RSPCA

And millions of pets could be ‘giving’ presents too

Pet owners could splurge up to a whooping £250 million* on Christmas presents for their pets this year…...and millions of pets may be ‘buying’ gifts for other people too, an RSPCA survey has revealed.

Almost nine out of ten (90%) of pet owners polled by the RSPCA will be treating their pet to a pressie and 43 per cent admitted that they will be buying gifts for other people from their pets.

The festive survey of more than 200 pet owners discovered:

Animals and vulnerable residents rescued after being trapped by flood waters

The RSPCA has released footage taken by some of the charity’s flood rescue teams which have rescued animals and people across Cumbria and Northumberland in the aftermath of Storm Desmond.

The footage includes the rescue of a dog called Ronnie who was trapped in the upstairs of a flooded school in Carlisle, before he and his owners were evacuated through a window after RSPCA officers had waded through the building’s dark and flooded corridors to reach them.

Four teams of officers rescue cats, dogs, rabbits, chickens and humans
Four flood rescue teams of specially trained RSPCA officers have been out rescuing animals and people during Storm Desmond.

Cats, dogs, rabbits and even chickens have all been rescued, mainly from residential properties across the north of England, where their owners were forced to evacuate the rising flood waters.

As well as helping animals, the RSPCA’s flood teams have also been assisting other emergency services and have so far rescued 36 people.

‘Xylitol’ is a sweetener found in many everyday food stuffs and is toxic to animals

The RSPCA is warning about the hazards to pets from an ingredient called Xylitol.

New statistics show that The Veterinary Poisons Information Service (VPIS) received 102 enquiries about xylitol last year. More than in 2013 (91) and 2012 (98).

Around 35 per cent of these cases involved chewing gum including sugar free gum. Others involve medicines including nicotine gums and throat lozenges also containing xylitol.

“All each puppy wants is to be cuddled, loved and feel safe... the reality is very different”

“As a Special Operations Unit Inspector investigating the puppy trade comes as quite a challenge. The activity of selling puppies in itself is not illegal yet the volume of suffering puppies can be staggering.

The first thing that becomes very apparent with some of the cases I’ve investigated is that these poor puppies are nothing but a commodity to the dealers.

A blind dog who was tied to a pallet of bricks and left to die is searching for a very special new home.

Delphine the springer spaniel captured the hearts of the nation after being dumped in a remote lane in Maidstone, Kent in May.

The terrified dog had ear infections and cataracts in both eyes which left her almost blind. Thanks to donations from the public Delphine had specialist veterinary treatment and although her sight could not be restored she is recovering well from her ordeal and now needs a new home.

Springer spaniel tied to a pallet of bricks in Maidstone is on the mend

Delphine was abandoned and alone when the RSPCA rescued her. The black and white springer spaniel was discovered tied to a pallet of bricks by a blue piece of nylon string with no food, water or shelter.

RSPCA inspector Tina Nash rescued the dog and rushed her to RSPCA Leybourne animal centre in Kent, where it was discovered that she was around five to seven years old and suffering from a number of health issues, including cataracts in both eyes that have left her almost totally blind, as well as ear infections.

Dog owners have been urged to keep their pets cool this weekend to avoid the heartbreak of losing a much-loved companion.

With weather forecasts predicting that temperatures could hit highs of 20c over the next few days, the RSPCA has issued its regular appeal to owners to keep their dogs safe in the sun.

RSPCA chief vet James Yeates said: “A hot car can be a death trap for dogs, it is as simple as that. Leaving your dog in a car, even on an average warm, even cloudy day, can put your pet at huge risk of suffering and even death.

The RSPCA is issuing a warning to pet owners that chocolate is toxic to dogs and can kill them.

Chocolate contains a chemical called theobromine which is toxic to dogs, and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, convulsions and even death. Cocoa powder is the most toxic chocolate product, followed by dark and then milk chocolate.

The RSPCA would advise any pet owner to take their animal straight to a vet if they are worried about what their dog has eaten.

Our loving brindle dogs spend an average of 65 days looking for a furever family.

Over the last three years it has taken the RSPCA on average 41 days to find loving new homes for the dogs in our care - for brindle dogs this figure is 65 days.

Black and white dogs are the most frequently seen dogs in the RSPCA’s care and take on average 37 days to rehome, black and tan dogs come in second and take an average of 40 days to rehome and brindle dogs are third but take 65 days to find their new homes.