From delicious cakes to yummy biscuits, homemade goodies always go down a treat. With the cost of living continuing to put households across the UK under more and more pressure, baking your own treats from scratch is a great way to keep the costs down – but it is important not to forget about your four-legged family members!
The vets at the UK’s largest veterinary charity PDSA have revealed the paw-fect dog-friendly recipe for easy-to-make gingerbread biscuits so dig out your mixer, pop on your apron and get your bake on.
Recipe from PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing
You will need:
300g flour
60g smooth dog safe peanut butter. Be extra careful to make sure your peanut butter doesn’t contain Xylitol (also called Birch sugar), as this is toxic to dogs. Check the ingredients before you start – the higher percentage of peanuts, the better!
1 apple, peeled and grated (or very finely chopped if you don’t have a grater!)
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp ground ginger
1 tbsp blackstrap molasses (black treacle)
120ml water
5cm x 4cm gingerbread template or cookie cutters
Instructions
Preheat your oven to gas mark 4 or 180°C (160°C for a fan oven) and line a baking tray with baking paper.
Add all the ingredients to a large bowl and mix thoroughly. We recommend sifting the flour for a smoother mixture, although this isn’t necessary!
Once your mixture has formed a dough, roll it out on a lightly floured surface to about ¼ inch thick.
Cut out your biscuits and place them on your lined baking tray.
Cook biscuits in the oven for 20 minutes or until they are golden.
Let the biscuits cool and voila – your pooch’s treats are ready to enjoy!
PDSA Vet Nurse Nina Downing said: “We’re sure your dog will enjoy this special treat but remember not to give them too many.
“At 5cm x 4cm these biscuits are a decent size and include molasses, so a bit of a sweet treat! We suggest feeding just one biscuit per day for smaller dogs (below 10kg) and two per day for your bigger dogs (above 10kg). These biscuits can be stored in a treat tin and enjoyed for the days following, so no need for your dog to scoff them all at once!
“Treats should make up no more than 10% of your dog’s daily food intake, and you’ll need to reduce their normal daily food to account for their gingerbread biscuits – you don’t want your pup to pile on the pounds.
“This recipe does make quite a few, so if you’re planning to make these just for your pooch, we’d recommend reducing the ingredients by half. Or freeze the leftover mixture so it doesn’t go to waste!”
Nearly 40 MSPs visited a Holyrood exhibition held by the charity Cats Protection to highlight how cats – and the people who care for them – can be better protected in law.
The exhibition, sponsored by Marie McNair MSP, was attended by 38 politicians and was a chance to discuss measures to improve feline welfare in Scotland, including the introduction of compulsory microchipping for pet cats and increasing the availability of cat-friendly rented housing.
Cats Protection’s Advocacy & Government Relations Officer for Scotland Alice Palombo said: “Scotland is a nation of pet lovers and cats are a particularly popular pet, with nearly one in four households owning one. So it was great to see so many politicians coming along to find out what they can do to ensure cats receive the protection in law that they deserve.
“Among the key measures we discussed was the need for compulsory microchipping of pet cats in Scotland. This is something which will soon be introduced for cats in England and it’s important that Scottish cats are not left behind.
“We also talked about what MSPs can do to ensure there is more cat-friendly housing available in the private and social rented sectors. So many people now rent their homes yet too many are being denied the chance to own a pet cat and we believe this must change.”
As well as discussing the charity’s campaigns, politicians also found out more about its hands-on work to support cats and the people who care about them, with staff from Cats Protection’s Veterinary, Behaviour and Community Engagement teams on hand to answer questions.
Cats Protection, the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, has a Scottish network of 24 volunteer-run branches, three adoption centres and nine charity shops, which also offer advice on cat care.
In 2022, the charity rehomed 2,500 cats in Scotland and helped neuter 11,100 cats and microchip 4,400 cats.
To find out more about Cats Protection, please visit www.cats.org.uk
65% of pet owners in Scotland would be willing to pay for a dog licence if reintroduced by the government
Scottish pet owners willing to pay over £31 per dog licence in a bid to deter irresponsible owners
Reintroduction of dog licences receives nationwide support in a bid to deter unsuitable dog owners and encourage better standards and training
In a recent survey by leading animal healthcare brand Johnson’s Veterinary Products into the purchasing habits of pet owners, a surprising 65% of pet owners in Scotland said they would be willing to pay for a dog licence if they were reintroduced by the Government.
