Halloween is upon us! ~ Black Dogs , Ghost Dogs ~ Two personal experiences of dog ghosts

As Halloween is almost here, I thought that I would write something about ghost dogs.

But first, one of my own experiences of dog ghosts. This is a true story.

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There is a quiet country lane close to where I live (NW Leicestershire, UK). Sometimes I walk along it with my dogs.

A few years ago I was walking down it, when I heard a dog whimpering and crying in distress. The noise was coming from the far side of the hedge bordering the road. My two dogs were silent and alert, and were staring at the part of the hedge where the crying was coming from. I stopped walking and the whimpering ceased, but my dogs were still staring at the same place. As I couldn't get access at that point, I walked further on to a gate, and was able to gain access to the field behind the hedge. THERE WAS NOTHING THERE!!! No dogs, no other animals, no people - just an empty field. It was a clear bright autumn day. As you can imagine, I felt it was a very weird experience, especially as both of my dogs were aware of something being there!

We finished our walk in peace, but I was puzzled and unsettled by the incident. So, a couple of days later, we walked along the lane again at the same time as before. EXACTLY THE SAME THING HAPPENED AGAIN AT THE SAME PLACE! The whimpering was loud and clear, and ,again, there was nothing there! My two dogs were alert and silent, just as before. This time I felt a chill run down my spine. I started to wonder if ghost dogs existed!

I repeated the exercise the following day and the same thing happened yet again. After that the phenomenon ceased, and did not repeat itself until a year later. It was at the same time of day (mid-morning) in early autumn (fall). It was a fine day as before, and there were no other people, dogs, or other animals around.

I went along there every day at the same time and had the exact same experience. But after a few days it stopped again - and was not repeated until the following year at the same time and place. This happened to me for 4 years running before stopping completely. I've never heard it again.

I've thought about it a lot and only ever discussed it with my wife.

It is a long, straight and narrow country lane. Cars do sometimes drive very fast along it. I'm wondering if a dog was killed there. I guess that I should have asked my neighbours at the time, but I left it.

A friend of mine has told me that ghosts appear to have a "lifetime". That is, the reported phenomena starts, continues for some years, and then ceases! That is what happened with my dog ghost. And it is a true story.

As it is nearly Halloween I will tell you another true story further down the page.

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Lets get back to Black Dogs and Ghost Dogs

Black Dogs occur in folk lore all over Britain. Black dogs are also reported all over Latin America.
In America there are stories of Snarly Yow. See : Ghosts and Legends of Frederick County by Timothy L. Cannon and Nancy F. Whitmore.

It is a night time apparation and is considered to be a portent of death. It is said to be larger than a normal dog and possess glowing eyes.
Whitby (in England) has a very famous Black Dog. Whitby is also the setting for Bram Stoker's Dracula!

In Britain various names are given to Black Dogs depending on locality, e.g. Barguest, Shuck, Black Shag, Trash, Skriker, Padfoot, Hooter,etc. There is list below :

• Devon : Yell Hound or Yell Hound
  
• East Anglia : Old Shock, Shucky Dog, Black Shuck, the Shug Monster
• Lancashire : Trash, Guytrash, Skriker
• Leicestershire : Shag Dog
• Lincolnshire : Hairy Jack
• Midlands :  Hooter
• Norfolk : Shuck, Black Shuck, Old Shuck
• Somerset : Gurt Dog or ‘great dog’
• Staffordshire : Padfoot 
• Suffolk : Scarfe, Gally-trot, Gallytrot, Galley Trot, Moddey Dhoe
• Warwickshire :  Hooter
• Westmorland : Cappel
• Wales :  Gwyllgi (dog of darkness)Yorkshire : Barghest, Barghaist, Barguest, Barguest, Barn-ghaist, Skriker
• Scotland : Black dog known as the Muckle Black Tyke and in Gaelic as Choin Dubh. Cu Sith or fairy dog is more common and is usually green or sometimes white.
• Isle of Man : Moddey Dhoo, which means "Black Dog" and is pronounced "Mauther Thoo" in Manx Gaelic 
• Jersey :  Le Tchan de Bouôlé

Black Dogs can appear in specific types of places:

• roads
• crossroads
• lanes
• footpath
• bridges
• gateways
• doorways
• staircases
• boundaries
• fields
• hedges
• green lanes
• treasure sites
• wayside burials
• graves and gallows
• wells and trees

Black dogs have a long history. The first English account of a black dog appears in the ‘Anglo-Saxon Chronicle' of 1127.

" Let no-one be surprised at the truth of what we are about to relate, for it was common knowledge throughout the whole country that immeddaitely after his arrival [Abbot Henry of Poitou at Abbey of Peterborough] - it was the Sunday when they sing Exurge Quare o, D - many men both saw and heard a great number of huntsmen hunting. The huntsmen were black, huge and hideous, and rode on black horses and on black he-goats and their hounds were jet black with eyes like saucers and horrible. This was seen in the very deer park of the town of Peterborough and in all the woods that stretch from that same town to Stamford, and in the night the monks heard them sounding and winding their horns. Relaible witnesses who kept watch in the night declared that there might well have been as many as twenty or thirty of them winding their horns as near they could tell. This was seen and heard from the time of his arrival all through Lent and right up to Easter."

That's just a taster for you!

Below are a couple of interesting books that you might like to read.

