Half of the dogs in Britain will suffer painful and early deaths because owners let them get fat

By David Derbyshire

Be responsible: The People's Dispensary for Sick Animals says owners control dogs' diet and exercise


Half our dogs will die of obesity half the dogs in Britain will suffer painful and early deaths because their owners let them become too fat, a charity warns.

The canine obesity epidemic has reached alarming levels, meaning five million dogs are unlikely to reach a healthy and happy old age, says the People’s Dispensary for Sick Animals.

Too many owners are overfeeding their pets with treats or scraps, or simply not giving them enough exercise, according to its report.


Fat dogs are now such a common sight that many owners have forgotten what a healthy animal even looks like, it adds.

The disturbing findings come from the charity’s annual dog obesity league, compiled from the medical records of 30,000 animals.

PDSA senior vet Sean Wensley said: ‘Overweight pets are less mobile, less willing to play and more likely to develop a serious health condition.

'Ultimately, owners control their pets’ diets and exercise.’

The charity has surveyed the weight of dogs each year since 2006. Over that time, the proportion of obese pets has shot up from 21 per cent to 35 per cent.

If the trend continues, the PDSA estimates that nearly half of British dogs will be overweight by 2013 - putting them at risk of heart disease, diabetes, arthritis and an early grave.

The crisis is most serious in the South-West, where 39 per cent of dogs are overweight.

Britain’s healthiest canines live in London, meanwhile, where just 22 per cent are fat.

The rise in obesity is down to overindulgent owners, Mr Wensley explained.

‘Most people give dogs a complete dog food with all the nutrients and calories they need,’ he said.

‘But they are still feeding them scraps of human food to show how much they love them. Something has to give.’

There are several tests to tell if your dog is overweight. If you gently stroke its side, for example, you should feel its ribs rippling under your hands.

And if you look at it from the side, its waist should tuck up behind the ribs - not be flat or saggy.

Obese dogs also often have bulges of fat at the base of their tails. Owners should speak to a vet about gradually increasing the amount of exercise their animal does and making its diet healthier.

The PDSA is so concerned about canine obesity that it is re-launching its free six-month slimming programme, Pet Fit Club.


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Bandy-legged Belle the 'spider dog' runs for the first time thanks to £3,000 operation

By Mail Online Reporter

Belle before her operation: A severe deformity of her front legs meant that she was unable to run and play like a normal dog


These striking pictures tell the story of a remarkable surgical procedure which has transformed the life of little Belle the greyhound cross.

Now a playful picture of health, before her operation she was afflicted with cruelly deformed legs which made her walk like a spider.

The gorgeous seven-month-old greyhound cross was born bow-legged and has been in constant pain while campaigners raised money to pay for the operations that would straighten her front legs.

Heartbreaking images of Belle before her expensive corrective surgery show her front limbs splaying out to the side but after two bouts of surgery she now looks like any normal pup and is searching for a new home.

Manager and founder of the Mayflower Sanctuary in Doncaster, Jennie Foxall-Lord, started fund raising three months ago on Facebook with dozens of caring dog-lovers helping to raise the £3,000 required.

She said: 'When she walked before it was like a little spider. Now she's so much more positive and happy, she plays with the other dogs, before she would only lay down by herself. She is a lovely natured dog and hopefully we can find her a loving home. Belle is an absolute delight, what a treasure.'

Irregular bone growth caused Belle's legs to bow but if the problem had been diagnosed earlier the painful operations - which involved breaking her legs, pinning them and adding growth plates so they healed straight - could have been avoided.

'She didn't have a life before these operations, she really didn't have a future,' said Jennie. 'She wouldn't have been able to walk.


Lucky break: Belle with her legs in casts after the operation


'Luckily the vet said there was a possibility of improvement. If they had said there wasn't any hope we may have had to put her to sleep.'

'But now things have completely turned around, what a happy dog she is. She is a big, happy puppy who hasn't been able to do all the puppy things yet.'

'She is so full of life and such a little fighter. If anyone was going to do it, it was Belle.' Belle had splints put in which were removed in May. The determined hound, who was left at the sanctuary by a member of the public, then took her first short walk last month and this month she was finally given the all clear.'

