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.

Animals and wellbeing – part two

Us pet owners are a lucky bunch – as we've already discovered, our pets have a tremendous impact on our general wellbeing. From getting us out of the house for a spot of exercise, to making us feel better when we’re down, our pets definitely have the ability to enrich our lives.

Over the next few months we’re going to take a look at the various benefits our interactions with the animal world have on our general wellbeing. This month, the focus is on animals and our physical health.

Animals and physical wellbeing

Let’s face it – if given the option to either go out for a brisk, healthy walk, or stay in and snuggle up on the sofa, many of us would choose the sofa. Thank goodness, then, for our dogs! Their get-up-and-go ensures couch-potatoes everywhere are up, out and active at least twice a day. 

Walking the dog has obvious health benefits. Even a short walk means you’re burning calories, keeping your heart healthy and your muscles active.

But why stop there? Our dogs' boundless joy at being out and about with you makes them the perfect personal trainers if you’re looking to start a new fitness regime! As this article from The Bark explains, exercising with your dog offers companionship and motivation that can help us stick to our plan with more success than if we were attempting it alone. For a start, your dog won’t accept "It’s raining so I won’t go jogging today," as an excuse!

Walking our dogs has obvious health benefits, but there’s good news for cat owners, too! Anyone whose had a purring cat curl up in their lap will know it’s a calming and comforting sound, but did you know it’s also good for you? The frequency of a cat’s purr can actually help lower blood pressure and alleviate stress, which in turn reduces the risk of heart disease and stroke! In fact, cat owners are 40% less likely to suffer a heart attack than those who don't own one.

Our pets are also great for our children’s health. Kids who grow up with pets in the home are less likely to develop allergies, and will have a stronger immune system than those who don’t. Children who grow up with cats are also less likely to develop asthma as they grow older (providing their parents don’t already suffer with it, or have a cat allergy). 

Our pets can help reduce health risks and keep us healthy, but they can also keep us safe. Assistance dogs change people’s lives for the better, allowing freedom, independence and mobility.

Seizure dogs can be trained to alert others to someone having a seizure, or lay with the sufferer to keep them safe while a seizure occurs. There is ongoing research into the incredible ability of some dogs who can ‘predict’ when a person is going to have a seizure and alert them, giving them time to get somewhere safe.

Animals have the incredible ability to lift our spirits, and this in itself is a key benefit to our physical wellbeing. As explored in the book, Partners – Everyday working dogs being heroes every day, a hospital visit from a therapy dog, like Hoop, the Golden Retriever, can make a big difference to those in pain, or undergoing rehabilitation after an accident:

“In a rehab situation Hoop truly became a very unique therapeutic tool. Standing up more because they weren’t afraid of losing their balance, Hoop helped patients work longer and harder. Making their therapy fun while at the same time challenging them to do just a little more brightened their day without causing the usual anxiety or fear.” (p134)

We know that the animals in our lives can have amazing benefits on our mental health, and it turns out this is also true for our physical wellbeing. From getting us out of the house on a normal day to helping us re-learn to walk after an accident, animals remind us that we’re not alone. They’ll be there to encourage us and keep us safe. In short, they’ve got our back, rain or shine. All that’s left for us to do is make sure we do the same for them in return …

Friends in high places ...

 Nick Clegg was in for a wonderful treat when he met My Dog, my Friend contributor Marion Janner and her support dog, Buddy, at a recent event for mental health. The Lib Dem leader was giving a speech about potential improvements to mental health services, and asked for a private meeting with Marion and Buddy afterwards! He picked the right pair to chat to – Marion runs Star Wards, which helps mental health wards provide actively therapeutic care for in-patients, and Buddy is her wonderful Tibetan Terrier who brings comfort and support to Marion on a daily basis.

You can read more about Marion and Buddy's important work in My Dog, my Friend, and over at the Star Wards website.

Are you ready for Ruffs?

 

Is your dog the happiest hound around? Have you transformed the life of a rescue dog? Then enter your dog in Ruffs, the RSPCA's alternative dog show!

Born out of frustration with beauty pageant-style dog shows such as Crufts, which judge dogs on the basis of their looks, even when it’s those very looks that can cause them to suffer unnecessarily, Ruffs welcomes all canines – from Golden Oldies to the Perfectly imperfect. This dog show with a difference celebrates dogs for the right reasons – their health, happiness, and welfare.

This year's categories are:

Happiest Hound – Send us pictures of your dog's happiest, smiliest or most contented face.
Perfectly imperfect – Especially for ‘wonky’ dogs who will never be ‘perfect’ according to  arbitrary ‘breed standards,’ but who are perfect in your eyes
Best transformation – Send in before and after pictures of your rescued pooch The RSPCA is after examples of the most heart-warming transformations which demonstrate that ‘rescued’ is the best breed!
Best rescued ex-breeder – Let’s not forget about the many dogs discarded when they’re no longer producing puppies. Send in pictures of your ex-breeders finally enjoying a slice of the good life.
Best RSPCA rescue dog – Was your dog adopted from the RSPCA? Send in your pictures and their stories.
Golden Oldies – For older ladies and gentlemen over eight years old. Send in pictures of your dogs enjoying their retirement!

