Badger Cull Campaign

Hi PetPals,

As you are all aware, the Badger Cull has begun. Despite this, the campaign to Stop the Cull is still going.

So far, petitions and protests are not getting the governments attention however there is something that will, if we all work together and get it to Number 1.

Brian May (a Queen Guitarist and Legend) is a huge animal lover and has been the driving force behind the badger cull petition and campaign. He has wrote a protest song with Brian Blessed to raise awareness and hopefully STOP THE CULL. It's called 'Save the Badger,Badger,Badger' and you can watch the video on youtube (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EllYgcWmcAY)

Mr May has said: "The British people are speaking in their many thousands, and yet the Government is refusing to listen.

"We thank them for buying this track and giving the badgers a voice. Let's get this to number one so (David) Cameron cannot avoid it.

"This cull is unscientific, unethical and won't work.

"The Government is set to murder 5,000 badgers and yet all the peer-reviewed scientific evidence shows that the answer to the problem of bovine TB in cattle does not lie in this slaughter and that this action will be ineffective and potentially damaging to the welfare of both farm animals and wildlife.

"It is shocking that the NFU and the Government have been allowed to continue with a politically-led policy with no basis in science against the will of the people."

You can purchase the song on itunes and help get it to Number 1. If it gets to Numver 1 this sunday, then  David Cameron has no choice but to listen and not ignore the protests!

Please go to Itunes and buy the song, tell all your friends and family to purchase it too.

HELP THE BADGERS BY STOPPING THE CULL. BUY THIS SONG AND GET IT TO NUMBER ONE.

SIGN THE PETITION HERE:  http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257


Check out these links to find out more information too:

http://www.save-me.org.uk/

Rehoming Process

Hi PetPals!

Following on from my first 'Save an Animal Sunday', I thought it would be a great idea to explain how easy rehoming an animal is.

I think a lot of people think the rehoming process is very long and so choose to just buy a pet but this is not the case. The rehoming process is straightforward and easy.

Firstly, most shelters have a website or a Facebook page where they advertise the animals that are up for adoption. It's a good idea to look through the animals and see if their descriptions will suit you. Some smaller shelters don't have access to websites and things so its best to go to them and have a look round and talk to the staff there. 

Once you have seen an animal you think you can give a loving home to, you will have to fill out a application form. The forms are very simple asking for your name, age, lifestyle, pet your interested in and experience with that particular species of animals. You will then have to send this off to the shelter where the staff will look over it. They will then contact you within 2-4 days of recieving the application to invite you in to find out more about you and meet the pet too. If the shelter think you're not suited to the animal you first chose, they will help you find an animal that is.

If you are suited to your pet, a home check will be carried out by staff just to ensure the environment the animal is being brought into is suitable too. You will also have several meeting with your potential new animal just to ensure a bond is built up and the animal feels safe and reassured that it will not be dumped again. 

There is a rehoming fee but this is just to cover any veterinary treatment the animal has had. This money goes back into the shelter to help rescue other animals too. 

Once you have brought your new pet home, the shelter usually does a follow up visit just to ensure both you and your new pet are happy. 

The great thing about rehoming is that you are giving an animal a second chance of life and you will have lifetime support from the shelter. 

So before, you rush out and buy a pet, consider those who are longing for a new home and a second chance in rescue centres. You can find a rescue centre near you by simply typing it in google.

Please check out the following links for more information:

http://www.rspca.org.uk/allaboutanimals/rehoming
http://www.bluecross.org.uk/1710/rehome-a-pet.html
http://www.battersea.org.uk/dogs/rehoming/
http://www.scottishspca.org/rehoming/centres
http://www.woodgreen.org.uk/rehome/dogs

The Badger Cull

Despite protests and petitions, it was announced today that the Badger Cull had begun. It is a very sad day for not only the protesters but the badgers too as 100,000 of them are to be killed in order to supposedly 'control TB levels in cattle'. The problem is, there is no scientific proof that the cull will reduce TB and therefore thousands of Badgers are being murdered for the sake of it or if you might call it 'fun'.

It seems like our Governments answer to everything these days is to kill/ignore the facts. These beautiful creatures that existed long before us are being killed just because its effecting our way of living. Shouldn't we live alongside these animals in harmony? 

What's also disgusting about this cull is that the Badger is a protected species under the Wildlife Act yet our own Government are ignoring a law that THEY passed. It's no wonder there is so much crime in the world when it's okay for some people to break the law and for others it's not. 

A Badger Cull was actually performed in the 1990's and the results proved that culling the badgers did not reduce TB and that those badgers killed died for nothing.

There is one simple answer to reducing TB and that is to vaccinate the badgers. Yes, it's time consuming and costly BUT IT WORKS and there is SCIENTIFIC EVIDENCE to back it up! Scotland, Ireland and now Wales are proof that it has worked!

With so many animals endangered as it is (because of us) we should be doing more to save the species that live here and not killing them!

