animal welfare – Page 21 – The NEN

Five ways to keep your furry friends safe from unexpected dangers in your garden

As we approach the last week of summer, many people are still enjoying the warmer weather and spending some much-needed time outdoors with our furry friends.

For those lucky to have one, we might like to think of our gardens as our own little haven – but the same doesn’t always apply for our pets.

PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing shares her five top tips for protecting your pets from hidden hazards:

1. Avoid poisonous plants

“Though they might be beautiful to look at, some plants and flowers are best kept well away from our pets. It’s shocking to know that common garden flowers like hydrangea, foxgloves, lily of the valley and geraniums contain toxins that can be very dangerous for our curious companions if they decide to try and eat them. It’s always worthwhile to check that any plants you’re about to pot are pet-safe – so that your borders are both a beautiful sight and a safe environment.

2. Switch to natural pest control

“Although slugs and snails are the bane of a gardener’s life, before reaching for the chemicals, remember that pesticides can be equally harmful to your pets as they can be to the pests. Instead, encourage natural predators like hedgehogs, frogs and toads to keep unwanted diners away. Try planting sacrificial plants to keep insects away from your prized bloomers and vegetables or just simply rely on birds to gobble up pests, by making your garden bird friendly. These are all safer options for you and your pet but it’s a good idea to keep your furry friends away from the helpful wildlife!

3. Pet-friendly resting spots

“Four-legged family members can easily overheat on warmer days, so make sure there are plenty of shady spots where they can relax. Trees and large shrubs create great shade, but you can also set up shelters or drape sheets over the end of an exercise run for smaller pets. If your pet enjoys sunbathing on the lawn, don’t forget that they might be at risk of sunburn and you might need to apply pet-safe suncream, especially to areas with thin or light coloured fur. If your garden is more of a wildflower meadow, be careful to direct your dog away from those long grasses. Long grass can attract lots of wildlife which means your pet could come into contact with ticks, and long eared grass seeds which can work their way into places where they shouldn’t be, which might result in vet help to get them removed.

4. A protected pond

“Ponds are great for wildlife and can transform your garden into a haven for frogs, newts and all kinds of insects. Despite this, they can sometimes be a hazard for curious cats, dogs and rabbits. It’s a good idea to fence around the area or fit a guard on top or maybe have multiple shallower, small ponds that are great for wildlife and safer for your pets to be around. These handy protections will prevent any unexpected guests from falling in the water, especially those furry friends who may be too curious for their own good. Don’t forget to give your pet another source of fresh water instead!

5. Secure the perimeter

“A sturdy fence will help prevent pets from being able to squeeze through any gaps or holes and go on an unplanned adventure. Don’t forget that small gaps in damaged fencing could trap your pet’s foot or nose if they start to get curious and small pets can dig and create their own holes if they don’t have a safe outlet for their behaviour, such as a dig box.

As well as keeping your pet safely inside the garden, a secure fence will also assist in keeping out predators like foxes, allowing smaller pets to roam safely. Ensuring that a fence is tall enough is equally important, as it will prevent any curious four-legged friends from attempting a great escape.”

PDSA is the UK’s largest vet charity. We’re on a mission to improve pet wellbeing through prevention, education and treatment.

Support from players of People’s Postcode Lottery helps us reach even more pet owners with vital advice and information.

www.pdsa.org.uk

New powers to tackle puppy smuggling move a step closer

New plans to crack down on puppy smuggling and ban the import of dogs with cropped ears or docked tails have been set out by the UK Government today.

The new powers, which also include raising the minimum age for importing a puppy from 15 weeks to six months and banning the import of heavily pregnant dogs to help protect puppy and mother welfare, are aimed at safeguarding the welfare of the thousands of puppies and dogs that come into Great Britain from overseas each year.

More than 66,000 dogs were commercially imported into the UK last year according to Animal and Plant Health Agency figures. However, evidence shows a recent rise in low-welfare imports and smuggling activity, with border authorities seeing around a 260% increase in the number of young puppies being intercepted for not meeting the UK’s pet import rules – from 324 in 2019 to 843 in 2020.

The proposals are part of a raft of measures included in an eight-week GB-wide consultation which seeks views from the public and stakeholders on government proposals to tackle puppy smuggling and low-welfare imports by unscrupulous breeders and traders.

In addition, the consultation asks the public and stakeholders for views on new penalties for breaching these rules, changes to the detention and rehoming process and whether the proposals should be extended to cover cats and ferrets.