The deadline for entries is 20th February 2015. For more information, and to find out how to enter, visit the RSPCA's Ruffs website, and keep up to date with news by following #Ruffs on Twitter. Good luck to you and your happy, healthy hounds!
 

Win a month's supply of Pure Pet Food!

We've teamed up with the nice people at Pure Pet Food for our February competition!

Fancy winning this lovely 2kg box of Pure Pet Food Chicken Dinner?* Simply email us letting us know what you like most about owning a dog, at prize@hubbleandhattie.com to be in with a chance of winning. We'll announce the lucky winner on our Facebook page at the end of the month!

Pure have developed an innovative range of dehydrated dog food. The big difference with Pure is that they prepare all of their meals by gently air drying the recipes. Although a much longer process than producing a dry biscuit or wet tinned food, they believe it’s time well spent and the only option to do their ingredients justice.

Dehydration removes the moisture from their natural and human grade food, locking in the nutrients and goodness, whilst preserving them. All owners have to do is simply add warm water, which allows the food to rehydrate before serving, providing a convenient, low processed meal with the nutritional benefit of home cooking or raw feeding.

For more information about Pure Pet Food, simply click here.

*One lucky winner (selected at random) will win a Pure Pet Food Chicken Dinner in a 2kg box of food (rehydrates to 8kg). More information here about the prize. Competition closes 28/2/2015.
This competition is in no way sponsored, endorsed or administered by, or associated with, Facebook.

Animals and wellbeing – part one

 

Hands up, pet owners – how many of you think that your furry friend has a positive impact on your life...?
I’d be surprised if there weren’t a whole bunch of people staring at their screens with their hands in the air right now. Because it’s true – from getting us out of the house for a bit of exercise, to making us feel better when we’re down, our pets definitely have the ability to enrich our lives and improve our wellbeing.

Over the next few months we’re going to take a look at the various benefits our interactions with the animal world have on our general wellbeing. This month, the focus is on animals and our mental health.

Animals and mental wellbeing 

If you’ve ever felt low or upset, and then had a cat come and sit on your lap and purr, or a dog rest his head on your leg for you to scratch his ears, you probably already know the amazing effect that animals can have on our mood. Their very presence offers comfort, and they always seem to know when we need them most – even before we do!

There are hundreds of ways animals help our mental wellbeing day-to-day. My husband and I are constantly talking about our two cats: watching them, playing with them, and laughing at their antics. After a hard or tiring day at work, I know I'll walk through my front door to find James Cat rolling around waiting for me, with Leonard not far away (often in my husband's lap!) Five minutes talking to, cuddling, and playing with them is enough to have me wondering what I was so grumpy about. Their upbeat attitude is infectious.

Organisations such as Pets as Therapy have been telling us this since the early eighties. Through visits to hospitals, hospices, nursing and care homes, and special needs schools, the charity's volunteers and their pets have helped many people to feel better about themselves, and the world around them.

For the elderly, the presence of an animal can help them feel less isolated, and keep them active, both mentally and physically, and offers a sense of security and companionship. This article describes the ways in which therapy animals can help people with dementia, indicating that they recognize an animal in the environment as friendly and non-threatening. When they have a pet with them, studies show they display more interactive behaviour – animals bring us out of ourselves. 

This is also true of people living with mental illness. The State Hospital in Scotland has many animals on-site for inpatients to visit, work with and care for, as well as regular visits from therapy assistance animals. It released a very insightful article about the benefits this has had on residents.

Aileen Galt, a rehabilitation Instructor at the centre, says “Bonding with animals is often much easier than getting people to like and trust you, so animals-as-therapy is a great first step in the rehabilitation process.”

The sense of trust, friendship and responsibility that people gain from interactions with animals is invaluable – perhaps even life-saving. Marion Janner, Director of Star Wards and contributor to My Dog, my Friend, is in no doubt about the benefits that her dog, Buddy, has had on her life. If feeling overwhelmed when out and about (in Buddy's words) “Marion … loves loves loves me and wouldn't put me in danger. So she somehow manages to stagger on and get me across streets and back home nice and safely.” (p27, My Dog, my Friend)

Buddy's presence is a comfort and a safeguard: Marion's love for her friend keeps them both safe, and allows Marion the freedom to lead her life, knowing that she has Buddy supportively trotting along beside her.

They cheer us up, they bring us out of ourselves, they keep us calm and give us a reason to carry on. They make us feel normal, safe and loved, and they do it all with a simple wag of the tail, an understanding gaze, and a gentle nuzzle. Yes, animals are an incredible asset to our mental wellbeing, because they're always there for us, and always will be. And there's great comfort in that thought.