankfully a host of pet healthcare experts have advised on keeping our companions safe during the holiday season.

Owners may be aware that the festive season comes with a host of pet healthcare dangers, but thankfully animal care specialists have offered some useful advice in the run-up to Christmas on keeping animals safe. The holidays are a time when many new and exciting objects and foodstuffs are floating around the house. Owners must be especially vigilant to keep these items out of their dog or cat's mouth.

Guests who do not know any better may be tempted to hand a pet a morsel of something highly appetising, but they should be discouraged from doing so as soon as they enter the house as much holiday fare is poisonous to our four-legged friends. Chocolate is well known to be harmful to animals, but so is anything sweetened with xylitol. Even rich foods can make them sick if they are not used to eating this - and the bones from the Christmas bird can cause choking. Unattended drinks could easily send a dog or cat into a coma if consumed.

Ingesting decorations such as tinsel or plug-in lights can also be highly dangerous and any festive adornments should be securely fastened out of reach. Even the sap from the pine tree can cause harm, either through fertilisers or the bacteria bred in stagnant water. Confetti thrown about on New Year's Eve can also become lodged in a cat's intestines.

Other holiday dangers come in the form of mistletoe and holly. The latter can cause nausea, vomiting and diarrhoea while mistletoe can provoke cardiovascular problems and gastrointestinal upset. Well-meaning guests bringing bouquets of flowers should be careful they do not contain lilies, which are poisonous to cats.

Of course, all items that are likely to be knocked over such as vases, Christmas trees or , need to be tightly secured. This is because with all the excitement of company, many pets may be overexcited and running around. While some pets love company and socialising and getting petted by dozens of friends and family, this type of activity can be a great source of stress for others.

Experts advise owners set aside a space where animals can go to be away from all the hustle and bustle. To minimise anxious feelings, people should aim for minimum disruption of a dog's feeding and walking schedule, to help enforce normality.

All the same, the excess of noise and activity could cause some pets to want to bolt, so guests should be warned prior to coming over not to leave the doors open. Likewise, if they have children or are unfamiliar with animals visitors should be informed on how to play with furry creatures. The individual preferences and personalities of dogs and cats should be made known to those coming to the home at Christmas so there are no surprises or stressful incidents. Also, if kids are going to be part of the festivities in a household that is unaccustomed to tots, owners should make sure dogs and cats do not swallow toys, as these can become lodged in the oesophagus, intestines or stomach.

Finally, animal lovers were told by a number of experts that for all of the reasons stated above, Christmas was not the right time to get somebody a pet as a present. Animal Friends Insurance would like to re-iterate the now thirty-one year old slogan coined by The Dogs Trust: "A Dog Is For Life, Not Just For Christmas". As one of the largest independent pet insurers in the UK, Animal Friends offers dog insurance, cat insurance and horse insurance to UK residents. You can get a quote and buy pet insurance quickly and easily online.

Who Will Take Care of my Pet While I'm on Holiday?

There are many things that have to be taken care of before you can go on a holiday. One important thing to remember is to make sure you find reliable care for your pets. There are several different choices that can be made. You could put your pet in a kennel or cattery. You can have a friend or relative watch your pets. You can hire a professional pet sitter. Another option may even be to take your pet on holiday with you.

The most important thing to remember is the welfare of your pet. You have to consider where and with whom they will feel most comfortable in your absence. Some animals handle change well and others have a hard time being taken out of their daily routine. The option you choose will also depend on how long you plan on being away.

The ideal scenario is to have someone that you trust stay at your home with your pets when you are on holiday. There are also professional pet sitters who offer a variety of services. There are many reputable companies that have trained professionals who are CRB-checked and specialise in pet sitting.

