Pet Health benefits for Children
Studies have shown a lower incidence of allergies in children who have pets. Researchers also found young children exposed to one or more pets actually had decreased allergic reactions to other allergens. The supposition is that given that pets lick the children, (and who hasn’t seen that happen!), and bacteria from the pet hone the child’s immune system for exposure to future allergens.
Research has shown that antibody levels in children from pet owning families were significantly more stable which indicates a robust immune systems. This supports the suggestion that too much cleanliness early in life, so-called “dirty hypothesis”, can leave the immune system weakened later on and is considered the reason for soaring rates of childhood asthma in recent years.

Further
Pets do have health risks for children but the study from Warwick University found that three out of 10 children admitted sharing food with their pets while 21% let their pets lick their fingers despite these dangers. One of the biggest risks is the roundworm Toxicara canis which infects dogs. This can cause anything from stomach ache to eye damage. Despite these dangers pet owning children achieved nine days extra at school over the course of a year compared to children without animals.
Social skills in Children with Pets are improved

Children with Pets learn Responsibility
By having a family pet children can also learn how to care for others by taking on responsibility. Through this they learn what is required to take care of another instance, walking a dog shows the child that there is responsibility involved in taking care of a pet. The child will at the same time strengthens his or her relationship with the animal who, in return, will become a loyal friend who is always there to play with or to turn to in tough situations.

Emotional Health Thanks to Pets

Children with Pets learn Acceptance and Compassion
Sometimes a child can find it difficult to be accepted by others, even by members of their family and can result in low self-esteem to develop. A dog or cat is non-judgmental and when a child needs an impartial party for comfort they can turn to their animal. Children and Pets both in their natural state give love freely and with no strings attached except to be nurtured back. Pets love to have attention paid to them, and reward the giver with a like return of warmth. Kindness can also develop because the child has to care for a being that needs him or her to cater to its every need. Without the child, the pet would starve. So, the child learns responsibility and compassion.

Pets help Children relieve Stress and Provide Entertainment
Pets relieve stress, when no one else will listen, a pet will. It is nearly impossible to stroke the soft fur of a dog or a cat and maintain any level of stress. Pets can also be a calming influence to both parents and responsible children. Just watching a cat bat a ball around, or a dog chase its tail, can bring families closer together. Everyone gets involved in the care of the animal, so it becomes an integral part of the family. No matter what the choice of pet children will benefit greatly from adding an animal into the family mix.

Socializing and Exercise
A child who has a pet will have many stories to tell people and this intern helps the child to socialize. It matters not if the person listening has a pet or not as most pets are universally known. So many times we hear children say “I have a rabbit, dog or cat” and the conversation suddenly follows. The pet can also provide exercise, be it grooming, walking or play, taking the child outside. A permanent playmate can be on hand at all times for the child who may otherwise sit in front of his computer or television for hours on end.
There are many beneficial reasons why a child should grow up with an animal in the home. Pets can teach children so much, including responsibility, kindness, and love and make great friends and playmates for a child. So, if you’re trying to find a way to get your kid off the couch, consider bringing a pet into your home, but don’t mention the 9 extra days at school!

Posted by Petsbureau who offer pet reunification with an average 80% success rate.

By law dogs in public areas must have a form of identification on them, usually a tag, but in your home or garden this is not required, likewise there is no requirement for cats to have any ID on them. But if they go astray, get lost how can your pet have a very good chance of being found and returned to you safely. Well this can be provided, and, when you consider what is spent on pets weekly, be it food, toys, health insurance, etc, at a very, very little cost considering the anguish it could prevent. Tag, microchip, tattoo or tracker, all work to ensure your pet’s safety to the highest degree possible but the results of our sample database search was surprising in what it revealed was being used for protecting their pets.

The highest percentage gives their pet the best chance of a speedy return by having a tag and microchip fitted, – 40%

The second highest percentage have their pets fitted with only a tag – 21%

In third place, having them chipped or tattooed – 13%

However we found a surprisingly high percentage of 26% gave their pet no help of a speedy return by having neither a tag or a microchip fitted, bearing in mind the low cost to provide such safety.

