The Pet Education Trust (PET) hopes that last night’s hard hitting Death Row Dogs documentary on BBC1 has had the desired effect on many people by making them aware of one common denominator when it comes to problems with status or dangerous dogs – bad ownership. The programme will also have stirred a whole wealth of emotions in animal lovers, particularly as they watched a healthy, friendly dog be seized from a previously convicted dog owner, banned from keeping animals – which then had to be destroyed simply because a law (The Dangerous Dog Act 1991) is flawed.

PET believes that the programme clearly highlighted the desperate need for education amongst owners. It would appear that not one of the owners portrayed in the programme knew anything about how to correctly raise or socialise a dog. It was also clear to see that the animals were often found terrified and cowering in filthy, unsuitable living conditions.

Naidre Werner, Director of The Pet Education Trust commented on last night’s programme: “Well done to the BBC for portraying the situation around dangerous dogs in a fair way. There are unsuitable, uneducated, irresponsible dog owners out there who should not be keeping any pet, let alone a strong breed of dog. Yet they are and they keep doing it, so surely now it is time for change? A change in the laws is needed so that the ownership of a ‘status’ dog, that could be used as a ‘weapon’ by some people, is punished severely and the punishments actually implemented.”
“Similarly, a change in the Dangerous Dog Act (DDA) is urgently needed. To put to death an animal that obviously hasn’t been trained to fight and that is a friendly, family pet, which because of its unsuitable owner and living conditions can’t be rehomed because of the DDA law is criminal in itself.”

The BBC documentary has highlighted areas of the law that many organisations (including the Pet Education Trust,) who work within the animal care and behaviour industry have been arguing against for a number of years.

Animal behaviourist Debbie Connolly, who sits on the Advisory Panel for the Pet Education Trust added: “The phrase Deed not Breed is true for a reason. Any dog can attack and cause a nasty bite. Any dog that is badly bred by back yard breeders or puppy farms, not correctly cared for, socialised and trained has the capacity to inflict an injury. Whilst it is the power breeds like staffies, pit bull types and rotties that hit the headlines in tragic circumstances, in my many years of behaviourial training, I’ve seen the same injuries caused by much smaller, ‘family’ pets. In every case, it is bad breeding and irresponsible owners. ”

Debbie continued: “Death Row Dogs highlighted the very difficult job the Police do in implementing a law that punishes good dogs. The sad sight of a lovely tempered Pit Bull being put to sleep wagging its tail will haunt all dog lovers for ever. Seeing dogs in filthy, disgusting conditions does beg the question whether our other laws about animal welfare and the five freedoms are being enforced at all whilst innocent dogs are dying for how they look.’

The Pet Education Trust would like to see far more being done to educate what is already known to be the problem areas within society who seek to own status dogs and simply treat them as another form of weapon. PET would also like to see members of the public educated away from what is a knee-jerk ‘ban all dangerous dogs’ reaction so that they too can see the truth behind the problem…..the owners themselves. As much as last night’s documentary made uncomfortable and even disturbing viewing, it also did much to point the finger of blame exactly where it needs to be pointed.

September 28, 2011 marks the fifth World Rabies Day. This annual campaign, led by the Global Alliance for Rabies Control, brings the world together to raise awareness and understanding about the importance of rabies prevention.

Rabies remains one of the most serious viral zoonoses presently encountered worldwide. Despite being 100 per cent preventable, it is estimated that 55,000 people die worldwide from rabies each year, approximately one person every ten minutes: half are children under the age of 15.

The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is proud to support World Rabies Day by once again urging UK veterinary surgeons to raise their staff and clients’ awareness of the implications of rabies when they travel abroad. The BVA Overseas Group has produced some simple advice, available on the BVA website, on reducing the risk of contracting the disease, which gives guidance on vaccination and wound cleansing.

Karen Reed, chair of the BVA Overseas Group, commented: “Pre-exposure vaccination should be considered for those travellers at particular risk and should be mandatory for all veterinary professionals and students who are planning to work with animals in an affected country.

“Remember that a lick on broken skin or mucous membranes or a scratch is as dangerous as a deep bite from an infected animal.

“Thorough wound cleansing along with post-exposure immunisation is crucially important.”