These regional statistics reveal overwhelming support with a further 50% feeling the reintroduction of licences would deter unsuitable dog owners, and 26% believing it would encourage better standards and training, which would hopefully protect the public from irresponsible owners and unpredictable pets.
The survey, which sought to identify the factors that influence buying decisions when owners seek healthcare products for their pets, comes at an interesting time following calls for greater safeguarding surrounding dog ownership in the aftermath of recent serious dog-related injuries to owners and members of the public.
The decision to reintroduce dog licences would not be without its critics at a time of economic uncertainty, but it will undoubtedly pique the interest of those in both central and local government.
Paul Gwynn, Managing Director of Johnsons Veterinary Products, commented: “This willingness to pay for a dog licence was a surprising response, but perhaps signals that recent high-profile dog attacks have changed the thinking of the majority of responsible dog owners.
“Whilst serious incidents involving dog attacks remain rare, each one is a tragedy and it feels like more could be done to reduce the risks. Dog owners understand the need to train and socialize their dogs, but a willingness to buy a licence in the middle of a cost-of-living crisis, whilst a surprise, readily demonstrates the importance they place on regulation of dog ownership.
“The findings of the survey make interesting reading for those with the best interests of ‘man’s best friend’ to heart, with those polled believing the reintroduction of licences would deliver significant safety and regulatory benefits, albeit at a cost of more than £31 per dog, per year.
“Although not an issue discussed at the highest levels, it is likely the Government will see this as an opportunity to raise significant funds that can be redistributed to address high-profile issues, not all of which will necessarily be dog related.
“With there being an estimated 13 million pet dogs in the UK as of 2021, given that nationally, 71% of those questioned would be willing to pay an average of £38 per animal, the reintroduction of dog licences could raise more than £475M.”
Vet charity PDSA issues warning ahead of National BBQ Day
PDSA vets are warning about the dangers barbecue leftovers can pose to pets this National BBQ Day (Tuesday 16 May) after a beloved dog needed emergency treatment to remove a chicken bone that had become wedged in his mouth.
Billy, a seven year old Jack Russell, got his paws on fragments of chicken bone – believed to have been scavenged from a local barbecue – and attempted to wolf them down.
His owner, Frank Menzies (58), noticed Billy’s distress when he spotted his beloeved rescue dog frantically pawing at his mouth and making a chewing motion.
Frank, who lives in Brighton, explained: “Billy was in the back garden and was rubbing his mouth with his paw as though trying to dislodge something.
“I went out to investigate and he looked me straight in the eyes before rolling onto his side on the ground. I immediately realised something was very wrong so I picked him up and took him to the PDSA Pet Hospital as quickly as I could.”
Despite Frank’s swift action, Billy was in a lot of pain and discomfort by the time the pair arrived. After examining Billy, PDSA vets discovered a chicken bone had become wedged behind his lower back teeth.
Frank added: “The PDSA team were excellent. They could see that Billy was in a lot of pain and told me that he needed an emergency procedure, which I agreed to without hesitation.
“The vet was extremely kind and said he would call me as soon as there was an update. I went home and paced up and down the garden for the next few hours, just waiting for news.”
Billy was sedated to allow the bone to be safely removed and x-rays were carried out, revealing additional bone fragments in his stomach. Thankfully, the procedure was a success and Billy returned home later that evening with pain relief and advice to rest.
PDSA Vet Claire Roberts said: “Billy was in a great deal of pain when he arrived at the Pet Hospital, his mouth was so sore that he couldn’t be properly examined. The team had to sedate him so that the bone could be successfully removed and, luckily, there was no damage to his mouth or throat.
“X-rays of Billy’s stomach identified tiny bone fragments so Frank was advised to feed him bulky food to encourage their safe passage through his digestive system.
“Billy was extremely lucky that the bone in his mouth and the ones in his stomach didn’t cause any serious damage. It is cases such as this that highlight the importance of clearing away any debris, including skewers, bones, and litter, after enjoying a barbecue. What may be some harmless fun in the sun for us can easily have disastrous consequences for pets and wild animals.”