The pretty pooch, who is now looking for a new home, will require careful monitoring for the rest of her life, but thankfully won't need any more operations.

Jennie, whose sanctuary is housing around 40 dogs and a litter of pups at the moment, said Belle's vet hadn't seen anything like it before and added that she was no longer in any pain.


Belle the Greyhound Cross after the £3,000 operation that has saved her from being put to sleep


She said: 'We didn't even dare to think about a home for Belle until we knew how the operations would go'

'She is still a puppy, she will be very lively and needs somebody to watch her weight and give her plenty of exercise. Probably not a home with toddlers as she might knock them over.'

'If she needed another operation Mayflower would be responsible for paying for it, it is the same with any dog who leaves us with a question mark. '

'Thankfully, a lot of people have been very generous in helping with the cost so far She is a lovely dog, she's never stopped wagging her tail despite the fact she was in a lot of pain, and she was always pleased to see you even if she couldn't get up.'

'She's a tough little cookie and recently completed a lap of honour as the star attraction at our annual dog fun show. She's such a positive dog, she deserves a good home'.


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The luxury feline hotel that ensures your furry friend lives like an aristo-cat while you're away

By Daily Mail Reporter

Purrfect retreat: Sparky the cat relaxes beside in the Autumn Suite at Longcroft Luxury Cat Hotel


The days of wondering whether your cat’s OK while you’re away may have gone.

A new luxurious feline hotel could mean your pet has an even better holiday than you.

Four-legged guests who check in at the hotel in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, can live it up in style with amazing treats from the hotel's organic ‘A La Cat’ menu.

Scrumptious delights to suit every moggy's palette include poached salmon, tiger prawns and even steamed white fish for delicate tummies - all served on a shiny silver platters and bone china plates.

With six individually-themed heated chalets to choose from and lots of space, guest cats are treated to Jazz and Classical music fed through a £5,000 state-of-the-art sound system.

Owners Abi and Matt Purser have ensured their four-legged patrons will never get bored at the hotel which costs between £15 and £19 a night, with extras like the A La Cat menu at £3.50 a day.

Outside their private bedroom windows are bird boxes to make sure birds fly in nearby to keep the cats are entertained.

Porcelain water fountains deliver perfectly fresh oxygenated water to keep all the guests purrfectly hydrated.

With the pampered pussies safely tucked up in their lavish bedrooms, Mrs Purser, 35, and her 40-year-old husband offer around-the-clock care and send absent owners postcards and pictures giving updates on the kitties' own little holidays.


Moggy manor: Abi Purser, the owner of the hotel in Welwyn Garden City, Hertfordshire, outside the 'chalets'


And if life gets too tough the residents can take optional extras like the Grooming Pamper Package.

As well as delicate treatments for the ears and eyes the spoilt pets also get a nail shape, massage and shine.

Mrs Purser, said: ‘There are some pretty good catteries out their if you look, but no one has gone quite to the lengths we have in terms of comfort and style.

‘We are finding that people who have never used catteries before are booking in because they are attracted by what we offer.

‘We believe cats deserve this kind of treatment while their owners are hopefully getting the same standards on their trip away.’

‘The Hotel offers six chalets much larger than the norm, each with their own bedroom and exercise area creating the perfect stress free retreat for much treasured pets whilst they are in our care.

‘Cats can enjoy our Everyday menu, which is included in the cost, or you can opt for something a bit special from the A La Cat menu.


A La Cat menu: Mrs Purser feeds Sparky. Specialist dishes on offer include poached salmon and tiger prawns


‘All our menus have been developed under the consultation of a feline nutritionist and we use organic and responsibly farmed ingredients wherever possible.

‘We have invested in the best possible accommodation to build a bespoke design for our cat hotel, using state of the art materials to ensure our guests are snug and warm in the winter, and cool and calm in the summer.

‘We also ensure a standard of hygiene second to none.

‘Each chalet, like the Bluebell or Poppy suites, are decorated with individual themes and all come with deep comfortable beds.’

And for the pickiest puss, one of the suites is super-sized so the lucky guest can really stretch out.

‘There are bigger breeds which might enjoy the extra-large chalet,’ Mrs Purser added.