Pet sitters will take care of your pets according to your specifications. They will stay in your home whilst you are away, or may offer one or more daily visits to your home. They will care for your pets, take them on walks, feed them and groom them. Good pet-sitters will also water your plants, pick up your mail and open and close your curtains for you so that it does not appear that your house is empty. There are also companies that specialise in giving personal care to your pets in their own homes. They will take your dog or cat into their homes and care for them in your absence, often in the company of other pets - a good option if your pet dog or cat is sociable and would enjoy the companionship of other animals, but not so good if your pet is used to being king of the hill, so to speak.

Depending on friends or neighbours to take care of your pets might seem like the ideal arrangement; but sometimes people get involved in other things and unforseen circumstances crop up in everyones' lives. Since most people have busy lives they might not always remember, or only be able to give your pet a few minutes of their time. There is one thing you can do to avoid this from happening and to make sure your pet gets good care, and that is to treat this as a business arrangement instead of a favour.

If you set up a deal with your neighbours, friends or relatives to watch your pet for a certain amount of money you will definately get better results. People will do a better job when they are getting paid and not just doing a favour. You can set up the exact amount you will pay and what you expect to be done whilst you are on holiday.

If you want to hire a professional animal caregiver you will want to start planning and looking for someone in advance of your trip and not at the last minute. You want to make sure you have plenty of time to check out the person who is going to come into your home and take care of your animals. This is as big a decision as choosing a babysitter for your children - if you are not 100% comfortable with a pet-sitter then you need to continue searching. You can ask your vet, friends and neighbours for recommendations. You can also ask someone at your local rescue centre or a dog trainer if they know of anybody. You can also use the internet to find professional animal caregivers in your area.

Always look for companies that have had their staff checked with the Criminal Records Bureau and are fully insured. You want to ask the person you are considering for references and make sure you check them out yourself. You will want to find out if the person can take care of any special needs your pet may have, such as medication or other special requirements. Once you have done phone interviews and find the person you think might be the one; invite them to your home for an interview. By inviting the person to your home you get to observe how they interact with your pets. This way you can see how comfortable the person is with your pet and also how comfortable your pet is with the person. This is also the time to let the professional get a feel of your home and to show them where supplies are, etc. if you feel that they are suitable.

Once you have decided this is the right person to look after your pet you want to make sure you ask some basic questions. You want to know how often the sitter will visit or whether they could stay in the home. You also want to know what backup plans the person has in place in case they are not able to care for your pet. You will also want to make sure you leave an itinerary of your trip and phone numbers where you can be reached. Also make sure you put your vet's number and emergency numbers and your pet insurance policy documents in a place that is easy to get to.

If you can't leave your pet at home for any reason, and if taking pets on holiday is not an option for you either, you will have to find a good kennel or cattery that will take good care of your pets whilst you are on holiday. Follow the same steps for this as you would when looking for a pet sitter. You will want to find out if the boarding place is insured, licensed and bonded. After you have made some initial calls and narrowed down your choices; you will then want to visit the establishments in person. You might also want to see if your vet office provides boarding services. Take some time to check out the facilities, ask lots of questions and visit the existing boarders to make sure you will be comfortable leaving your own pet there.

Most pets are more comfortable in their own homes while their owners are away, and can become very stressed when put in a new environment. By planning ahead you will be able to find the best solution for your pet whilst you are gone. That way you will be able to relax and enjoy your holiday and not be worried about your animals.

Animal Friends can help protect your pet against the rising costs of pet insurance - you can buy online quickly and easily, and they have a range of policies to suit every need and budget.