EXPLORE PHANTOM BLACK DOGS
edited by Bob Trubshaw
The folklore of phantom black dogs is known throughout the British Isles. From the Black Shuck of East Anglia to the Moody Dhoo of the Isle of Man there are tales of huge spectral hounds 'darker than the night sky' with eyes 'glowing red as burning coals'.
The phantom black dog of British and Irish folklore, which often forewarns of death, is part of a world-wide belief that dogs are sensitive to spirits and the approach of death, and keep watch over the dead and dying. North European and Scandinavian myths dating back to the Iron Age depict dogs as corpse eaters and the guardians of the roads to Hell. Medieval folklore includes a variety of 'Devil dogs' and spectral hounds. Above all, the way people have thought about such ghostly creatures has steadily evolved.
In the last hundred years East Anglia and Dorset have received the greatest attention from folklorists interested in such canine apparitions. This book includes a detailed study of the lore in Norfolk, showing how oral tales become interwoven with published accounts and the heritage of historic places.
But are phantom black dogs nothing more than myths and tales? There is also an assessment of the psychology of phantom black dog sightings. Another chapter quotes emails from various people in America and Canada who have been terrified by phantom black dogs without any prior awareness of such folklore.
The concluding part of this book is a comprehensive annotated bibliography of phantom black dog literature, including listings by geographical area.
This book will appeal to all those interested in folklore, the paranormal and fortean phenomena.
Contributors: Jeremy Harte, Simon Sherwood, Alby Stone, Bob Trubshaw and Jennifer Westwood.

'9/10'

Paul Sieveking Fortean Times

'I think this must be the best entry in the Explore series I have seen so far... '
Aeronwy Dafies Monomyth Supplement

'... a very important contribution to the literature... highly recommended.'
Andrew Bates Silver Wheel

'This is an excellent work and is very highly recommended.'
Michael Howard The Cauldron

Published by Explore Books, an imprint of Heart of Albion Press.
ISBN 978 1872 883 786. 2005.
demy 8vo (215 x 138 mm), 152 + viii pages, 10 b&w half-tones, paperback
£12.95

Synopsis and reviews courtesy of Explore Books

and have a look at this:

Black Shuck: The Ghost Dog of Eastern England

The following refernce is very interesting to read. The link will take you to the University of Wisconsin Madinson Library, which is a safe site to visit.
Chambers, R. (Ed.) (1879). Spectre Dogs. In, The Book of Days Vol. 2 (pp. 433-436). Philadelphia, PA: J. P. Lippincott & Co.


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And now to my other personal experience of a ghost dog. This is also a true story.


It happened at the animal shelter where I worked. We had a small intake block which sometimes had an odd feel about it. Some of the kennel girls said that they sometimes felt that something was there which they couldn't see.
There was a central corridor with individual kennels either side. I'd walked to the door at one end. Suddenly all the dogs fell silent, and I heard claws tapping down the corridor and which stopped just behind me. I thought that one of the dogs had got free, but when I looked around all I saw was an empty corridor with all the kennel doors shut. Every dog was saniding at its door staring at the space behind me. The hairs on my neck really did stand up!
Well whatever it was, it only happened to me the one time (thankfully).

That's my two personal experiences of ghost dogs plus some info about Black Dogs.

It will be a full moon on November 2nd (UK) so watch out for werewolves!

  

Happy Halloween!

Dogs and Fireworks ~ Firework Phobia ~ What You Can Do

Fear of fireworks - tips on how to help your dog.

It will soon be Halloween, Guy Fawkes Night, Diwali, then Christmas and New
Year. Not forgetting private parties! So fireworks galore!

I like fireworks - unfortunately many dogs don't!

One of my greyhounds isn't bothered, but the other is frightened of them (and other loud noises). The dogs always come first.

One year we had fireworks going off very close to our house. They started very early and we were caught unawares. They lasted until quite late. Olive was fine, but poor Boris was terrified. He curled up in his bed and SHOOK with fear.
I gave him Bach Rescue Remedy which helped him. He stopped shaking and his heart became quieter. We also had the TV on quite loud to drown out the noise.
He refused to eat until very late (well after the fireworks had finished).

The majority of dogs are frightened, and some are absolutely terrified by fireworks.
Dogs hearing is much more sensitive than ours, so the problem is magnified.
They are also very aware of preparations, so watch your dogs closely for signs of stress (see further down for a list)
Dogs and fireworks should be on different planets!

You can help your dog with Firework phobia and other loud noise fears.
This can be done with desensitisation and management methods.

So what can we do?

• Walk your dog before the fireworks start - do not take them out after they have started - your dog needs to be settled in advance. Please don't take them to a display - this will only make things worse. Make sure that he empties himself.
  
• Feed your dog early, but don't worry if food is refused.
• Make a secure, safe place for your dog. This can be done by placing his bed behind a sofa. Being in a quiet, dark corner with familiar things is very comforting to a dog.
• Make sure he cannot escape from the house. Be vigilant and careful with doors. Dogs think that the explosions are inside the house and will want to get outside to escape them! Keep his collar on with home details attached, just in case! Don't let him out on his own.
  
• Close windows doors, curtains. This will reduce noise levels and mask flashes. Play music. Classical music has been shown to have a calming effect. Or put the TV on loud.
  
• Do NOT reward your dog - No treats, reassurance, or petting! It will reassure your pet if you ignore the noises.
• Distraction. Play with your dog. This can be a good distraction. It can also help if there is a non-fearful companion animal with them.
• I've used Bach Rescue Remedy on my dogs with some success. Give just before the noise starts! Repeat as per instructions on the bottle.
• Other Herbal Remedies like Valerian (liquid or tablets) and Skullcap can help. Consult your vet if your dog is on medication.
• Desensitisation. CDs are available which help to deal with the your dog's fears.They are available for fireworks, thunder, and gunshots. The CDs come with instructions - it is a gradual method of increasing noise level. It is important that your dog doesn't show signs of fear during use.You can buy a firework phobia CD set here Sounds Scary Fireworks 2 CD Pack
  
• DAP -dog appeasment pheromone. This is a plug-in diffuser -it has a calming effect. It is also available as a spray. Start using it before the fireworks start.
• In very severe cases of fear, it could be worthwhile to consult your vet or a dog behavourist.
• Look out for signs of stress (see list below)

I've looked around and found these useful products - just click on the links to see for yourself.

Click on this link for Bach Rescue Remedy

Click on this link for DAP

Click on this link for Sounds Scary Fireworks 2 CD Pack

OR TRY THE PET DOG STORE

Look out for Signs of Stress

The following are all symptoms of distress

• trembling or shaking
• restlessness or pacing
• panting
• whining
• barking
• hiding
• destructiveness
• attention seeking
• trying to escape
• messing or urinating in the house
• refusing food

Please remember : DO NOT take your dog to a fireworks display. This will NOT cure his fear, it will only make matters worse!

