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Archive for February, 2009

A 100 Year Lease On Part Of The Sumatran Rainforest

Wednesday, February 25th, 2009

The RSPB and its partners (Burung Indonesia and Birdlife International) have been given a 100 year lease to look after part of the Sumatran rainforest and its wildlife.

The area they are looking after is two-thirds the size of Greater London, it is called harapan (meaning “hope”) and it has loads of wildlife, as well as some of the worlds rarest animals.

It costs £20 to plant 40 trees for the rainforest animals, what will not just benefit the wildlife but also the local people, as it will create work for them.

The RSPB are getting young people and schools to help fundraise money buying trees grown by local people.

Every young person who raises money to help the wildlife explorers rainforest appeal; will get a certificate and a set of special stickers as a thank you.

Visit www.rspb.org.uk/youth to download a sponsor form, money box and other fun stuff. Alternatively write to: RSPB Wildlife Explorers, The Lodge, Sandy, Bedfordshire, SG19 2DL or email: explorers@rspb.org.uk and the rspb will send them to you.

Crufts Will Be Live On The Internet

Monday, February 23rd, 2009

The Kennel Club has announced that Crufts 2009; will be aired live on the internet, so all dog lovers worldwide will be able to watch the show live.

The Crufts live web stream will be free to anybody, by watching it on the Crufts website (or if not, the crufts website will tell you where to watch it). Crufts live web stream will be available from the 5th to the 8th of March and will run from 8:30 in the morning to the end of the arena programme.

The live webcast will follow all of the events in the arena programme and Peter Purves and Frank Kane will provide the commentary.

Pet-Supermarket Is Reducing Their Carbon Footprint

Monday, February 16th, 2009

It’s really nice to see a big pet business like Pet-Supmarket.co.uk to try and reduce their carbon footprint by 25% for their target for end of 2009. This will hopefully set a standard for other online pet stores to meet because most probably a lot of customers will like the fact that they are helping our environment by shopping at a place that cares.

 

 

 Here’s what Pet-Supermarket have said in a newsletter

 

“We take our responsibility to reduce waste seriously. That’s why we’re working closely with our suppliers and customers to dramatically cut the amount of packaging we use on our products. We prefer to show our customers the product rather than the packaging. In addition to this, to help reduce our carbon footprint, we will use our manufactures boxes to send out orders when suitable.

 

To ensure our packaging is never mistaken, we sticker on the box which identifies the order from Pet-Supermarket.

 

To reach our target of a 25% reduction by the end of 2009, we have embarked on a complete review of all our packaging and materials. The savings we make will help significantly reduce the amount of household rubbish our customers have to throw away each year.

We are also in the process of making it easier for our customers to recycle more of our packaging more often by using materials that are readily recyclable.”

 

 

Do you think other online pet stores should do something similar like Pet-Supermarket; or are you not concerned?

 

‘Healthy Teeth for Pets’ Campaign Urges Pet Parents to Make a Pledge For Their Pet’s Dental Health

Thursday, February 12th, 2009

Leaders in pet-care, Iams®, Eukanuba®, Iams Veterinary Formulas and Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), launched a “Healthy Teeth for Pets” campaign Web site http://www.healthyteethforpets.com/, a resource for pet parents to learn about the importance of pet dental health. The “Healthy Teeth for Pets” campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of oral care in dogs and cats to help them live longer, healthier lives.

Leaders in pet-care, Iams®, Eukanuba®, Iams Veterinary Formulas and Veterinary Pet Insurance (VPI), launched a “Healthy Teeth for Pets” campaign Web site www.healthyteethforpets.com, a resource for pet parents to learn about the importance of pet dental health. According to the American Veterinary Dental Society, more than 80 percent of dogs and 70 percent of cats develop gum disease by the age of three years. Through the Web site’s educational videos pet owners can learn how to brush their pet’s teeth and identify common dental problems. As part of the campaign, pet dental kits will be sent to select veterinary hospitals and retail outlets. The “Healthy Teeth for Pets” dental kit includes a finger brush, a teeth cleaning tracking chart, a guide for good oral health, money saving coupons for Iams and Eukanuba products and information about VPI, the oldest and largest pet health insurance company in the U.S.
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“The Web site is designed to be a resource for consumers to go to learn about the importance of dental care,” said Amy Dicke, DVM, technical services veterinarian at Procter & Gamble Pet-Care. “In light of pet dental awareness month, we hope that by educating pet parents about their pet’s dental health we can contribute to the early recognition and prevention of dental problems.”