Pussy playground: The Bonsai Suite apparatus for guests to play on while being serenaded by music


‘Or it could be good for customers from multi-cat households who want their kitties staying together for company.

‘The music, the complex toys and the bird boxes all outside are just some of the twists we've used to make sure the cats stay stimulated.

‘The music is constantly changed to stop our guests from getting bored.

‘We will shortly be installing a machine which blows out catnip flavoured bubbles. We want the cats to stay active, happy and entertained while they're here.’


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Half of UK's butterfly species 'threatened with extinction'

By Daily Mail Reporter

A very rare Purple Emperor butterfly, without it's usual markings. Many of the UK's common and garden butterfly species could be in decline


Half of the UK's common and garden butterfly species are threatened with extinction, conservationists warned today.

Numbers have hit an all-time low in the past three years as bad summer weather compounded long-term problems such as more intensive farming in the past 50 years.

Wildlife charity Butterfly Conservation said that seven out of 10 species of the insect are in decline in the UK.

Fragmentation of habitat is also making it difficult, particularly for rarer species, to move around, isolating and damaging populations.

Richard Fox, surveys manager at Butterfly Conservation, said more common butterflies such as red admirals and peacock butterflies are much more mobile than rare species, but could also be affected by changes to their habitat.

Species like the meadow brown and small blue are much less widespread than they would have been 50 years ago.

Butterflies which visit gardens, using them as 'motorway service stations' to feed in while breeding elsewhere, are not helped by gardening fashions such as putting down decking or paving over front lawns for driveways.

The loss of gardens to development and practices of 'tidying up' parks, roadside verges and wasteland damages wildlife by removing habitats, he said.


A peacock butterfly which are the longest-lived butterflies in Britain, with adults surviving from late July, well into the following spring


Butterfly Conservation is urging the public to spend quarter of an hour in a garden, park or field this week - July 24 to August 1 - and make a note of the species of any butterfly they see there as well as day-flying moths such as hummingbird hawk-moths.

The conservation group hopes the information will help build up a better picture of the fortunes of the country's butterflies, and give an indication of the wider health of our nature world.

Mr Fox said it is very difficult to monitor common species found in private gardens and urban areas, and appealed to members of the public to help gather more information about butterflies in towns, cities and gardens.

The information will show if this year's warm, sunny summer has allowed butterfly numbers to recover, as well as record species moving north as the climate changes and even colonising cities where they were previously not found.

'Reports suggest numbers of many garden species and common or widespread species are down so far this year but the warm weather will have benefited them,' he said.

'We have this background of long-term decline for the majority of butterfly species, both rare and common and garden species.

'This year by recent standards we had a long hot spell for whole of June which, compared to the last few summers, was amazing and will have benefited the butterflies that were out and about at that time,' he said, adding that most of the butterflies out in late spring and early summer were scarcer species.

Sir David Attenborough, president of Butterfly Conservation, which is running the count in partnership with Marks & Spencer, said: 'Butterflies are extraordinary, heart-lifting creatures - visions of beauty and visions of summer.

'Butterflies in profusion tell us that all is well with nature. When they decline it's a warning that other wildlife will be soon heading the same way.

'So with the big butterfly count we will be doing more than just counting butterflies - we'll be taking the pulse of nature.'


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Caught on camera for the first time: The furry slender loris that is so rare scientists thought it was extinct

By Daily Mail Reporter

The Horton Plains slender loris, captured in the mountain forest of central Sri Lanka, sitting on a forest branch


One of the rarest primates in the world, which was so elusive it was thought to have become extinct, has been caught on camera for the first time, researchers said today.

The Horton Plains slender loris had only been seen four times since 1937 and vanished between 1939 and 2002, leading scientists to believe the wide-eyed mammal had become extinct.

Researchers from the Zoological Society of London's (ZSL) edge of existence programme, who spent more than 200 hours looking for signs of the nocturnal primate in the mountain forest of central Sri Lanka, said they were 'thrilled' to have photographed it.

The picture of the endangered mammal shows an adult male Horton Plains slender loris, characterised by short limbs and long dense fur, sitting on a forest branch.