Boris the lad is frightened and curls up into a ball in his bed. He looks tiny and he is a big greyhound! He also refuses food. Boris knows well before we do when the fireworks are going to start. I always watch him closely, so I have early warning!

Olive the girl is very laid back. She stretches out on the couch and goes off to sleep!

Good luck with your dog!

To find those useful products - just click on the links below.

Click on this link for Bach Rescue Remedy

Click on this link for DAP

Click on this link to for Sounds Scary Fireworks 2 CD Pack

OR VISIT THE PET DOG STORE




This is an updated version of a couple of posts that I made a year ago.

A Close Encounter of the Bovine Kind! ~ Dogs & Cows ~ Natural England & Stewardship

Recently while out walking our dogs we met some cows with calves.

We were on a public footpath and just about to go through a gate when we saw them. They also saw us and came running over.

To begin with they were very curious - just sniffing the air and peering at the dogs. We stood very quietly on our side of the fence, but the cows soon became very agitated. It was very clear that it would have been dangerous to enter with the dogs.

Our problem was that it was the only way back. (The alternative was to turn back and walk another couple of miles, but our old girl had had enough). We could only get into the adjacent field by climbing over a fence - no problem for us but our greyhounds couldn't get over.

Our old girl weighs 28Kg. I lifted her up and passed her over the fence to my brother. But Boris not only weighs 36Kg, he also hates to be lifted. I gave it a try, but he went a bit crazy!

I walked some distance along the fence and found a gate - padlocked of course! But there was a big enough gap next to the gatepost for Boris to squeeze under - wriggling along on your belly doesn't come easily to greyhounds!

The field we were now in had a gate which we could open onto the road, so we were able to finish our walk in safety.



Back in June I made a post about dogs and cows - please take a look at the archive.

Natural England & Stewardship & Grazing Livestock
There was an item on the radio this morning about this. It came from Cornwall.
Cattle (usually longhorns, I understand) are roaming freely on the coastal footpath. This is because grazing encourages bio-diversity. (This is true and is a very good idea). It is part of the stewardship scheme which attracts EU subsidies.
Two problems mentioned were : 1) the number of gates and fences being erected across what was an open landscape and 2) the potential dangers for dog walkers. (Dogs and people are also part of bio-diversity!)
The point was made that dogs should be kept on leads. But that doesn't stop the cattle from approaching you and causing a problem!

The usual advice is stay calm and quiet. Don't run. Standing still can be useful - the cows will sniff you and eventually go away. Try to make a quiet exit or get to the edge of a field.
It is suggested that you let your dogs off lead - they can take care of themselves. But what if you have an old slow dog?

Things get serious if the cows feel that you or your dogs are a threat.

I've heard it suggested that you throw your arms up and shoo the cows away. Not sure I want to do that in a dodgy situation!

I like to think ahead - look for signs of cows - are there cow pats, is the ground churned up, are there troughs of water. Avoidance is the best policy I think.

Slaughter of Dogs in China - GREAT NEWS!!!!

I've received the following e-mail fom IFAW about the dog cull in China, reproduced below.
See my previous post of Wednesday 16th September.
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Great news!

Thanks to the immediate response of our supporters, the dog cull in Qinhuangdao has been averted.

The details are still coming in - but it's clear that the government in Qinhuangdao felt the pressure from IFAW supporters around the world. Public notices and government web site postings announcing the cull have been taken down.

If you ever wondered whether one person can make a difference - well, this is proof that they can! Every email, message, and dollar sent had a direct effect on averting a widespread, unnecessary and cruel slaughter.

We will be keeping a close eye on the area until we are convinced that no dogs will be harmed in the future. Many locals sent their pets away to friends and family in order to protect them, and we want to make sure Qinhuangdao remains a safe place for them to return.

You see, local government officials often resort to dog culls because China has no rabies prevention program or animal welfare legislation. A single case of rabies can create a panic - leading to calls for a mass dog slaughter at anytime.

That's why it's so important for IFAW to establish vaccination and sterilisation programs within China to control overpopulation and disease - before more culls are called for.

Your donation is critical to developing these programs and ending dog culls once and for all.

I'm so proud of what we were able to achieve for these dogs. I want to thank all of our animal friends like you for helping to prevent such tragic and needless suffering, and for making today such a wonderful day for animals.

Sincerely, Fred O'ReganIFAW CEO

P.S.
With IFAW's support, the first draft of national animal welfare legislation for China is being completed. If passed into law this will permanently ban the dog culls we have been campaigning against. Help support this legislation by donating now to protect animals around the world from cruelty and exploitation.

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What a wonderful result.

The Gentle Art of Medicating Your Dog, or How We Got Our Dog to Take Her Medicine

Many pet dog owners have faced the difficult task of getting their dog to swallow its tablets or other medicine.
Some dogs are easy - they just chew them up or swallow them whole. Others are more difficult, to say the least!

Olive, our female greyhound, is very aware of her tablets. She is an old dog (now 13 years) and is on daily tablets - 3 in the morning and 4 at night. We have had to try various subterfuges to get her to take her medicine.
We've found that the size of the tablet makes no difference.

The methods we've tried are :

• Hide them just under the top layer of her food. We found the tablets at the bottom of of an otherwise empty food bowl!
• Put them in her mouth and gently hold her mouth shut for a moment. She spits them out, and you then get wet (expensive) tablets which start to disintegrate.
  
• She has dried food, so we added some tinned meat. Hide the tablets inside the meat. This worked for a while, but she soon got wise to that!
• Hide them inside some meat and offer as a treat. Worked a few times - but she soon worked out how to eat the meat and spit out the tablets. Quite a trick!
• We've tried sardines, tuna, tinned meat chunks, freshy cooked chicken, sausages etc. They all worked for a while. Freshly cooked chicken skin still works - wrap it around the tablet and she eats the lot. Sausages whch haven't gone cold still work too. Hiding them in a good sized ball of tinned Chappie Original (fish-based) works , but she does refuse them sometimes.
• Cheese is very good. You need a cheese which is easily moulded. But our Olive became suspicious after a while!
  
