New Year Pet Sitting in 2014

We hope you all had a very good Christmas and are now coming out of hibernation as the hope of Spring is around the corner.

We have seen in the news the devastating effects of the weather this winter, on animals as well as people up and down the country.  Hopefully the weather will get steadily better from now on in, and we can get back to normal.

The animal charities have been working so hard to help animals which have been caught up in the floods.

For 2014 we have given our support and any donations collected throughout the year to the following charities:

Lluest Horse and pony charity is one of the organisations in Wales that we know of, they sent food and help to horses in need from the floods.
www.lluesthorseandponytrust.co.uk

SPCA in Carcassonne, South France, we provided them with a new kennel.
www.dogrescuecarcassonne.co.uk

We have been following the work of this charity in Cyprus, rescuing donkeys.
www.walkwithdonkeys.com

We have been following the progress of this small rescue sanctuary for elephants in Thailand.  We were hoping to visit at the beginning of this year, but at present, with election protests and disruption to transport links in Thailand, we thought it was best to go another year.

beesanctuary.wix.com/oldelephantrescue

Pet Portraits

Whilst out walking into South Brent on a beautiful sunny morning, I had a kind offer of a lift into town from a lovely local lady named Rosemary Bishop.

She does beautiful watercolours of pets and country scenes which capture the character of the animal very well.

Check out her website at www.devonwatercolours.co.uk

Beautiful Avon River, South Brent

Friends of South Gloucestershire Strays

Della had an opportunity to help out at one of the many fund raising events that Friends of South Gloucestershire Strays hold.  This one was at Thornbury, near Bristol.  They had a street fair and the Christmas Lights were being turned on.  There was a fair and lots of stalls selling food and drink, as well as charity stalls.

The Friends of South Gloucestershire Strays had an assortment of home made goods, some dog coats, toys and leads etc.  The big pull however was a Teddy tombola, every one's a winner.

Teddy Tombola "Every one's a winner"

It was a freezing cold night, but luckily dry.  There was a steel band playing Christmas music and a couple of rescued dogs gave an appearance to encourage people to come and have a chat.

These events totally rely on the volunteers making stuff to sell, turning up to set everything out and then staying to greet the customers.

I am sure that the dogs appreciate the efforts made on their behalf.  They have a Facebook page as well as a website, link below.

http://www.fosgs.comule.com/home.html

Indoor cats

We look after a number of cats and a few are indoor cats.  They tend to be the more exotic breeds, like Burmese or Pursian.

They seem to do very well indoors, not looking to go out.  In all cases these cats have plenty of toys for them to play with and activities for them to keep alert.

There are many items on the market to meet the need of indoor pets.  There are videos that show birds or fish on the tv screen, there are even  pet strollers to put your cat in, or dog for that matter, and take it for a walk.

Here is an extract from the PETA website, advising cat owners on having a happy housecat

1.. Bring joy with toys. From paper bags and rolled up balls of paper to motorized “mice” and laser pointers, toys perk up even the laziest feline. All-time favorites are Cat Dancer and Cat Charmer.

2. Scratch that itch. Cats love to scratch. Doing so enables them to remove broken claws, stretch muscles, and mark “territory.” The best way to save your furniture is to provide lots of “approved” places to scratch. Cat “trees” and posts, cardboard scratching boxes, and those ingenious “cat tracks” (a ball in a circular, partially open plastic tunnel surrounding a cardboard scratching pad) are big hits. Sprinkle catnip on them weekly to keep cats interested, and be sure to replace cardboard inserts when they get worn out.

3. Provide a room with a view. Windows are cat “TV”—a birdbath or feeder placed near a window can provide hours of entertainment. If window sills aren’t wide enough, build or buy a cushioned perch (which are available from pet supply stores and catalogs) to attach to the sill. (For safe window-sill perching, make sure that double-hung windows are propped open to prevent them from falling down on cats, and tuck the cords of blinds up and out of the way so that legs and other body parts don’t get entangled in them.)

4. Porches bring purrs. A screened-in porch or an enclosure accessible through a window is a great way for your kitty to safely commune with nature. KittyWalk Systems makes enclosures in a variety of configurations that can stand alone or be attached to a cat door. If your yard is fenced, another option is Cat Fence-In, a netting kit that attaches to the top of the fence. No existing fence is necessary to install another escape-proof system called Purrfect Fence, although it is advisable to supplement it with sturdy fencing of some kind to keep dogs and other predators out.

5. Take your kitty out for cat walkies. Cats can be taught to walk on a leash—just be sure to use an ultra-lightweight, retractable leash that’s attached to a harness, not a collar. Let your cat get used to the harness for short periods indoors, and then pick a safe outdoor area to explore.KittyWalk Systems also makes a “pet stroller” that allows for longer, brisker walks and provides a measure of safety from free-roaming dogs.

6. Plant a garden—of catnip. Cats will nibble on it and roll in it. Other healthy snacks are wheat grass, alfalfa, and oat grass. (You can buy seed starter kits at companion animal supply stores.)

For more information about how you can make your feline’s life more felicitous, read PETA President Ingrid E. Newkirk’s book, 250 Things You Can Do to Make Your Cat Adore You.