Despite becoming a forgotten disease in western Europe, many UK vets are playing a part in helping to eliminate canine rabies. As well as those working overseas who tackle the disease on a daily basis, there are vets and virologists based in the UK who are making a considerable contribution towards alleviating the burden of rabies.

Carl Padgett, President of the BVA added: “I am particularly proud that vets and researchers at the UK’s Animal Health and Veterinary Laboratories Agency (AHVLA) are involved in this ongoing global fight against rabies. As a World Health Organization (WHO) collaborating centre for rabies, an OIE Reference Laboratory, and also as a Partner for Rabies Control, the AHVLA provides scientific and technical expertise.

“I also look forward to the completion of the University of Glasgow’s study to re-assess the global burden of rabies which will provide new and valuable data in the fight against rabies.

“In this World Veterinary Year when we witnessed the remarkable achievement of the eradication of rinderpest we are delighted to support World Rabies Day and hope that through our collective efforts we can make strides towards the elimination of another dreaded disease – rabies.”

Since its inception 2007, World Rabies Day has grown and is now recognised every year in over 130 countries, educating an estimated 150 million people and vaccinating 4.6 million dogs worldwide. The veterinary profession plays an important role in protecting domestic animals and the general public from rabies.

Dear Sirs

In celebrating the 20th Anniversary of the Dangerous Dogs Act, we have more dog problems now than ever before so as a professional in animal behaviour, the irony is not lost on me when in just one week Carwyn Jones, the Welsh Assembly First Minister announced: “We will be bringing forward new legislation to ensure that irresponsible breeding in so called ‘puppy farms’ is brought to an end.

“We aim to bring forward revised legislation for further consultation by the National Assembly this autumn.”

And further news reported that Carmarthenshire County Council is hearing a retrospective planning application for a 196 dog breeding unit on 18th August which is supported by Councillor Mrs L Davies Evans.

In my mind and many of the general public, the factory farming of a companion animal is in itself immoral, breaks welfare regulations and has been campaigned against for 20 years. Yet numbers grow because people still buy them mostly in ignorance but often deliberately.

To buy a farmed animal that shares an intimate relationship, living in our homes and sleeping in our children’s beds is dangerous as well as cruel. Is it any wonder that because dog breeding is so badly done, we still have cases of children and adults killed and injured by dogs?

Vets visit most of these puppy farming premises before the licenses are issued, so surely a professional should not approve of this practice? Yet they do. There is no requirement for any kind of behaviour assessment or visit to these places, yet we have the Animal Welfare Act of 2006 which clearly outlines the five basic welfare needs for an animal: somewhere suitable to live, a proper diet, including fresh water, the ability to express normal behaviour, for any need to be housed with, or apart from, other animals and protection from, and treatment of, illness and injury.

There is absolutely no way that these five basic criteria are satisfied in puppy farms, yet they still get licensed. For many years it has rightly been said that Carmarthenshire has the most puppy farms in the UK, closely followed by Ceredigion. The findings in my recent Freedom of Information requests on breeding licenses show this claim to be true. We need to ask why.

Apart from the pre-planned licensing visit, no other visits are made unless there is a complaint made, of which there are few. Only then is another pre-planned visit made. I was disappointed to discover that despite thousands of comments on the internet about the purchase of sick puppies, only a handful of complaints were ever made, so stopping this trade is difficult. Why do people draw attention to themselves and their truly sad story online yet don’t actually do anything to stop this?

The licensing and dog breeding regulations in this country are a disgrace and unless there is an independent means of drawing this together, we will continue to see more deaths and injuries as the result of poor breeding and ownership. The disparate versions of recording, awarding licenses and checks simply allows this trade to continue.

I challenge the puppy farmers to prove they are meeting welfare and licensing regulations. I propose to do this by offering to visit, accompanied by a vet and assessing behaviour needs. I also challenge the Governments to set up an independent body to implement a behavioural assessment like this for all breeding premises.

It will be interesting to see who responds to my challenge!

Debbie Connolly
www.safepets.co.uk

Win a Casco Economy Unit

One lucky winner will win their choice from the popular CASCO Economy Range which includes standard units for birds, fish, reptiles, small animals or plants – the choice is yours but don’t miss the opportunity to expand your customer base and expand your sales.