The sub-species of slender loris has shorter and sturdier fore and hind limbs than those of any other loris in either Sri Lanka or southern India, showing how the mammal has adapted to living in the cool montane - or highland - forest, the researchers said.

ZSL conservation biologist Dr Craig Turner said: 'We are thrilled to have captured the first ever photographs and prove its continued existence - especially after its 65-year disappearing act.

'This is the first time we have been able to conduct such a close examination of the Horton Plains slender loris.

'The discovery improves our knowledge of this species, but we need to focus our efforts on the conservation and restoration of the remaining montane forest where this species still exists.

'Currently this accounts for less than 1% of the land area of Sri Lanka.'

Research leader Saman Gamage said: 'Nearly 1,000 nocturnal surveys have been completed in 120 different forest areas looking for all loris species to assess their status, ecological needs and current threats.

'We are now conducting further studies to establish whether the Horton Plains slender loris could even be a species in its own right.'

Slender lorises are small nocturnal primates which are only found in the tropical forests of southern India and Sri Lanka. They are about 6-10 inches long (15cm-25cm) and have large saucer-like eyes which help their night-time hunting.

According to ZSL, a major threat posed to Horton Plains slender lorises is damage to their habitat, including fragmentation of the forest.

Effective measures need to be implemented urgently to protect, regenerate and reconnect the remaining patches of montane forest, the conservationists said.


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Hay, it's simples! Farmer builds 36ft meerkat sculpture from bales of straw

By Carol Driver

Bales of fun: The 36ft meerkat stands proudly on its 6ft base


At 36ft tall and made out of straw, this impressive sculpture of a meerkat is anything but ‘simples’.

Proudly looking out over motorists in rural Nantwich, the statue is built on a 6ft base and has lights in its eyes.

The meerkat, made popular thanks to an insurance company's TV adverts, is 30 times bigger than a real-life creature, and is the latest in a long line of impressive works of art


Ex-straw-dinary: The meerkat watches over drivers on the A51


Each year, staff at Snugburys Ice Cream Farm, Hurleston, celebrate the summer with a new design.

The concept started in 1998 with a huge Millennium Dome sculpture and has also seen a straw replica of the Lovell telescope, London Eye as well as last year’s Big Ben standing beside the A51 near Chester.

Director Chris Sadler and his wife Cheryl come up with the ideas and the creations are made by Mike Harper, who builds a steel skeleton which is then stuffed with hay.


Str-awesome: The replica of the Lovell telescope was created in the field in 2007


Dead ringer: Last year's statue of Big Ben celebrated the famous clock's 150-year anniversary


Speaking about this year’s design, Mr Harper, 57, said: ‘Everyone loves meerkats, especially my wife, so we thought it would be a good idea.

‘We start planning it in January and then have a big push stuffing it at the end which takes about a month.

‘Mike is an amazing talent and was happy to have a go at building it.

‘People absolutely adore it – it says that it cheers them up, and it doesn’t cost them anything.’


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Training a tiger like this takes a lot of bottle!

By Mail Online Reporter

John "Tigerman" Wagenaar frolics with one of his hand-reared tigers at the SA Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve


These pictures of tiger man John Wagenaar might give you paws for thought - as he smiles to the camera while a giant 300kg Siberian tiger licks his head.

More astounding photos show how the big cat whisperer is able to stand and support two tigers with a combined weight of over 500kg with his arms - as he bottle feeds them.
Through his unique 'love training' fearless John is even able to let


Working at the Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve near Johannesburg, South Africa, big cat lover John is a firm believer in reward-based training of animals.

Most handlers of predators live in fear of the day when they trip over in an enclosure and end up beneath the animals in a submissive position - and vulnerable to an attack.

But John, 35, seems fearless as he rolls around on the ground with some of the biggest cats in the world.

He said: 'Through my love training I am able to do things with these animals that others simply cannot.'

'There are many keepers out there who use sticks and punishment to make the animals submit to them.'

'Because of this the keepers don’t trust the animals and the animals don’t trust the keepers. That’s a very dangerous way to manage a relationship between yourself and a cat weighing 300kg.'


John bottle-feeds one of his 'pets', creating the bond that makes the tigers see him as a parent.


Using chunks of meat and bottled milk, John continually rewards good behaviour exhibited by the 20 tigers at the reserve.