• Our latest trick is to use Winalot Shapes. We smear them with butter, stick the tablet to it, and then cover it with some more butter. You have to be careful with crumbly tablets as they tend to break up. This works everytime (so far!). I guess that any small biscuit will do.
• I have been told that hiding the tablets in peanut butter works well. We haven't tried this yet.
  

I think that the best approach is to use one of the methods a few times and then change to something else. This should fool most dogs, I think.

Of course some medicines are in liquid form. You can just mix that into the top layer of food. I've found it a good idea to put something very tasty and smelly on top, just to mask the smell of the medicine.

If anyone out there has found a good way of getting their dog to take its medicine please let me know!

Slaughter of Dogs in China!!! Act Now to End this Appalling Massacre

A few days ago I received an e-mail from Fred O'Regan of IFAW (International Fund for Animal Welfare).

It was about the horrific enforced slaughter of dogs in China.

I was going to create a post straight away, but I was so upset about what I had read and seen, that I couldn't bring myself to do so.

The slaughter is underway, but better to be a bit late than never to do someting about it.

The e-mail from IFAW is reproduced below. Images are from IFAW. Personal data has been removed.

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From: Fred O'Regan, International Fund for Animal Welfare fred@ifaw1.org

Subject: Urgent: Dog Slaughter Set to Begin Tomorrow: Help Us Stop it

Date: Saturday, 12 September, 2009, 6:57 PM




Help Us Stop the Qinhuangdao Dog Slaughter Before it Starts

Dear Trevor, I've just received an urgent report that another city in China is planning a mass cull to slaughter any unregistered dogs, strays, and even registered family dogs that are over 14 inches (35cm) tall. Dog owners in Qinhuangdao, Hebei Province, are even being told to kill their own dogs, or else their dogs will be beaten to death by the police and the owners will be charged a fine. Can you imagine being forced to kill your own dog to save it from a more brutal slaughter?

Unless we can stop this now, the Dog Death squads could be roaming the streets tomorrow – beating, stoning, and killing dogs – some right in front of their owners.You might remember the attached e-mail I sent you recently about a similar cull. We found out too late for many of those dogs, but this time we have a chance to stop it before it starts. I need you to do two things right now:

1. Send an e-mail to the Chinese Ambassador in your country. So you can act quickly, I've written an e-mail for you - click here to review and send it.

2. Make a donation to help IFAW end dog culls in China and to protect animals around the world from similar cruelty. It’s crucial that you act quickly –according to the government notice, the police will begin combing the streets tomorrow to kill dogs. Please send your message now, and then forward this e-mail to as many of your friends as possible urging them to help us stop this slaughter.

In addition to working to stop this cull, IFAW is helping draft China's first national animal welfare legislation that will prohibit culls like this. And we're developing a rabies vaccination and sterilization program that we can offer to rural communities to humanely prevent rabies and control dog populations.We’ve stopped culls like this in other Chinese cities, and we can stop this one too!
Please send your message of protest today.
And then please make a donation to help us continue our efforts to help save animals around the world from cruelty and exploitation.Please act now to save these dogs - make it the very next thing you do. Thank you,Fred

You can help us end bloodbaths like this and protect dogs in China from future culls






A death squad pursues a terrified dog.





Please help stop the slaughter.



Dear Trevor, A massive cull in the Chinese city of Hanzhong has claimed the lives of more than 30,000 dogs - and now we need your help to make sure that it never happens again.

The local government ordered the mass slaughter of all dogs as the result of a few cases of rabies deaths. Dog killing squads are stalking the streets, mercilessly beating dogs to death with sticks and rocks.

Friendly dogs - even healthy family pets - are being slaughtered right in front of their owners. Can you even begin to imagine how you'd feel if that happened to your dog?

IFAW has pleaded with government officials to stop the killing - and now we turn to you.

Please help us stop these cruel and massive slaughters once and for all.

Horrifying scenes of cruelty

Some of the pictures from culls like these are so horrifying that I can't even show them to you. And I hate having to describe this, but I think you need to know the truth about what's happening.In one series of pictures, several small and fluffy white dogs - you can just tell they're used to snuggling on the laps of their loving owners - are trapped in a makeshift cage. One by one, the dogs are pulled out with a pair of long metal tongs, and brutally beaten with a stick. And then - even though it appears that some of the dogs may still be alive - they're tossed into a pit to be burned.I can't even imagine the pain and terror these poor dogs endure when the fire is set.So many dogs will suffer slow and painful deaths...we must stop this cruelty now!

What we're doing and how you can help

We have received so many messages in the past few days from animal lovers like you inside and outside China - pleading with us to step in and stop the slaughters like the one in Hanzhong City.

• I assure you, IFAW is working to end these culls:
  We've already contacted local authorities in Hanzhong City to urge them to end the slaughter. Now you can help by contacting the Chinese Ambassador in your country.
• IFAW is creating an emergency rabies vaccination fund so that we can offer rural communities in China an alternative to mass slaughters like the one in Hanzhong. Please give generously to our emergency rabies vaccination fund.We're working with the central government to pass animal welfare legislation in China that will ensure the humane treatment of all animals. IFAW has already helped major cities like Beijing establish dog regulations that mandate humane vaccination and population control.
  

We CAN stop culls like this

We recently joined with concerned animal lovers in China to stop a similar mass slaughter in the city of Heihe by pointing out that the killing of dogs that have rightful owners is a violation of the basic rights of a citizen - owned dogs and cats are considered the "personal property" of Chinese citizens, and should be protected under China's Constitution.

Plus, it has been proven that rabies can be effectively controlled by a well-managed vaccination program. In fact, a humane vaccination and neuter program in Chennai, India, has dramatically reduced rabies cases there by over 95%.

So we must act now to stop the killing!
Please click here to contact the Chinese Ambassador in your country to call for an end to mass slaughters like this and to encourage China to pass legislation that protects all animals, including companion animals.