These results have been taken from our database, (bear in mind these people registered their pets with us in the main, either because the pet had gone missing or to have them covered under the safety of our tag system), produces results that indicate a more “best case scenario”.

Tags – From the results above it is evident that people mostly have a tag fitted and from shows we have attended with various information engraved, phone numbers, mobile numbers and home addresses all available. Some pets having numerous tags attached.

With the correct tag attached only one is required with no security worries of having your own details on show. These tags usually cost no more than having your details engraved at the local hardware store onto your preferred tag. The correct pet Reunification ID tag system will allow you to register more than one contact point which can ensure any finder of the missing pet getting in touch with their owner quickly. Contact details can be updated, changed, etc anytime by the member.

Microchip – So easy to have inserted by your local vet and for a one off cost of a less than a monthly food bill the pet has protection for life. Most Vets, Wardens and Animal Homes have access to a Microchip scanner and from there to the pet owner, so simple, just remember to update your details on the chip database for any changes.

Tattoos – Ear tattoos provide both visual, like a tag, and lifelong cover like a microchip but are not so well taken up by pet lovers. It may be the method of tattooing a unique number onto the pet or because the tattoo can become partially covered by hair that gives a low “take up” of this method but it can provide good protection.

Trackers – These will become more popular as people embrace the technology that is available to enable trackers to be used and include network cover, battery life and particularly the size being reduced, but as of today these are not extensively used.

Advice: All have their own particular benefits but for a tried, tested and value for money system the Tag + Microchip combination keeps your pet as safe as any protection. A visual, the Tag, so any person finding your pet can without going to a Vet, Warden or the likes have the ability to contact you, if the tag is missing or not used and the pet is taken into a Vets etc, then the Microchip will be scanned and the owner contacted. So if you have one or none it is well worth considering making that small investment in your pet’s safety and you can as the owner, have peace of mind.

Are there several types of allergies?
There are four known types of allergies in the cat:
Contact – Tree, grass, weed, mould, mildew, dust and pollens
Flea – A flea allergy only requires the bite of a single flea to trigger intense itchiness for 2 to 3 weeks and itch-producing reaction can result even when the flea’s saliva is deposited in the skin. This may result in the cat severely scratching or chew itself, leading to the removal of large amounts of hair. There will often be open soars or scabs on the skin, allowing secondary bacterial infection to begin
Food, cats are not likely to be born with food allergies but develop then over time so therefore may show up in cats at any age.
Inhalant, cats can be allergic to all of the same inhaled allergens as us, pollens (can be seasonal), perfumes, dust etc.

How Can Cat Allergies Be Treated
Contact – remove the contact irritant, this may seem easy but requires some detective work to find. It could even be a flea collar, wool bedding, and tray litter.
Flea – a strict ongoing flea control is essential, if this is not possible then your vet may prescribe steroids to block the allergic reaction, or the use of a hypoallergenic shampoo, or frequent bathing can help immensely.
Food – Testing is done with a hypoallergenic diet, it takes about eight weeks for all other food products to get out of the system, and the cat must eat this special diet exclusively for a minimum of eight weeks, preferably more. Your cat will remain on the diet until her symptoms go away, at which time you’ll begin to reintroduce old foods to see which ones might be causing the allergic reaction or your vet will recommend specific food.
Inhalant – buy dust/scent free cat litter, clean bedding at least once a week and any other materials that gather dust. The itching may be relieved by use of steroids which block the allergic reactions and gives relief. Also, using a hypoallergenic shampoo can help and also then allows a lower strength steroid to be used. It may be the case that over time the cat’s immune system will see the allergy as less of a threat and reactions will become less severe. Sensitivity to environmental pollutants, pollen and stress can result in allergy reactions they can also cause asthma attacks in cats. For short-term relief, your veterinarian may prescribe medications that will open up breathing passages. For long-term treatment, though, corticosteroids may be used. And please remember, no cat should be exposed to cigarette smoke—but if your cat has asthma, cigarette smoke is an absolute no-no.
Note: If your cat is overweight, this can trigger asthma, too. Before putting your cat on a diet, consult your veterinarian for a safe weight-loss program.
Before giving any medication to your cat it is always advisable to please consult a vet first.

