‘Ugliest dog’ in the world, Yoda, dies at 15
The owner of the “world’s ugliest dog” has announced the death of her 15-year-old prize winning pet.
Yoda, a Chinese crested and Chihuahua mix, shot to fame last year when she won the World’s Ugliest Dog contest in California.
When Terry Schumacher found Yoda she initially mistook the abandoned dog for a rat, but the animal went on to win a $1000 (£638) prize for her looks.
She had short tufts of hair, a protruding tongue and skinny bald legs.
The dog, which died in her sleep on Saturday, only weighed 1.8lbs (0.8kg) and lived a rough life before she was found behind an apartment building.
After the competition Yoda appeared on television and even featured in makeover show.
Ms Schumacher says she will miss “her funny little ways” but she is “comforted knowing she will be joining my Mom and Dad who loved her so much. Her memories will live on forever.”
Source: BBC News
- This entry was posted on Monday, March 19th, 2012 at 3:10 pm
Doggy double act & half price sale at Crufts!
Visitors to this year’s Crufts will be able to take advantage of advice from our Vet Joe Inglis and Canine Behaviour Specialist, Jez Rose, who will be offering free Pet Health and Behavioural advice on Saturday 10th and Sunday 11th March (from 10am to 4pm). While Joe will be on hand to answer questions relating to canine health, diet and fitness, Jez will be advising on how to prevent and correct common behaviour and temperament problems and how to use Vet’s Kitchen Natural Dog food to train your dog!
When it comes to managing canine behaviour, Jez Rose is a leading expert. “I provide efficacious methods to help manage and fix behavioural problems which can frequently stem from health problems, which is why Joe and I make a great team.” Jez explains that not only is Joe’s veterinary expertise invaluable but his Vet’s Kitchen Natural Dog Food range is a winner too. “In managing behaviour, food is frequently used as a primary resource and it is essential that it is good and tasty. The first time I tried my dogs with a sample of Vet’s Kitchen I knew it would work for me so I have switched from using fresh food to Vet’s Kitchen dog food for training.”
As a vet, Joe Inglis is aware of the factors that can influence a dog’s behaviour and once he has ruled out any health issues he will often endorse a referral to a Canine behaviourist. In fact, Jez says that around 85% of his work comes from referrals from Veterinary professionals. Joe said: “I think dog owners will be surprised how often vets and behaviourists work together to provide solutions to behavioural problems, but in my experience, good nutrition and a healthy lifestyle are key.”
We are also offering a special 50% show discount off on all our products during Crufts!
- This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 29th, 2012 at 3:52 pm
Win a holiday with your dog!
We have joined forces with UK website Dog Friendly to produce our first exclusive on pack consumer promotion. Dog Friendly maintains the UK’s largest database of places to stay and visit that welcome dog owners and their pets.
The promotion, which starts at the beginning of February 2012, offers customers the chance to win hundreds of prizes worth a total of £300K. These include a luxury dog-friendly cottage holiday, £200 vouchers towards dog friendly cottage short breaks, Dog Friendly holiday guide books, dog toys, a consultation with leading canine behaviourist, Jez Rose and the chance to sign up for free membership to Dog Friendly worth £5.99.
Vet’s Kitchen’s MD, Joe Inglis, said: “As well as being passionate about feeding natural, high quality foods to our pets, I also believe that they should be treated as a member of the family – and being able to take them with you on holiday can only add to the enjoyment of dog ownership. By running this promotion with Dog Friendly, I hope we will encourage more dog owners to take their dogs on holiday with the family.”
Customers should look out for promotional bags of Vet’s Kitchen natural dog food bearing eye-catching on pack stickers which will be available in over 1700 UK retail outlets including Asda, Ocado, Sainsbury’s, Waitrose and independents. Each promotional bag will contain a special card with a unique code which customers enter online at www.dogfriendly.co.uk/vetskitchen. The campaign is forecast to run for up to six months.
- This entry was posted on Wednesday, February 29th, 2012 at 3:36 pm
Cruel Russian owner gives helpless Coco the cat body art matching his own
Animal rights campaigners have reacted with fury after a vile pet owner decided to give his cat a tattoo matching his own.
In a disgusting stunt Timur Rimut, from Tatarsan, Russia, filmed himself permanently marking his hairless sphinx Coco with the phrase ‘Carpe Diem’, which is Latin for ‘seize the day’.
The 24-year-old artist has the same tattoo on his chest and drew the design on the poor animal in pen before sedating her and branding the cat for life.
But to add insult to injury, it appears he misspelled the famous phrase, scrawling ‘Carpe Deem’ on Coco’s chest instead.
‘We are shocked to see these images. As a charity that cares passionately about cats and seeks to inform the public about responsible pet ownership, we do not agree with people treating pets as fashion accessories in anyway,’ a spokesman for UK charity Cats Protection said.
‘Animals should be anaesthetised for veterinary reasons only, not cosmetic purposes. We hope that people will realise that it is unacceptable to treat animals in this manner.’
The video is so graphic MailOnline has decided not to publish it.
Rimut also has a tattoo of his cat, showing the new tattoo, on his own forearm.
The video has been posted on You Tube, and attracted a flurry of angry complaints.
Source: Daily Mail
- This entry was posted on Sunday, February 19th, 2012 at 7:51 pm
Could your dog give life-saving blood?
WE know about the importance of giving blood to help human victims of illness and accident, but now there is a push for doggy donors to boost supplies at a Pet Blood Bank.
Shitsu puppy Molly would have died without an emergency blood transfusion after contracting a severe form of anaemia last year, which attacked her red blood cells.
She had two emergency blood transfusions at Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital which saved her life.
Now her owner Debs Marshall, 53, from Milton-under-Wychwood, is appealing for other owners to volunteer their pets as life-saving blood donors.
Mrs Marshall said: “Molly became ill in February last year and started fainting. Quite quickly she became very ill.
“I’d never even thought about what happens when a dog needs blood, so it was a huge relief when the vet said there was a blood bank they could use. Molly, who is now 18 months old, made a quick recovery and is now right as rain, but the blood bank needs more dogs to give blood.”
Lynne Tyler, head nurse at the veterinary hospital, said: “Just like humans, ill or injured pets sometimes need a blood transfusion to save their lives.
“Local veterinary practices do not have blood stored on site in the same way that a human hospital would , so up until now we have depended on local pet owners who have volunteered their pet to be a donor. We keep a list of people who have said that if we have an emergency we can call them any time and they will bring their pet straight to us so that we can take some blood. But recently, a national not-for-profit organisation has been set up called the Pet Blood Bank (PBB).
“They hold blood-collection days at vet practices around the country in which they collect blood from at least 20 dogs at each practice.
“The blood is then taken back to their headquarters and processed, typed and stored. Vets can then order blood of the type they need for guaranteed next day delivery.”
Blood is taken from a dog via a needle placed into the animal’s jugular vein. But the process is quite painless and it only takes a few minutes to collect a full unit of blood.
Mrs Tyler said: “Having blood available can mean life or death to someone’s pet and we would love as many dogs as possible to join our sessions.
“It’s quick, relatively painless and they get a biscuit afterwards.”
Dog blood donors must be healthy, fully vaccinated, not on medication, between one and eight years old, large (over 25 kg), have never travelled abroad and have a good temperament.
People interested in volunteering their pet as a donor for emergencies or attending the next dog blood collection session, should call Chipping Norton Veterinary Hospital on 01608 642547. To find out more and see a video of blood collection from a dog visit petbloodbankuk.org
Source: Oxford Mail
- This entry was posted on Thursday, February 9th, 2012 at 4:03 pm