And then please donate what you can today to help us set up an emergency vaccination fund to help cities in China establish rabies prevention programs, help eliminate these mass dog culls once and for all, and to continue our mission to protect animals around the world from cruelty.

The slaughtered dogs of Hanzhong City deserved a better fate. Please help us ensure that dogs in other communities in China are protected from similar mass killings.Thank you so much for your help,

Fred O'ReganIFAW CEO

p.s. I have to tell you, the images of this dog slaughter keep me up at night. If you've ever enjoyed the companionship of a dog, then you know that they truly are members of our families. Please help us protect family pets by donating to our vaccination fund and our anti-cruelty campaigns around the world.
Please forward this e-mail to your friends, family, and colleagues who care about animals as much as you do.

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Well, I felt pretty sick after reading that.
I've contacted the Chinese embassy. Please do the same.
e-mail your friends with this information please.
Something can be done. If we all act, a huge amount can be done.
Thank you.

Working With Dogs ~ A Career With Animals ~ Have YOU Got What It Takes?

Do You Fancy a Career with Animals? Would you like to Work with Dogs?
Have You Got What It Takes?... Find Out Here!

This a rewrite of a post I did last October plus extra material.

So, you would like to work with dogs. Good for you!
But working with dogs (or any other animal) isn't just a nice job - it's a way of life.
I worked full time in dog rescue and also as a zookeeper, so I am speaking with the voice of hands-on experience!

And this is what it takes :

• Complete commitment and Total Dedication
• A Compassionate and caring nature
• Infinite Patience
• A strong sense of responsibility
• Physical fitness and stamina
• Good powers of observation
• Attention to detail
• A willingness to learn
• The humility to realise that you are never going to know everything about animals
• Good communication skills and People skills
• Courage (mental, physical, and emotional)
• Being prepared to do unpleasant jobs
• You may have to make difficult decisions - including life & death ones.
• Be willing to undergo further education & training
• Even more dedication!

You must also :

• Know your strengths
• More importtantly, know your weaknesses
• Be mentally, physically and emotionally robust

The welfare of a dog comes before your needs.....If an animal's welfare is compromised you stay until it is sorted - even if you have made plans to go out!

Good observation, even of something apparently insignificant, can mean life or death to a dog!

Most work with dogs is badly paid! You won't get financially rich, but you will become rich in many better ways.

Some things like communication and people skills can be learnt, others like observation and physical fitness can be improved by practice.
Other things are down to your personality.
Knowledge comes with experience and training. You may have to take one or more courses and obtain qualifications. Learning is a lifelong activity!

Working with animals isn't an escape from working with people. You will be part of a team. You will also have contact with the authorities and the general public.

Think long and hard, do some voluntary work with animals. Appropiate work experience can be an eye-opener! It will also show a potential employer that you are dedicated.

I will give you two real examples of observation and dedication :

1) On observation. A stray female dog was brought in just as I was locking up for the night. When I got her out of his car, I noticed a tiny spot of very dark blood on the blanket she was lying on. I checked with the finder and he said it wasn't there when he put it in. ALARM BELLS! I checked her vagina for discharge by swabbing with some damp cotton wool. The result - a dark blood-like discharge. Potential pyometra ( a serious & potentially fatal womb infection). I took her straight to the vet and she underwent a life-saving operation. If I had not noticed, or had chosen to ignore the spot of blood, I would have found a dead dog in the kennels in the morning!

2) On dedication. A dog had been locked in a house on its own for 2 days. The owner had been injured and was in hospital. The local people were unable to deal with the problem. I waited at work until gone 6pm for a phone call from the police. Then, with a colleague, drove a 40 mile round trip to collect the dog. Once it was fed and settled, I locked up and then arrived back home just gone 8.30pm. The theatre tickets for that evening went in the bin!

Rewards of the job

Working with dogs gives you the chance to get close to and to understand another species. We need to reach outside of ourselves and make contact with other living things - ask anyone who has stroked a cat or patted a dog!

If you work in rescue, helping an abused dog recover and then finding it a loving home for the rest of its life is fantastically rewarding. For me that was the best part of the job.

Still want to work with dogs? Yes? Great!

If you are interested in dog training you may find this of interest - just Click Here

There are many different types of work and career opportunities with dogs

• Work in a rescue / rehoming centre
• Boarding kennels*
• National charities like RSPCA and Dogs Trust
• Police dog handler
• Armed forces dog handler
• Customs and excise dog handler
• Dog Grooming*
• Dog Training*
  
• Dog Behaviour*
• Veterinary Nurse
• Veterinary Surgeon
• Pet photography*
• Pet food /pet shop*
  

You can also set up your own business, such as dog grooming or boarding kennels. The ones marked * in the list are all possible businesses that you could run.
If you don't want to be hands-on, you can work as an administrator, fund raiser, secretary, keep accounts or other office work.

Qualifications
You will need to go to veterinary college if you want to be a vet. There is a huge amount of competition for places.
You may need to obtain animal care qualifications, such as an NVQ in Animal Care.

I am going to stop writing now. I will write a longer piece on qualifications soon.

If you are interested in dog training you may find this of interest - just Click Here

Dog Treat Recipes ~ Healthy & Tasty Treats For Your Dog!

HEALTHY & TASTY DOG TREAT RECIPES

The recipes are easy to make. Any which are vegetarian are marked (V).

The flour is always whole wheat unless stated otherwise

Roll out to 1/2 inch thickness unless otherwise stated

(1) Wholemeal Dog Biscuits (V)

To make about 40 biscuits :

500g whole wheat flour

225g wheatgerm

4 tablespoons bran flakes

2 tablespoons malt extract

2 tablespoons of olive oil

About 400ml of water

Mix all the dry ingredients together. Add the malt , oil and water. Mix well to make a stiff dough. Roll out to about 1/2 inch thick. Cut into shapes. Bake in a moderate oven until hard.

(2) Liver Cake

To make about 45 treats

900g whole wheat flour

450g liver

225g oats

About 150ml water

2 eggs

Put the liver into a blender,add the flour & oats. Add the beaten eggs. Add enough water to make a stiff mixture. Roll out to 1/2 inch thickness and cut into shapes. Bake at 180C, Mark 4 (pre-heated) unti hard.

