Many Tears Animal Rescue – Homing dogs across the UK

Many Tears Animal Rescue is the third of our featured charities in honour of National Pet Month.

Many Tears Animal Rescue is a small rescue centre based in South Wales, but has dogs in foster homes across the UK. Primarily the centre takes in and re-homes ex-breeding dogs and those whose owners are no longer able to keep them.

The rescue was founded by Sylvia Van Atta, after her work with the Humane Society in the United States left her determined to introduce no-kill policies to shelters, and to help every dog or cat that crossed her path find a loving forever home. The Rescue's name comes from the many tears Sylvia has shed for those animals she was unable to save, and is dedicated to their memory.

As well as Many Tears in the UK, Sylvia has founded Brook Cottage Animal Rescue and Last Chance Animal Rescue in Edenbridge, Kent. She also helped build Elait Loves Animals, a rescue centre in Israel, as well as running Harmony Rescue in Tucson, Arizona.

Sylvia and her team of volunteers have helped find suitable, loving homes for a great many dogs and cats, many of whom are especially vulnerable, insecure, or have been mistreated in the past.

For more information, visit the website: www.manytearsrescue.com

Thanks to Sam Bowman for suggesting this charity, and for sending us this lovely picture of her puppy, Ollie (left), who she adopted from Many Tears.
Congratulations on your prize copy of My Dog, my Friend!
Please keep your suggestions coming ...

Competition time with H&H and National Pet Month

In honour of National Pet Month, we're giving away a copy of our fab book, My Dog, my Friend, every week for the next five weeks! To be in with a chance of winning, simply email us atinfo@hubbleandhattie.com with your favourite animal-related charity, and each week we'll pick our favourite to feature on the Hubble & Hattie blog and Facebook page! If we feature your charity, you're a winner! Remember, the theme is pets and the elderly, so we're especially keen to hear about charities which enlist the help of animals to aid the elderly, or those that help older animals. Good luck!

My Dog, my Friend at Aye Write – Glasgow’s book festival

Left to right: Journalist Melanie Reid, thriller writer Helen FitzGerald, book compiler Jacki Gordon, William McIlvanney and comedian Fred MacAulay.

There was laughter in the aisles as 200 or so attended an event on My Dog, my Friend – Heart-warming tales of canine companionship from celebrities and other extraordinary people at Aye Write – Glasgow’s book festival. Jacki Gordon who compiled the book was joined on stage by four of the illustrious contributors who read their extracts, talked about why they became involved, and shared tales and anecdotes testifying to the joy that dogs bring to our lives. Jacki’s gorgeous hound, Looka, had heard it all before and added to the fun-filled atmosphere by barking loudly during one of the readings. Jacki fears that all the publicity that this book has been getting (including the photocall for a national newspaper just before they went on) has gone to Looka’s beautiful head and that she may be turning into a bit of a diva.

Perhaps that is a small price to pay though – not only are all the book’s royalties going to Samaritans, but also the audience showed their appreciation by generously cramming their coins and notes into the Samaritans collection cans at the end.

A great event, rounded off with long queues at the book-signing table.

Tweets from Aye Write ...

Panel at Me & My Dog fantastic but the real stars are the pooches @fredmacaulay @FitzHelen pic.twitter.com/2vw8RWwtlf

— Aye Write! (@AyeWrite) April 19, 2015

A hall full of dog lovers and a few doggies share stories at #ayewrite pic.twitter.com/r1mKYr97qb

— Aye Write! (@AyeWrite) April 19, 2015

The Cinnamon Trust – The National Charity for the elderly, the terminally ill and their pets.

The Cinnamon Trust is the second of our featured charities in honour of National Pet Month.

The Cinnamon Trust is the only specialist national charity for people in their last years and their much loved, much needed companion animals.

A network of 15,000 volunteers “hold hands” with owners to provide vital loving care for their pets. The Trust keeps them together - for example, they will walk a dog every day for a housebound owner, foster pets when owners need hospital care, fetch the cat food, or even clean out the bird cage, etc.

When staying at home is no longer an option, the Cinnamon Trust's Pet Friendly Care Home Register lists care homes and retirement housing happy to accept residents with pets, and providing previous arrangements have been made with them will take on life time care of a bereaved pet.

The Cinnamon Trust – Peace of mind for owners, love, care and safety for beloved pets. But helping 32,142 people a year with 41,342 animals and running two home from home sanctuaries costs – needs your help. For more information, visit the website: http://www.cinnamon.org.uk

Thanks to Dorothy Calderwood for suggesting this great charity. Congratulations on your prize copy of My Dog, my Friend! Please keep your suggestions coming ...

