Paws for a cause – Peace by Piece

Peace by Piece is Animals Asia’s new landmark campaign to help rescue and rehabilitate over 130 moon bears in Nanning, China. These bears have been kept in horrendous conditions – many trapped in tiny cages from birth – and farmed for their bile.

Animals Asia is taking over custody and care of the bears, leasing the land and facilities. This will be the largest rescue of its kind in the world – a remarkable project to turn the old bear farm into a home for these amazing animals. Not only that, the site will also house a sanctuary and education centre. By uniquely working with the Chinese government, Animals Asia will also ensure that this new sanctuary will provide meaningful jobs to the nine existing farm workers, who are being retrained to become skilled bear carers at this new groundbreaking sanctuary. So, this isn't just a bear rescue, it's a landmark initiative to help change the hearts and minds of other farmers in the region.

The farm will be transformed into an amazing sanctuary, with cosy dens where the resident bears can
sleep at night in hanging-basket beds, and retreat for shade and rest during the day; pools to play and relax in; a special indoor/outdoor cub area with climbing structures to keep them happy and active, and a play area with ever-changing enrichment toys to challenge the cubs and keep their intelligent minds stimulated. Additionally, there will be an onsite veterinary clinic, bear kitchen (where the bear's healthy meals of chopped fresh vegetables, grains, dog food and fruit are prepared), and an accommodation and training centre for our onsite vet and bear care team, including the retrained farm workers.

The project has had a lot of attention from celebrities, including Dame Judi Dench and Olivia Newton
John. Even the cast of Downton Abbey is helping to spread the word!

 

This inspiring, groundbreaking project hopes not only to give the 130 bears of the Nanning farm better lives, but through education and rehabilitation, raise awareness of this amazing animal in surrounding communities, with the aim of preventing the needless cruelty that many of China's bears still endure.

To find out how you can help, or to learn more about the project, visit the Peace by Piece website.

Have a pet-safe summer!

Summer is a great time to get out and about, whether it be a two-week camping trip, a long walk in your local area, or even just a day spent playing in the garden! Whatever you're up to this summer, we're sure your faithful furry friends will want to be at your side, so with that in mind, make sure to follow our helpful tips to ensure your pets are summer-safe.

Dogs die in hot cars

Even with the window down or a screen over the windshield, a car can get dangerously hot very quickly, so NEVER leave a dog in the car unattended. Dogs regulate their body temperature by panting, and in a stuffy, hot car, it's not possible for them to cool down, leading to heatstroke and even death.
To see just how hot a car can get, check out this incredible video of a vet experiencing what it's like for a dog trapped in a car:

If you're taking a trip, make sure that where you're going is dog-friendly before setting out to ensure your dog can accompany you.
For more advice on what to do if your dog suffers from heatstroke, or if you see a dog locked in a car on a hot day, visit the RSPCA's dedicated site by clicking here.

The trick to ticks
It's tick season, so be on the lookout for these bloodsuckers on yourself and your pets, particularly if you've been out walking in long grass or wooded areas. Check around the eyes, ears, legs and underside in particular. Ticks should be removed as soon as possible to avoid the spread of disease, and they must be removed properly to prevent any part of the tick remaining in your pet, and to avoid stress to the tick itself. A stressed tick can regurgitate the contents of its stomach, heightening the risk of infection in you or your pet!
Invest in a tick removal tool like this, which you simply slide under the tick, twist and lift gently. The tick should let go of its own accord after a few twists.

 Sticks and stones ... 
What dog doesn't love to play fetch when you're out and about? It's great fun ... but make sure you're playing with safe toys and not sticks or pebbles. Sticks can shatter and get lodged in your dog's throat, and stones and pebbles can chip their teeth and block their windpipe if accidentally swallowed. Instead, why not take your dog's favourite frisbee, a tennis ball, or even a Kong Safestix, which are not only safe, but float, too, for seaside fun!

Don't forget your suncream!

Pets can get sunburnt just as easily as we can! Ask your vet about pet-safe suncream, particularly if your pet has light colouring. Pink noses and white ears are especially susceptible, so take care to keep them covered!

Finally, always make sure your pets have access to fresh, clean water, and cool, shaded areas if the heat gets too much. When you're out and about with your dog, make sure you take a bottle of water and something for your dog to drink from, and avoid going out at the hottest part of the day.

Most importantly, have a fun, safe summer with your pets!

Competition time with Kong!

Email your answer and your name to us at prize@hubbleandhattie.com. We'll announce the lucky winners in next month's Animal Magic. Good luck!

You can view the full range of Kong toys on the website, and remember to like the Facebook page for all the latest news, photos and competitions!