(3) Veggie Treats (V)

Makes about 30 treats

200g whole wheat flour

100g assorted vegetables (NOT Onions) e.g. carrots, courgette, celery,cabbage

Couple of garlic cloves

2tablespoons dried parsley

Finely chop the veg& garlic. Mix together with the flour & parsley. Add some water to make a stiff dough. Roll out and cut into shapes.

Bake at 190c, mark 5 until hard.

(4) Sardine Smashers

To make about 50 treats

300g flour

200g wheatgerm

Can of sardines in oil (mashed up)

About 300ml water

Mix everything together - only add enough water to make a stiff dough. Roll out and cut into shapes

Bake at 150c, Mark2 until done

(5) Tuna Tasties

As for (4) ,but use tuna instead of sardines

If you would like even more dog treat recipes please visit : http://doglinks.synthasite.com

There is no obligation.

(6) Cheese Biscuits (V)

To make about 36 biscuits

400g flour

100g grated cheese

100ml olive oil

1 clove garlic

About 200ml water

Mix all the ingredients to make a firm dough

Roll out and cut into shapes

Bake at 190c, Mark 5 until brown (about 15 minutes)

(7) Training Treats

500g liver

1 tablespoon garlic powder (optionaal)

Cut the liver into strips and place onto a baking tray.

Sprinkle with the garlic powder, if used

Bake at 170c, Mark 3 for 30 minutes. Turn the strips over and cook for another 15 minutes

Switch off oven and allow the liver to dry out (in the oven)

(8) Chicken Crunch

500g minced chicken

175g rye flour

200g wholemeal flour

200g brown rice flour

50g wheatgerm

2-3 tablespoons olive oil

1clove garlic, crushed

About 450ml chicken stock

Mix all dry ingredients

Mix in the minced chicken

Mix oil & chicken stock and blend into the dry mix

Roll out and place onto baking tray

Bake at 180c, Mark4 until golden brown. Break into pieces.

(9) Coat Conditioner (V)

Makes about 70 biscuits

500g flour

50g each of sesame seeds, linseeds, sunflower seeds and pumpkin seeds

100ml olive oil

2 eggs beaten

About 450ml vegetable stock

Crush the seeds**. Mix all dry ingredients, add the oil and beaten eggs. Gradually add stock until a dough is formed. Roll out and cut into shapes. Bake at 180c, mark4 until golden brown.

**The seeds must be crushed - otherwise they pass through undigested!

(10) Breath Fresheners (V)

Makes about 50-60 biscuits

500g flour

100g porridge oats

100g wheat germ

20g each of mint and parsley

About 500ml vegetable stock

Mix dry ingredients with the herbs. Gradually add stcok to form a dough. Roll out and cut into shapes. Bake at 180c , Mark 4 until golden brown.

(11) Tummy Settlers (V)

For about 60 biscuits

500g flour

250g wheatgerm

50 charcoal tablets**, crushed

2 tablespoons olive oil

About 500ml vegetable stock

Mix dry ingredients. Add the oil ,and gradually add the stock until a dough is formed. Roll out and cut into pieces. The biscuits will turn black when the stock is added!

Bake at 190c, mark5 until hard.

** available from health stores. Charcoal is good for digestive problems such as wind and gurgling tums!

(12) Chockies (V)

USE ONLY SPECIAL DOG CHOCOLATE - DO NOT USE HUMAN CHOCOLATE IT IS POISONOUS TO DOGS

Makes about 50 biscuits

600g flour

500g pinhead oatmeal

4tablespoons olive oil

About 500ml water

50g doggie chocs

Mix dry ingredients with doggie chocs. Add oil and water to form a stiff dough.

Roll out and cut into shapes. Bake for about an hour at 150c ,Mark 2.

For more FREE dog treat recipes please visit : http://doglinks.synthasite.com
There is no obligation.

You can also shop in our Pet Dog Store for handy items for you and your pet.

Check out our store!

A Sentimental Journey ~ We still miss our old dog!

We've just come back from a holiday in the Lake District (UK). Mixed weather, but a great time as always.

Our old dog, Spot, loved going there. When he died we had an individual cremation and we were given his ashes in a pottery jar, which sits on our Welsh dresser.
After a while, it felt the right time to scatter some of his ashes in the places he loved best. Places like our garden, a favourite walk, and of course, Woodland Fell in the Lakes.

We found a place which overlooked the place where we stay with good views of the hills. You can also see the sea and a beach which he loved. I can still see him running and leaping round in the air like a young dog. Yet a few months later he was dead, despite all the good work that the vets did.

We built a small cairn over some of his ashes, and we can easily find the place when we visit.

Sentimental - yes. But at the time it helped us to grieve.
Now we make a sentimental journey and sit by his ashes and remember him and the joy which he gave us. We still miss him.

Everybody has to find their own way to grieve - there is no right way - just do what feels right for you.

Dog Fighting ~ An Evil Bloodsport which is still going on.

Dog Fighting
A very nasty bloodsport which needs stamping out.

A couple of days ago I heard a disturbing report on the radio about dog-fighting.

Quote from the BBC News (30th July 09) : "Inside the world of dog-fighting"
"It was the sound of dogs barking and whimpering that first attracted PC Paul Foster to the back of an old kitchen showroom in inner city Birmingham."

To read the article use this link:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/8175047.stm
You may see some unpleasant images.

About 3 years ago a big dog fighting ring in Leicester waas broken up. I think that 40 people were arrested.
I know that some dogs were handed in to rescues as being "found". Considering the types of dog, and the circumstances in which they were handed over, I think it is fair to say that they came from dog fighters.

I've met a few people whom I believe were involved in dog-fighting. They are unpleasant characters and you are well-advised to stay away from them.
Once when I was driving to the rescue where I worked, I was followed by an unmarked van with 2 men whom I suspected of being involved. I didn't dare go to the rescue until I had lost them.