How to enter
Email cascocompetition@pettradeworld.com with the following information:
Your name
Your shop name
Your shop address
A contact telephone number
A contact email address

Closing Date is March 25th 2011

Would you like to add a new unit to your shop to be able to display livestock?

Along with our shopfitting partners, CASCO Europe, Pet Trade World are offering a unique competition prize.

One lucky winner will win their choice from the popular CASCO Economy Range which includes standard units for birds, fish, reptiles, small animals or plants – the choice is yours but don’t miss the opportunity to expand your customer base and expand your sales.

How to enter
Email cascocompetition@pettradeworld.com with the following information:
Your name
Your shop name
Your shop address
A contact telephone number
A contact email address

Closing Date is March 25th 2011

Competition Exclusions
This promotion is only valid to UK Pet Shop owners.

DATA PROTECTION
Your details will be used by CASCO Europe in order to communicate with you regarding this competition and other special offers. Your details WILL NOT be passed onto any other non related party.

About the CASCO Economy Range
The new Economy Range from CASCO is pre-assembled and fully fitted with the appropriate equipment such as lights, filters, heaters and feeders. The units are simply ordered, delivered, plugged into the electrics and ready to use. These units combine the usual excellent CASCO quality with exceptional value for money, simply because they are ready made to standard specifications and are available in standard black, white, silver and blue colours.

All equipment supplied by CASCO Europe will meet all the necessary regulations required of pet shop application for an Animal Licence.
For more information on CASCO Europe please visit www.cascoeurope.com or call 08450 60 99 60

LovePets Show 2010 offers a great family day out for just £10

If you love pets you can’t afford to miss all the fun and attractions at the first ever LovePets Show.

Britain’s only show that covers all pets has attracted enormous interest from all over the country.

It’s a great family day out as there really is something for everyone with a host of arena attractions, celebrity guests and hundreds of stands and sideshows.

Now is the time to book with family tickets available at a bargain £12 or only £10 if booked online at www.lovepets.me.uk and every visitor will be doing their bit for animals in need as 10 per cent of all admission prices will be donated to animal charities.

Celebrity guests include Britain’s Got Talent stars Kate and Gin, TV vet Joe Inglis and legendary strongman and budgerigar expert Geoff Capes.
Exhibitors’ stands will include the latest products, pet treats and gifts and there will be hundreds of giveaways.

The incredible array of arena events will include breathtaking displays from Kate and Gin and Ice with a Slice plus many other great attractions including:
Raptors – with breathtaking aerial displays from birds of prey.
Essex Dogs – one of Europe’s top display teams.
Huskies with a sled – cheer on a great display of pulling power.
Scurry bandits – action-packed canine capers.
Ferret racing displays – fun to watch.

There will also be special presentations with advice and demonstrations including a question-and answer session with star TV vet Joe Inglis.
Other presentations include:
SafePets animal behaviourist www.safepets.co.uk
PetWise Petting Zoo on keeping unusual pets
Geoff Capes and his amazing budgerigars
Heart 2 Heal
Bella Moss Foundation.

All creatures great and small will be on display and there’s a chance to handle many of them.

The animal guest list is impressive and includes: Corn snakes, Royal Python, Burmese Python, Common Boa, Chilean Rose Tarantula, Cobalt Blue Tarantula, Bosc Monitor, Leopard Gecko, Blue Tongue Skink, Stick Insects, Giant Land Snails, Sucauter Tortoise, Rabbits, Guinea Pigs, Ferrets, Indian Runner Ducks, Chickens, Chinchillas, Lizards, Gophers, Terrapins, Tortoises, Parrots, Monitor Lizard, Cats, Dogs – including huskies, greyhounds, sheep dogs and terriers, Horses, Budgerigars, Scorpion, Millipedes, Cockatoo and Birds of Prey including a Harris Hawk, Saker Falcon, Barn Owls, Eurasion Eagle Owl, White Faced Scops Owl, African Spotted Eagle, Kestrel and Tawny Owl.

Organiser Richard Parkinson said: “Britain is a nation of pet lovers and this show has something for everyone. Reaction has been fantastic and ticket bookings are coming in fast from all over the country – from Cumbria to Kent. It’s easy to book tickets online and there’s plenty of free parking.

