Pet Abduction Act

The nation rejoices the very welcome news, that finally, Government has passed Legislation to make pet abduction a criminal offence.

Under the new Pet Abduction Act 2024 – which was a Private Members’ Bill sponsored by Anna Firth MP and Lord Black of Brentwood and supported by the Government – anyone found guilty of stealing a pet in England or Northern Ireland will face up to five years in prison, a fine, or both. 

Recognition of Sentient Beings

In my podcast, I’ve chatted with SAMPA (The Stolen and Missing Pets Alliance) several times, not least with Sir Duncan Smith and Dr Daniel Allen.  

The new law, whilst brilliant news, has been campaigned for years and falling on deaf ears for decades, so it’s testament to the hard work of the Pet Theft Taskforce for not giving up!  

The new law recognises that cats and dogs are not inanimate objects, but sentient beings capable of experiencing distress and other emotional trauma when they are stolen from their owners or keepers.  

Pandemic Pet Thefts

Evidence from the Pet Theft Taskforce suggests around 2,000 dog and over 400 cat theft crimes were reported to police in 2020, causing considerable distress for owners and their pets alike.  

It was late last summer, still in the wake of Government shelving of what was called the Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill, when I chatted to Dr Daniel Allen, Animal Geographer at Keele University and champion of Pet Theft Reform/Taskforce.

Dr Dan, along with  SAMPA and Vets Get Scanning, continued to lobby Government for a separate law with appropriate penalties for stealing all pets as the victims of organised crime for decades.  

Brought to a head in the pandemic when the demand for puppies outstretched supply, along with prices for puppies soaring to ridiculous levels, canny criminal activity reached preposterous levels with scamming, stealing dogs in daylight, breaking into private gardens and more.  

A Leap Forwards for Animal Welfare

As a crime defined under the antiquated Theft Act 1968, dogs were classed in law as chattel. This meant that stealing dogs was a low-risk, high-gain business for criminals. The penalty was the same for stealing a laptop, a phone or a car.  

During the pandemic there was much talk of creating a specific law that factored in the enormous emotional attachment between dogs and their owners and the trauma to individuals suffering from this ‘abduction’.

Just nine months after the airing of my podcast with Dr Dan Allen, it is in part due to his persistence to see justice for our pets as family members, that this new legislation has been passed.

The Pet Abduction Act 2024 is arguably the biggest step forwards in animal welfare since the Animal Welfare Act was introduced in 2006. 

About the Author – Anna Webb

As a Canine Nutrition and Behaviour expert, Anna combines her psychology degree, with study at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) and over 20 years of experience. Host of the award-nominated A DOG’S LIFE podcast, she lives in London and is owned by Prudence, a Miniature Bull Terrier and Mr. Binks, a re-homed English Toy Terrier. www.annawebb.co.uk

World Rabies Day

Shockingly, Rabies is currently responsible for an estimated 59,000 agonising human deaths per year, of which 40% are children – mainly those living in poor rural communities in Africa and Asia that are farthest from medical and veterinary services.

Supporting World Rabies Day

In up to 99% of human rabies cases, dogs are responsible for the virus transmission. Thousands of dogs (and other animals) suffer and die due to both the disease and the indiscriminate culling prompted by fear of the disease.

This is why Wild at Heart Foundation supports World Rabies Day, which is an awareness and fundraising initiative to help prevent human deaths from dog-mediated rabies, whilst relieving the burden of rabies in other animal populations, especially in dogs.

The Elimination of Rabies

The global aim is to eliminate human deaths from dog rabies by 2030, by working with governments, veterinary, public health and educational experts; and communities to facilitate policy change and build capacity to eliminate rabies in areas hardest hit by the disease.

In the hope that with sustained vaccination over multiple years, the disease can be eliminated, Wild at Heart Foundation is continually raising funds to work with its global animal welfare partners.

Helping fund and facilitate sterilisation and vaccination programs to immunise dogs and protect their communities from the threat of rabies whilst educating local populations is the multi-layered approach that can succeed.

A Vaccine-Preventable Disease

Nevertheless, Rabies remains a killer disease to all mammals. It is Zoonotic (spread between animals, and from animals to humans), as a viral disease that attacks the central nervous system. Once clinical symptoms appear, including a fever, hydrophobia or fear of water and a fear of fresh air and drafts, rabies is virtually 100% fatal.