A few years ago I sold second-hand books on a stall. A man approached me and spoke quietly out of the corner of his mouth "Got anythin' on dog fighting, mate". My polite answer was "Sorry, no". I am not going to divulge what action I took or where it was.

If you have suspicions, do NOT confront them - report them to the RSPCA or police. Do not have anything to do with the people involved. Stay well away from them.

Dogs used for fighting are often staffie types (staffordshire bull terriers). You will see suspicious scars on their bodies. The dogs often kill each other.

Large sums of money (thousands of pounds) change hands on the outcome of the dog fight.

These people are unscrupulous. Innocent little dogs are thrown into fighting dogs - to be torn to pieces. This is to give the dogs a "taste of blood".

Please be vigilant and report your suspicions. Don't discuss them with other people.

That's all for now. Thanks for visiting.

Police Dogs On Wheels!

Police Dogs

After that tragic story of the 2 GSDs who died yesterday, something heart-warming.
It is about a police sniffer dog with arthritis, who was given a set of wheels to help him get along!

The video is on the BBC News site, so is safe to watch.
http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/7733880.stm

Great story isn't it!

Dogs DIE In Hot Cars ~ 2 GSDs Die In A Police Vehicle!

Today's news (July 2nd) - Two German Shepherd police dogs died in a police car yesterday afternoon!

The poor dogs were found dead at Nottinghamshire Police HQ at 2.15 pm.

They were left in the vehicle by their HANDLER! To say that the handler should have known better is an understatement.

Temperature's outside reached 29.4C. Inside the car it would have been like an oven.

It is a dreadful way to die. I can barely believe it happened.

I can only describe it as GROSS negligence and incompetence.

The RSPCA are investigating.

You can read the Press Association story here :

http://uk.news.yahoo.com/21/20090702/tuk-police-dogs-die-in-hot-parked-car-6323e80.html



So what do we do with our dogs in hot weather?

The obvious answer is NOT to leave them in a vehicle.

IF you have to then :

• Leave ALL the windows and the sunroof open. At least 4 inches - wider if you can. (Security has to be considered).
• Park IN THE SHADE (the temperature will rocket in the sun even with the windows open)
• Have water available to drink
• Check them regularly
• Leave them for the least time possible
• If they do suffer heat exhaustion get them out of the car at once and throw water over them - LOTS of water - bucketfuls of it

We only leave our dogs on their own IF we can park in the shade. If we can't then one of us stays with them.

I'd rather suffer inconvenience than the death of my dogs.

When I heard the story about the police dogs on the radio I was shocked - then I read it on the news site and it brought tears to my eyes. Writing this has done the same thing, so I'll sign off for now.

I was going to write a cheerful piece about a lost dog which was found, but I'll do that another time.

Bye for now.

Dogs and Cows ~ Is it Safe to Walk Through Fields of Cows With Your Dog?

Is it safe to walk your dog through fields of cows?

Recently there have been some dreadful reports in the news about dog walkers being attacked by cows.
One incident was of a vet walking her dog, and was trampled to death by a herd of cows.

The key thing to look for is : Are there CALVES in the field? If so, do NOT walk your dog through the field.
Personally, I avoid any fields that have cows. I NEVER go in with my dogs if there are calves present.
It is possible that the cows are out of sight, so I always look for signs like cowpats and hoof prints, or ask anybody that I see.
A cow can weigh upto 1 ton - that's a big animal, and so can inflict a lot of damage.


Farming Today, early morning on Radio 4, have recently discussed the problem, and have given some excellent advice.

KEEP YOUR DOG ON A LEAD AT ALL TIMES - do not let dogs run loose where there are cows present.

If you are approached by cows:

• STAY CALM
• DO NOT SHOUT OR SCREAM - this will make things a lot worse
• DO NOT RUN - THIS COULD TRIGGER AN ATTACK
• WALK AWAY CALMLY & QUIETLY TO AN EXIT OR TO THE EDGE OF THE FIELD

Cows initally are inquisitive , so stay calm if they approach you and quietly and calmly make your escape.
Once they have smelt you and your dog they will realise that you are strangers and so a potential threat to their calves. Stay quiet and calm.

What if you are surrounded by cows or hemmed in at a field boundary?
STAND STILL and let them sniff you. They will go away, but it can take time (up to 30 minutes!)

The key things are : Don't run, don't scream or shout. Keep calm. Keep your dog on a lead.

If there is bull in the field there is a legal requirement for a notice "BULL IN FIELD". Never go in!

Rams can also be a problem - avoid.

Credit Crunch Dogs - Vet Bills Go Up, So Does Dog Food!

The Credit Crunch hits everyone - including our pets!

My vet bills keep going up. This is largely due to the constant price increases of medication for my old girl - now costing about £150 each month! (But she is worth every penny, of course).



The price of dog food keeps going up as well.


So what can we do? The obvious answer is "shop around"!


That is what I did for dog food.

I was buying a 15Kg bag of Arden Grange Lamb & Rice. At a large national chain of petstores I was paying around £35. At my small local pet shop I am now paying £25.50! I use a bag every 3 weeks, so a useful saving.


The same was true for Winalot Shapes (small dog biscuits). My local pet shop is nearly half the price of the nationwide store!


You could make your own dog treats (and know excactly what has gone into them!).

For some FREE no obligation recipes you can download them from this site:
http://doglinks.synthasite.com/ (It is safe site and no personal information is collected.)


What about Vet Bills?

You could compare charges of the vets in your area. (ask other pet owners). But you do need to consider travel costs, and the vet's reputation.


It is possible to buy dog medication online.

Choose a good supplier like VetUK. (I have used them - it was set up by a vet so they do know their stuff). There are others of course.

Non-prescription medication & treatments, e.g. joint supplements, wormers, flea treatments, will probably be cheaper online.


Prescription medicines (marked POM) can be purchased online BUT you must have a prescription from your vet. This used to be free, but vets are now allowed to charge up to £15 for this 'service'. Ask your vet what they charge and check online prices. You could still save money.



If anyone has any good ideas please leave a comment. Thanks.

