The animal charity continues to be inundated with poorly dogs and cats owing to owners who cannot afford vet treatment thanks to the ongoing effects of the recession. Since the economic downturn took hold a year ago, the Claverton Down based independent charity has seen a two-fold increase in the number of animals, particularly older sick animals, dumped in the area requiring urgent attention, thanks to some owners choosing not to pay for vet care. In January alone, the Home took in 19 animals compared to 30 in the same period last year.

Rachel Phelps-Allen, spokesperson, comments: “The challenging economic climate means times are still tough for us and our vet bills are higher than ever due to the consistent increase in sick animals arriving at Bath Cats and Dogs Home. Cat flu is a particular problem at the moment. It spreads quickly and easily and symptoms such as a runny nose and eyes, loss of appetite and a persistent wheeze are common. Dogs are coming to us with arthritis and diabetes and a host of other ailments requiring urgent treatment. We are finding that symptoms seem to be particularly severe in the animals arriving, since many have not been vaccinated or their ailments properly treated.”

Netty the Staffordshire Terrier, pictured above, is in constant pain with sore legs and lameness, caused by arthritis. She requires urgent hip treatment, for example, which will total almost £600. Her carers must pick up her hind legs to enable her to stand. She will only eat when around people, thanks to a fear of the kennel environment and has luckily found a temporary home and human company behind the centre’s reception. Then there’s Nelly.

Nelly the lurcher has a severe case of arthritis, incontinence and a skin allergy, which has caused her serious pain. She has been prescribed a range of antibiotics and painkillers to relieve the soreness for an indefinite period costing hundreds of pounds.

Then there’s Drift, the cat, for example. Found lying in the snow near Frome by a passer-by two weeks ago, this old boy of 12 was severely malnutritioned, underweight and suffering from a serious form of cat flu. He is making a good recovery following medical treatment, including antibiotics and eye cream and is enjoying his cosy new temporary home! However, treatment is not cheap, with the cost of ongoing flu drugs, including IV fluids and antibiotics ranging from £50 to £200 for a very sick animal.

The Home frequently takes in diabetic cats, requiring urgent stabilisation, including glucose curbing and insulin with costs ranging from between £400-£900. There are also sometimes cases of leukaemia and immune deficient FIV, the cat equivalent of HIV, treatment for which does not come cheap.

Mrs. Phelps-Allen continues: “Our Poorly Pets Appeal is seeking to encourage supporters to help us pay for the treatment of so many ill animals requiring both urgent operations and ongoing medical treatment. In trying to care for so many sick animals vet bills total hundreds of thousands of pounds each year and it is only with the continuous financial support of animals lovers we are able to continue our work. With your support we can help give them the healthy, happy, pain-free future they deserve. This is a particularly tough time for our animals and any help given will be gratefully received.”

Commenting on the launch of the campaign Kim O’Meara from The Better British Dog Owner’s Campaign in association with Butcher’s Pet Care said, “This is a very worthy cause. The recession may have officially come to an end, but many dog owners still continue to worry about money and the affects it has on themselves, their families and their family dog. ”

Anyone able to give a donation to Bath Cats and Dogs Home can donate on-line via its website: www.bathcatsanddogshome.org.uk or can contact the fundraising team on 01225 78733.

Alternatively, please send a cheque made payable to Bath Cats and Dogs Home, The Avenue, Claverton Down, Bath BA2 7AZ.

DogsBlog.com launched in 2007 and has gone on to achieve amazing success for more than 6700 dogs who have found new homes via the website which gives a free platform for 212 rescue shelters who use the service to promote their dogs (free of charge.)

As the service is provided to rescues and dog adopters completely free of charge (thanks to the support of sponsors like Butcher’s Pet Care) the DogsBlog.com website has relieved the UK animal welfare sector of more than £16.6m of financial strain

The partnership with Butcher’s Pet Care couldn’t come at a better time, as the UK animal welfare sector gears up for its busiest time of the year over Christmas and the new Year.

Kim Bruce, co-founder of DogsBlog.com says:

“We are thrilled to be working with such an esteemed, well respected pet food company as Butcher’s Pet Care. We feel their values reflect those of DogsBlog.com and their experience and expertise in the pet sector is sure to be a great help to us in taking DogsBlog.com from strength to strength.

We recognise that so many dogs are being rehomed as a result of behavioural issues, perhaps being too boisterous or even destructive. Often, the first culprit in causing such unwanted behaviour is as simple as the dog being fed the wrong diet. Now with the expertise of one of the UK’s most well known pet nutrition companies on board, we feel we can add even more value by way of providing advice to owners who are struggling with their dog’s.”

Caroline Coombs, Brand Manager of Butcher’s Pet Care Ltd said of the partnership:

We are delighted that through our association with K9 media and the sponsorship of Dogsblog.com, we will not only be helping dogs in rescue find new families to love them, but that in the long run we may even reduce the number of dogs that are put up for adoption due to behavioral issues.

Butcher’s philosophy of manufacturing high meat content wet dog food that contains no artificial flavours, colours or preservatives and is gluten free comes from over 25 years of farming knowledge and pet nutrition expertise, which places us in an ideal position to work in partnership with K9 media helping all dogs of Britain to be healthy, happy and as “Fit As A Butcher’s Dog”.