Launching the consultation, Animal Welfare Minister Lord Zac Goldsmith said: “Puppy smuggling is a grim trade, and we are determined to clamp down on it.

“Raising the minimum import age for puppies will help protect thousands of animals that are brought into the country each year and stop criminals looking to profit from the rise in demand for pets.

“We already have one of the toughest pet travel border checking regimes in the world and as an independent nation outside the EU we are going even further by preventing anyone from bringing in dogs which have undergone inhumane procedures such as ear cropping or tail docking.

“These new measures build on our plans to raise animal welfare standards across the board as part of our Action Plan for Animal Welfare.”

RSPCA chief executive Chris Sherwood said: “In recent years we’ve seen a huge increase in the number of dogs being commercially imported into the UK as well as the number of dogs being reported for having undergone mutilated procedures such as cropped ears.

“These are major dog welfare issues that need addressing as a matter of urgency in order to protect dogs from unnecessary suffering and to protect the public from falling victim to criminals who are trying to cash in on these dogs’ value.

“We’re really pleased that the Government – which pledged to tackle these issues among many others in its Action Plan for Animal Welfare – is launching this consultation and we hope that these new measures will be implemented efficiently so that we can crackdown on the illegal dog trade once and for all.

Owen Sharp, Chief Executive of Dogs Trust said: “We are delighted that today’s consultation could bring us one step closer to ending the abhorrent puppy smuggling trade.

!Over the last six years, Dogs Trust has spearheaded the campaign to crack down on puppy smuggling, after our first undercover investigation in 2014 exposed widespread abuse of the Pet Travel Scheme by unscrupulous dealers, bringing in puppies for sale.

“Since setting up our Puppy Pilot in 2015 we have cared for more than 2000 puppies which were seized at UK borders, often in horrendous conditions. We have seen puppies as young as 4 weeks old being smuggled into the country and dogs with open wounds from ear cropping as well as heavily pregnant dogs close to giving birth.

“We are pleased that the consultation has set out proposals to tackle these issues and hope it results in tougher penalties for these crimes, as currently only a handful of cases have ever been prosecuted and the existing penalties are sadly no deterrent.

“We will continue to work closely with the Government to be the voice for dogs and put forward our recommendations to ensure the proposed legislation effects real change.”

Media vet, animal welfare campaigner, and founder of the Lucy’s Law and #BanPuppyImports campaigns, Dr Marc Abraham OBE says: “This important Government consultation is hugely welcome and will hopefully bring us another step closer to ending widespread cruelty to puppies and their parents.

“For decades, both the legal and illegal importation of young puppies has enabled and encouraged low-welfare breeding practices and dog exploitation across Europe, with puppies often separated from their mothers too early, then sent long distances often riddled with all kinds of disease, straight to their unsuspecting new owners in the UK.

“By introducing these positive dog welfare proposals we can make significant progress in the fight against these cruel practices. I would like to thank the UK Government for listening to the evidence presented by campaigners and hope we can secure these positive changes needed to protect the puppies, their parents, and the British dog-owning public.”

Puppies that are imported too young face a significantly higher risk of developing illnesses or even death.

Raising the minimum age for bringing puppies in to the UK will therefore ensure that they are not separated from their mothers too early and will allow them to develop further ahead of being taken on potentially long and stressful journeys which can have a lasting impact on their temperament and behaviour.

The RSPCA has also recently reported a 620% rise in reports of dogs found to have had their ears cropped, covering from 2015 to 2020.

Ear cropping is a painful process where a dog’s outer ears are surgically altered or removed altogether to make them look more aggressive. The surgical procedure, which has been illegal in this country since 2006, can hinder their ability to communicate with other dogs and their owners.

The majority of these dogs are suspected to have undergone the procedure overseas and under the new rules set out in the consultation launched today they would be banned from entering the country.

Last year the Dogs Trust warned the public about the risk of buying dogs online after rescuing dozens of puppies that were illegally imported into the country.

Victims of this cruel trade included a group of six underage puppies seized at Dover port after being found covered in sticky oil and suffering from diarrhoea (above). The puppies had been illegally imported from Romania and were travelling in the back of a van for more than 24 hours. They had to be shaved to remove the oil from their fur.

In September 2020, four beagle puppies were also found in the back of an abandoned vehicle in Greater London. At eight weeks old, they weighed just two kilograms each and were very hungry and dehydrated.

