Scruff the eco-dog has collected more than 1,000 discarded plastic bottles on a mission to clean up his hometown and help the planet. The 13-year-old border collie has become a local star in Nuneaton for doing his bit for the environment on daily walks with his owners.
David Grant, 48, and wife Yvonne Faulkner-Grant, 47, first noticed their litter-picking hound had a fascination for plastic bottles about a year ago but he would drop them when he found the next one. They began carrying a bag to put his collections into to take along to a recycling centre. Yvonne said: "We got him to start bringing the bottles to us and we put them in a bag and then counted them up at the end of the walk.
"Now, he will see one on the other side of the road and look at me as if to say 'Can I get it?' I'd say he will have collected at a least 1,000 this year. We get such a good reaction on Facebook where clever Scruff has been dubbed an eco-dog."
They now document his adventures on social media with the hashtag #scruffsbottlepatrol, where locals cheer him on.
Neighbour and friend Caroline Round, who also gets to walk Scruff, says he "will not go past a bottle without picking it up - he's so intelligent. He will always stop on his walk and won't move on until he's picked it up. If you're in a field with him, he will be off the lead and away," she says. "And, when he comes back he will always have a bottle in his mouth."
WAGONY AUNT
Dogs Trust expert Dr Rachel Casey answers your canine conundrums.
We're expecting a lot of visitors on Christmas Day. How can I make sure my dog doesn’t get overwhelmed?
Christmas can be weird for dogs – not only is there lots of noise and activity, but there's also piles of tempting food, unfamiliar people coming and going, and sometimes people behaving strangely after a drink or two.
Think carefully about how your dog is likely to react to the events you are planning and prepare things for her well before the big day. For example, if she is worried by people she doesn't know well, it may be better to set her up with an area away from the visitors where you know she won’t be disturbed.
Get her used to settling in this area before Christmas, so she's relaxed about being separated from you. Even when dogs are used to visitors, it's a good idea to give them an area they can choose to retreat to if they are overwhelmed by all the festive excitement.
Make sure this is a 'safe spot' and all the kids in the house know to leave her alone if she retreats there.
Some dogs love visitors and all the extra attention. If that's the case, calm introductions away from the door and asking visitors in advance to only say 'hello' once she is calm will help reduce the risk of over-excitement.
For more information and expert advice, visit dogstrust.org.uk. Do you have a question for Rachel? Email petclub@mirror.co.uk
CATS CORNER
Top tips for you and your cat, with answers and advice from our friends at Cats Protection.
Q. My cat loves being outdoors but I'm worried about him now the weather's getting so cold.
A. Cats keen to venture outdoors might still want to brave the cold temperatures, however, if it becomes unusually cold, we advise keeping them in and providing enrichment toys to provide entertainment.
Outdoors, make sure they have somewhere safe to shelter. It's a good idea to regularly check your cat flap as snow or ice might result in the cat flap becoming stuck. Ensure that your cat has plenty of fresh water indoors, and always make sure your cat comes inside at night so they can rest in the warm.
Finally, make sure your cat is microchipped, and the details are up to date, so if they do go in search of somewhere warm, they’ll be traced back to your address. See cats.org.uk for more info and advice.
Sarah Merrett, Central Veterinary Officer
PET PIC
Football may not be coming home but one lucky feline is - after being rescued by two England stars in Qatar. The stray cat, nicknamed Dave, became a regular around the team's training camp and was adopted as an unofficial mascot, making regular appearances on their Instagram account.
Two of the players couldn't bear to leave Dave behind when they flew back from the tournament - Man City duo John Stones and Kyle Walker decided they will rehome Dave in the UK.
He left Al Wakrah just two hours after the squad had departed and will first head to a local vet where he will spend four months in quarantine before heading to his new home with one of the players.
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