Have a heart, give a home

Drive to adopt a veteran

WOULD-BE pet owners are being asked to put it in writing if they want to adopt a 'veteran' dog at the Irlam Sanctuary.
      Staff at Animals in Distress, in Silver Street, Irlam are desdesperate to find a home for China, an eight-year-old Staffie, brought into the refuge in April.
      Animal care worker, Jo Sumner said: "China's owner could no longer look after her and was forced to bring her in.
      "We've had one or two enquiries but they came to nothing. One woman wanted to take her but wanted to keep her in the back garden, and as she is eight-years-old now, that would not be suitable.
      "She's a lovely natured animal and would make an ideal family pet and we want her to end her days in a loving home.
      "We want people to write to: Centre manager Jaye Browne, Animals in Distress, 55 Silver Street, Irlam, M44 6HT, saying why they want to adopt China and what they can offer her, and then we will make a decision,"

Also looking for new homes are Jack, an 18-month-old unwanted cat, who came in with his brother a few months ago, Winnie, an older cat who has been at the sanctuary for about six months, and Edward, a seven-year-old cat, who also came in with his brother.
      Happily, a loving home has been found for Misty, another veteran cat, who finally found a new berth after being at the sanctuary for six months.

The adoption fee for China will be £100, and for the cats £50.

All animals will be neutered, microchipped and de-flead.

For further details ring the sanctuary on: 0161 775 2221 or call in between the hours of 10am to 4pm.

Article provided by kind permission of Salford Advertiser

Protect Your Pets on Bonfire Night

Bonfire Night is a time for fun and celebration, but can also be a distressing time of year for household pets. You will want to plan ahead to make sure that you keep your pets safe.

Bonfire Night or also known as Guy Fawkes Night is on November 5th and is an annual celebration. It celebrates the downfall of the Gunpowder Plot of 1605. Guy Fawkes and a number of Catholic conspirators attempted to blow up the House of Parliament in London.

This event takes place all over the United Kingdom with both private and public celebrations. There are firework displays and bonfires, not just on the night itself but often spanning an entire week or more. There are many traditional foods that are eaten on Bonfire Night. These include bonfire toffee and parkin. You can also eat toffee apples, jacket potatoes and black peas and vinegar. This is a wonderful and fun British custom that the whole family can enjoy.

The RSPCA says about 45% of dogs in the UK will show signs of fear when they hear fireworks. You should never show anger towards your animals if they are afraid; it will only confirm to them that it is something to be afraid of.Traditionally, Bonfire Night always sees an increase in dogs becoming missing. This is because they can run away after being frightened by the fireworks and noise.

To prevent your dog from becoming one of the missing animals during this celebration you should keep them indoors when fireworks are going off. You will want to make sure all doors and windows are firmly shut so your dog can’t run outdoors. Remember to secure the dog flap too. To prevent your pets from becoming missing you should have them tagged or microchipped to ensure they will be returned if they are lost. You can prevent your dog from being distressed on Bonfire Night by planning ahead and making sure your pet is indoors and comfortable.

All animals can be terrified of fireworks and you can eliminate some of the stress by following some general guidelines. Also remember that small animals such as guinea pigs and rabbits can also be frightened by the noise. If possible bring small animals indoors. If that is not possible then you should put them inside an outhouse or garden shed to give them more protection from the noise.You can play the TV or a radio in the background to muffle the noise from the fireworks. You can also play or pet your dog to calm them when the fireworks are going off. If you pay attention to them they will associate the noise with something nice and not scary.

Horses have to be protected from fireworks too. Often the noise from fireworks will make a horse bolt and they could become injured. You should make sure that all of your horses, donkeys and ponies are stabled during fireworks. You should close the stable door so the fireworks can’t be viewed by your equine companions.

Furry friends looking for a happy home...

This month's furry friends looking for a happy home include an unwanted cat and two Chilean rodents.

      Smokey is a male moggy around four to five years old who came to Animals in Distress sanctuary as an unwanted pet.
      Joanne Sumner, animal carer at the Irlam centre, said: "He seems friendly and he doesn't seem mithered by the female cats.
      "It's probably not a good idea to have him with any male cats although he hasn't shown any signs of aggression"
      Alongside Smokey there are two degus who have been at the centre since they were born five months ago.
      The boys are the last in a litter born when their mother came into the sanctuary.
      Joanne added: "They've got to have sand baths and I wouldn't say to let them out because you would never catch them again.
      "We've been feeding them guinea pig food pellets for the Vitamin C and they have certain vegetables as well.
      "They need someone who knows sbout them or will take time to read up about how to look after them first."
      Also in need of a home are Nieletta the female guinea pig who came to the sanctuary with a mite problem but is back to full health now and Bugs a young bunny who was an unwanted pet.
      The sanctuary is still stretched to capacity as less people are rehoming animals.
      Joanne said: "We're still choc-a-bloc but we're doing a bit more homing on the cats.
      "However we rehome one and get two more in so it doesn't make much difference at the moment."
      For more information call the Silver Street sanctuary on: 0161 775 2221