They are believed to have been illegally imported from the Republic of Ireland, to be sold onto prospective buyers in the UK. After spending three weeks in the care of the Dogs Trust, they went on to loving new homes.

The proposals launched today build on the UK Government’s commitment to end the cruel practice of puppy smuggling and low welfare imports, as set out in the Government’s Action Plan for Animal Welfare and Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill.

The responses to the consultation will inform future government policy in this area, helping to deliver a manifesto commitment made in 2019.

The consultation can be found here.

Blair Drummond Safari Park cleared of animal welfare allegation

Blair Drummond Safari Park, one of Scotland’s most popular visitor attractions, has been cleared of animal welfare allegations following a robust investigation by the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA).

The assertions, made to BIAZA in March 2021 by a whistle blower, sparked a four-month inspection by the governing body which included park inspections, staff interviews and process reviews.

The findings, which include some recommendations for upgrading of processes, ends what has been a ‘deeply upsetting’ time for the keepers and the wider team at Blair Drummond Safari Park.

Speaking on the conclusions, Blair Drummond Safari Park owner Hector Muir, said: “BIAZA’s investigation has confirmed that Blair Drummond provides a safe and caring environment for our animals, and this is what we work tirelessly to achieve each and every day.

“The team participated fully with the investigation, and we were confident throughout that the outcome would be positive. This has been the case. We are always looking to improve the Park’s process and procedures and we embrace the opportunity to work with an experienced sector professional to support us in achieving this.”

Dr Jo Judge, CEO of BIAZA said: “BIAZA is satisfied that there are no ongoing serious animal welfare concerns. Many of the complaints were historical and we were pleased to find improvements have already been made to address them.

“The management team at Blair Drummond Safari Park are very keen to ensure that their animal welfare is of the highest standard and welcome the opportunity to learn from a BIAZA mentor”.

Chicken welfare: KFC leads while Subway & Starbucks lag behind

KFC is leading UK fast food chains in the welfare of chickens raised for their meat while Subway, Starbucks, Domino’s and McDonald’s fall far behind according to a new report from World Animal Protection.

‘The pecking order 2021’ ranks fast food restaurants globally on how they are performing on their commitment, ambition, and transparency on chicken welfare in their supply chains. This year’s report shows that while the hospitality market has changed profoundly since the last report due to the global pandemic – alarming trends are still rife.

“Many big brand restaurants are denying billions of birds the chance to see sunlight, grow at a healthy rate or behave naturally.”

Most of the chicken meat served by the major fast food brands comes from chickens who live in cramped and barren environments with no sunlight, and many suffering from lameness and skin lesions. Intensive farming methods also often rely on routine antibiotic use as a quick fix solution to keep stressed and sick animals alive. This over-use of antibiotics is fueling the deadly superbug crisis that kills over 700,000 people a year and rising. Not only are these chickens suffering – human health is also being jeopardized.

For the first time, in addition to the global assessment, 14 local rankings have been also created to reflect the realities in different geographies. The brands assessed are Burger King, Domino’s, KFC, McDonald’s, Nando’s, Pizza Hut, Starbucks and Subway.

The UK companies in ‘The pecking order 2021’ received the highest scores meaning it places first out of the 14 countries included in the global assessment, with an average company score of 45%.

‘The pecking order’ assesses companies via publicly available information on three areas:

Commitment (corporate commitments), their policies clearly state how important the welfare of chickens is to the company;
Ambition (objectives and targets), a defined timeline that demonstrates the objectives, targets and promises a company has made to improve chicken welfare and when they will meet them; and
Transparency (performance reporting), through their performance reporting, and how clear the company is about living up to its promises on chicken welfare.

The key findings for ‘The pecking order 2021’ in the UK are:

KFC, out of all eight global brands assessed, is the clear leader of ‘The pecking order 2021’. It is the only company in Tier 1 (Leading) in the UK. This is through alignment with the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) and KFC reporting on its performance against the company’s chicken welfare standards in Western Europe.
Nando’s, Burger King and Pizza Hut also scored high points in 2021 due to signing up to the Better Chicken Commitment (BCC) in the UK, and to other markets in some cases.
Starbucks and Subway both scored zero points and are right at the bottom of the ranking sitting in Tier 6 with a score of ‘Very poor’.
Domino’s sits in Tier 5 (Poor) and McDonalds in Tier 4 (Getting Started) these are the last remaining fast food companies in the ranking that have not committed to the BCC.
Despite moving up one tier, from ‘Poor’ to ‘Getting started’, McDonald’s, unlike many of its competitors, is still unwilling to sign up to the BCC in any market globally. The company has some standards that align with the commitment.
Burger King, Nando’s and Pizza Hut – have aligned with the BCC in the UK since the previous assessment. They are starting to demonstrate a serious intention to improve chicken welfare in this market. As a result, Burger King and Pizza Hut – have moved up two tiers, and Nando’s has moved up one tier. This is encouraging as it will improve the lives of millions of chickens. World Animal Protection urges other companies featured in the UK – Starbucks, Subway, McDonald’s and Domino’s – to follow suit soon.

Jonty Whittleton, Global Campaign Head at World Animal Protection says: “Many big brand restaurants are denying billions of birds the chance to see sunlight, grow at a healthy rate or behave naturally. COVID-19 has taught us that the welfare of animals and human health is interlinked – there should be no business as usual. Commercial motives are driving cruelty and suffering, and this needs to end.

“KFC once again has shown leadership in the UK and Europe since they signed up to the Better Chicken Commitment in 2019, which will improve the lives of millions of chickens. But it is disappointing that companies such as Starbucks, Subway, McDonald’s and Dominos are refusing to change for the better.

“As more people take an active interest in the ethics of their food, more companies are willing to act. Now is the time for real change to happen, and companies that fail to move with the demands of the market are not only causing misery to millions of animals but are also risking their reputation.”

World Animal Protection is calling on these global companies to lead and ensure that any chickens that are being served at their restaurants are guaranteed a life worth living.

To find out more, visit: www.worldanimalprotection.org.uk

Born Free calls on the Scottish Government to instigate inquiry into animal deaths at Safari Park

International wildlife charity, Born Free, is calling for an immediate, independent investigation into the shocking revelations of a series of animal deaths at Blair Drummond Safari Park near Stirling in Scotland.

The circumstances around these deaths have come to light thanks to whistleblowers within the zoo itself.

Fatalities include:

two lionesses in 2016 who had to be euthanised as a result of injuries inflicted by a male lion due to alleged improper social grouping,

a hand-reared nilgai antelope who staff reportedly stated “shouldn’t have been [housed] with other males” and was left with internal organs protruding from an injury inflicted during an altercation with another male,
a lemur which was killed after escaping into the tiger enclosure in 2018
and a Barbary macaque who was mauled by lions in front of visitors in 2020 after escaping its enclosure.

Veterinarian Dr Mark Jones, Head of Policy at Born Free said, “Details of these shocking incidents, coming as they do just days after the killing of two brown bears at Whipsnade zoo who escaped their enclosure and injured a boar, once again call into serious question the ability of zoos in the UK to keep their animals safe.

“It seems the tragedies at Blair Drummond are indicative of systemic problems that have been ongoing for some years, but which the zoo inspection system has uncovered and failed to address.

“The fact the facility is a member of the British and Irish Association of Zoos and Aquariums (BIAZA) doesn’t instil much confidence in BIAZA’s ability to ensure its own members are acting responsibly and transparently.

“We urge the Scottish Government to launch a fully independent, transparent and public investigation, and to share these findings with Westminster, and to develop requirements and inspection processes for zoos that will ensure these kinds of tragedies can never be repeated.”

Born Free says the events at Blair Drummond seem to be indicative of endemic problems at the Park dating back several years.

In their most recent local authority inspection in 2018, Blair Drummond scored ‘Yes’ for ‘Are there satisfactory measures in place to prevent the escape of animals?’ and ‘Are animals of social species normally maintained in compatible social groups?’

This highlights serious flaws in the current inspection process and raises the question of whether these issues would have ever come to light if it wasn’t for staff making their concerns known.

Born Free acknowledges the bravery and courage of the whistleblowers in bringing these serious animal welfare issues to light and encourages BIAZA to further develop its current whistleblowing policy so that staff in the zoo industry feel confident in reporting such issues in future without fear of victimization, discrimination or disadvantage.

BIAZA has launched an inquiry into the incidents. However, Born Free believes that the organisation is seriously conflicted and is calling for such an inquiry to be carried out by an independent body.

Born Free believe that the Scottish Government’s Animal Welfare team should initiate an immediate independent, transparent and public inquiry into the events at Blair Drummond.