Competition time with H&H and National Pet Month

In honour of National Pet Month, we're giving away a copy of our fab book, My Dog, my Friend, every week for the next five weeks! To be in with a chance of winning, simply email us at info@hubbleandhattie.com with your favourite animal-related charity, and each week we'll pick our favourite to feature on the Hubble & Hattie blog and Facebook page! If we feature your charity, you're a winner! Remember, the theme is pets and the elderly, so we're especially keen to hear about charities which enlist the help of animals to aid the elderly, or those that help older animals. Good luck!

Puppy fun with Mopsie!

Thanks to Gill Garratt, the author of Your dog and you, for sending us some pictures of her new puppy! We are very pleased to hear Mopsie is settling in well.

First time in the garden.

Mopsie has to be carried until she has had her second round of vaccinations.

First time at home.

Mopsie's mum, Sky.

Gill's daughter & son (John) told her on Mother's Day that they thought she should have another dog. One week later Gill collected Mopsie from a working farm. John says he won't return to Australia now they have Mopsie!

Cora studying Your dog and you.

Famous dog quotes

A collection of some the recent dog quotes from the Hubble & Hattie Facebook page, enjoy ...

Give a Dog a Bone ... and an animal a home

Give a Dog a Bone is the first of our featured charities this month in honour of National Pet Month.

A newly registered charity – supporting rescue animals to find homes AND providing financial support to the 60+ age group to afford a rescue pet.

Give a Dog a Bone's aim is to tackle the rising number of animals in shelter, and loneliness in old age, by bringing the two groups together.

The charity wants to remove financial barriers to the over 60s having a rescue pet companion – thus providing company for the person, and a home for the animal!

For those who need financial support, Give a Dog a Bone can pay the rehoming fee and/or continue to support with the ongoing monthly cost of pet food!

Give a Dog a Bone also support animal rescue operations to find homes for their animals. This may, or may not, be with the 60+ age group, however, financial support is ONLY available to those over 60.

Since November 2013 Give a Dog a Bone have:

- found homes for 20+ cats and dogs
- supported Seniors each month with the cost of their pet food
- provided foster homes for animals without a permanent home
- arranged volunteer dog walking for older people recovering from operations
- found homes for animals whose older companions were too ill to look after them.

For more information, visit the website: http://www.giveadogabone.net

Thanks to Nicki Hughes for suggesting this great charity. Congratulations on your prize copy of My Dog, my Friend! Please keep your suggestions coming ...

Competition time with H&H and National Pet Month

In honour of National Pet Month, we're giving away a copy of our fab book, My Dog, my Friend, every week for the next five weeks! To be in with a chance of winning, simply email us at info@hubbleandhattie.com with your favourite animal-related charity, and each week we'll pick our favourite to feature on the Hubble & Hattie blog and Facebook page! If we feature your charity, you're a winner! Remember, the theme is pets and the elderly, so we're especially keen to hear about charities which enlist the help of animals to aid the elderly, or those that help older animals. Good luck!

Aye Write 2015

This year's Glasgow's Book Festival has a Hubble & Hattie flavour!

What do William McIllvanney (godfather of Tartan Noir), Fred MacAulay (one of Scotland’s best known comedians), Melanie Reid (award-winning journalist) and Helen FitzGerald (writer of glorious black comedy) have in common? They're all contributors to our amazing book, My Dog, my Friend: heart-warming tales of canine companionship from celebrities and other extraordinary people, and they're all going to be reading extracts from the pieces they wrote for the book during this year's Aye Write festival! The event will be chaired by the book's compiler, Jacki Gordon, and will take place at 1.30, 19th April at the Mitchell Library.

It's a great chance to hear some well-loved personalities speaking about their love of dogs, and to gain insight into their 'back stories' – how they came to contribute to the book. For more information about this and other events, head over to the Aye Write webpage!

Meeting and greeting

Hubble & Hattie author Gill Garratt is out and about meeting some interesting people!

Our great new book, Your dog and you ... Understanding the canine psyche, is due out near the end of the month, and the book's author, Gill Garratt has been tirelessly promoting it – and having fun at the same time! Check out this great photo of her enjoying an evening with the charming Gyles Brandreth – who was very interested in the book, and another of her and author (and dog-lover!), Patrick Gale! Fantastic, Gill!

Your dog and you will be available near the end of the month. For more info check out the Hubble & Hattie website!

It's National Pet Month! Celebrate your pets this April!