But John says his relationship with the potentially lethal animals is key to getting close.

Apollo, the massive five-year-old male licking John’s head was hand-reared by him and thinks John is a parent.

'He thinks I’m his dad' said John. 'He’s grooming me just like he would another cat and this behaviour displays the level of trust we have for each other.'

'I’m not afraid when I go into situations like this but I am cautious.'

'You have to have total respect for the fact that the Siberian tiger is the biggest cat in the world and he’s designed to kill. I’ve got the scars to prove it.'

'But it’s all about your approach and judgement of when and when not to interact with them.'

'Just as cats in the wild do not continually interact with each other, you must bear in mind the same principle.'

'We are strong believers in observing the energy around the cats. Through experience we know when they are in a happy mood and would enjoy to play or some mental stimulation.'


John wrestles with Alice the tiger


Alice, a five-year-old Bengal tiger weighs 200kg and was also hand-reared by John. She is so comfortable with him she happily snoozes laying on top of him.

'She sees me as a potential mate,' said John. “She tried to shepherd me away from other cats so she can have me all to herself.”

Thor, 250kg and Helen, weighing 180kg, are sibling Siberians both aged three years.
John said: 'I am the only person in the world who can stand supporting two adult tigers on each arm. I believe this is a huge testament to the work that we are doing and the state of mind of our cats.'

'I hate punishment training and much prefer to reward the animals for safe behaviour. I dislike circus where animals are conditioned to perform on command or face the consequences.'

'The way I work is more about going in and interacting with the cats.'

John’s love affair with cats began when he was just nine years old when his mum bought him a tabby domestic cat.

Since then he has progressively devoted his life to the animals working with cats like cervals and cheetahs through volunteer programmes around South Africa.

Five years ago he joined Ed Hurm, owner of Rhino and Lion Nature Reserve.

John said: 'All of the tigers were rejected at birth and we have taken them in to go give them a safe and healthy life.'

'You can see that they are in tip top condition and that fills me with pride because its down to the way we look after them.'

'Cats in captivity often end up overweight, bored and die of heart attacks.'

'What I am doing with these animals is not about performing tricks. It’s about keeping them stimulated and active as part of our animal enrichment programme.'

'If one of our tigers climbs for a reward, it is using its claws and muscles just as it should do in the wild. All credit should go to the cats for allowing me to interact with them like this.'

'None of the tigers can ever return to the wild as they have no fear of man and could not fend for themselves. But I hope that we are giving them the best life possible given their circumstances.'

'All of our cats are part of an international breeding programme. They are not being looked after in their native countries where they are killed for their fur or for aphrodisiacs.'

'We are building up an international number which we can exchange with other reserves to keep a healthy gene pool in the cats away from their native territories.'
Tourists and big cat lovers can visit the South African reserve where they can enjoy talks by John.

It is, as John says 'the only place in the world where you can safely take an hour-long walk with an adult Siberian tiger'.


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You dummy! The moment a real hare took his life in his hands by tearing across greyhound track

By Mail Foreign Service

Hare of the dog: The moment a real hare dashed on to the track at a greyhound race in Victoria, Australia


Spare a thought for the poor punters who put a bet on Ginny Lou in the Finer Fruit Stakes in Australia earlier this week.

The racing greyhound was coming a respectable third at the track in Shepperton, Victoria, when she was suddenly confronted with two hares to chase.

Spectators were just as confused as the wild hare ran across the track, straight into the path of a thundering pack of eight greyhounds trained to chase him down.

The rest of the dogs continued to chase the fake but Jinny Lou -showing a taste for reality over fantasy - veered off on a mission to run the real hare down.


*** Scroll down for video ***


Bad hare day: While the rest of the pack chases the fake hare, third-placed Ginny Lou veers off to chase the real thing


She jumped from the pack and vanished from the field, chasing her prey towards the outside fence.

Racing officials were forced to declare the Finer Fruit Stakes a non-race.

Incredulous bookies had to refund all bets on the race - up to £18,500.

Though ground staff launched a hunt for the pesky intruder, it managed to outwit both them and Ginny Lou and make good its escape.

