Christmas has come early for three elderly, neglected Chihuahuas who have been happily rehomed after they were abandoned in a car park in the summer. Ferdinand, Tinkerbell and Babe were left in a box and faced certain death if they had not been discovered.
They were taken to Bath Cats and Dogs Home, where vets found Babe, 11, had a severely deformed and wounded hind leg which had to be removed in an emergency operation. Nine-year-old Tinkerbell was suffering from stress, and diseased gums, and vets had to extract all but one of her teeth.
Ferdinand, 13, was extremely underweight, had to have all his teeth removed and was afraid of being handled, often needing a safe hiding place to recover his composure.
Bath Cats and Dogs Home have taken in 190 stray dogs and cats this year believed to have been abandoned as a result of people struggling to cope or to afford medical care.
TV presenter and celebrity vet James Greenwood said: “The transformation of these dogs’ lives is wonderful. Sadly, they are just three out of hundreds seen every year at Bath Cats and Dogs Home.”
The home is not alone in seeing a big increase in the number of abandoned pets during the cost of living crisis. Dogs Trust has received their highest ever number of calls from owners asking to hand over their dogs as they can no longer afford to look after them.
Thankfully for these three pups, there was a happy ending, and they are looking forward to the New Year with loving new families.
To support Bath Cats and Dogs Home's Winter Appeal and help dogs like Ferdinand, Tinkerbelle and Babe visit www.bcdh.org.uk.
WAGONY AUNT
Dogs Trust expert Dr Rachel Casey answers your canine conundrums.
We want to treat our dog over Christmas, but are wondering if there are any festive foods that are dangerous for our dog?
It’s great you are thinking about this ahead of the festivities – there are a few things to think about for the big day. Remember to reduce meal sizes if you are giving extra treats.
Rich fatty foods can cause serious upset stomachs. Be especially careful to avoid cooked bones from Christmas roasts which can be very dangerous. It would be better to give some specific doggy treats: long lasting chews are great to keep them busy.
The other thing to consider is that some of our common festive foods can be harmful.
Chocolate is of course toxic to dogs so keep it out of reach (don’t forget the low-hanging chocolates on the tree). Also avoid grapes, raisins and sultanas or foods containing them like mince pies and Christmas puddings.
Some less obvious toxic foods include some nuts, onion, leek, avocado and garlic – so keep these out of reach too. The artificial sweetener used in some sugar-free foods, Xylitol (aka E967) is also harmful for dogs. And of course, it’s essential to keep alcohol away from dogs as it’s particularly dangerous for them.
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.
My cat doesn’t like using his scratching post, but loves the sofa. What can I do?
Cats love to scratch. It keeps their claws in tip-top condition and helps mark their territory, but let’s be honest, you’d rather they did it in their allocated spot.
To deter your cat from scratching your sofa you might like to try temporarily covering the ‘favourite’ areas with tin foil. You need to provide them with a suitable outlet for their behaviour, so a nice, tall (eg 60cm+), sturdy post, ideally with vertical lines on it. It might also be worth exploring a different style of scratching post for your cat, for example a horizontal scratcher.
- Nicky Trevorrow, Behaviour Manager
See cats.org.uk for more info and advice.
PET PIC
Murphy the Maine Coon weighs 11kg and measures 104cm from nose to tail, a whisker away from a world record.
His owner Sareeta Brewin, 46, from Worcester, says she spends a fortune feeding him as he munches through £60 worth of dry food every month.
Sareeta says people often mistake him for a dog and even a lion and often tag her in posts of big cat sightings across Worcestershire.
The mum-of-three said: “Maine Coons grow until they’re about three so who knows how big Murphy is going to get. He’s already the size of your average dog.”
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