In life, they were united in their tireless work saving countless British soldiers in Afghanistan.

In death, they were united in tragedy.

Shortly after Lance Corporal Liam Tasker was killed in a firefight with the Taliban, his devoted Army search dog Theo suffered a seizure and passed away too.

Tragic loss: Liam Tasker was on patrol with his dog Theo at the time of the attack in Nahr-e-Saraj, Afghanistan. The pair had uncovered 14 home-made bombs and hoards of weapons in just five months – a record for a dog and his handler in the conflict.

Only last month he described his joy at the close bond he had developed with Theo, a 22-month-old springer spaniel cross. ‘I love my job and working together with Theo. He has a great character and never tires,’ he said in an interview on the Ministry of Defence website. ‘He can’t wait to get out and do his job and will stop at nothing.’

Theo and L/Cpl Tasker, an Arms and Explosives Search dog handler of the Royal Army Veterinary Corps, 1st Military Working Dog Regiment, were part of the Theatre Military Working Dogs Support Unit based at Camp Bastion. On Tuesday they took part in a mission in the Nahr-e Saraj district in Helmand, a hotbed of the insurgency. But a firefight broke out with the Taliban and L/Cpl Tasker was shot dead. After his body was flown back to Camp Bastion, his beloved Theo is thought to have died of a broken heart.

It`s not only the military, many an early morning while driving I have spotted one or two police vans parked while handler and dog enjoy a walk together before work or just taking a break. The bond that builds between them must be incredibly strong as they face all sorts of dangers together.

The above story of Lance Corporal Tasker refers to Theo his dog possibly dying if a broken heart, but it must also be just as heart breaking for any handler to lose his trusted mate. While this article is not about whether or not our animals should or should not be placed in dangerous situations or used in such a manner it is about whether or not their heroic selfless actions should be fully recognised and leads to the question;

Should our brave animals who risk their lives for this country be fully recognised, for instance, when troops return home, and being represented on Remembrance Sunday?

That was until she had an extreme facelift.

12 month old Molly had been unable to see since birth as she suffered from an entropion which is a congenital disease that causes folds of skin to rub against the eye.

Molly’s owner, Louise Walsh said “When I first got her all she did was sleep because she was in so much pain.”

“Now she is so happy all the time – playing, exploring and she loves chasing crows.”

“She’s such a wonderful dog. She loves people and is very affectionate.”

The vet who undertook the operation to allow Molly to see was Richard Marks from the Goddard Veterinary Group.

He said “What I essentially did was give her an extreme facelift. I removed a large piece of skin and stitched the remaining skin to the back of her head.”

“It may sound extreme but if left much longer she would have been totally blinded.”

The vet them proceeded to blast over-breeding which resulted in Molly suffering one of the worst cases of the entropion he had ever seen.

Mr Marks said: “Molly is a result of very bad breeding between dogs that are essentially diseased.”

“Molly was bred to satisfy a certain criteria on what they think a dog should look like rather than its health.”

Ms Walsh bough Molly one month ago for £500 but has already had to pay £720 in vet bills alone.

As a result she was plans to sue Molly’s previous owners from Wales claiming they were not honest about the state of health the dog was in.

Ms Walsh said “I’m very angry. It’s not about the money, it’s the fact they were dishonest.”

“How could they let Molly go through a year of pain without doing anything?”

Two years ago a row erupted regarding the over-breeding of breeds following a BBC documentary exposing health problems with some of the most extreme cases.

Among the 12 breeds the documentary makers demanded be dropped from Crufts as a condition for continue the airing of the dog show included the Shar Pei, but the demands were not met by the Kennel Club.

James Jay
Pets Bureau

The postal service delivered a warning letter to the family living on Chichester Road, Portsmouth, Hampshire after their pet cat, Lana, scratched a postman’s hand while he was pushing letters through their letterbox.

Carl White, his wife Carol, and their two children Jack and Connor are now taking measures to keep Lana and the postman apart.

Since the incident the postman now knocks at the door to deliver the post to avoid any repeats.

The owner of Lana told the Portsmouth News “The postman had put the letter through the door and for some reason our cat scratched his hand.”