They believe these events also raise fundamental concerns about the wider zoo industry and Born Free calls on the UK government to undertake a thorough review of zoo standards as a matter of urgency.

An open letter to Mairi Gougeon, Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs and Islands, has been sent – see below:

Letter-to-Secretary-for-Rural-Affairs-and-Islands-re.-Blair-Drummond-Safari-Park Download

Public urged to Give Seals Space

The Seal Alliance has launched a new UK government-backed campaign to ‘Give Seals Space’ and reduce the shocking impact that human disturbance can have on these vulnerable marine mammals.

As the public go out for walks over the Easter weekend, the Seal Alliance warns that getting too close to seals can lead to their injury and death, even up to several months later.

The UK is home to 38% of the entire world’s population of grey seals and 30% of the European subspecies of common seals, yet these precious mammals face an extensive list of threats including climate change, toxic pollution, entanglement, collisions with vessels, plastics and other marine debris. Of these threats, disturbance from human interaction is a significant and growing problem.

Seals are vulnerable to any kind of human interactions, either deliberate or unintentional. The ‘Give Seals Space’ signs and leaflets will raise awareness of the simple steps the public can take to protect these precious creatures.

It features four easy-to-remember steps:

Keep well away from seals (use a camera zoom or binoculars) so that they can’t smell, hear or see you
Keep dogs on a lead when in an area where seals might be present
Never feed seals
Take all litter home

Young seals are most affected by disturbance and only 25% are likely to survive to the age of 18 months in a bad year. If people are being noisy or startle the vulnerable animals by getting too close, this wastes their energy, meaning young pups struggle to haul out of the water to rest and digest their food.

Female seals are heavily pregnant or pupping during the summer and getting too close or disturbing them can lead to seals stampeding on rocks, which prove fatal to both mother and pup. The impact on seals can also be invisible but results in mothers not being able to build sufficient fat reserves so they cannot feed new-born pups adequately.

The campaign is a timely reminder as the public go out for walks, take part in water activities or fly drones over the Easter weekend, and as lockdown measures gradually ease across the UK. The Seal Alliance is urging the public to exhibit special caution as seals have ventured further inshore on beaches and coastlines that have become quieter during lockdown.

Environment Secretary George Eustice said: “Seals are one of our most iconic marine mammals. They can be found along our coastline around the UK, and we must do all that we can to protect them.

“Disturbance by members of the public can be detrimental to seals, but this is entirely preventable. I would urge everyone to follow the guidance, give seals the space that they need and respect this vulnerable marine species.

“This campaign will raise vital awareness ahead of the bank holiday weekend and help protect some of our most treasured marine wildlife.”

Andy Ottaway, of the Seal Protection Action Group, said: “Our precious coastal wildlife is coming under increasing human pressure. We need to be aware of the harm we can cause by getting too close to our seals and the often tragic consequences when we do.“

Sue Sayer, of the Seal Research Trust, said: I have witnessed bleeding, grazed flippers, ripped-out claws and gashed bellies that leave blood trails across the rocks after a stampede. Seals need our help so please keep yourself downwind and your dog on a lead.

“If a seal is looking at you, it has been disturbed, so please move further away. Use your camera and binoculars, stay quiet and out of sight. If we follow these simple rules we can enjoy watching seals for longer and without harm – a win–win for both people and seals.”

The Seal Alliance has used funding to produce leaflets and signage, for the public and wildlife tour operators, with guidance on how to ‘Watch Seals Well’ so not to disturb them.

The funding has also allowed the Alliance to employ a ‘digital ranger’ to help promote messages across social media platforms.

Letter: Building back together to help more cats

Dear Editor,

At Cats Protection we have much to be grateful for. This year has challenged us like never before but we have come through with greater focus and a renewed commitment to improving the welfare of cats and supporting better cat ownership.

As we mark the anniversary of the first lockdown measures, we want to learn from our shared successes and experiences and acknowledge what we have achieved together.

One year ago we launched Hands-Free Homing, a pioneering online adoption process that has become the new normal. Prospective owners pick a pet from our website and, after a chat with our adoption team, the cat is delivered to its new home.

This programme has been a triumph, allowing us to successfully match more than 20,000 cats with their forever homes to provide much-needed companionship.

Additionally, the number of cats returned by their new owner has gone down by a third.

We do not underestimate this incredible achievement and the dedication of everyone involved in helping us reach this milestone.

