mypetfriends.co.uk

A cat who became a ‘Moggy Midwife’ when his pregnant owner suddenly went into labour has been named Rescue Cat of the Year 2010 in the UK’s feline Oscars.
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Marvellous Marmite was awarded top honours at this year’s Rescue Cat Awards, organised by the charity Cats Protection, after providing invaluable support to owner Lindsey Davies, 21, when she started having contractions while at home alone last October.
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Loyal Marmite stayed by Lindsey’s side for two hours until husband Huw, 25, arrived home, helping keep the mum-to-be calm and relaxed as the contractions became more painful.
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A recent study by pet charity the PDSA has highlighted the growing trend of obesity in pet dogs. The increase in obesity is higher than that seen in humans, with an estimated third of all UK dogs now classified as obese.
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There are more than 3.5 million overweight dogs in Britain, according to the four year PDSA study, this figure is up from 2005 when 1 in 5 dogs were classified overweight. Obese cats are also on the rise, with 1 in 4 overweight. Various factors believed to have contributed to this trend are a lack of exercise and being fed too many treats and snacks. If this trend is to continue, it is estimated that by 2013 1 in 2 dogs will be overweight, a worrying statistics given the risks that obesity will bring.
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Stepney Bank Stables, has been named as one of the three education projects as finalists in The National Lottery Awards 2010, the annual search to find the UK’s favourite Lottery-funded projects.
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He stables based in Newcastle Upon Tyne, offers under-privileged and disabled children the chance to ride, look after and learn about horses, and develop their social and practical skills in a manner that will lead to enhanced opportunities and expectations.
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"We are concerned about allegations raised by last night’s Panorama programme, and would like to reassure the public that we will investigate the claims made", says veterinary regulatory body, the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons, commenting on ‘It Shouldn’t Happen at a Vet’s’ (BBC 1, 9pm 22 July).
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“It would be impossible to watch such a programme and not feel concern for the animals featured or sympathy towards their owners, and indeed any member of the public or profession who may have been distressed by what they have seen,” says RCVS President Peter Jinman.
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The veterinary professional associations have expressed concern and disappointment at the incidents revealed in the undercover footage in the BBC’s Panorama programme ‘It shouldn’t happen at a vet’s’ and are calling on the BBC to provide all of the evidence to the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons (RCVS) for a full investigation.
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One of the main issues raised by the programme is the lack of support and supervision for younger and less experienced vets and veterinary nurses, as well as other staff who are not qualified (referred to as “trainees” in the programme). Ultimately it is the veterinary surgeon who must take responsibility for the animals in his/her care. Vets are robustly regulated by the RCVS, as revealed in the case of Kfir Segev who was struck off by the RCVS.
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The British Horse Society’s welfare campaign against indiscriminate breeding has found a new supporter in the Society of Equestrian Artists, who will display a selection of the Drawing the Line donations at a special BHS preview evening on 4 August 2010.
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The Society of Equestrian Artists (SEA) is marking its 31st anniversary with a celebratory ‘Horse in Art’ exhibition running from 3-8 August at the Mall Galleries, London. For the first time, the event has been organised as a major open show for all equestrian artists. With the cream of equestrian artists and sculptors exhibiting, the show will appeal to horse and art lovers alike and with free public admission it is a date worth noting in diaries.
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…Women with animal companions!
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A new breed of mother is sweeping the nation as the average child bearing age rises and marriage declines. Women are turning to pets to hone their parenting skills, creating a phenomenon of pet parenting angst and WACs along the way.
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New research released recently by Petplan, the UK’s favourite pet insurance provider, has found that 84% of women between the ages of 25 and 34 got their pet for companionship.  Given this is prime child-rearing age, this raises questions about whether women are filling a gap by parenting pets.
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More than 10,000 pet owners were surveyed and the results reveal ‘pet parenting’ as a growing trend. Just like working parents, owners worry about leaving their pet alone when they’re working, and 75% of those experiencing ‘parenting angst’ are women.  So much so that they make a concerted effort to make sure their pet is not left alone for more than five hours a day – employing dog walkers and cat sitters to stem their concern (approaching 1 in 7). When an 8 hour working day is the national norm and the average parent only spends 49 minutes a day with their children, this demonstrates considerable pet commitment.
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The British Veterinary Association (BVA) is warning dog owners of the danger that the artificial sweetener, Xylitol, can pose to their pets.  Xylitol is not considered harmful to humans, but if ingested by a dog the substance is dangerous because it triggers a sudden release of insulin which causes a dramatic drop in blood sugar (hypoglycaemia) and can lead to liver damage.
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Xylitol is increasingly used as a sweetener in sugar-free chewing gum and other confectionary; it is used in dental hygiene products and is also found as an excipient in many medicines.   Of particular concern are the sugar substitute products that contain Xylitol which are used in home baking as well as in manufactured goods.  Cakes, biscuits and other goodies made with it are toxic to dogs.  Owners may not be aware of these dangers and may not associate clinical deterioration with ingestion of these foodstuffs.
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Members of Parliament have recognised the British Veterinary Association’s contribution to the promotion of microchipping dogs and the campaign for compulsory microchipping through an Early Day Motion (EDM) tabled by Andrew Rosindell MP (Conservative, Romford).
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The EDM is gaining signatures from across all political parties as MPs show their support for a compulsory microchipping scheme that would have a significant and positive welfare impact on dogs by:
• assisting in the return of stray and stolen dogs to their owners;
• improving traceability of puppy-farmed dogs; and
• providing a lifetime of security for a one-off payment.
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