“LovePets will be a truly family event with hundreds o giveaways from hundreds of different stalls and exhibition stands.

“There’ll be exciting arena events and celebrity guests and, most importantly, the chance to meet an astonishing range of creatures great and small.”

Love Pets Show is at the Showground Peterborough PE2 6XE, on Saturday and Sunday November 27 and 28 from 9.30am to 5pm.
Booking is easy online at www.lovepets.me.uk. Tickets can be purchased on the day.
LovePets Show is sponsored by Mars Petcare brands Pedigree and Whiskas.

National animal protection group ‘South West Animal Protection’ have been alerted to a recent, disturbing, extreme act of cruelty to a much loved family pet.

‘Red’ a three year old male cross breed dog was stolen from his owner’s garden in Grove Hill, Essex Mead, Hemel Hempstead on Sunday 7th November 2010. Two men were seen loitering in the area at the time.

Red was found in a traumatised state near his owner’s home on Monday evening. He had been brutally tortured. He had cigarette burns to his ears, puncture marks on his body and the base of his tail snapped leaving him with no control over his bowel and bladder. He was sadly put to sleep on Tuesday 9th November to end his suffering.

It is suspected that he was used and tortured by individuals involved with dog fighting and dragged or swung around by his tail causing the fracture.

Frances McGrath, Red’s owner who has been totally devastated by this heinous act of cruelty states: “Red was the most gentle and trusting dog. He was a quiet, loving, loyal companion. He loved watching the telly. He was dearly loved. He would have been totally defenceless against the cruel acts inflicted on him. His torturers and killers must be caught before they do this again to
another cherished pet”.

Helen Stevens, co-ordinator of South West Animal Protection says: “Allegedly, another pet has been reported as being stolen in the area and so as to prevent another tragedy we are giving an important warning to all dog owners in and around the area to be on the alert and not to leave their precious dogs unattended at any time.

“We are hoping that the RSPCA put all their resources into catching these individuals, they are already working on this case.

“Red deserves justice and we are now appealing for the public’s help. Please could any residents in the immediate area with CCTV check for possible video evidence showing two males walking with ‘Red’. Any information and evidence should be given to the RSPCA immediately”.

South West Animal Protection are appealing for any witnesses with any information relating to this incident to please contact Inspector Fisher collar number 827 at the RSPCA immediately. Please phone their cruelty line on 0300 1234999. The owner Frances McGrath is offering a reward for any information leading to a prosecution. Email contact: southwestanimalprotection@yahoo.co.uk

Debbie Connolly, top pet behaviour specialist and star of BBC’s Dog Borstal has recently agreed to endorse a fabulous new pet cleaning product range, 2Pure Pet Fresh, from 2Pure Products based in the North East of England.

The technologically advanced ‘3in1’ formula works in a way which is unique compared to any other products in the market, scientifically proven to immediately destroy odour compounds, as well as their bacterial source, whilst also cleaning and removing stains. More importantly the products are so effective there is no need for a perfume, so the product range is fragrance free for added pet comfort.

The new products have been tested by independent laboratories and proven to outperform competing products in destroying odours, whilst also killing 99% of harmful bacteria.
Debbie said of the products: “It’s nice to be able to work with a product range that actually does what it says it will do. I’ve tested the cleaning products myself and also distributed them to a number if my associates who work in kennels and rescue centres. There has been nothing but positive praise of the quality of the product range and again, the simple fact that they do clean safely and don’t disguise the various pet smells with a false floral fragrance is an outstanding benefit.

“I believe that these products will also have benefits to some of the pet behavioural problems that I get asked about every day. They can solve spraying and marking issues by correctly cleaning the area and therefore the cat or dog cannot smell where it has marked or sprayed previously. This will be a great relief and benefit to pet owners.”
Debbie, who runs SafePets UK, the highly-acclaimed training organisation dedicated to promoting responsible animal ownership added: “Part of any pet owners’ routine must include a regular cleaning and hygiene schedule using the best products on the market. This is responsible animal care and I can thoroughly recommend using the Pet Fresh range to make this everyday routine for pet owners easier.”