PLEASE sign the petition, it's not too late to stop the cull, it takes 2 minutes and you won't get any spam/junk mail. YOU can STOP THE CULL, YOU can SAVE THE BADGERS LIFE'S and YOU can PROTECT THEM so that the next generation can see them too.

http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/38257

Share the link/this page and make sure everyone you know signs it too! 

SAVE THE BADGERS BY STOPPING THE CULL.

More information can be found here:

www.stopthecull.com
www.teambadger.org.uk

The Five Freedoms

Hi PetPals!

Today's post is about the 5 freedoms, for those of you that don't know what the 5 freedoms are, they are a list of requirements that pet owners must provide for their pets.

The 5 freedoms simply are:

1. Freedom from hunger and thirst

2. Freedom to behave normally

3. Freedom from discomfort

4. Freedom from pain, injury and disease

5. Freedom from fear and distress 

To meet the first need, make sure your pet has access to fresh water at all times and has food too. Of course with dogs and cats, they're fed meals so just make sure you always give them their meals at the time they're used to.

To meet the second need, make sure you provide enrichment toys for your pets that will encourage natural behaviour. For example, a hamster wheel for hamsters so they can exercise. A tunnel for Guiana-pigs and Rabbits to mimic the tunnels they run in in the wild.

To meet the 3rd freedom, make sure your pet has a comfortable bed to sleep on. Dogs and cats can have a nice soft bed instead of a hard cold floor. Smaller animals like rabbits and guineapigs  will need plenty of soft hay and a layer of newspaper so they're not walking on hard floor.

The 4th freedom can be met by ensuring all your pets are up to date with vaccinations and worming treatments. If your animal becomes ill,injured or you notice a change in your animal, take them to a vet straight away to ensure they're not in pain etc

Finally, the 5th freedom can be met by making sure their environment is quiet, calm and safe. Provide a hide for small animals so they can retreat to it if they feel scared. Close windows and curtains when it's firework night so animals do not feel distressed. 

It's very important that you aspire to these freedoms to ensure the welfare of your animals are maintained. 

Please check out the following links for more information:

http://www.rspca.org.uk/utilities/faq/-/question/ENQ_Five_Freedoms/category/Pets/

Thanks for reading. Make sure you follow to stay up to date

Save an Animal Sunday || 1

Hi PetPals!

I thought it would be a great idea if I did a weekly 'Save an Animal' post to highlight animals across the UK in need of rehoming.

It's SO important that we give these animals a second chance at life, the animals that are in the care of rehoming centres are often there through no fault of their own and have come from horrible situations.

Too often, rehoming centres are overlooked because people want a 'brand new' puppy/kitten/small animal. The animals in rehoming centres are loveable, friendly and are just as cute as 'brand new' animals. Believe it or not, the rehoming process is really quick and easy too!  (I will do a post on this soon).

So for my first 'Save an Animal' meet Wally...

Wally is a Staffordshire Bull Terrier who has been at the South Godstone RSPCA centre since August 2012, that's a whole year!! He was brought into the centre by an inspector after being abandoned by his previous owner.

Wally is a loveable dog who is very responsive to training and enjoys going for walks. He can be quite exciteable and would need a routine. He doesn't want to be locked up all day so is looking for an owner who would be around most of the day to give him the attention he needs.

Wally would also need to be rehomed with older children and without other pets simply because he needs reassurance and requires help with settling into a new home.

Unfortunately, Wally is overlooked because of the bad press Staffies get. Staffies are NOT aggressive dogs! They are loveable, friendly, obedient family pets who require a good start in life.

Wally is an affectionate, caring dog who would make an excellent addition to any family.

If you would like to give Wally a second chance at life, please get in contact with the staff at RSPCA South Godstone on 0300 123 0741 or email: southgodstone@rspca.org.uk

If you can't offer a home then please share his RSPCA profile (link below) and help him on his way to his forever home!

Please visit the RSPCA blog too where you can find out more info on Wally and other animals in need of homes:

http://blogs.rspca.org.uk/specialappeals/2013/05/24/wheres-wally/

Thanks for reading, if you have any post suggestions then please leave a comment below. 

International Bat Night is tonight!

Hi PetPals!

Ok, so bats aren't your typical pets but tonight is International Bat Night. 

International Bat Night is an annual event set up by The Bat Conservation Trust to raise awareness of this unique mammal. Each year, events are held all over the world so that nature lovers and the general public can learn about the species, watch and hear them too.

If you can't make it to an event in your local area, don't worry, I've got you covered.

Bats are unique animals, they're the only true flying mammals and are extremely important in telling us about the state of our environment. There are over 1,100 species of bats in the world, and more are still being discovered. Bats account for more than a quarter of mammal species in the UK and around 20% of all mammal species worldwide.

Many people are unaware that over 500 plant species rely on bats to pollinate them, including species of mango, banana, cocoa, durian, guava and agave (used to make tequila.  In the UK, some bats are indicator species, because changes to these bat populations can indicate changes in aspects of biodiversity. Bats might suffer when there are problems with insect populations (because our bats feed on insects) or when habitats are destroyed or poorly managed (for example, some bats only live in large woodlands).