Article provided by kind permission of Salford Advertiser

No doorstep droppers

Animals in Distress are pleading with people not to just dump animals on their doorstep anonymously.
The Irlam sanctuary is full up as the number of people rehoming animals has dropped off recently.
      Last week two cats were dumped at the Silver Street shelter and are currently being housed in a temporary cage due to the lack of space.
      Manager Jay Browne said: "We're still chocka.
      "The two cats that were dumped have been pets and it looks like one is heavily pregnant.
      "It would be nice if people came in and asked us rather than just dumping them on the doorstep."

      The sanctuary is also in need of donations to help with the costs of running a full sanctuary.
      Volunteers and staff planned to raise some much-needed cash with an open day the first Sunday in September.
      In the meantime staff are still hoping to rehome some of their fluffy residents.
      Among those is Austin an adult male cat who was found with a broken leg that had to be amputated.
      Jay added: "He's been with us a good four or five months now.
      "He wouldn't really be good with kids because he can be a bit fiesty but he's ok with other pets."
      There is also a female adult cat called Mushy who came into the sanctuary when her owner died.
      Mushy came in with three other cats but is the only one left at the sanctuary and is friendly and would be fine in a family with children.
      Simples the male ferret was found as a stray and has now been neutered.
      Jay said: "For boys who aren't neutered their hormones kick in and they go wandering.
      "He's very friendly and used to handling and would be fine with kids."
      Two male rabbits, Salt and Pepper, are also looking for homes after coming to the sanctuary as unwanted pets.

      Anyone who can help with rehoming or donations can contact the sanctuary on: 0161 775 2221

Article provided by kind permission of Salford Advertiser

Sanctuary struggling to cope with inmates

Our sanctuary in Silver Street, Irlam has been forced to turn owners away because we are struggling to cope with the 'inmates' we already have.
      Silver Street refuge manager Jay Browne said: "It is a really sad situation but our pens and kennels are full to the brim with injured and stray animals.
      "Everyone is feeling the pinch and while we would normally accept unwanted pets from the public turning up at our door, we are no longer able to do so - at least for the foreseeable future.
      "We have always encouraged people who don't want to look after their animals any more to bring them here - it is, after all, the sensible thing to do.
      "However, we are having to tighten our belts in order to survive.
      "I would also plead with people not to dump them anonymously on our doorstep - it's not fair on anyone."

Jay was quick to point out that staff would still accept stray or injured animals, such as the posse of cats they recently accepted. Two had remarkably similar injuries, both having been found struggling along the streets of Irlam with their collars caught round limbs.
      Bella, a tortoishell cat, was rescued with her collar stuck partly round her neck and partly under her arm.
      Cherry, a beautiful black cat, was in a similar situation, with her collar cutting into her skin making it raw.
      Both are being cared for at the sanctuary and recovering well and will soon be ready for rehoming.
      It costs £50 to adopt a cat,and that includes neutering and worming.
      Also looking for new homes are two cute puppies, Sprog and Cara. They are available at £200 each and have also been neutered and wormed.
      Prospective owners will be expected to pay £200 for each pup and visit the animals several times at the sanctuary to get to know them. Home checks will also be carried out by sanctuary staff. For details ring the sanctuary on: 0161 775 2221

If you would like to make a donation to the charity please visit our Online Donation page.

Article provided by kind permission of Salford Advertiser