Be pet-safe this summer

Follow our pet-smart tips to help you and your animal friends enjoy the sun safely.

Summer is the perfect time to get out of the house – whether you're planning on going away, taking an extra-long walk to a favourite picnic spot, or just spending the day in the garden. Whatever your plans are this summer, we're sure you'll want your canine companions with you. With that in mind, we've put together some helpful tips to remember when you're out and about with your dog.

"Not long" is too long ...
Nobody ever thinks it’s going to happen to them or their dog, yet every year many people still gamble with their dogs' lives, and every summer dogs still die an agonizing death in hot cars.
     Even on an overcast day, with the window cracked open and a screen over the windshield, your car can get dangerously hot in a matter of minutes. NEVER leave your dog in the car unattended.

     This year, the RSPCA has teamed up with seven other animal welfare charities and the National Police Chief’s Council to warn people of the dangers of leaving dogs in hot cars. Together, they are actioning a campaign, urging supermarkets to ensure the welfare of animals on their premises – especially the car park. To contact your local supermarket and take action for hot dogs, visit the RSPCA's campaign page now.

Ticks are trouble

Summer is tick season, so be on the lookout for these blood-suckers on you and your pets, especially if you've been romping in long grass or woodlands. In particular, check around your dog's eyes, ears, legs and underside.
     Ticks often carry disease, so should be removed as quickly as possible. They also need to 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 its stomach contents, which could lead to infection in you or your pet – yuk!
     Invest in a tick removal tool such as this one, which you simply slide under the tick, twist, and lift gently. The tick should let go of its own accord after a few twists.

     Ticks aren't the only nasties that might be hitching a ride ... remember to keep your dog's flea and worming treatments up-to-date, too.

Wait for walkies
Wondering if it's too hot to go out with your dog? Put the back of your hand on the pavement, and wait. If the heat is too much for you to leave your hand there for thirty seconds, it's too hot for your dog's paws, and could result in pad burns, which can be very painful for your dog.
     Avoid walking your dog at the hottest part of the day – try to stick to early mornings and late evenings when the ground is cooler – which will also help to avoid heatstroke.
     If you find yourself out for the whole day with your dog, stick to shaded areas, and walk on dirt paths or grass. You should also ensure that you've got a good supply of clean, cool water for your dog, and something for them to drink from, to keep them hydrated.

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

These tips are not just for dogs – they can, and should, be applied to all pets, from cats to guinea pigs! And while we're at it, it's not a bad idea to take this advice for yourself, either.
Most importantly, have a fun, safe summer with your pets!

Paws for a Cause: All Dogs Matter

Dog Rescue and Rehoming in and around London & Norfolk.

All Dogs Matter provide care for all dogs in the London and Norfolk areas in need of a home – be they strays, from a pound, or given up by owners who can no longer care for them. There has been an increase in the number of unwanted dogs, and a growing demand for rescue services in the current economic climate. All Dogs Matter aims to pair each dog in its care with the best new owner for them, ensuring they'll be safe, cared for, and loved for the rest of their life.

     The charity's work is done in three stages: first, identifying and taking in the dogs in need of help; second, placing the dogs in foster homes, where they can be assesed, health-checked, microchipped, neutered and vaccinated. Third, the search for a forever home begins.

     ADM's team is made up of passionate dog-lovers. The charity works hard to rescue as many homeless dogs as it can, a feat that would be impossible without its many foster carers, drivers, fundraisers and home-visitors, many of whom are volunteers. If you're interested in giving one of ADM's dogs a forever home, or would like to get involved as a volunteer, visit the website for more information, or call the London office on 020 8341 3196.

Today is #BringYourDogToWorkDay!

Bring Your Dog To Work Day is an annual nationwide event that raises money for charities dedicated to making a difference to the welfare of dogs. Businesses from across the UK have welcomed their dog loving employees into the workplace, along with their loyal four-legged companions, all in the name of charity. It’s the second national event of its kind and is organised by HOWND^®.  All proceeds this year go to dog rescue charity All Dogs Matter, a charity that rehomes hundreds of dogs every year in London and Norfolk.

Hubble and Hattie is proud to be an official sponsor of the event, and is over-the-moon to be taking part. Our resident H&H hound, Immie, is being joined today by Social Media Marketing Assistant Olive the springador, and Admin Assistant Maggie-May the jack russell. It's all-paws on-deck, and we're pleased to report our new recruits are fitting in beautifully, and working hard!

 

You can see all of the day's photos over at the H&H Facebook page in our gallery.

Want to get involved? You can make a direct donation to All Dogs Matter by texting ADMS23 and your gift amount (from as little as £1 upwards) to 70070. Donate online, and for a minimum donation of £2, you can upload a picture of your own working hound to be published in the Bring Your Dog To Work Day ‘Dog with a Job’ Hall of Fame – along with a description of his or her duties for the day, of course! 

You can also share your photos through HOWND's social media using #BringYourDogToWorkDay. 

Have a PAWsome day everyone!

Author Toni Shelbourne Visits Israel

Hubble & Hattie author Toni Shelbourne tells us about her latest TTouch training work ...

Working with animals takes me far and wide, and my recent trip to Israel was a fantastic experience. There is a thirst in forward-thinking Israelis for knowledge to improve their animals lives, and I had over 40 people attend a two-day Tellington TTouch Training Workshop in Kefar Netter, just north of the capital Tel Aviv. In 27 degree heat, under citrus trees on a beautiful farm, we spent the weekend working with the dogs attending the course, and discussing techniques and tools to take back to their clients and animals at home. Boy, can the Israelis ask questions! The result? A flood of messages of successes and Aha! moments; an extremely noise-phobic dog sleeping through fireworks, and a hyperactive puppy calming down, to name but a few.

Recognising dogs, and other animals, as sentient, emotional beings is so important. Approaching behavioural problems by recognising fear and anxiety, and supporting the animal at this level can often be all that is needed to help the behaviour reduce or disappear. The people who attended the course just ‘got it’ and the benefits to their dogs were observable.
On the third day I had the opportunity of working with dogs at a shelter. Some of the people who organised and attended the course came with me, and already they were implementing lessons learnt from the workshop to help the dogs in their care. A tiny puppy was placed in my care, bewildered and with a sore, worm-filled belly. Almost instantly, as I did some TTouch on him, he began to come out of his catatonic state, backing up to me and opening his hind legs so I could work on his abdomen. As his belly softened, so did his face, and he lay down and slept. Later, he was taken home by one of the girls from the course to be fostered, and found his forever home the very next day. A success; a good day.

I will be returning to Israel later in the year. It‘s a country of contradictions, but its people have a good heart and are eager for change. I can’t wait!

Toni's new book Among the wolves – Memoirs of a wolf handler is published later this month.

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!