A recent American Animal Hospital Association study shows that approximately two-thirds of pet owners do not provide the dental care that is recommended as essential by veterinarians. The “Healthy Teeth for Pets” campaign aims to raise awareness about the importance of oral care in dogs and cats to help them live longer, healthier lives.

The campaign suggests that pet owners partake in a dental health program that incorporates the 3Ds:
1) Daily Brushing – Make it a routine to brush your pet’s teeth every day – it will remove plaque and slow the development of tartar.
2) Dentistry – Consult your veterinarian about regular teeth check-ups annually or semi-annually. A teeth cleaning performed by a veterinarian is the only way to remove tartar for pets.
3) Diet – Diet is important to good oral health. Some dry dog diets such as Iams and Eukanuba can help block tartar formation as it incorporates a patented, proprietary technology in many of its foods – a dental defense system.

For more information about caring for your pet’s dental health please visit, www.healthyteethforpets.com.

Source: PRWeb

The Blue Cross Is Going To Attend Crufts

Saturday, February 7th, 2009

 The Blue Cross has recently announced that they are going to attend Crufts because they want to support and help the concerned dog owners about the health and welfare of pedigree dogs.  

 Kim Hamilton, The Blue Cross chief executive said: “We know that three quarters of pet owners are concerned about inherited health defects in dogs, so it’s important that we are at Crufts to  reach many thousands of dog owners and give them practical advice on how they can help achieve a brighter future of our pets.”

 

In a survey of over 1000 pet owners commissioned by the charity last month, 74% admitted they were concerned about the issue of inherited health defects in some dog breeds but 38% felt powerless to do anything about it. A futher 33% of pet owners thought they could help reduce the problem if they knew more about it but 65% did not know where to find reliable information about health and welfare of pedigree dogs.

The Blue Cross stand will have the charities experienced animal behaviourist and veterinary professionals; ready to answer questions from dog owners.   

 

Further advice is available to download free from www.bluecross.org.uk and www.allaboutpets.org.uk – the charity’s online community for pet lovers – which hosts over 70 pet care advice leaflets from The Blue Cross.  

 

 

 

 

 

 

Issues To Consider Before Buying A Puppy

Monday, February 2nd, 2009

Here are some questions you should be asking your self; before you go out and get a puppy. If you need help in trying to answer some of these questions, ask a local expert like a vet or go to a re-homing centre, as they will know what is best.

1) Who will look after the puppy when I am at work or on holiday?

 

  

2) How many times will I have to take the puppy out for a walk?

 

  

3) What are the yearly costs of having a puppy/dog? (Including everything from pet food to pet insurance)

 

  

4) Is my house/garden big enough for a puppy/dog?

 

  

5) Is there a local pet sitter and a local dog club in my area, where I can get useful info from and someone to take care of the puppy/dog?

 

  

6) How old does the puppy have to be; before leaving its mother?

 

A) Usually it is about 8 weeks or more.

 

  

7) How long can it take to train a puppy; to do basic stuff like toilet training and basic commands?

 

 

8) If I have 2 puppies, how long will it take until a pecking order is established?

 

9) Will I need to research the different type of dog breeds; to find out which breed is best suited to my life/family?

 

10) Does the puppy need a regular check up at the vets?

 

11)  Will I have to do some research on the breeder I have found, for example will I need to get some references from previous people who have bought a puppy from the breeder, just encase the breeder was not legitimate

and was just out to get my money?

 

12) Once I have found the right breeder, will I need to do some check ups on the puppy?

 

A) Yes definitely, you will need all the certificates (KC Registered, Health Checks etc) for the puppy and check if they are real. Make sure you see the parents of the puppy and to also find out if they have had; all the correct check ups and certificates. Also try to find an established local pet sitter, vet or trainer, as they will have a lot of knowledge with these kind of things and will give you some great help.

 

13) Can I make a lifelong commitment to a dog?

 

A)  A dog’s average life span is 12 years.

 

Remember-Before you buy a puppy, you should seek professional advice.

 

For more information before buying a puppy, read are buyers guide.