National Pet Month is a chance for pet lovers across the UK to come together and celebrate life with their pets. Not only that, but it's a fantastic opportunity to remind ourselves of how important it is to look after our pets responsibly, and to support the work of the many pet charities across the UK who work tirelessly for injured, ill and homeless pets. There are loads of really simple ways to get involved and show your support. Check out the NPM website for some fundraising ideas, and to check if there are any events happening near you! You can also get involved via social media by liking the National Pet Month Facebook Page. For dog lovers, there's also Park Bench Facebook page, and Scratching Post for cat fans! You can also connect through Twitter – remember to use #NationalPetMonth hashtag when tweeting about your events or experiences!

This year's theme is one very close to our hearts, pets and the elderly. Animals bring so much joy and support to the lives of older people; they provide comfort, companionship and mental and physical stimulation to many people who might struggle to find it otherwise. Charities, such as Pets as Therapy, make a big difference to the lives of nursing home residents by bringing animals to visit. And don't forget our older animal friends, whose needs may change as they become seniors. Hubble & Hattie's range of care books, such as My Cat has Arthritis, My dog has arthritis and My dog is blind focuses specifically on caring for pets with age-onset conditions, and aim to help owners understand the needs of their animal friends, and ensure a happy and comfortable retirement for your pets. Visit the Hubble & Hattie site for more info.

This month is also a good time to raise awareness of older animals in rehoming centres who may be overlooked because of their age. Charities such as the Oldies Club work to ensure seniors find loving forever homes to spend their retirement years in. H&H's own Liz recently adopted an Oldie of her own, Maggie May, and the two of them have never been happier!

Competition time with H&H and National Pet Month

In honour of National Pet Month, we're giving away a copy of our fab book, My Dog, my Friend, every week for the next five weeks! To be in with a chance of winning, simply email us at info@hubbleandhattie.com with your favourite animal-related charity, and each week we'll pick our favourite to feature on the Hubble & Hattie blog and Facebook page! If we feature your charity, you're a winner! Remember, the theme is pets and the elderly, so we're especially keen to hear about charities which enlist the help of animals to aid the elderly, or those that help older animals. Good luck!

Animals and wellbeing – part three

Over the last few months we’ve looked at the various benefits our interactions with the animal world have on our general wellbeing. This month, we're turning the tables and looking at how we can be of benefit to our animal's wellbeing ...

We’ve proven that our animal friends do us the world of good. It only seems fair, then, that we do everything in our power to return the favour – and that includes making them the priority for a little while each day. It’s easy to take our pets for granted, especially when there are other things going on in our lives to occupy our time and attention. With work deadlines, money issues and other day-to-day worries vying for our attention, a game of fetch in the garden may end up being bottom of our to-do list. But perhaps it shouldn’t be. After all, a break from all of those worries won’t just benefit your dog … it’ll benefit you, too!

There are lots of ways to enrich our pet’s life, and they’re not too far removed from our regular routine. For instance, instead of your normal walkies route, try taking your dog somewhere new. Take your time, allow your dog time to sniff all the things you’d normally encourage them to pass unsniffed. These scent walks provide vital mental stimulation in your dog, as well as encourage natural behaviours. This valuable time will give you an insight into your dog’s behaviour – what makes him tick, what he enjoys – and will certainly strengthen the bond between you. 

If you’re a cat owner, it’s time to take a look at your home. Cats naturally like to be up high, and ensuring your home is filled with lots of tall, safe, cat-accessible vantage points will make your cat feel at ease. It also gives her a space of her own, away from other pets, children (and even adults!) who might be giving them unwanted attention.

If you’ve got multiple cats, make sure they have separate feeding stations and litter boxes. Sharing these commodities can cause your cats  needless stress, so ensuring they have their own space is vital for their wellbeing.

Regardless of what kind of pet you have, it’s important to set aside time each day to just be together, having fun. Our pets rely on us for food, warmth and comfort, but this in itself is not enough. They also rely on us to play with them, to entertain them, and to love them. We’ve already seen the benefits that interaction with animals can give us, and the same is true for the animals we interact with. Playing fetch, bouncing a cat-teaser, time in a hamster ball or out in a rabbit run ensures our pets are active – physically and mentally – and, most importantly, enjoying their lives with us. After all, we chose to have these animals in our lives, and the least we can do is ensure they get to enjoy the simple pleasure of doing something together, with us, each and every day.

Animals do so much for us. Their antics entertain us, they comfort us when we need them to, and they keep us safe. Their very presence is uplifting, and they help keep our minds and our bodies active throughout our lives. It’s easy to forget, but they do all of this without being asked, and with no expectation of a reward. Put simply, they love us unconditionally.

We can learn a lot from our animal friends, and we can start by applying their own philosophy to the way we treat them. By paying attention to their needs, their wants and their natural behaviours, we can enrich their lives, make each day fun, and do a lot for their mental and physical wellbeing. It’s the very least we can do.