Ginny's trainer Scott Stefanos said that after the race he didn't know whether to laugh or cry about the incident.





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Caught on camera, the horrifying moment an two-ton elephant charged and nearly killed his terrified keeper

By Mail Foreign Service

Deadly: A CCTV image shows Louie the elephant charging his trainer, Don Redfox, who is already injured on the ground. Mr Redfox barely escaped with his life


This is the terrifying moment an elephant charged its keeper.

Security video shows the trainer, Don Redfox, desperately trying to protect himself as Louie the elephant - who weighs two tons - pinned him in a corner, his tusks narrowly missing the man's head and chest.

The elephant then backs away as Mr Redfox stumbles out.

He has been hospitalized with life-threatening injuries since the attack three weeks ago at an Ohio zoo.


*** Scroll down to see the video ***


Doctors have upgraded his condition and expect him to recover from two punctured lungs and several fractured ribs.

Anne Baker, the zoo's director, said it's not clear why Louie, turned on the keeper.

The elephant and Mr Redfox had been together nearly every day since the animal's birth seven years ago.

It looks as if Louie was startled and then started play-fighting, as elephants do in the wild, Ms Baker said.

Mr Redfox makes it a habit to talk to the animals before he approaches so he doesn't surprise them, Ms Baker said.

She thinks he didn't do it this time because he didn't know Louie was around the corner when he walked into the enclosure carrying a bag of carrots.

'Neither expected the other to be there,' Ms Baker said.


Escape: A wounded Mr Redfox stumbles towards safety as Louie suddenly backs off


They both backed away. Louie flared his ears and moved toward the keeper, pushing toward Mr Redfox before the keeper stepped safely behind a gate and closed it.

But then Mr Redfox returned and tried to move the elephant away with a pole with a hook on the end. That's when the elephant charged, pinning him in the corner and knocking him to his knees.

Louie backed up, dropped to his knees, and then charged again at Mr Redfox, who curled up and tried to shield himself.

After that, the elephant backed away again and Mr Redfox stumbled to safety.
Ms Baker said the elephant could have killed Redfox at any time.

Since he did not, she and another elephant expert who reviewed the video think that Louie was play-fighting.

'The problem is Louie weighs over 4,000 pounds,' she said - about two tons.

Zoo officials have not been able to talk with Mr Redfox, who faces a long recovery, according to his doctors.

Mr Redfox and his family initially fought the video's release - but as the incident made its way into the media, they changed their minds, wanting to show that the animal wasn't mistreated.

The family said it continues to believe that 'releasing the security tape does nothing more than provide an opportunity to sensationalize a tragic accident'.
See the video here



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The cow wash: How an automatic brushing machine can improve milk production

By Daily Mail Reporter

Udderly amazing: A cow closes its eyes and enjoys the brushing sensation created by the new machine


Looking your best can sometimes be hard work. But for this cow, it would appear that having a brush-up is one of life's pleasures.

The animal is enjoying a spell in the cow wash, which, according to its designers DeLaval, is welcome news for farmers as well.

The cow wash boosts milk production by improving the animal's blood circulation and stopping the spread of disease, says the company.

The company has already sold 30,000 cow washes in its native Sweden, and is now bringing the product to the UK.

A spokesman said the cows enjoy the sensation of being brushed and it can boost milk production by 3.5per cent.

He said: 'The swinging cow brush is a self-grooming device that keeps cows happier, healthier and more productive.

'The brush starts to rotate on contact at an animal-friendly speed. It swings freely in all directions, smoothly up, over and alongside the cow.


Moo-ving past: A cow walks forward as the machine rotates, not only cleaning the animal but improving its health as well by improving blood circulation


'The bristles have the right length and hardness to stimulate the blood circulation whilst helping the cow to keep clean and calm.

'It is very popular among dairy farmers. Cows using the swinging cow brush are cleaner, calmer and therefore more balanced.'

A study conducted by scientists in the USA found the brush resulted in better animal health due to an increase in blood circulation.

It also concluded that cows using the machine were 34 per cent less likely to suffer from clinical mastitis - a condition which results in milk abnormalities.

The research team also reported increased milk production of up 3.5 per cent for cows in a pen using the swinging cow brush.



source: dailymail

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