PDSA is warning pet owners of many other potential hazards to think about when organising a barbecue this summer:
Dangers of heatstroke
Pets can quickly overheat in warm weather, so it’s important to keep your furry friends cool while they’re enjoying time outside.
Signs of heatstroke can vary from excessive panting, confusion, bright red gums, foaming at the mouth, collapse or even seizures. It’s important to ensure your pet can easily head indoors or find some shade when they need to cool down. If your pet is a sun-worshipper, you may need to shut them indoors to prevent overheating.
If you’re planning to host a barbecue on a particularly hot day, consider scheduling an evening soirée instead, when the temperature should be cooler. You can also provide a pet paddling pool so your furry friend can hop in for a refreshing dip. It’s important that they also have access to fresh, clean water at all times, so they can stay hydrated.
Create a safe space
Having a house full of strangers can be unsettling for our pets, so make sure they can retreat to a comfortable, safe space to relax in peace. Set up a quiet area in a room or corner of the garden, making sure they have access to food, water and a couple of their favourite toys.
Paw-ping hot
Always keep pets a safe distance from a barbecue. Hot food, oils, coals, and ashes can cause severe burns if they come into contact with their skin, so ensure the grill is cooled down immediately once you finish cooking – being careful not to leave four-legged friends alone while there are still hot items in the area.”
Frank added: “I can’t thank PDSA enough for helping Billy – he means the world to me. My circumstances changed dramatically, and pretty much overnight, when I had two heart attacks and the doctor told me that I had to give up work.
“With the rising cost of living and everything going up, it is a weight off my mind to know that I can rely on PDSA to help Billy should anything go wrong with him. Everyone at Brighton PDSA Pet Hospital is so caring and professional – the team always puts the health and welfare of the pet they are treating first and I know Billy is in safe hands when he is there.”
In times of hardship pets like Billy will still fall ill or become injured and need emergency care. While Billy’s owner contributed what he could towards his treatment, the total cost of his care came to over £200. PDSA is appealing for donations so that the charity can continue to provide life-saving care to vulnerable pets, whose owners have nowhere else to turn.
The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has released new statistics showing that during last year’s record-breaking heatwave, where temperatures soared to in excess of 40C, vets saw fewer cases of heat-related conditions in pets, such as heatstroke, burnt paw pads, sunburn and breathing difficulties, than the hot summer of 2018, which was by comparison significantly cooler.
Responding to BVA’s Voice of the Veterinary Profession survey, vets pinpointed the extensive media coverage and a red extreme heat warning issued in 2022, but not in 2018, as a key factor in generating higher awareness of the dangers and appropriate preventative action being taken among owners to protect their pets.
In 2022, half (51%) of all vets in the UK saw cases of animals requiring treatment for heat-related conditions compared with 66% in 2018. In both surveys, dogs were the most common type of animal seen with heat-related conditions, seen by 51% of small animal vets in 2022, followed by rabbits (9%) and cats (6%).
As the weather begins to warm up, BVA is urging owners to start taking extra precautions now, during these seemingly cooler months, to keep pets safe from heatstroke and other heat-related illnesses. The advice comes as vets fear that owners may have their guard down in these deceptively milder days, which can be as risky for dogs, cats, rabbits and other pets as during peak summer months.
British Veterinary Association Junior Vice President Anna Judson said:“These new figures are a stark warning to pet owners not to be caught off guard by the seemingly cooler months of late spring and early summer.
“We might not be in the midst of a record-breaking heatwave, however, when the sun comes out from behind the clouds, cars, pavements and spaces like conservatories can quickly heat up and pets are at risk of overheating.”
Dogs need extra care
Dogs are particularly vulnerable to heat-related illnesses. They can struggle to stay cool in high temperatures and humid conditions since, unlike humans, they are unable to cool down quickly through sweating, making them vulnerable to overheating. Even a very short walk in the middle of the day or being locked in a car for a few minutes can prove to be fatal.
Flat-faced breeds such as English or French bulldogs and pugs are at even greater risk, as their short muzzles can make breathing difficult, and therefore they struggle to cool down through panting, which is a dog’s main way to cool its body temperature.