“She wasn’t being vicious, I think she saw the hand and was being playful.”

“I think it’s a bit much to say they might take us off the mailing list if it were to happen again.”

A Royal Mail spokesman said “We can confirm an employee suffered an injury to a finger after being scratched by a cat while on deliveries.”

“We have contacted the owner to make them aware of the matter and ensure we can continue to safely deliver to the address in future.”

“Royal Mail takes very seriously the safety of its employees, particularly our frontline staff who deliver the mail.”

So what do you think? Do you think the postal service is right or do you think that maybe they are taking things a bit far? Let us know what you think!

James Jay
Pets Bureau

Is the intelligence of creatures such as cats and dogs measured by their ability to learn tasks and carry them out when commanded or in the capacity to be self reliant?

It’s no secret that dogs possess the ability to learn and carry out complex and difficult tasks from fetching a stick to mountain rescue, it’s no surprise there then why they are called man’s best friend.

On the other hand cats prove to be much harder to teach tricks too.  You may ask yourself, “why is that?” Well we all know cats are sneaky, crafty creatures and as such, only ever seem interested in learning a certain task when there’s something in it for them, usually food.  It would lead one to believe that cats possess the ability to observe a situation and deduce if it’s of benefit to themselves.

Studies on cats have also shown that they possess a similar brain structure to that of us humans.  They can process information collected from their five senses in the same way a human would.  Also for the cats side they have a much better long term memory than dogs though it has been proven that dogs possess a much better short term memory.  From observation cats can learn our movements and action so watch out, next time you think your cat is just being lazy and relaxing they could actually be watching you, observing what you do… and learning.

Dogs absolutely love attention; they seek to please their human companions by performing tricks and such.  Cats on the other hand are a bit anti-social, they are self reliant and as so do not always need human attention.  Dogs are far more reliant on humans than cats are but I think a lot of that is down to the fact that we have made them so.

Cats also possess the ability to adapt to its environment far quicker than dogs, this allows them to once again be self reliant.

Even now we are unsure which the superior species is, maybe we will never find out.  Who knows, all we can do right now is speculate as the battle rages on!

Back in February 2008 I worked as a Housing Officer in London. The job itself was not bad but the ill treatment I received in the office was appalling. Anyway I was planning to move to a different department as I knew things would not change if I did not change my environment. However, what I did have was my beautiful mum and her dog Ginger who lived with her in Norfolk.

I would often think of my mum and Ginger when things were particularly bad for me. My mum would say “just get out of that job because you are worth more”. I would always look forward to visiting and often described Ginger as “rippling with happiness”. He was my mum’s saviour and constant companion. I often would say “how is that Ginger dog of yours?” Her answer was always “Oh he’s lovely”.

My mum had a Heart attack in 2005 and Ginger’s arrival in 2007 really made a difference to her well being!  At first he refused to live in the house as he had only been used to living practically outside. My mum had to work really hard to coax him to have his dinner and gradually little by little he would move closer to the back door and eventually inside the kitchen and whole house.

Ginger was devoted to my mum. Even when I gave her a cuddle he thought I might harm her and he would hover around her protecting her every move. Ginger also loved me dearly and one evening I sat in the living room with Ginger on my lap whilst watching telly. Out of the blue I said to my mum “I am Ginger’s guardian aren’t I?” My mum replied “Oh yes, he is your dog and always will be”.

I hated thinking about my mum passing away and would often find comfort in the fact that Ginger brought my mum so much joy and a new lease of life! Ginger was a special dog. We called him Ginger because of his distinctive gingery fur which is slightly wiry in texture. I suppose the dog world would describe him as a red. He is a Lakeland Terrier mixed breed and is short in height with a black mask (mouth area) and dark eyes. He really is a good looking dog and my mum used to laugh at him when he stared in the mirror at his reflection. She would say “Oh doesn’t he fancy himself”.

In March 09, I was accepted into a new department at work. My mum was over the moon and strangely enough before I even had the chance to tell her that I had a new job, she told me. Her words were “I know you have a new job as your phone rang me at 8.30am this morning and all I could hear was you being interviewed”. I could not believe it and I realised that my phone must have been unlocked and by accident dialled my mum’s number. I was so pleased to be leaving such negative working surroundings. I already felt more at ease just knowing I was getting away from such a restrictive and bullying environment.

