mypetfriends.co.uk

The Porthcawl Animal Welfare Society, in Mid Glamorgan, has won a valuable £500 donation from the UK's favourite pet insurance provider, Petplan.
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The Porthcawl Animal Welfare Society, also known as P.A.W.S, is a charity set up 30 years ago, to help make the lives of animals in the regional area a little better offering a range of facilities and services, such as micro-chipping, short and long stay kennelling, pet vaccination, neutering/spaying, dog-walking and even re-homing animals. Run almost entirely by volunteers, the Society continues to grow, with the help of sponsorships and donations from the business sector and the hard work of P.A.W.S. Members.
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The Mayflower Sanctuary of Doncaster, South Yorkshire, has won a valuable £500 donation from the UK’s favourite pet insurance provider, Petplan. 
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Since 2003, the Mayflower Dog and Cat Sanctuary annually rescues and rehomes over 400 dogs and 90 cats, and is a registered charity dedicated to dog and cat rescue for the Doncaster and South Yorkshire areas.
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Some dogs tend to bark more than others, and depending upon your situation this can be a hindrance at best if they bark needlessly. You should be careful to correct any barking problems as early in your pet’s life as possible. If they get into the habit of barking at strangers or certain noises this can stay with them for the rest of their life, and be the cause of much stress.
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You should correct your dog and make sure they know when not to bark. Do this by telling them off with a firm ‘No!’ whenever they start to bark. If this doesn’t work, then try tapping them on the nose to show that you are not happy with them. You can also try telling them to sit, which also has the effect of subduing any wayward barking.
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The British Veterinary Association (BVA) has welcomed the tightening up of sales of veterinary medicines on the internet but is disappointed that the advertising of antimicrobials to farmers will continue.
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The Veterinary Medicines Directorate (VMD) has today published its response to the public consultation on the Veterinary Medicines Regulations, which are updated every year.
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The new Regulations, which come into force in April 2011, introduce new controls on internet pharmacies meaning that only approved websites will be legally allowed to dispense and supply veterinary medicines. The controls will come into force in April 2012 and the BVA supports the use of a logo on approved websites to help consumers buy medicines from reputable sources.
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The My Pet Friends wish you all a Merry Christmas and hope Santa brings you – and your pets – everything you wished for.  And if they don’t, remember you can always search for pet stores and online pet shops in our pet business directory and search for the ideal pet gifts and products.
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Make sure you check back often as we’ll be busy uploading lots of articles for you to read over the holiday period.  These include Kitty & Teddy’s pet care tips & help guides as well as the usual up-to-date pet news articles and stories. 
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Once again, have a wonderful Christmas & a fantastic start to 2011.
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The My Pet Friends Team.

It seems it’s not just humans who are guilty of over-indulgence during the festive season, as a survey by The Blue Cross, one of the UK’s leading animal charities, revealed that a massive 63% of pet owners questioned said their animals had been sick after gorging on Christmas leftovers.
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The survey also showed that 17% of owners said their pets had been sick from eating too much chocolate, while 9% of owners divulged that their animal had choked on bones from the turkey.
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Petplan, the UK’s favourite pet insurance provider, has announced the General Championship Shows that will host Petplan’s Junior Stakes qualifiers next year.
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After successfully launching a new format in 2010 for the Petplan Junior Stakes qualifiers, General Championship Shows across the UK were once again invited to submit proposals to Petplan to become one of four shows to host the 2011 qualifiers.
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The four shows chosen to host a Petplan Junior Stakes qualifier are: Bath Canine Society, Southern Counties Canine Association, Blackpool Canine Society and Darlington Championship Dog Show.
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Following many warnings from vets and thiose interested in the welfare of pets, why not try one of these fantastic pet Christmas dinner recipes by Marie Rayner – click on the image, or ‘read more’.
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According to Petplan, the UK’s favourite pet insurer, new research shows that 60 per cent of Brits will prepare a Christmas meal for their family pet*. However, Petplan’s network of vets warn that those well-intentioned meals could end up doing more harm than good, in both the short and the long term. As a result, Petplan has created a special Christmas recipe ideal for cats and dogs so that they don’t miss out on a festive feast with the rest of the family.
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Whilst many pet owners consider their pet an integral part of the family, unlike humans they can’t just hit the gym in January. Petplan warns that sharing leftover meat, gravy and chocolate can affect the long term health of cats and dogs, meaning that owners wanting to treat their pets this Christmas will need to be extra vigilant.
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Vets are urging pet owners to make sure their festive homes are safe for animals during the Christmas season by warning of a number of unknown hazards and poisons in and around the home.
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There are several substances toxic to pets which are found in the home during the Christmas period.  Chocolate is one of the most common causes of poisoning, especially in dogs, but it is also toxic to other species, for example cats, rodents and rabbits.   Other items include sweets and liquorice which are often given as Christmas gifts; raisins and sultanas used to make Christmas cakes, mince pies and Christmas puddings; grapes; onions and garlic; Blu-tack used to put up cards and decorations; and antifreeze, which is often used in the winter months.
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