Debbie continued: “Obviously being from the North East myself, it’s a pleasure working with like minded people who care a great deal about producing pet products that work and who have such high standards of customer care. I’m looking forward to a long and exciting relationship watching the company grow and helping them develop further ground breaking products for the pet market.”
Products currently available include an odour eliminator for fabrics, carpets, and surfaces around the home, a cleaner for hutches and cages of small animals, and a cleaner for kennels, patios or other large areas.
If you would like information on how to buy the 2Pure Pet Fresh product range from 2Pure Products, please visit www.2pureproducts.co.uk.

If you would like more information on the range of courses and advice that Debbie Connolly of SafePets can offer then visit www.safepets.co.uk.

The award winning Spiffy Dog Collars and leads are distributed in the UK and Mainland Europe by Xtra Dog, Nook Farmhouse, Ashby Rd, Shepshed Loughborough LE12 9BS. Telephone +44 (0) 3330 088 3647, website www.XtraDog.com. In Ireland by Holistic Pet Product, telephone +353 (0) 45 890557, website www.hpp.ie. For North America and Canada please contact Spiffy Dog Pet P.O. Box 770746, Steamboat Springs, CO 80477. Telephone 970.870.6164, website www.SpiffyDog.com

In Europe we currently offer a choice of 19 designs of Spiffy Dog collars with matching leads and next month at Discover Dogs (November 12-13) we will be launching the yellow stars designs featured in this month’ Pet Trade World, along with our annual Christmas Collar.

The UK suggested retail price is £12.80 for Spiffy Dog collars, with the exception of the high visibility collars which are £14.80

A new European law that raises standards for animals used in research and testing across many EU countries may allow UK rules to be watered down, the RSPCA said today.

The directive, which will regulate the way laboratory animals are used and cared for in experiments throughout the EU’s 27 member states, was given the final thumbs-up by the European Parliament today.

It is now up to the UK government to ensure that its own laws meet the minimum requirements of the EU directive. The standards set by the directive are basic standards and the UK already goes further in many areas.

However, the RSPCA is concerned that the government may opt to reduce UK rules to the minimum requirements in the directive, even though it is allowed to keep its current higher standards.

UK standards must not be weakened

RSPCA senior scientist Barney Reed said: “This directive sets out absolute minimum standards for the regulation of laboratory animal care and use. Any attempt by the UK government to use this as a cover for reducing our own laws to this basic level would be inexcusable.

“The RSPCA is urging the government to respect public concerns and at the very least maintain the level of regulation that we currently have, otherwise both animal welfare and UK science will suffer.”

The directive should mean a rise in standards in those EU countries which currently have little in the way of animal welfare laws.

For example, the directive explicitly requires the use of humane alternatives to animals wherever possible, and it has better requirements for licensing experiments and training researchers. But – crucially – its effectiveness will depend on how each country implements and enforces the legislation.

High level of public concern

Barney added: “Given the dramatic rise in the number of animals used in UK research and testing in recent years, and the high level of public concern for the suffering these animals experience, any weakening of legislation – or moves towards self-regulation – would be completely unacceptable.”

The RSPCA is deeply disappointed that many important provisions included in the original proposed directive, which would have afforded more protection for animals, have either been watered down or lost altogether from the final version.

The RSPCA’s main concerns about the new directive, which will be known as ‘Directive 8869/10’, are:

* It includes improved standards of housing and care for animals, but member states are allowed until 2017 to actually implement them. As there was widespread agreement at the end of the last century that the old standards were outdated, this delay is outrageous.
* There are no real measures that will encourage researchers to reduce or avoid primate use or lead to a decrease in primate use.
* Primates may still be captured and taken from the wild for use in breeding centres supplying animals to labs in the EU. The UK has had a ban on the use of wild caught primates in research since 1995.
* There is no outright ban on the use of great apes, such as chimpanzees, in experiments. The UK currently has a policy ban on great ape use on moral grounds.
* The role of ‘animal welfare bodies’ within establishments was progressively undermined in successive drafts of the directive. This flies in the face of the significant contribution that the UK Ethical Review Process has made to questioning the necessity and justification for animal use, improving science and animal welfare.
* Unlike in the previous directive, projects may be allowed to cause animals ‘severe’ pain, suffering or distress that cannot be alleviated if there is scientific justification.