It was around this time that one night I had an awful dream. The dream indicated that my mum was going to pass away. I heard a very distinctive Irish lady say “your mother has been found dead” The dream showed me the area by the stairs. The Irish lady was old fashioned with bobbed hair and a stern face. I don’t think she meant to scare me but really to inform me.

On the next visit to my mum we rejoiced the fact I was leaving the nasty office but I did tell my mum about the dream. I had too. I did not want to believe it but just could not help warning my mum about falling down the stairs.

I took my mum out shopping for mother’s day and told her to pick lots of things she wanted. We had lunch together and it was a memorable day but marred by an inkling feeling that my mum was not well and that it would not be long before she left me for the world of spirit.

When we got home my mum said to me out of the blue “Someone will take Ginger, they will and we will lose him” “Oh mum I said” We must get him chipped”.
Again I reminded her to be careful around the stairs!

I started my new job on 6th April 09. I was sleeping better, eating well and just much more relaxed. I could not wait to get to Norfolk at the weekend and really enjoy my time with my mum and Ginger!

That weekend we spoke again of me having Ginger eventually and I again kept saying to my mum “Mind the stairs”.

Back in London the following weekend I again had the most peculiar dreams. I woke up early on 19th April 09. I made a cup of tea and then went back to bed. I dreamt of Canal boats and water that froze. I was at one point on a canal boat with a spirit man who played the trumpet.  I also walked bare footed and my feet only touched the tip of the sea and I escaped water splashing and sprinkling over me.

I told my mum about the dream and I said “Oh no I hope this does not mean more trouble!”  The next day I had the most meaningful conversation with my mum and the conversation ended at around 11pm. My mum said that she felt like she was getting a cold. I heard her sneeze and instructed her to go to bed.

That night I dreamt of my mum being lifted up high in the air and myself and a Japanese women I knew at the time walked behind her. My mum wore a blue coat that she wore to the Doctors when I was worried about her health in 2005. When I woke up I felt like the Japanese women knew all my mum’s business! I thought “what if she knows all our personal details etc”.

That day at work I felt strange. A work colleague asked about my mum. I said she was fine but something was telling me she was not. When I was washing my hands in the toilets I looked in the mirror and I could see that I resembled in that moment my mum. I was in a strange state of being and when I finally left work at 6pm began to panic that my mum was not answering her mobile of landline.

I did not go straight home but decided to go to a Buddhist meeting as at this point I had an interest in the subject. The meeting was held in the flat of the Japanese Lady whom I saw in my dream. To bide time I went into a shop and looked at left over Easter Eggs. I thought to myself that I would buy one for my mum as I had been too strict with her by not allowing her one for Easter because of the fat content. My mum was only small but I did not want her eating loads of fat because of her heart. However, I think she did sometimes behind my back. (ha ha). The image of my mum came to me really strongly in my mind’s eye and this was her being young again!

I panicked as I still could not reach her by phone. At the meeting a man was recalling his mother’s death and that 21st April 09 was the anniversary of his mother’s passing. I immediately panicked and thought to myself “Oh no this is going to be my mum’s too. When the meeting finished I called my mum’s neighbour who said “Did you not get my message your mum is in the hospital, I think she has had a stroke”.
I had not been home, so I did not receive the message. I was given a lift by a man at the meeting to Kings Cross and I boarded a train to Queen Elizabeth hospital in Kings Lynn, Norfolk.

My mum had been found earlier unconscious at the foot of the stairs which was exactly the spot the Irish lady indicated in my dream back in March. Ginger was with her. She was fully clothed and had her bottle of water with her. This indicated that she had not reached her bedroom the night before. I believe she was taken ill just after talking to me at around 11pm. In the hospital it was explained that my mum was dying and it could take up to three days. My mum looked beautiful but could not speak and her green/grey eyes appeared glazed. I kissed her loads and told her I loved her. She passed the next day at around 9.20am before I could reach the hospital. The cause of death was a brain Haemorrhage. I was devastated.