On a sadder and more serious note, many pet owners are abandoning their animals.
Some act responsibly and find a new owner, or find a place at a rescue centre.
But there are a lot who are just dumped on the streets.
Rescue centres do their best, but are being overwhelmed with unwanted animals.

One Of My Dogs Kept Biting At His Rear End ~ A Gland Problem!

A couple of weeks ago my male dog kept nibbling his skin near his backside. This can be a sign of a gland problem in the back passage.

There are two sacs which can become full. It causes discomfort and irritation to your dog. If left infection can set in.

Signs of the problem can be biting or nibbling around the rear end or rubbing on a hard surface. There will also be a bad smell around his rear end.

Sometimes the glands will empty themselves, but it often requires human intervention!

Unless you have been trained to do this, it is a job best left to the vet - especially if infection has set in.

A sign of infection is passing blood when defecating (this may be just a few drops of dark liqiud) , blood on bedding, or blood around the back passage. Lift your dog's tail to have a look!

Anyway, back to my lad. His glands emptied themselves - you can tell by the smell!
However, a few days later he started nibbling his backend again. I was going to empty them (I've been trained to do this), but I noticed a couple of drops of dark red liquid on the grass when he went to the toilet.
That meant infection had set in and we went to the vet. There wasn't much in the glands, but one was infected. The vet prescribed a 5-day course of Antirobe - a very good anti-biotic. This cleared up the problem, but he did get a touch of diarrhoea.
I gave him light meals plus some organic live yoghurt. This quickly helped settle his system.

Problem solved!

DOGS AND COLD WEATHER - DOGS IN SNOW

Did you see the pictures of my greyhounds in the snow? (Thursday 5th March)

On one walk in the snow we went across a field covered in fresh snow. It was quite deep and hard work for my old dog. This set me thinking about problems for dogs in cold weather.

• Hidden dangers, e.g. holes, broken glass, etc.
• Slipping and Falling
• Frozen ponds, lakes, rivers
• Hypothermia (exposure to cold)
• Health problems exacerbated by cold
• Exhaustion
• Chemicals

Snow can hide all sorts of dangers.
Frozen ponds, etc. may not bear the weight of your dog.
Falling & slipping can cause soft-tissue damage or a broken bone.
Older and vulnerable dogs may suffer exposure and exhaustion. A coat is a good idea.
Arthritis can be more noticeable. Breathing problems can worsen with cold air.
The heart has to work harder. Exhaustion can set in.
Salt used to treat icy roads can irritate paws.
Anti-freeze and de-icers are toxic.

And don't forget short-legged dogs (like daschunds)who will find deep snow hard work. They can also get cold stomachs!

Keeping a towel in your vehicle is a good idea, so your dog can have a rub-down after the walk.
Washing paws if you've walked on treated roads is a good idea.
Paw wax applied before the walk can help prevent slipping and also protect the pads.
And don't forget to keeep chemicals well out of doggie reach!

So that's a few ideas on dogs and cold weather and some problems for dogs in snow.
It's all common sense really - you will probably think of other things to add to the list!

Its getting warmer now and will soon be time to put the clocks forward - but my local weather forecast is for frost overnight!

DOG TREAT RECIPES ~ Healthy & Tasty Recipes for Free

I've created a site that has some very good dog treat recipes. They are free for you to use. Just copy and paste into Word.

There is an appeal on the site - Olive, our old dog, is now costing us over £200 a month for medication. We are struggling to pay the bills.

What I'm hoping is that, in return for the recipes, you will make a VOLUNTARY donation towards Olive's medical fund. There is a 'Donate' button which takes you to Paypal secure payments.

I feel unsure and a bit ashamed about doing this and still feel that I am begging. But you are getting something worth having. I could create a booklet and try to sell it cheaply on eBay, but the fees would eat-up the money! So I thought that I would give this open and honest appeal a try.

There are no catches and nothing to sign up to. The dog treat recipes are free and without obligation. So go and get them! But please do consider the appeal.

The cost of dog medication has gone up several times in the last year.

Just go to this site : http://doglinks.synthasite.com

Thank you.

PS. The website I created was free for me to create. The hosting is also free!

Crufts Is Still In Disgrace!

Today (Sunday 8th march) is the last day of Crufts 2009 and Crufts is still in disgrace!

I didn't go to Crufts this year.

Do you remember the BBC documentary "Pedigree Dogs Exposed" directed by Jemima Harrison? (See my archive 26/8/08 and 29/10/08)
It revealed the health problems caused by the inbreeding of pedigree dogs.

There was an uproar about it. And quite right too! How can a pekingese who couldn't breathe properly win Best In Show?

Since the showing of Pedigree Dogs Exposed on BBC1 there has been outrage, protests, loss of sponsorship and withdrawals of support.

• Pedigree Foods withdrew their sponsorship of Crufts
• The BBC are not broadcasting the Show
• Dog's Trust (a major dog welfare charity) have withdrawn their support
• The PDSA (People's Dispensary for Sick Animals) have withdrawn
• The RSPCA have withdrawn their support

I believe that other organisations have also withdrawn.

I had a look at the Trade Stands list on the Crufts 2009 website. Some names that I have seen at previous shows were not in the list.

Crufts have had a shock and I hope that they sit up and take notice and ACTUALLY DO SOMETHING POSITIVE!!!

Jemima Harrison was not allowed to film at Crufts this year. However she has gone as a paying visitor and reports that nothing has changed. A Sunday Times headline of March 8th says : "Nothing’s breedin’ changed at Crufts, mate"

Protesters have planned to be at Crufts this year.

Let us hope that something good comes out of all this for the sake of the dogs.

Crufts could change and become a showcase of all that is good in the dog world.

Dogs Like Snow ! Greyhounds In The Snow

My greyhounds in the recent snow.

Greyhounds need coats in cold weather. They have thin-skins and short fur. If you need a coat then so do they!

The coats the dogs are wearing are water-repellant and fleece lined. They also have yellow reflective strips.

The white one is old and has TWO coats on! They keep her nice and warm.

Video about Dog Food ~ Dog Food Secrets

Watch this video about dog food - it's quite shocking!

To visit their website for more information please CLICK HERE