It is just one example of how our team of colleagues, volunteers and supporters have risen to every challenge and proven how we can progress by embracing change. Thanks to their hard work, cats in need continue to receive our support, even in these most trying times.

I would like to thank everyone at Cats Protection who has contributed to our response to extraordinary circumstances and who continues to be part of our outstanding team.

Yours faithfully,

JAMES YEATES

CEO, Cats Protection

Appeal for information after ferrets abandoned in Edinburgh

Scottish SPCA are appealing for information after two ferrets were found on Restalrig Road South on 23 March.

The animal welfare charity was alerted to the incident after a member of the public witnessed two girls leave the animals on a small grassy area and run off.

Scottish SPCA inspector Jennifer Surgeon said: “This ferrets were left in a cat box that was far too small for them. The cage was left open and the ferrets were running loose. Luckily the member of the public managed to contain them.

“Both ferrets appear to be in good body condition but were both very dirty. The cage they were in was also filthy.

“We appreciate that the people who left the ferrets in the area may have intended for the animals to be found but this is not the right way to give up an animal if you can no longer care for them.

“Thankfully, despite their ordeal, they appear to be unscathed and are now in the care of one of our animal rescue and rehoming centres where they are receiving the care they need.

“We would like to find out what happened to these ferrets. If anyone has any information on how the ferrets came to be in this situation they can contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”

If anyone is concerned about an animal, please do not hesitate to contact our confidential animal helpline on 03000 999 999.

We need your support today. From as little as £1, you can save lives.

Please support the Scottish SPCA today.

Morrisons donates 500,000 meals to pet rescue centres

Morrisons has announced it will be donating over half a million meals to local pet rescue centres to help feed the nation’s cats and dogs – after demand for pet food has surged during lockdown.

Last year saw an unprecedented rise in pet ownership. With more of us at home than ever before, the desire for a companion reached peak levels with over two million dogs alone bought between March and September.

However, with millions more cats and dogs to feed in households up and down the UK, the need for pet food has dramatically increased.

In response to the increase in demand, Morrisons will set aside half a million meals in an effort to support local animal shelters – and to ensure no four-legged friend is left behind. Its network of ‘’Community Champions’ will work closely with their local shelters to distribute the meals up and down the UK.

Many animal shelters have been struggling through lack of funding and the economic fallout of Covid-19. And as hope for summer and a return to normality grows, animal shelters are facing the risk of more pets needing rehoming as their owners can no longer meet their needs.

Faye Atkins, Pet Food Buyer at Morrisons said: “Throughout the pandemic, our focus has been on feeding the nation, so it only felt right to support those pets who may not have found their forever home just yet as well.

“We hope this donation will go some way to supporting the many shelters doing a fantastic job looking after some of our most vulnerable animals”.

Earlier this week, Morrisons announced it is working closely with its suppliers as they invest in increasing their capacity. Whilst there is not 100% full availability in stores, there remains plenty of stock for all its customers and their new pets.

Scottish SPCA cares for orphaned otter cubs

The Scottish SPCA was alerted to the young otters by members of the public after they had been spotted wandering the streets of Inverkeithing last week.

The cubs are now in the care of our National Wildlife Rescue Centre.

Centre manager Steven Gray said, “The cubs are around three to four-months-old. Otters will stay with their mothers in the wild until they are over a year old.

“We suspect their mum was involved in a road traffic accident or some form of disturbance and didn’t return to her cubs so they have gone looking for her. They were seen wandering down the road in Inverkeithing on Saturday night.

“The female cub was spotted by someone taking their bins out. She was making very loud peeping noises which was probably her trying to call for her mum. The members of the public followed at a safe distance to a nearby field where they were able to monitor her until we arrived.

“The pair wouldn’t have survived on their own as they rely on mum so we are thankful the members of the public contacted us.

“One cub is male and the other is female. The female has been named Inver and the male has been called Forth.

“They will stay with us until they are around 12 to 14-months-old, just like with mum in the wild. We will teach them how to feed and take care of themselves and will release them when they are ready.

“Otters are very agile and can have a nasty bite so we would ask members of the public not to approach them as they can react negatively out of fear. They can see humans as a threat, especially when they are feeling vulnerable, so we would advise monitoring the animal and contacting us.

“We have the necessary safety equipment to carefully contain otters and we are experienced in doing so. We wouldn’t want anyone getting hurt or an animal to be caused undue stress.

“If anyone spots a wild animal in need of our help, please call our animal helpline on 03000 999 999.”