Yet Rabies is vaccine-preventable. With prompt post-rabies exposure, the administration of prophylaxis (PEP) can prevent the virus from reaching the central nervous system. PEP consists of thorough wound washing, administration of a course of human rabies vaccine and, when indicated, rabies immunoglobulins (RIG).

In richer countries like Canada and America where wildlife including wolves, bears, racoons, bats and skunks have been a ‘Rabies’ threat to pet dogs and cats, a mandatory rabies vaccination is required no later than eight months of age. The duration of immunity will vary according to the vaccine brand ranging from a year to five years.

Keeping the British Isles Rabies Free

In the UK we’re lucky in that ‘the British Isles’ is a Rabies free zone. The last outbreak was recorded in 1902. Any animal cases since then have been from dogs or cats having contracted the disease abroad and have shown symptoms.

When the Pet Passport Scheme was introduced back in 2000, it truly was a landmark moment not just for dog ownership, but it opened up a travel market for pets, especially dogs. Prior to this, it was impossible to holiday in mainland Europe with your dog unless, on your return, you were prepared to leave your dog in quarantine for six months.

The mandatory requirements of the PETS Passport were being microchipped, the Rabies vaccine, and a wormer to be given no less than 48 hours before returning to the UK. Before 2012, serological immunity to the Rabies vaccine was confirmed with a blood test, and owners had to wait six months before travelling. This provided a six-month ‘quarantine’ period, ensuring the dog was immune to Rabies. Back then Vets recommended that puppies were at least six months old to receive a Rabies vaccine. So, the process needed planning in advance, and prevented puppies from being brought into UK ‘under-age’.

In 2012 the rules were made more flexible, reducing the waiting / quarantine period to three weeks, and the age for a puppy to receive a Rabies vaccine to 12 weeks. Making travelling with your dog or cat to mainland Europe even more accessible. This opened up a new market known as #DogFriendly, which encouraged pet owners to be more adventurous as thousands of pets would travel under the PETS Scheme.

However, after Brexit in January 2020, the Pet Passport Scheme was dissolved, and replaced by The Animal Health Certificate (AHC).  Similar to the original PETS passport, the dog must be microchipped, and have proof of a current ‘Rabies’ inoculation.  The new certificate scheme similarly is allowed from 12 weeks, and travel is permitted after a 21 day ‘incubation’ period after the first rabies shot.

 

About the Author – Anna Webb

As a Canine Nutrition and Behaviour expert, Anna combines her psychology degree, with study at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) and over 20 years of experience. Host of the award-nominated A DOG’S LIFE podcast, she lives in London and is owned by Prudence, a Miniature Bull Terrier and Mr. Binks, a re-homed English Toy Terrier. www.annawebb.co.uk

National Dog Day

As we approach National Dog Day on Monday, it’s the moment to reflect on and celebrate everything DOG!

For the Love of Dogs

As man’s best friend, dogs contribute to our wellbeing in so many ways; some might even say that it’s a love of a dog that makes us human. For centuries we evolved epigenetically as we domesticated the dog to be our guards, our hunters, and our best friends. Without dogs to drive our livestock to market back in the day, we may not have even built our modern capitalist world!

It’s only advances in science, over the past 20 years or so, that have enabled us to unpick exactly why the human to dog relationship is so strong.

The Wonder of Dogs

Much is down to their huge olfactory system, estimated to be a million times more acute than ours. Back in the day, a dog’s nose helped us hunt for our food, helped guard us by smelling danger and alerting us to take action. Over time, dogs have used their olfaction to read us like a book by ‘smelling’ our moods, even detecting when we’re feeling unwell by responding to changes in our bio-chemistry.

Dogs smell cortisol levels rising and falling so they know when we’re happy or sad. Cleverly they’ve correlated distinct facial expressions associated with such cortisol fluctuations to pick up on minute facial and body language cues.

Unlike our closest animal relative – the Chimpanzee, dogs understand from birth that the cue of pointing means look in that direction or go and find something ‘over there’, whereas Chimps literally have no idea of what pointing means. This is why dogs respond to the subtlest cues and confirms why body language is a universal language between people and their dogs.