Anna added: “Each year, vets across the country report seeing large numbers of cases involving dogs who require treatment for heat-related conditions. Dogs won’t stop enjoying themselves and exercising because it is hot, so owners need to take action to prevent them overheating .
“This includes making sure pets aren’t walked or exercised in the middle of a hot day or left inside a car or conservatory, even when it is overcast or even for a little while, as ‘not long’ can prove fatal. Early signs of heatstroke in dogs include heavy panting, drooling, restlessness, bright red or very pale gums, and lack of coordination.”
Other animals
Anna outlines some of the signs of heat related illness in other pets: “Signs of heatstroke in rabbits include drooling, lethargy, short and shallow breaths, red and warm ears, wet nose and seizures.
“If your pet has overheated, take it to a cool, well-ventilated place, give it small amounts of cool (not ice-cold) water to drink, and pour room-temperature water over it to cool it down. Seek immediate advice from your vet.”
Vets’ top warm weather tips:
Make sure all pets always have access to fresh water to drink, adequate ventilation and shade from direct sunlight at all times. This includes birds in cages or aviaries and rabbits in hutches. Provide extra shade to guinea pigs by covering the top of wire mesh runs with damp towels.
Don’t exercise dogs in the hottest parts of the day: especially older dogs, overweight dogs, flat-faced breeds or dogs that you know have heart or lung problems. Stick to early morning or late evening walks.
Do the five-second tarmac test before taking a dog out for a walk; if it feels too hot for you, it’s too hot for your dog’s paws.
Never leave dogs in vehicles. If you see a dog in distress inside a hot car, call 999.
Rabbits and guinea pigs cannot sweat or pant to regulate their body temperature and cool down. Keep the hutch or run away from direct sunlight at all times of the day.
Flystrike is a life-threatening risk for rabbits and guinea pigs in the warmer months, Check their bottoms twice daily to see if they are clean and to spot early signs of fly eggs or maggots. A ‘sticky bottom’ is not only at much higher risk of flystrike, it may be due to a problem with your rabbit’s teeth or digestion. Speak with your vet for advice on how reduce the risk of flystrike.
Some breeds of cats and dogs, particularly those with lighter-coloured or finer fur, may also benefit from pet-appropriate sun cream, especially on the ear tips, which are prone to sunburn.
Spare a thought for wild animals. Keep out bowls of water for wildlife such as birds and hedgehogs.
Dogs Trust West Calder is on a mission to promote their lovely long-legged and somewhat shorter-legged dogs with their ‘Long and the Short of It’ rehoming promotion.
When considering adopting a dog people may initially focus on their size thinking of lanky long-legged lurchers or gangly greyhounds sprawling on the sofa or a short-legged tiny terrier scampering around. However, the team at West Calder believe it’s important to recognise that all dogs have unique qualities and personalities beyond their physical appearance and never to rule out a dog due to its size.
As part of the promotion dogs currently available for adoption are being renamed according to their leg length with a ‘Long and the Short of It’ event being held on Sunday 11th June. Anyone thinking of rehoming a dog now or in the future is welcome to come along to West Calder Rehoming Centre between 12 and 4pm to learn more all about the range of qualities unique to each of the dogs currently available for rehoming at the centre.
West Calder Rehoming Centre Manager Susan Tonner said: “A dog’s size is often one of the first things people consider when choosing a dog. We currently have 14 dogs that we have renamed Longlegs or Shortlegs as we wanted to find a fun way of showing that long or short legged dogs each have very different personalities that might surprise you beyond their first physical impression.
“We believe if you limit yourself to choosing a dog by size alone, you could miss out on the dog of your dreams. We hope people will get involved in the promotion and come and meet some of our fantastic dogs up for adoption.”
Long-legged and short-legged dogs currently awaiting their forever homes include:
Scooby Shortlegs is a nine-year-old terrier. He is a playful and lively little dog who is a massive sports fan, with football being his speciality. As keen explorer, he loves to travel and is always up for an adventure. After having lots of playtime he loves to snuggle under his cosy blankets keeping warm and snug.
