One couple in South Australia were found guilty of animal cruelty and are now on the run with a hundred dogs in their trailer, according to the RSPCA.
The Magistrates Court in Adelaide found Joseph and Margarete Higham guilty of 11 counts of animal cruelty. They did not turn up for the trial but in their absense were still convicted, however, they ran away before they could be sentenced.
The RSPCA raided their properties in several areas around Adelaide in 2006 and 2007 and took ownership of 170 dogs, some of which were suffered from mange, infected wounds, worms and fleas as well as other health issues.
The Highams still have around a hundred dogs in their possession and it is feared they may also have the same problems. A warrant is out for the couples arrest who the RSPCA believe may be headed for Victoria.
What possesses such people to do these things! They should be shot.
Today I read about a company in California called Fetch! pet Care, who are offering an advanced pet sitting and walking service.
Rather than just letting your dog out and taking him for a quick walk round the park, they actually come armed with equipment to fitness train your dog. Yes, they arrive with balls, frisbees, toys and enthusiasm to exercise your dog – and your cat too if you like, although why anyone would is beyond me.
Paul Mann, the guy credited with starting this company, says:
“Americans spend over $41 billion annually on pet-related goods and services, yet animal obesity persists. Despite how much they love and provide for their pet, many owners apparently overlook exercise as a fundamental way to foster their dog’s or cat’s happiness, overall well-being and longevity – or they simply don’t have the time to properly exercise their pet on a regular basis.”
Sounds to me like another excuse for Americans not to exercise themselves, because surely by exercising the dog you are getting some exercise yourself!
Naturally, the benefits to your pet are endless, including:
Health – increases muscle tone, bone density and cardio workout, resulting in a longer, happier life
Energy – overweight, obese animals are just like fat humans, lethargic and tired. Exercise gives them a spring in their step
Temperament – a well-exercised dog, even an aggressive one, will feel calmer after some exercise and make them content
Sleep – everyone sleeps better after exercise
Socialisation – playing and exercising involves interaction with humans and sometimes other pets, even if it’s just seeing them on the street or field. Socialisation is the most important skill a dog can learn, helping to stop aggression or fear
Now, Fetch! Pet Care is a bit too far away for those of us in the UK, but that doesn’t mean we can’t learn from what they preach. Get off your fat backside a little more often and exercise your dog (and I should probably include myself in that one!)
Hurrah, I love Bank Holidays! Lots more time to spend with my dog – and her puppies at the moment. I especially love May as we get two, although I read somewhere earlier this week that a travel company had done a survey and people had complained about having two in May. Granted, their reason was that they just wanted them spread out more, but still, why complain? Get more, don’t get one moved!
Anyway, I don’t know what you’re doing this Bank Holiday, but if you have some time to spare, why not watch a few funny animal clips. Naturally, dog ones are the best, but these are all great. But be warned, it’s 9 minutes long so go grab a cuppa and a choccie biscuit and sit down, relax and chuckle!
Ok, ok, I didn’t post it on the website early enough and I apologise, but my shih tzu Bailey gave birth to six, strong and healthy puppies on Monday 28th April. Unfortunately, I missed the birth. My mum was late checking on her and I didn’t get home until 7pm, and she must have had them late afternoon.
I checked the puppies – we have six boys, which is quite a feat not having a single girl – and have been waiting to get a picture for you. I didn’t want you to see Bailey looking like something from the RSPCA, as she looked very bedraggled, naturally, after giving birth and I know she wouldn’t want her picture on the site like that. The puppies looks like small hamsters at the moment and do nothing but squeak for food and sleep.
Anyway, all are doing well. Bailey had a small infection, which is normal when the immune system is so low, so I got some eye drops from the vet and she’s been on puppy food for their higher nutritional value, along with chicken, lactol milk and biscuits. I’ll be posting pictures on regularly – promise
I’ve heard of dogs liking or disliking treadmills, indeed, dog weight loss experts even recommend them at times, but I’m not exactly sue what this dog is doing…
In the past, people have often said that having a family dog helps children in many ways, such as teaching them about care. being gentle and to love animals. There has also been a theory that having a dog encourages the immune system to not be as sensitive. If your child is brought up in a sterile environment and is then exposed to triggers, their immune system may not be as strong and they’ll be more open to illness.
Now, a research team in Germany claims that they can confirm that keeping a family dog does reduce the chance that kids will develop allergies. Having a dog in your home:
“trains the immune system to be less sensitive to potential triggers for allergies like asthma, eczema and hay fever”
At the National Research Centre for Environmental Health in Munich, a team led by Joachim Heinrich, did a study of 9,000 children over a period of six years.
“Parents answered detailed questionnaires about possible allergic symptoms in their children, from birth to the age of six, and blood samples were also taken from a third of the group to test for antibodies to common allergens”
If a child did not have a dog as a family pet but did come into frequent contact with dogs, they did not get the same protection. The team was not sure about the reason for this but suspected that the children who had a family dog were benefiting from early exposure to the germs on the animals fur being carried into the home.
Heinrich said:
“Our results show clearly that the presence of a dog in the home during subjects’ infancy is associated with a significantly low level of sensitization to pollens and inhaled allergens.”
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