Every Dog Around the Globe Deserves the Best Life

Of course, to build a close relationship with your dog takes time, patience, consistency and is a huge commitment! After all: A dog is for life, not just for Christmas! Every dog around the globe should deserve the best life – one of joy, love, protection care and respect. That’s why I’m proud to be an Ambassador for Wild at Heart Foundation.

A staggering 75% of the world’s dog population are strays, and Wild at Heart Foundation works tirelessly to raise funds to control the population with spaying and neutering programmes, vet support and education at a local level. Successfully helping to sterilise well over 31,000 dogs in countries as far afield as India, Puerto Rico, South Africa, Mexico, Thailand and Ukraine, Wild at Heart Foundation is not only controlling the population of street dogs, but also breaking the cycle of dogs being born into a life of suffering on the streets.

Also, as World Rabies Day approaches, Wild at Heart Foundation is proud to offer vaccination programmes through their partners, helping protect these dogs and the people in communities at risk of the deadly disease.

All dogs deserve a loving permanent home, and Wild at Heart Foundation has also rehomed over 2,000 lucky dogs into their forever homes from around the world. Whilst we’re obsessed by puppies, with rescues in the UK at bursting point, the mantra #AdoptDontShop is increasingly morally mandatory.

The Greatness of the DOG

Undoubtedly, dogs offer us an antidote to modern life’s stresses. They’re our gateway to the outdoors, and being a dog owner is like being part of a club, connected to nature but also to like-minded people.

There’s nothing as inspiring as watching your dog run on a beach full of the bliss of sea air and open space. Or exploring woodland with all their senses alert to the sights sounds and smells.

Equally as the ‘dog-friendly’ revolution stretches into the workplace, with cutting edge tech firms in particular welcoming dogs into the office, dogs are adapting to different roles.

Simply having a dog in a room full of people helps lower everyone’s blood pressure, plus studies concur that office staff are more interactive and productive when there’s a dog around. Plus, dog owners are known to smile more, and other studies suggest dog owners live longer.

Let’s be unanimous on National Dog Day and shout out about the greatness of the DOG, no matter their size or their breed.  Remember every dog is an individual with quirks and personalities. There’s a match made in heaven for anyone ready to give up their heart for a dog.

 

About the Author – Anna Webb

As a Canine Nutrition and Behaviour expert, Anna combines her psychology degree, with study at the College of Integrated Veterinary Therapies (CIVT) and over 20 years of experience. Host of the award-nominated A DOG’S LIFE podcast, she lives in London and is owned by Prudence, a Miniature Bull Terrier and Mr. Binks, a re-homed English Toy Terrier. www.annawebb.co.uk

Believe in Dog Silent Art Auction and Luxury Raffle

Silent Art Auction

From original paintings and limited edition prints, to photography and sculptural pieces, there’s something for all tastes; and with reserve prices from £50, there’s art for all budgets.

Our Believe in Dog silent art auction closes at 8.30pm on 25th April.

art pieces up for sale in the silent art auction

View auction

Luxury Raffle

A relaxing 5* coastal break, a decadent dinner for 2, a luxury break for your dog; these are just a selection of the amazing raffle prizes on offer.

At just £10 a ticket and with only 100 tickets available per prize, don’t miss the opportunity to win; and with all proceeds going towards supporting our work to end the suffering and improve the wellbeing of stray dogs in need, just £10 could do so much.

Our Believe in Dog raffle closes at 8.30pm on 25th April.

array of prizes available in the luxury raffle

Enter raffle

Check out our donation page to do your bit to help stray dogs all over the world.

 

From all the team at Wild at Heart Foundation, thank you x

Spring Activities for Easter

Looking for some activity ideas for the upcoming Easter holidays? Why not download our pack of dog themed activities for Spring. From a word search to dog doodles, there are plenty of activities to keep your kids busy, come rain or shine!

Download Spring Activity Pack

These activities were put together as part of our Be Kind programme, which was launched in September 2021. The programme is designed to help young people develop skills in empathy, kindness, compassion and understanding through exploring the emotions of dogs.

To find out more and sign-up to deliver the full programme in your school for free, visit our Be Kind page.