Users can search for dogs by age, breed type, geographic location or even by a range of character traits such as dogs that are good with children, dogs who like cats or dogs who would be suitable to perform jobs of work.

As the site moves forward the aim is to assist more dog owners who are having troubles with their pets and are considering the possibility of rehoming them. Efforts have been made to tackle the canine abandonment issue on both fronts; helping to get more dogs out of shelter and working toward ensuring less dogs are going in to the system by providing free, expert advice on common issues cited as a cause for rehoming such as destructive behaviour and separation anxiety.

DogsBlog.com Key Facts.

Dogs Available For Adoption: 972
Dogs Now Re-Homed: 7132
Number of Breeds: 92
Number of Rescue Shelters: 216

‘Luckiest’ Dog Name: Max (this is the most popular name amongst rehomed dogs)

‘Unluckiest’ Breed: Greyhounds, followed by Staffordshire Bull Terriers are the most common breeds looking for new homes

‘Rarest’ Breed: Thai Ridegback. The less common ‘cousin’ of the more well known Rhodesian Ridgeback

To find out more: www.DogsBlog.com

Violet is a very pretty and loving. She craves attention and loves to be massaged and her tummy tickled. She is looking for a foster home without any children or other pets and someone with experience of the Staffordshire Bull Terrier breed. Please contact the Leicester Animal Aid on 01455 888257 for more information.

If you’re interested in adopting Violet, please see the link below for further information.

http://www.dogsblog.com/violet-3

To find out about dogs in the care of the Scottish Dalmatian Welfare looking for new homes, please see:

http://www.dogsblog.com/author/scottish-dalmatian-welfare

Here, Michael Bellingham, Chief Executive of the Pet Food Manufacturers Association, the trade body representing the UK pet food industry, offers his support to DogsBlog and advice to new dog owners:

“Understandably, when considering adoption, nutrition can be a concern for ‘would be’ pet owners. It is important that owners exercise their pets and feed them a good diet, and particularly give them the correct amount of food for their life stage and lifestyle. A pet that is fed and exercised correctly will lead a longer and healthier life. Owners can easily check how much to feed their pets by following the guidelines that can be found on the back of pet food packs. Remember, these are guidelines and you may need to adjust the amounts you feed depending on the individual needs of the pet. Pets that become overweight as a result of overfeeding are more likely to develop serious health conditions such as diabetes, heart disease and arthritis, so it is in everyone’s interests to take care when feeding.

“The PFMA has developed helpful, practical tools to help owners monitor the condition of their pet. We also recommend steps to take if a problem exists. Prevention is better than cure, so keeping a regular check on a pet’s weight will ensure that pets have the best chance of a long and happy life.”

Still only a young dog at around five years old, Mayhew vets have identified she has already had several litters and speculate she may now have simply got past prime breeding age and has been abandoned as if past her sell by date.

Animal Welfare Officer, Zoe Hubbard, said: “It is astonishing to think that someone can just discard an animal so readily, with no knowledge of what may happen to her tied up alone on the street. This is clearly someone who has no concern for an animal’s welfare.”

However, this is not an isolated incident for the Home, as only over a month prior Night – staff found another emaciated and injured pup left cowering on the ground outside at 6am.

The 10 month old dog, renamed Hero, was in a terrible state with the majority of his teeth either filed down or knocked out, leading staff to believe he may have been used as bait in dog-fighting as he would have been unable to defend himself.

The Mayhew CEO, Caroline Yates, said: “These are just two of the most recent incidents of people just discarding their dogs like rubbish and we dearly wish it would stop. As well as animals outside the Home, our Animal Welfare Officers have answered calls for dogs tied to public lampposts with notes around their necks and others left to roam alongside busy roads.”

She added: “We would appeal for anyone who recognises the dog to come forward as we are concerned for the welfare of her puppies. Although we are glad her owners brought her to the Home rather than turn her out into the street, we would prefer they approached us for advice and help rather than as a drop off point for discarded dogs.”

All start at 11.30 am and £1 gate entry fee. All monies raised will go to the dogs in rescue.

For further details please telephone 01623 792886 or email notts@jerrygreendogs.co.uk.

(Image courtesy of RSPCA Pet Week 2008 campaign)

Kate says: “Dogsblog is a great place to start if you are thinking of adopting a dog. The site has lots of helpful advice and can put you in touch with a range of re-homing centres right across the country. If you can give a dog a good, loving home, adopting a rescue dog is fantastically rewarding. I did exactly that a year ago and it is the best thing I’ve ever done.”

Visit www.dogsblog.com to find the dog of your dreams!

Emma owns two Collie crosses Pan and Badger and has been a long term supporter of the concept of dog adoption and also mentions dog adoption in her book. She hopes by speaking out she can encourage more people to give a rescue dog a second chance and new home!

Emma says: “Having only ever owned rescue dogs I am one of their biggest fans. Many people assume the words ‘rescue dog’ somehow mean an inferior pet or damaged goods. Dogs are truly wonderful animals to share your life with and this is the same no matter what their origin. So many dogs need loving homes and providing such a home for an animal in need is one of the most satisfying and rewarding experiences imaginable and I highly recommend it.”

Becoming a foster carer offers its own rewards seeing dogs develop their personalities while they’re waiting for their forever home.

If you feel you’d like to know more about becoming a foster carer, please email mail@dangerousdogsact.co.uk