Read more: http://www.peta.org/living/companion-animals/caring-animal-companions/caring-cats/indoor-cats/#ixzz2lxCfAxMG

The lengths we go to for our pets.

Recently we have had assignments where a little extra thought has had to go into the care for a beloved pet.

When faced with a  situation where a pet could potentially be put down due to a health issue, some resourceful owners really pull out all the stops to see if the obstacle can be got around.

Whilst on a sit in Wolvercote, near Oxford, on the beautiful expanse of open common land called  Port  Meadow we regularly came across a little dachshund with a set of wheels attached to his rear end.  We think his back legs were damaged, or perhaps his spine.  He was able to run after a ball and get about quite easily.  The dog we were looking after thought it was a weird sight though, not quite sure what to make of it!

We have just sat for a new client in the Bristol area with three West Highland White Terriers, a breed very close to our hearts.  One of the female dogs has a condition, Atopic Malassezia, which affects her feet and having run out of solutions to cure this condition, our client has come up with the idea of putting socks on her feet to protect them from the irritants affecting her, and to stop her licking her feet.   As it was difficult to keep the socks on her, a 'suit' was devised to hold the socks in place, forming  a 'onesie'.

She is able to walk about, doing her bodily functions normally.  This seems to have done the trick.

Daisy in her 'PJs'

She does not have to keep this outfit on all the time, she is currently just wearing socks at night.

Our current assignment near Worthing on the South Coast has a different problem.  The dogs in question are a small breed called Papillons, named after the shape of their ears resembling butterflies.  They are an affectionate breed, loving nothing more than to cuddle down on your lap at every opportunity.

These dogs have house training issues having to wear pads whilst in the house to stop them from marking.  The dogs wear a band of material with a velcro fastener.  Inside the band is a sanitary towel which absorbes the urine. 

Louis in his band

For the female dogs there is a similar band with an extra flap which has a hole in it for the tail to pass through.   These are useful tools for incontinent dogs or females in season.

Holly in her pants

Holly has recently gone completely blind, so finding her way about to get outdoors can be a bit of a challenge.  Until she has got used to her new world in the dark, these 'pants' avoid accidents.

There are a number of websites selling items for all types of health issues.

Sheep drama in Devon

July found us in beautiful Devon, at the start of the lovely hot weather, officially known as Summer in other countries!

Rural Devon in the Summer

We were in a very rural spot just outside of Exeter.  The pets, our first sit for these clients, were very sweet, comprising of two dogs, two cats, three horses and 24 sheep.

The sheep were Jacobs Sheep.  There was a ram and two wethers, (castrated rams),  and 21 ewes and lambs in a separate field.

Jacob Sheep

We had to check on them twice a day as they tend to get their horns stuck in the fencing, especially the young ones, or get into another field.  We made sure they had plenty of water and that they looked well.

One day Tracy came back from the morning check and reported that one of the ewes had a "protrusion" from its behind.  We went to investigate and discovered that the ewe was having difficulty walking and looked like she was in discomfort.

We phoned the vet and he came out to take a look.  We were at pains to explain to the vet that we did not know how to catch the ewe, ( we have seen James Herriott films, where the sheep is waiting in a pen for the vet)  We were willing helpers though.  We were assured that this would not be a problem.

David, a lovely welsh vet arrived, and after confirming that indeed the ewe required attention, we set about trying to catch said ewe.

We managed to separate her, Tracy did a sterling job of holding her nerve as a flock of horned sheep came hurtling towards her, dividing as they reached her, The ewe went towards the hedge where David did a great rugby tackle.  

With the ewe secured I got hold of her horns which made excellent handle bars, keeping my knee on her side to keep her into the hedge.   David got to work on the prolapsed womb by firstly pushing it back up inside.  He then put a stitch in to hold it in place, after administering an epidural.

We had only known David for half an hour but we became very intimate as I was bending forwards facing head-wards, and David was bending forwards facing bum-wards, we were subsequently pushing against one another bum-wise to give each other some purchase.  Where is a camera when you need one!

The poor old ewe was very good, she held steady with a bit of panting, but soon it was all over.  We let her go and she seemed much more comfortable.

We kept an eye on her and each day she improved.  Her lamb got caught up in a big bramble bush, carrying the long tendrils around with him for a day, we tried to get close to him to grab hold of the brambles but he was too quick.  Trouble obviously runs in the family.  luckily he managed to get free himself.

Ewe on the mend

Things we have learned from this experience.....

When looking for a flock of sheep in the summer, look in the shade first they will probably be there. 


Prolapsed wombs can be pushed back inside and stitched up. 

If you want to keep sheep, the ones with the horns are easier to hold!

Something to add to the CV.

In Memory of Dylan.

In Memory of Dylan.

A few weeks ago we were very sad to learn that Dylan, a lovely old boy had become very frail and too ill to stay with his humans.

Dylan lived to be 17 years old and was the sweetest boy. We had the pleasure and the privilege of looking after this dear soul on two separate occasions - we are truly sorry that we will not get to play with him for just one more time but we know that his time had come.

A gentle and loving dog, Dylan was playful despite his advancing years and enjoyed his little ambles around the block. He recently relocated with his owners to a new home and he was enjoying his new garden.

Dylan loved Schmackos and we loved him. We will miss  him  but know that he is now running and playing free in the doggy park in the sky.