For more, check out our Instagram

Supporting UK Pets With Food

The depth of the crisis

The Trussell Trust’s UK-wide network distributed 1.3 million food parcels to people facing hardship during April to September 2022 – an increase of 52% compared to the same period in 2019. The number of pets in UK households is estimated to have risen from 9 million in 2019 to around 12 million in 2021. The RSPCA have dealt with 13,159 abandonments and 30,500 cases of neglect to the end of October this year. We are committed to helping ensure that no pets go hungry and are able to remain in their loving homes this Christmas.

Our findings have led us to understand that there is a gap of pet foodbank support in London and the south of England. Pet food isn’t always listed to foodbank clients as being available; some people can also be reluctant to ask for help to feed their pets and instead share their human food allocation with them. A balanced and nutritious diet is essential for the well-being of all family pets; so we’re stepping in to help ensure that this desperately needed resource is in place for those who are struggling to feed their pets during this crisis.

Norwood and Brixton foodbank

Discovering that this particular foodbank, which serves the Lambeth and Croydon boroughs of London and is currently dispatching around 1,000 food boxes per month (of which around 100 include pet food) was in dire need of pet food stock, our Projects Manager, Olivia, recently visited their warehouse and spoke with Project Lead Elizabeth Maytom.

Boxes containing enough food for 3 meals across 3 days for all members of each household are picked, packed and dispatched to clients’ doorsteps from this warehouse. At the moment, support for family pets is more about what food donations they might have to hand to add to a box, rather than being able to provide what each pet needs.

Ideally for Christmas and during the difficult months of January and February, Elizabeth would love to be able to provide separate pet boxes (at around £10 in value) containing enough food for 2 meals per day for 3 days, plus some extra dry food, dentals chews, treats, and perhaps a small toy. A dog owner herself, Elizabeth is super keen to do everything she can to prevent pet owners from being in a position of having to give up their beloved companions as a result of the cost-of-living crisis.

How to help

  1. Amazon wish list – Purchase dog food items from our wish list, which are labelled according to priority need, for direct delivery to the Norwood and Brixton foodbank warehouse.
  2. UK Pet Foodbank Gift of Giving  – If you’re looking for an alternative Christmas gift, you’ll be helping to ensure that pets don’t go hungry, and are able to be kept in loving homes by purchasing via our shop.
  3. Donate – We appreciate it’s a difficult time for all, but for those who can afford it, we’d be hugely grateful for a small donation to help us to support our wider emergency pet food bank initiative via the adjacent donation panel, so that family pets don’t go hungry this winter.
  4. Spread the word! – The more people who join us to raise awareness of this crisis, the more family pets we’ll be able to help.

We’d also like to extend a thank you to Waggel who, without their support, none of this would have been possible. Waggel are a UK-based pet insurance company shaking up the industry so pets and their owners can get the most from their relationship. With a range of annual limits and excesses to choose from, Waggel is making pet insurance as accessible as possible for a generation of new owners. Waggel’s commitment to reshaping the pet industry for the better has been truly exemplified through their generous sponsorship of our initiatives such as the work we do with Norwood and Brixton foodbank.

If a regular donation towards a specific project is set up and we subsequently cease to provide support in the future, any recurring donations will be allocated to the areas of our other work requiring the most support.

The Power of Decompression Walks

Depending on your dog’s breed (or mix of breeds), they may be a natural hunter, retriever, scavenger, or something else. A decompression walk allows your dog to blow off steam by letting them follow through with these natural instincts – all whilst working their brain and getting them ready to make rational decisions!

One of the reasons you may be here is that you have an anxious, sensitive, or reactive dog. Whatever it may be, one of the main causes of stressful walks is that our beloved dogs act irrationally or without proper thought. When our dogs react like this, it is common belief that the culprit is over arousal, stimulation, or pent-up energy. Whilst this certainly can be a contributing factor, the concept of ‘tire them out’ is somewhat outdated.

Understanding separation anxiety in your dog

Troublesome behaviour doesn’t always indicate separation anxiety but when it does, it is important to take steps to help your dog overcome their stress. Therefore, you need to use behavioural clues to establish whether or not your dog is anxious. Once you are sure, there are a number of things you can do to help combat it. Dogs in rescue may have tendencies to be a little more anxious due to their lack of routine, and the confusion they’ve been through.