Stuart Shortlegs is a seven-year-old Jack Russell Terrier. He is a little pocket rocket with the cheekiest personality. He loves his carers and will always welcome them with the cutest wiggle and waggiest tail. He loves to go for walks, is very playful and can often be found carrying his favourite toys.
Lucy Longlegs is a three-year-old Lurcher who is the smartest dog we know. She loves to learn and has lots of fun tricks to show you. She is sweet, affectionate, and loves to stretch her long legs by chasing after a bouncy ball.
Levi Longlegs is a three-year-old Lurcher who is a gentle boy with the best ears in the world. He loves to chill and relax in your company. He enjoys his walks, playing with his favourite teddys and snuggling up next to you on the sofa.
UK government awards nearly £40 million to more than 80 projects through the Darwin Initiative and Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund
Projects from Ghana to Ecuador will support global action to protect wildlife and reverse biodiversity loss
Next round of funding also opens to new projects, building on government’s target to halt biodiversity loss by 2030
Threatened plants and animals, including elephants and pangolins are set to be protected thanks to new UK government funding announced today.
Over 80 conservation projects across the globe will benefit from nearly £40 million funding aimed at boosting international biodiversity, supporting the communities that live alongside nature and tackling illegal wildlife trade.
Some of the successful projects include:
Support for the International Snow Leopard Trust to provide specialised training to combat the poaching of snow leopards in countries like Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and Pakistan;
Supporting the work of the Wildlife Conservation Society to reduce demand for collagen rich Pangolin scales in Traditional Chinese Medicine;
Supporting the Zoological Society of London’s effort to create sustainable ways for humans and elephants to coexist in areas such as Thailand, where they are often in conflict.
Environment minister Trudy Harrison said: ““The fantastic projects announced today will enhance efforts to protect threatened wildlife, support economic growth of developing countries and drive nature recovery.
“The UK is a global champion when it comes to biodiversity and driving action to halt and reverse the decline of nature. I am proud that – through our Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and the Darwin Initiative – we will continue to play a leading role in conservation efforts around the world.”
Dr Charudutt Mishra, from the International Snow Leopard Trust said: “The snow leopard, an iconic species of Asia’s high mountains, is threatened by retaliatory killing due to their predation on livestock, and illegal trade of its pelt and other body parts.
“With support from the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund, we are empowering local and indigenous communities of High Asia with livelihood and conflict management initiatives to enable them to better coexist with snow leopards, and to support conservation efforts.
“We are also helping rangers improve their capacity and motivation in Illegal Wildlife Trade disruption with training, resources and enhanced social recognition in three countries.”
Chair of the Darwin Expert Committee Professor E.J. Milner-Gulland said: “I’m thrilled that the Darwin Initiative is funding such a wide range of outstanding projects, which will improve both biodiversity and human wellbeing in such a diversity of ways and in so many places.
“These projects bring fresh thinking and new ideas to conservation practice, produce evidence to support better conservation, as well as building the capacity of the next generation of conservationists around the world.
“It was a pleasure and honour to support Defra in their selection of these projects and I look forward to a new set of exciting proposals in the upcoming 30th round of the Darwin Initiative.”
The Darwin Initiative, a grants scheme to conserve and restore biodiversity and the communities that live alongside in developing countries, supported 63 of these successful projects with over £31.5 million funding. Projects will conserve nature-rich areas in developing countries and support communities who live and work in biodiverse areas to build resilience to climate change.
The Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund has supported 21 projects through £7.8 million funding to enhance the protection of threatened species. The projects will protect species including elephants, pangolins and threatened timber – and cement our leading role in cracking down on the £17 billion a year illegal wildlife trade which fuels corruption, deprives communities of sustainable livelihoods and degrades ecosystems.
The UK is a global leader in supporting efforts to halt the decline in nature, protect wildlife and restore the natural world. Our efforts will help to deliver on the ambitious new global deal for nature agreed at the UN Nature Summit COP15 in December, which will protect 30% of our land and ocean by 2030.
Today’s announcement also confirms that the launch of Round 10 of the Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund and Round 30 of the Darwin Initiative will be opening to applications in May 2023. Projects will soon be able to access up to a further £40 million funding building on the government’s commitment to combat biodiversity loss and improve animal welfare standards.