All UK bats eat insects. Each species has its favourite types and hunts them in its own special way. Most insects are caught and eaten in mid-air, though bats sometimes find it easier to hang up to eat larger prey. All bats have very big appetites, because flying uses up lots of energy.

Bats are the only mammal that can truly fly (rather than glide).  Their wings are actually hands that have adapted for flight, which means they are very flexible and able to move independently. This fantastic manoeuvrability arguably makes bats better at flying than birds!

Sadly, many bats are threatened with extinction due to habitat loss, disease, hunting of bats and loss of food. It's really important that we help conserve these species as they're so important in telling us about our environment, without them we wouldn't know about the state of our environment thus can't repair it.

Enjoy Bat Night tonight guys! If you can't see any bats, get onto youtube and look them up, there are some really interesting and informative videos on there

If you would like to find out more about Bats and/or the International Bat Night, please check out: 

http://www.bats.org.uk/

http://www.naturalengland.org.uk/ourwork/regulation/wildlife/species/bats.aspx

http://www.bbc.co.uk/nature/life/Bat

Rabbits

Hi Petpals!

Did you know that Rabbits are the most popular pets after Dogs and Cats? So why is it, they're the most neglected?

I'll tell you why, it's because not every rabbit owner knows how to care for them correctly and most rabbits live in a hutch at the bottom of gardens where they're easily forgotten about. (Especially in autumn/winter where the weather is rubbish and everyone is reluctant to go out in the cold)

I understand not everyone has the space to keep a rabbit inside their house, however there things that can be done to ensure your rabbit is comfortable outside.

The House

Firstly, make sure your rabbits hutch is big enough for your rabbit, I find the hutches that are made today are not suitable mainly because the sleeping area and hutch themselves are far too small. A rabbit must be able to stand fully on their back legs without their ears touching the hutch roof.

You could try to make your own two teird hutch with the upstairs being specifically for sleeping and the downstairs for general activities. Either way, a rabbit must have a secure sleeping area that will be draft free and big enough so they can move about easily and feel safe/warm.



A suitable hutch design if you were to make your own

An alternative to a hutch could be to convert a shed into a house. Personally, I think this is an excellent option as it provides space, shelter, security and warmth for the rabbit. A few alterations would need to be made to the shed such as making sure there is a gate/screen across the door entrance so that when you go in, your rabbit will not escape. The gate/screen should ideally be a wooden frame with mesh so that during the day you can leave the door open allowing for ventilation.



A 'wendy house' modification

You would also have to line the shed floor so that its flat and smooth, Lino is suitable for this. Windows will also need to be added so that plenty of fresh air and natural light can get in. Again this can be achieved easily by replacing the window frame with mesh.

A run can be attached to the shed and a cat flap installed allowing access between the run and shed. Make sure the run is well secure and has a lid to prevent predators (cats, dogs etc) from getting in.

Another thing that will need to be considered if planning to house a rabbit in a converted shed is security. Make sure the shed is locked by both a bolt lock and padlock. This will ensure not only your rabbits security but prevent unwanted humans from getting access too.

Location

Not many people take into account that the location of an animals house is vital to their health and well being.

Hutches should be away from direct sunlight, free from windy areas and in a quiet area away from children's play areas.

If your rabbit is housed in a hutch, make sure it's not at the bottom of the garden and nearby the back door so that they are not forgotten about.

Bedding

It's important that your rabbit has fresh and clean bedding at all times. A thick layer of newspaper should cover the surface of your rabbits hutch/house and an unlimited amount of hay should be provided, Hay is extremely important for your rabbits digestive system and is essential in the care of rabbits.

Rabbits like to poop, eat and sleep in separate areas. I would ensure that food bowls and water bottles are away from your rabbits pooping area and separate from the sleeping area too. If your rabbit is housed in a shed, I would invest in a cornered litter tray for your rabbit and then place the food bowls and water bottles on the other side of the shed.

Rabbits must be fully cleaned out once or twice a week! I will be covering this in another blogpost so make sure you follow to stay up to date!

Enrichment/Toys

For anyone that does not know what enrichment is, it simply means to make your pets life fuller and happier. In the wild, rabbits live in burrows and only come out for food/exercise. To mimic this, add tunnels and hides in your rabbits house to ensure they behave as naturally as they can. It's also fun for  rabbits too!

Links
Please check out these links for useful information:

http://www.rspca.org.uk/home
http://www.petsathome.com/
http://rabbit.org/category/care/


Thanks for reading and I hope this has helped! If you would like me to write these informative posts in bullet points in future so it's easier to read than please leave a comment and let me know. I will be covering Toys and Cleaning out in more detail in future posts so make sure you follow to stay up to date.

Happy Pet Pals welcomes you!

Nearly everyone owns a pet but what has become apparent is that not everyone knows or are confused on how to best care for their pet pal. I put together this blog so that pet owners can get advice and tips to ensure that their pet is a Happy Pet.

I will be posting regularly so make sure you follow to stay up to date!