How to spot separation anxiety

A dog who isn’t showing any symptoms of anxiety will be calm when you leave the house. They may fall asleep or play happily with toys. Inactive anxiety is hard to spot because there will be no visible signs of stress when you return home. Whilst you are out the dog will remain still but vigilant. They might have ears flat to their head, drool excessively, tuck their tail under their tummy and lick their lips repeatedly whilst panting and trembling. To detect this type of fear it may be prudent to set up a camera on a tripod or shelf so that you can become aware and take action.

A more active sign of stress that a camera would pick up but you may not when absent, manifests itself in a dog running between rooms and looking out of windows for you to return. The most obvious symptoms of stress are hard to miss and include the following:

  • Barking and howling, triggered by the guardian leaving.
  • Urinating and defecating when alone.
  • Destroying furniture and chewing shoes and carpets – this can cause self-injury like broken teeth, cuts and damaged claws.
  • Digging to try and escape – this can also result in injury.

Some of these behaviours can be caused by poor or incomplete house training, the key is usually that the animal is displaying these signs only when the guardian has left the house. Dogs are deeply attached to their owners and their absence can cause real stress.

Dogs may even start to show symptoms of anxiety before their guardian has left home. They may have distinguished between the trappings of work and trappings of home. Whilst wellies may trigger delight at the prospect of a walk, work shoes can bring on stress. As soon as an anxious dog realises you are leaving without them they may begin following you around, attention seeking or even attempting to block the door.

Why do dogs develop separation anxiety?

Separation anxiety is a common problem for dog owners. It is seen more regularly in dogs who have been adopted from shelters rather than dogs who have been in the same family since they were puppies. Adopted dogs have experienced the loss of an important person and this can trigger anxiety going forward.

Other reasons may include:

  • Change of owner – this could be a result of abandonment, being given to a shelter or given away to a new family.
  • Change of schedule – this may be caused by a change of jobs that requires a former home worker to be out of the house for long periods.
  • House move – this can be unsettling for a dog.
  • Changes within the family – perhaps caused by a death or someone moving away.
  • Medical conditions – such as urinary tract infection, old age, bladder stone, kidney disease, diabetes or a neurological condition.

 How to treat separation anxiety

An adult dog may be anxious because they were never taught to settle on their own as a pup. The most common treatment involves retraining the brain to understand that being alone isn’t frightening and can be rewarding. This is called counter conditioning. 

A common way to do this involves giving the dog a food toy filled with a tempting treat that will take 20 or 30 minutes to finish. Give this to the dog in a safe place such as their bed. Move a little way away and don’t actively engage with their activity. Repeat this process a number of times moving further away on each occasion so that the dog doesn’t react to your movement. If at any time the dog panics and tries to follow you, the process has to begin again. 

The dog should never get to the point of full-blown anxiety, this is a low-intensity task that doesn’t frighten him otherwise he won’t understand that he can be calm and comfortable in his safe place in situations that would usually worry him, such as you leaving the house.

For dogs who get anxious at the first sign of you getting ready to leave the house, it may help to wear outdoor clothes inside for periods of time. It might seem funny to watch TV in your coat but this can work to desensitise your dog.

It’s important to remember that telling your dog off or getting angry won’t work to stop the undesirable behaviour. The dog won’t associate the reprimand with behaviour of several hours ago and will be made further anxious and confused by your unexpected response to him. Empathy and understanding of the anxiety is the best way to find a resolution.

If you have any concerns that the behaviour is being caused by a medical condition then it is always best to speak to your vet. It is possible to prescribe anti-anxiety medication and that may be necessary for your dog. However, there are other options that you may want to try first.

  • If possible take your dog to work so that they aren’t left alone.
  • Ask friends or family to stay with the dog. 
  • Employ a dog sitter or doggy daycare.
  • Try using behavioural products such as adaptil.

You could also try using activities to boost your dog’s mental well-being by:

  • Walk, swim or run.
  • Play interactive games such as tug of war or fetch.
  • Take your dog to different places to experience unusual scents. 
  • Find dog walking buddies to stimulate your pet further.
  • Puzzling food toys.
  • Food hunts around the house.
  • Training classes.