Further projects funded over the next five years include:
Darwin Initiative:
Beekeepers Restore the Forests of Afram Plains: this project will provide training for 1,000 beekeepers on topics including wildfire management and forest restoration, while mobilising communities to help curb illegal logging in Ghana.
Scaling rights-based approaches for conservation and poverty reduction in Indonesia: this locally led project is working to scale up an approach developed over the past seven years to advance the rights of indigenous communities, improve socio-economic conditions, and conserve biodiversity across Indonesia.
Building Capacity for Reciprocal Watershed Agreements in the Tropical Andes: this project will help roll out Reciprocal Watershed Agreements, where residents will be supported to develop projects that protect forests and wildlife while providing new livelihood opportunities for local communities. The funding will help to scale up the project, building capacity and capability across Bolivia, Colombia, Ecuador, and Peru.
Illegal Wildlife Trade Challenge Fund:
Furs For Life – Preserving Culture, Protecting Nature: this project empowers women-led enterprises in Zambia and South Africa to produce synthetic fur garments, replacing authentic wild cat skin garments in local communities.
Conservation Litigation & Wildlife (CLAW): this project explores innovative ways to hold perpetrators of Illegal Wildlife Trade accountable by using liability laws to demand that they provide remedies for the damage they cause.
Unlocking DNA barcoding to identify illegal timber: this project will work to overcome the technical challenges proving a barrier to timber identification – a technique vital to improving the detection and prevention of the illegal timber trade.
Further Information
Round 10 of the IWTCF will open for new applications on Monday 1st May 2023. For more information on previous projects as well as how to apply please visit: https://iwt.challengefund.org.uk/
“Following my recent visit to Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home (EDCH) in Seafield, I attended their parliamentary drop-in session yesterday supported by animal campaigner and TV Presenter Kirsty Gallacher at the Scottish Parliament (writes FOYSOL CHOUDHURY MSP).
“CEO Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine and her Team at EDCH have been doing tremendous work to alleviate pet poverty across the Lothian region and beyond, ensuring pet owners are not separated from their families.
“Many pet owners across Scotland have been struggling to keep their much beloved pets at home as they can no longer pay for food, heat and vet bills particularly with the cost of living crisis which has exasperating the situation post-Covid.
“This has been very traumatic for cat and dog owners whose pets are part of the family, providing them with joy, comfort and security.
“Edinburgh Dog and Cat home Pet Food Bank launched in 2019, provides pet food, jackets, blankets, leads, collars, bowls and bedding to those who can no longer afford their pets’ needs or care for them properly due to financial difficulties, an illness, homelessness or other social issues.
“It is important that we raise awareness that these Pet Food banks do exist and are there to support pet owners when needed. To guarantee pet supplies are available, EDCH has partnered up with 88 human food banks and has been supporting over 3,800 pets each month across the Lothians, Fife, Falkirk and The Borders.
“However, The Edinburgh Dog and Cat Home has been struggling with the rising costs-of-living. CEO Lindsay Fyffe-Jardine reached out to me at the end of last year to make me aware of the significant challenges the Pet Home has been going through due the rising costs.
“In November last year, the Home was hit with a huge increase in annual electricity and gas costs– equating to £130K of unanticipated funding that Lindsay has been desperate to find. This is an addition to £200K needed to cover increased supplier costs.
“These increases are just unsustainable in addition to coping with the increase of pet owners having to give up their cats and dogs. Lindsay informed me that the phone calls are increasing 7 days a week, with calls up 55% from December to January.
“The energy and cost increases are just exasperating an already struggling pet home, and animal charities like EDCH do not have the option to turn the lights and heating off. They have pets who need their care and rehabilitation as well as staff who need them to care for them while they carry out their mission both on the Home’s site and right across East and Central Scotland.
“EDCH has been working to exhaustion point to avoid a major pet crisis, keeping our communities together, making sure our pets are cared for and assuring owners can keep their pets to avoid the trauma of losing their beloved pet. We all know how our pets play a central part within our family lives, they give many who would find themselves completely lonely and isolated company and a reason to live for.
“In the past months, I have raised questions to the Scottish Government regarding the impacts of the cost crisis on pet ownership and I will continue to put pressure on them to ensure our pet homes avoid the prospect of closing.