Everything went into Autopilot and I was responsible for arranging the funeral. Ginger howled and howled and pined for her. I took him to the funeral and he sat on my lap in the church and stood by her grave. The Deacon described Ginger as being my mum’s “pride and joy”. Ginger and I walked behind the Hurst and others followed including the Japanese lady that was in my dream. She had invited herself to the funeral!

I had to return to London and Ginger was coming with me. The Japanese lady said that it was imperative that I kept him. I knew in my heart that this is what my mum wanted. Ginger was obviously new to London and it must have been a shock to him with all the traffic etc. Before I left Norfolk with Ginger, I had an awful nightmare that Ginger was taken and he did not have a leg to stand on. The dream indicated this. On 17/07/09 the Japanese lady invited me to her flat with Ginger. However, when we got there she refused to let me in because of her cat. We were turned away to walk in the pouring rain. It was very strange as to why she invited me and then refused to let me in her flat. She never said the cat was an issue before. This was beginning of my living nightmare. When we got to Camden Road N7 his lead came off and he just panicked due to traffic and ran and ran. He went semi feral. Some people tried to catch him but it made it worse and he just ran further. This was at 7.40pm and he was last seen at around 8pm opposite the Caledonian tube station.

I have not stopped looking since. I never did get round to getting him chipped and this is making it so much more difficult to find him! One man did say he thinks he saw Ginger being taken by a street drinker but I have no proof of this. He could be anywhere now and it could be that the people who have him are unaware of his true history and the fact that he was taken and not reported found. His picture is on my mum’s grave and I pray that I hear news of him soon.

This experience has caused me to lose friends and some people said it was my own fault that he was not chipped. The Japanese lady did not even bother to call me to ask if I found Ginger. I just have to keep looking and see it as part of a bigger picture which is not as easy as it sounds! Loosing Ginger has caused me so much sadness. I also have a disabled brother who I cannot bring myself to tell that Ginger is missing. This just breaks my heart. It has been 13 months since Ginger was taken and I wonder how or if he has changed and remembers his life before.

Leila Barkane
Ginger’s Owner

There are an estimated 24 million pets in the UK based on the latest 2010 figures with around 8 million of them being cats alone.  It’s estimated that 3,200 cats go missing every week so how can you, the owner do everything possible to reduce the risk of your cat going missing without harming them.

Well surprisingly there’s quite a bit you can do and here I will give you Pets Bureau’s top tips to help preventing your cat goes missing.

• If you are the owner of a male cat around six months of age you may want to consider getting them neutered.  This simple procedure would help to curb their natural desire to roam around their territory and stray from home.  For further information consult your vet.

• When you first get your cat keep them inside for at least two weeks to a month before letting them outside.  This will give them time to adjust to their new surroundings, the scent and will help to make the connection between home and food.

• Get your cat used to two meals per day, morning and evening would be ideal times.  Once you have been doing this for about a week or two try letting them out an hour or so before their evening feed.  This will ensure they don’t wander too far and will also fortify the connection between coming home and getting fed.

• Take your cat around your garden a few times in a harness, this will help them to familiarize themselves with the outdoors without the risk of them getting carried away and lost while exploring.

• This last tip has had much conflict over the years, some people swear by it while others label it as nothing more than an old wives’ tale.  I will let you be the judge but everyone who has tried it after I recommended it to them have never had their cat go missing.  When you first let your cat out coat their paws in butter.  The reasoning for this is quite simple, when you cat gets out the first thing they will do is clean their paws.  This allows them to gradually take in its surroundings and scent without getting completely overwhelmed by all the new sensations and on top of that they will have the scent of the butter to follow back so they know the route.

So there you have it folks, Pets Bureau’s top tips to help prevent your cat from going missing.  Remember though, these tips are only to help reduce the risk, not eliminate the risk all together.  Cats are free thinking, very intelligent creatures and will always do whatever they want to do.

At this juncture I feel it’s necessary to mention chipping and ID Tags.  If your cat has not been micro-chipped I would highly recommend doing so.  Also take a look at the unique services Pets Bureau offers if you haven’t already checked them out.

If you know of any other useful tips please comment and let us know, we would be glad to hear from you!