Knowing the signs and methods for treating separation anxiety should mean you’re well-equipped to cope should your pet begin to suffer – but if in doubt, you can speak to the experts at 365 Vet.

The Importance of Veterinary Care

Something both 365 Vet & Wild at Heart Foundation have in common is that we both believe that all dogs deserve a healthy and happy chance at life.

It’s a no brainer – pet’s are like part of the family, so it’s important that you take care of them as you would yourself or any other family member. Monitoring your dog’s health is vital, making sure they are fit, strong and as healthy as they can possibly be. With regular veterinary checks for your dog, you can prevent many different issues within areas such as heartworm, dentistry, vaccine, neuter and grooming.

Even if you keep a close eye on your dog’s health, it’s important to book regular appointments with your vet for thorough check-ups, this allows the vet to pick up anything you haven’t. It also means you can also nip any issues in the bud before they become serious. Dog’s are great at hiding illnesses, so it’s crucial that you have routine appointments to find these problems and deal with them. Some rescue dogs also might require that extra appointment to keep on top of any existing problems too.

Routine Visits

Another advantage of routine check-ups at the vets is that it gets your dog used to your local vet surgery and the staff that work there too. This means that your dog will feel much more comfortable going to their routine visits and become less nervous. In turn, the vets will not be associated with bad or stressful times. It’s common for rescue dogs to be anxious or nervous in new places to start with, so this could really help them to come out of their shell a bit more. Popping into the vets is always a good idea when you’re near too, I’m sure the veterinary nurses would jump at the chance to have a cuddle.

Dentistry 

How would you feel if you never brushed your teeth? Uncomfortable! Regular dental maintenance is key for the overall health of your dog, and is often something that’s overlooked. Not only will this prevent bad breath, but will also help prevent any diseases and infections. Dental care is even more important in older dogs, as the bacteria the diseases create can lead to issues in their organs. Poor oral hygiene can not only cause discomfort for your dog but can also cause serious issues like a broken jaw.

Vaccines & Neutering 

Vaccination and neutering is one of the most important things to tackle first and foremost. Just like people, animals need their vaccines too. Depending on where you are in the world, there will be trained veterinary specialists that can help you select the right vaccines for your dog. Vaccinations prevent any harmful diseases, and can significantly impact the overall health and well-being of your dog. Your dog will need regular vaccinations and boosters, some are needed once a year and some every three years. But it is important to get those regular check-ups booked in in-between.

How do Wild at Heart Foundation Help?

The Wild at Heart Foundation supports a number of projects around the world, from South Korea to South Africa!

The team at Wild at Heart Foundation provides rescued dogs with veterinary care and medical attention as part of their rehoming. They believe that a dog deserves the chance to live a happy life, free from the threat of pain, suffering, cruelty and neglect. Working to reduce the world’s 600 million stray dog population, their work includes dog rescue, adoption, sterilisation, education initiatives and awareness.

It is estimated that around 1 billion unwanted puppies are born on the street each year, of which are unsterilised and unvaccinated. Once rescued from the streets with the help of Wild at Heart Foundation, they are then provided with the care they need. Some rescues found on the streets may have other health issues, therefore veterinary care is vital for their well-being, to make sure they are fit enough to go to their forever home.

Regular veterinary care is going to be an important part of their life after rescue. At 365 Vet, helping animals in need is our main priority, whether that’s a rescue dog or not. We know that caring for a dog and their needs can be expensive, so we offer genuine products at competitive prices, for you to give your dog the best care possible.

Helping With Fears – Desensitisation and Counter Conditioning

 Sometimes our dog’s fears are entirely rational, booming fireworks, alarms and the dreaded vacuum are all things that millions of dogs around the world struggle with. However, even with a perfect start in life, dogs can also show a fearful reaction towards the most surprising things, such as funny shaped rocks, everyday sounds and even unexpected shadows!   

All dogs have emotional responses, and just like us, sometimes these feelings can override the brain and cause an unwanted action. Fear can be distressing for both you and your dog. The inherently unpleasant sensations of fear can also become associated with the trigger, making your dog even more scared of it next time.  This is why we often see fear – and a dog’s reaction to the cause of it – tends to escalate over time.

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