“Our local animal shelters like EDCH need our support and we need to see practical action beyond donations to ensure the survival of this 140-year old animal shelter to keep our animals safe and sheltered, and avoid painful separation from their owners.”
I am writing to encourage your readers to consider a moggy when thinking about giving a cat a new home.
Our latest survey revealed 38% of cats acquired in 2022 (or 600,000 cats) were pedigrees, such as Ragdolls or Scottish Folds, while 47% (or 750,000 cats) were moggies (cats produced through non-selective breeding such as a domestic short or longhair). This is the narrowest gap that we have seen between pedigrees and moggies in memory.
As a result, Cats Protection is celebrating moggies this spring and encouraging would-be owners to look past a breed or current social media led trends. Moggies have just as much personality and affection to share as pedigrees, they also tend to be less expensive both at the outset and over the course of their lifetime.
There are thousands of moggies needing new homes across Cats Protection’s network of branches and centres who are all vet-checked, microchipped, neutered if old enough, and arrive in their new homes with four weeks’ free insurance.
Further details of the benefits of welcoming a moggy into your life can be found at www.cats.org.uk/morethanjustamoggy; we also have lots of good advice about acquiring a pedigree cat including some potential pitfalls at www.cats.org.uk/pedigrees.
Within a year, 49 dogs have had their lives transformed thanks to Dogs Trust Dundee and their team of volunteer foster carers.
With no traditional rehoming centre in Dundee, Dogs Trust launched its unique approach to finding dogs new homes in the area in April 2022, rehoming dogs direct from foster homes within Dundee, Tayside, Fife and Perthshire.
Dogs Trust Dundee now has 12 Home from Home foster carers who volunteer their time by providing a temporary home for dogs being cared for by the charity until they find their forever families.
This small but mighty team has achieved great success within the year by finding loving new homes for 45 rescue dogs with a further four currently available for adoption.
Magic milestone moments from the charity’s first year of rehoming in Dundee include:
· Cockapoo puppy Ollie (above) was the first dog to be rehomed through the scheme, finding a permanent home in Perthshire with his foster carer who couldn’t bear to part with him. Ollie also made a guest appearance at the charity’s Holyrood Dog of the Year Competition in May 2022 being paired with Claire Adamson MSP.
· 15 of the dogs rehomed have been Older Age Pooches – with the oldest perfect pooch to find a new home being 14-year-old collie Angel
· 29 of the dogs were male with 16 females
· The top three most popular breeds finding homes were Terriers (19), Labrador/cross (5) and Poodle/cross (5).
· Dandy and Beano, named after the comic magazines published by Dundee based publishers DC Thomson, featured on TV news and in the Scottish press before finding their new home together in Renfrewshire.
· Murphy the poodle cross was the quickest dog rehomed, being adopted just seven days after arriving in foster. Murphy is now enjoying lots of walks and cuddles in his new home in Fife.
· Dogs have been rehomed across Scotland, including to Bridge of Don, Nairn and the Isle of Skye.
· The Home from Home team attended 25 local events throughout the year including Broughty Ferry Gala, Dundee Dog Show, Arbroath Fun Dog Show and Dundee Dog Barket.
· The Dundee team held three ‘Thank Dog It’s Fostering Friday’ events for members of the public interested in finding out more about fostering in Perth, Dundee and Arbroath.
Megan Wilkinson, Home from Home Co-ordinator at Dogs Trust Dundeesaid:“It’s fantastic that our foster scheme has taken off within Dundee and surrounding areas allowing us to give all these wonderful dogs the chance of a lifetime by going into a home temporarily, until we find them a forever one.
“Some dogs may take a little longer than others to rehome but, as we have found, there really is a home out there for every dog. Our Home from Home fostering has also given people the chance to rehome a dog in their local area which is good for locals and the dogs.
“Rehoming all of these dogs in need would not be possible without the dedication and commitment of our volunteer foster carers who do such an amazing job. We cannot thank them enough.
“It’s also important for us to remind people in the area that we are here to help anyone wrestling with the difficult decision to give up their dog. For anyone in the area concerned about continuing to care for their dog for whatever reason, please reach out to us and we will do everything we can to help.”
Anyone interested in rehoming from Dogs Trust Dundee should visit:
