Animal Tales - November 2012

NOVEMBER 2012

Bella

Cover Winner

With the purchase of any 2 Purina One dog food formulas.

1 Mill Creek

pet store

grocery

or or

CHOOSE SMRTCHO RTRT

WIN!®

ANIMAL TALESA SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT OF THE BERMUDA SUN NOVEMBER 16, 2012 PAGE 1

Publisher Randy French

President Lisa Beauchamp

Editorial Amanda Dale

Editorial Layout Jack Garstang

Advertising Sales Carlita Burgess (Deputy Advertising Manager) Olga French, Diane Gilbert, Claire James

Creative Services Christina White, Colby Medeiros, Bakari Smith

Circulation & Distribution Nick Tavares

Bermuda Sun 19 Elliott Street, Hamilton, Bermuda HM 10

Tel 295-3902 Fax 292-5597 E-mail [email protected]

This special supplement is produced and published by Bermuda Sun Limited and printed in Bermuda by Island Press Limited.

The Bermuda Sun publishes twice weekly and is a subsidiary of MediaHouse Limited. We are members of the Inland Press Association, International Newspaper Marketing Association and the Newspaper Association of America. We are located at: 19 Elliott Street, Hamilton HM 10; P.O. Box HM 1241, Hamilton HM FX Tel: 295-3902 Fax: 292-5597. Visit our website: www.bermudasun.bm

Inside this supplementBella the Bulldog is cover dog winner Page 2

Hot Dog winner donates prize to cats Page 3

Pedigree Cover Page category winners Pages 4-5

When the time comes to say goodbye Page 7

Pet sitter offers ‘paw time’ in your home Page 8

Choosing the right food for your dog Page 9

The Five Freedoms animals are entitled to Page 10

Toad poisoning: What you need to know Page 11

Guide to putting your pet on a BA flight Pages 12-13

Charity urges islanders to spay their cats Page 15

Turn a pic of your pet into a work of art Page 16

Taking care of that special family memberBY AMANDA [email protected]

This edition of Animal Tales features our first cover star — Bella the British Bulldog.

Bella was the overall win-ner of our Cover Dog com-petition, run in conjunction with Pedigree. She was cho-sen by five judges from 74 entries, submitted as photos to Dunkley’s Facebook page.

The competition was tough — as you can see from the photos on the social media site. But we agree with owners Kevin Williams and Rubens Philippe, that Bella is “the perfect dog”.

In this edition of Animal Tales, Glyn Roberts, Bermuda SPCA inspector, talks about the principles of the Five Freedoms of welfare and how to care for your pet properly.

Carol Terceira of Noah’s Ark provides tips on how to choose the right food for your dog, and Ettrick

Animal Hospital warns of the dangers of toad poison-ing.

If you are looking for a pet sitter, Sarita Bremar-Smith of Passion Paw Paws can offer you the very best of care, even down to web-cams.

If you are thinking of pre-serving a favourite image of your best friend, then Loris

Toppan of Colourlab can provide this service, creat-ing beautiful canvas prints for your home.

Inside this edition of Animal Tales we also offer you more tips on travelling with your pet. Gabriella Tamasi, global product manager for IAG Cargo, runs through the various steps for putting your pet

on a plane and how you can ensure a smooth journey.

Thomas Gleeson discusses the problems facing the Bermuda Feline Assistance Bureau in curtailing the growing cat population and the reluctance of some islanders to get their cats spayed or neutered.

My colleague Simon Jones talked to Augustus and Sons Funeral Home who have extended their service to cover pets.

Families have the oppor-tunity to send their pet back to their Canada, the US and the UK for a proper burial. The Funeral Home can also organize cremations.

And read why Rosie, a two-and-a-half year old Great Dane, who won a Purina Gift Box and year’s worth of Purina dog food as first prize in the Bermuda Sun photo contest, never got to eat it.

Wherever you are head-ing, we know you will want to take the very best of care of your pet. ■

■ MCT IMAGE

2 ■ NOVEMBER 16, 2012 ANIMAL TALES: A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT THE BERMUDA SUN

Bella the Bulldog is cover dog winnerBY AMANDA [email protected]

Meet Bella, the winner of our Animal Tales/Pedigree Cover Dog competition.

This three-year-old British Bulldog enjoys walk-ing on the beach, going to town and meeting people.

Owners Kevin Williams and Rubens Philippe describe Bella as “the per-fect dog”.

“She is adorable, very laid-back and relaxed,” said Mr Williams.

“Everyone seems to love her. She is always getting attention, which she loves. When we walk her along Front Street she gets so much attention from the restaurant and store own-ers, taxi drivers and other dog owners.”

Bella was born in Georgia, US, and is the offspring of a pedigree showdog from Russia named Magic White.

Mr Williams, a 37-year-old lawyer from the US, said: “We were ecstatic to win this competition. We are so happy that other people can appreciate Bella, because it seems some people either love or hate bulldogs, due to the way they look.

“We see her as the most feminine, softest dog in the world.”

Mr Philippe, a 36-year-old dental technician from the US, said: “We’re excited to be able to show Bella off on the cover of a magazine.

“She’s a very friendly and lovable dog. Her favourite pastime is resting, along with eating!

“She loves going to the beach and also likes to go into town and to walk around the shops. Bella loves to be around people and loves attention.”

Mr Philippe added: “We try not to treat her too often because bulldogs are prone to weight gain. In such a humid environment as Bermuda it’s important that they maintain a healthy weight because they aren’t as active in the heat.

“But Bella loves it here in Bermuda.”

Bella won the cover photo shoot as the Grand Prize winner of the Bermuda Sun’s Animal Tales/Pedigree Cover Dog compe-tition.

She was picked from 74 entries, which were submit-ted as photos to Dunkley’s Facebook page.

The contest had the following categories: Humorous Dog; Fancy Dress; Strike a Pose; Let Sleeping Dogs Lie; and Most (Facebook) ‘Likes’.

Each winner received a Pedigree Goody Bag.

Kunz Fu Kush owned by Gino Brangman won Humorous Dog, Pup Pup

owned by Brian Lightbourn won the Fancy Dress cat-egory, Charlie owned by Sally Ann Topley won Let Sleeping Dogs Lie, and Sundae owned by Catharine Jane Lymbery won Strike a Pose.

The dog to receive the Most (Facebook) ‘Likes’ was Shorty, owned by Isabel Rose.

The competition also had a special category — In Memoriam, the winner of which received a 18 inch x 24 inch canvas print of their pet, from a photo of their choice, by Colourlab.

Herb T. Marshall was the winner of this category,

with Jasmine’s Declaration.Dog owners could submit

one entry per category and then encouraged friends, family and colleagues to ‘like’ their photo on the Dunkley’s Bermuda Facebook page.

Bella was chosen as the overall winner of the photo shoot by five judges. They were: George Boyles, Pedigree sales manager for Bermuda; Stephen Dunkley, Dunkley’s vice president and general manager; Alisa Woolridge, Dunkley’s office manager; and Suzann Roberts-Holshouser and Libby Cook-Toppan from Dunkley’s marketing team.

Ms Roberts-Holshouser, marketing and promotions manager, said: “It was our difficult job to look at all photos and to select the dog which we felt was most wor-thy of the cover shot. This was not an easy task, but all of us are dog lovers and owners, and it was clear that all the photographs were lovingly submitted by their family members.

“The In Memoriam cat-egory was included as all of us who have ever shared our lives with our beloved pets recognize that with their passing, they still remain a part of our lives. We did not want to leave them out.

“The poster photo of Tizzy, the German Shepherd for this category, left her loving family the day prior to the beginning of the promotion and so was fittingly focused on as the promotional dog for this category.

“At Pedigree, everything we do is for the love of dogs.

“The Pedigree promotion through Facebook proved to be extremely fun. To all our participants, thank you for participating. We had a lot of fun and certainly hope you did too.” ■

FOR TIPS on health, food, beauty, grooming, training, socialization and safety, visit ‘All Things Dog’ at www.pedigree.com

■ PHOTO BY KAGEAKI SMITH

LOVING GAZE: Bella is ‘the perfect dog’, say co-owners Kevin Williams and Rubens Philippe (pictured).

THE BERMUDA SUN ANIMAL TALES: A SPECIAL ADVERTISING SUPPLEMENT NOVEMBER 16, 2012 ■ 3

BY AMANDA [email protected]

Cats and dogs are renowned for not getting on, but the winner of our Pet Pix Hot Dog contest has proven otherwise, with a generous donation to Bermuda’s felines.

Rosie, a two-and-a-half year old Great Dane, won a Purina Gift Box and year’s worth of Purina dog food as first prize in the Bermuda Sun photo contest.

Owner Ali Watlington however, exchanged the food — donated by BGA — for cat food. Her and Rosie then divided the 260 cans between the Bermuda SPCA and Susan Petty Franklin, a friend who looks after stray cats in Pembroke.

Ms Watlington, an under-writer at Chartis, said: “We were surprised to win the photo contest as it was a tough competition.

“My family and I have quite a few charities we like to support, of which the SPCA is one of them. But these days (in the economic downturn) it’s not easy to give money to all the charities you want to sup-port.

“We’ve had cats from the SPCA in the past and so we wanted to give something back.

“BGA were extremely generous and so this proved

to be an easy way for us to do that.

“BGA exchanged the dog food for cat food. We gave half to the SPCA and half to a friend, Susan Petty Franklin, who looks after stray cats, getting them spade and neutered. She then rehomes them, so I think what she does is amazing.

“Rosie is not a big cat

lover but she got some toys and treats in the BGA gift basket and so she is happy.

“The year’s supply of food was a very generous prize and I couldn’t imagine keeping it all, as there are people in greater need than we are.”

Shelby Rodrigues, SPCA kennel and facilities man-ager, said: “We are very appreciative of this gift. It

came during the height of our kitten season, when any extra cat food is especially welcome.

“We certainly need it as we can go through two to three cases a week between the different areas of the shelter.” ■

FOR MORE information on the Bermuda SPCA, call 236-7333 or see www.spca.bm

Hot Dog winner donates prize to cats

■ PHOTO SUPPLIED

CAN’T LOOK: Rosie the Great Dane does not looked impressed with her owner Ali Watlington who decided to exchange her winnings for cat food.


Winner: Kung Fu Kush

Owned by Gino Brangman

■ HUMOROUS DOG

Owner receives Pedigree Winners Package

■ STRIKE A POSE

Winner: Sundae

Owned by Catharine Jane Lymbery

■ LET SLEEPING DOGS LIE

Winner: Charlie

Owned by Sally Ann Topley

Owner receives Pedigree Prize Package


■ PHOTOS SUPPLIED

Pedigree Cover Page category winners


■ MOST (FACEBOOK) ‘LIKES’

■ IN MEMORIAM

In memory of Jasmine’s Declaration

Owned by Herb T. Marshall

Winner: Pup Pup

Owned by Brian Lightbourn

■ FANCY DRESS

■ PHOTOS SUPPLIED

Winner: Shorty

Owned by Isabel Rose


Owner receives receives 18” x 24” canvas of a picture of winners choice from ColourLab




BY SIMON [email protected]

For many families a pet is part of the family.

So when the time comes to say goodbye to your faith-ful companion the chances are you will want to make sure you do the best for your dog or cat and do what is right for them.

This is why D. H. Augustus and Sons Funeral Home on Elliott Street in Hamilton has extended its services to cover pets.

For more than a decade now the funeral home has given families the opportu-nities to send their pet back home, whether it is Canada, the US, or even the UK for a proper burial.

And it has also provided a service whereby pet owners can send their dogs or cats away for cremation and have the ashes sent back to Bermuda.

David Augustus Junior said: “I don't think a lot of people realise that we offer this to be honest.

“We only do a handful of pet cremations or burials every year. We understand that pets are part of the family in many homes and families want to go the extra mile for their dogs and cats after they have passed away.

In the past we have taken care of getting dogs to parts of the US so they could be buried on family estates.

“And then there are fami-lies who go through the pro-cess of getting their animal shipped to the US or Canada for cremation.

“It's all down to the per-son's individual choice and what they want to do.

“We are there to just make sure that their wishes are followed through to the best of our abilities.”

After the death of a pet there are certain docu-ments and forms that must be completed by your vet before the body can be sent overseas for cremation.

The animal is then flown off the island in a refrigerat-ed box to the US or Canada, depending on the wishes of

the pet owner.Augustus Funeral Home

deals with all the arrange-ments that need to be com-pleted in Bermuda and will liaise with the crematorium in the US to ensure that the ashes are sent back quickly and efficiently to Bermuda.

The ashes are normally returned to the island by FedEx in a temporary con-tainer.

Mr Augustus Junior added: “Firstly we have to make sure the pet is in the care of one of the island's primary vets.

“The vet will look after the animal in storage until all the necessary documents have been completed and the animal can be flown off the island to one of the cre-matoriums that we use in the US or Canada.

“It is totally up to the customer where their pet is sent, but we have a few establishments that we have build up a relationship with over the years.

“If the pet owner has asked for a cremation then we ensure that the ashes are returned promptly to the island.

“But we have also had people use us in the past to simply get their pet back home to the US so they can be buried on their prop-erty.”

In an average year Augustus Funeral Home deals with between three

and six requests for dead pets to be flown off island to be cremated or buried overseas.

But this has been a quiet year so far and they have

not been any requests at all.The cost of the process

varies greatly and depends a lot on the size of the ani-mal and where it is shipped to be cremated.

Mr Augustus Junior said: “For the most part we use establishments on the east coast in the US and just out-side New York.

“And within reason what-ever we can do to help carry out the pet owner's wishes we will do.

“We understand that a pet becomes part of the family and takes on a personality of its own.

“Their dog or cat can mean a great deal to them and they just want to do the right thing when the time comes to say goodbye.” ■

TO FIND out more contact Augustus Funeral Home on 292 5251.

When the time comes to say goodbye

■ ISTOCK PHOTO

BEST FRIEND: When a pet is part of the family it is only natural to do what is best for them when their time comes.



When you’re away from home you want to know that your pet is receiving the best of care, in your home.

Animals will always feel more comfortable in their own surroundings rather than in the kennels, so hir-ing a pet sitter is often a convenient option.

Sarita Bremar-Smith, owner of Passion Paw Paws, offers a pet sitting service which follows attention to detail “to the letter”.

Mrs Bremar-Smith says she can cater to every whim, and even offers clients a webcam service, enabling them to see and speak to their beloved com-panion in real time via the Internet.

A lover of animals, she grew up with almost every household pet imaginable.

“I’ve had pets since I was born,” she said. “I always had cats, dogs, and had turtles, rabbits, hamsters, birds and fish. So I’ve had it all really.

“I couldn’t have a horse so I did horseback riding instead. I really love ani-mals.”

She says she enjoys giving a high quality of personal service.

“Being in a boarding establishment with other dogs and cats can be stress-ful for animals.

“I always stress to my clients that we follow every-thing to the letter. So if you want your dog to be hugged before going to work or if any other routine, we can do this.

“Our aim is to keep them comfortable in their own home.”

Mrs Bremar-Smith said she regularly pet sat for family and friends but set up the business in 2010 after recognizing the need for such a service.

“I was going away one time and my mom wasn’t able to look after my pets, as she was going away at the same time,” she said.

“I felt uncomfortable ask-

ing friends to do it but when I rang around pet sitters, I couldn’t find anyone who looked after cats, it was only dogs.

“In the end I was faced with boarding them, which I wanted to avoid, so I ended up asking a friend to do it.

“I started Passion Paw Paws to look after cats and dogs. We don’t look after large dogs but cater for small to medium dogs, such as Golden Retrievers.

“We also do rabbits, hamsters, fish — anything the owner doesn’t want to board.

“I think the thing that sets me apart is my passion for animals. I am probably the more expensive of the pet sitters out there, but I focus on attention to detail.

“I can send daily e-mails and also have a webcam service.

“I am CPR (cardiopulmo-nary resuscitation)-certified for pets, and am registered

with Government payroll.”Mrs Bremar-Smith, a

programmer analyst at an insurance company, said: “Business has really blos-somed in the last couple of years. There have been times I’ve had to turn down requests for pet sitting, just because of the volume of appointments.”

Passion Paw Paws offers two main services — Paw Time and Paw Sleepover.

You can book any service via telephone or online — consulting the calendar on the website.

Mrs Bremar-Smith said Paw Time is feeding, water-ing and playing with a cli-ent’s pet in the mornings and evenings.

A client can also opt to have the service either in the morning or afternoon.

Paw Sleepover is when she ‘lives-in’ with the pet, at the client’s house.

“This gives the pet con-stant interaction at night.”

Mrs Bremar-Smith, of Somerset, travels the length and breadth of the island in her daily duties.

“Sometimes I wake up at four AM to go around all the clients before I get to work,” she said.

Her mother Ruth Bremar also assists during busy times, such as Cup Match and Christmas.

The public holidays are her busiest times but busi-ness is “constant” and she is currently booked several months in advance.

Mrs Bremar-Smith how-ever, does have a waiting list in the event of cancella-tions. ■

FOR MORE information, availability and rates, go to www.passionpawpaws.com, call 747-PAWS (7297) or e-mail [email protected]. Passion Paw Paws also has a Facebook page, with monthly ‘treasure hunts’ and prizes.

■ PHOTO SUPPLIED

PERSIAN PAIR: Owner Sarita Bremar-Smith with her two cats, Mischo, a male exotic short-hair Persian (blue eyes) and Keiko, a female chinchilla Persian (green eyes).

Pet sitter offers ‘paw time’ in your home

BY CAROL TERCEIRANoah’s Ark

Your dog’s health is a combination of genetics, nutrition, exercise and envi-ronment.

You can have a significant impact on your pet’s well-ness by ensuring he is get-ting good nutrition.

There are foods available for all life stages and also specialty foods for large or small breed dogs.

There are benefits to feeding wet or dry food. The moisture content of wet foods is about 75 per cent while that of dry food is about 10 per cent so you must feed a greater volume of wet food to provide the same nutrition as in dry food.

Choosing the best dog food for your pet can seem overwhelming but in essence there are a few questions you need to answer which will point you in the right direction.

First, make an assessment of your dog’s health. Take note of any health issues that are being treated by your vet but also look at him in a discerning way.

Is he overweight or under-weight? Is his coat shiny or dull? Is his skin healthy or flaky? Are his eyes clear or is there any discharge? Are the ears clean and free of odour? Is he itchy? Does he lick and scratch at his paws or other areas of his body, especially after eating?

If you can answer that your dog scores on the positive end of all of these then you may already be giving food that is good for your dog. One caveat is that sometimes you just don’t know what you are missing.

I have seen people who felt their dog was in great condition, only to find once they improved the diet then they were surprised by the health improvements, such as improved skin, coat, energy and agility.

Your dog may be over-weight if you can’t feel his/her ribs, if you see visible deposits of fat on his/her back or at the base of the

tail, or if you can’t discern a waist or narrowing of the body behind the ribs.

If you can easily see ribs, vertebrae and pelvic bones, then your dog is probably underweight. If you are still unsure, ask your vet.

The second step is to look at the ingredients list in your dog food.

Ingredients that make up the greatest percentage of the food are closer to the front of the list. You want to see quality named meats here.

An often-quoted guide for a quality food is that you want two named meats or fish to appear within the first three to five ingredi-ents.

One thing to remember is that whole meats are 75 per cent moisture, so by weight a whole meat will appear higher on a list than a meat meal lower in moisture con-tent, even if in the dry food the meal may be as much or more by weight as the whole meat.

If you see whole meat as the first or second ingredi-ent, typically you also want the food to include a named meat meal.

An ingredient named ‘meat and bone meal’ is typically not as good a qual-ity ingredient as one named ‘chicken meal’ or ‘lamb meal’. Corn and grains, if they are part of the ingre-dient list, should appear

much lower on the list than the meats.

The third step is to visit a store that provides quality dog food and start compar-ing labels.

Don’t just look on the

front of the bag, you need to be reading the ingredients list and the guaranteed analysis.

When you find a bag of food that you feel may ben-efit your dog then try the food for a month, observe your dog’s body condition and general attitude.

It is best to give your dog a few days to adjust to the new food by gradually increasing the ratio of new to current food. Most dogs adjust well within a week.

Educate yourself about dog food by reading food labels, talking with your vet, talking with your dog food provider and accessing reputable online sources. ■

CAROL TERCEIRA is the owner of Noah’s Ark Feed & Supply, 3 Marsh Lane, Middle Road, Devonshire. Call 236-1533 or e-mail [email protected]


Choosing the right food for your dog

■ MCT PHOTO

FIT AND HEALTHY: You can have a significant impact on your pet’s wellness by ensuring he is getting good nutrition.


BY GLYN ROBERTSBermuda SPCA

Many articles have been written about how to care for your pet but there is a universally accepted method of checking to see whether an animal is being properly cared for.

This is called the Five Freedoms.

The Five Freedoms was originally developed for farm animals by the UK Farm Animal Welfare Council in 1979, but it has since become universally accepted as the basic condi-tions an animal is entitled to.

It applies to any animal, anywhere, and applies equally to pets and zoo animals as it does to farm animals. It’s a way of look-ing at any animal and mak-ing sure it is being properly looked after.

The Five Freedoms is sim-ple to apply. At the SPCA we use it every day to assess animals as we drive or walk around Bermuda.

Sometimes if something is missing, it can be down to ignorance rather than neglect, so we always try to be fair. We have an assess-ment form based on the Five Freedoms which we can leave with pet owners, so they can see if they are looking after their animal correctly.

Freedom from Hunger and Thirst

Every animal needs unlimited access to fresh clean water, particularly in a hot climate.

How many times do you see dogs chained up without either a water bowl or one that is empty? It is probably the easiest thing of all to provide fresh clean water in a bowl or drinker that can-not be knocked over, yet so many owners fail to provide even this basic require-ment.

Also, all animals need a suitable diet to ensure health and vigour. The food needs to be a combination of bulk to provide physical

satisfaction, and nutrition to provide energy.

Freedom from DiscomfortThis covers many aspects

and includes shelter from the elements such as wind and rain, and somewhere comfortable to rest.

Again, how many times when driving around do you see dogs chained up in porches without shelter from the rain or sun?

Most people who go to work and leave their dog chained up in the yard seem to forget that the sun actually moves throughout the day. What is in shadow first thing in the morning is probably in direct sunlight at midday, and then back in shadow again when they get home.

Lying on hard surfaces like concrete all day is also bound to be uncomfortable and can cause problems in the long-term, particularly among larger breeds.

So, at the very least pro-vide some sort of platform if your dog lives outside — even if it is only a wooden one to keep the dog off the hard wet porch.

Freedom from Pain, Injury and Disease

This means that wherever possible, you must prevent pain, injury or disease. Make sure your pet is not confined in a dangerous environment and that it is kept clean to prevent the spread of disease.

If it is injured or sick you should obtain immediate veterinary treatment.

Preventative measures are always easier and cheaper than treating a major problem, so consider regular vaccinations, worm-ing and bathing for ticks and other parasites.

Freedom to Express Normal Behaviour

This is relative to the ani-mal and the environment, as it is impossible to allow your dog to roam in a pack with other dogs or your pet cat to mark his or her terri-tory on your sofa.

What it does mean in real-ity is that your dog or cat must have room to exercise, somewhere to toilet — away from where they sleep — and company.

Too many pets are shut up in small cages on their own without the ability to move around or socialize.

Even human inmates in solitary confinement in prison get at least an hour a day to socialize and exercise with fellow prisoners.

How many dogs do you know that are kept caged 24 hours a day and only get five minutes of interaction with their owner when some food is thrown in?

Birds get a much worse deal as often they are con-fined in tiny cages barely big enough to spread their wings.

In the wild even the small-est finch or mouse will have

a territory the size of your house and porch, so why do we keep them confined in tiny cages and tanks barely big enough to move around in?

Zoo animals suffer even more. Many have hunting ranges or a territory in the wild encompassing many square miles, yet we keep them in tiny pens barely large enough to allow them to walk more than half a dozen paces.

Freedom from Fear and Distress

This is probably the principle that people have the most problem with, as it describes mental suffer-ing rather than a physical problem.

Dogs that are tethered outside houses can be frightened of being attacked by other dogs, and cars driv-ing close by.

Animals kept in cages in noisy or smoky envi-ronments can become distressed, as can timid ani-mals that are unable to hide from view.

Rabbits, birds and ham-sters are examples of prey animals that are always on the lookout for predators in the wild. They don’t feel safe if they cannot hide from view.

Once you understand the principles of the Five Freedoms it is easy to assess any animal you come across, to see if it is being correctly looked after.

Every animal — including man — should have the abil-ity to live by the principles of the Five Freedoms, yet it is sad to see animals kept without even their basic needs fulfilled.

As you go about your daily life for the next month why not quickly assess every animal you come across against the Five Freedoms. I suspect you will be shocked. ■

GLYN ROBERTS is the inspector for the Bermuda Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. Contact 236-7333 or see www.spca.bm

The Five Freedoms animals are entitled to

■ MCT PHOTO

NEUROTIC: If your dog is chained you need to make sure it has access to water and shelter from the elements.


SUBMITTED BY ETTRICK ANIMAL HOSPITAL

The Bermuda toad poses a potential life-threatening risk to all of Bermuda’s pet dogs.

First introduced in the late 1800s, the Bermuda toad (Bufo marinus), also known as the cane toad, arrived by ship from British Guyana. They were originally intro-duced to help control the island’s cockroach problem.

Since that time, they have multiplied in population and are a common sight most nights throughout the year. They are particularly visible on wet evenings; this is when dogs are most at risk.

Many dogs, particularly the terrier type breed, will pick them up in their mouths and even eat them.

When threatened, the toad secretes venom that can prove fatal to our four-legged friends.

It is important to know that the poison does not need to be ingested to cause problems. It is absorbed across mucus membranes (the gums) and affects the nervous and cardiac system of the victim.

Clinical signs of toad poi-soning include irritation to the mouth, salivation or

frothing, vomiting, shaking of the head, incoordination and general distress.

These signs can rapidly progress to nausea, trem-ors, seizures and even death.

Smaller dogs may display more severe signs as they receive a higher dose of toxin per kilogram of body weight.

There is no specific anti-dote to the venom.

If you fear your dog may have got a toad, the fol-lowing first aid measures should be followed.

■ Remove the dog from the toad.

■ Wipe the dog’s mouth out with a damp, but not wet, towel.

■ Contact your veterinar-

ian for further advice.Never use vinegar to

rinse your dog’s mouth out. This is a common myth and has the potential to do more harm than good.

The best treatment is pre-vention.

Unfortunately, certain dogs tend to be repeat offenders. ■

Toad poisoning: What you need to knowFirst aid measures to take if your dog has got hold of one

■ PHOTO SUPPLIED

COMMON SIGHT: It’s big and it looks harmless but the Bermuda toad poses a serious threat to pet dogs on the island.



Putting your pet on an aeroplane can be a daunt-ing prospect, particularly if they are travelling in the hold.

Noise, sudden move-ment, strange surroundings and being left alone for a lengthy period of time — you are bound to have mis-givings about transporting your pet.

Most airlines however, have a dedicated staff responsible for making sure your animal arrives safely and that they have as com-fortable a flight as possible.

Gabriella Tamasi, global product manager for IAG

Cargo, here describes the process-es for put-ting your pet on a BA flight.Q: What are the first steps a pet owner

must take to book a pet on a flight? Who do they contact to book a seat?

A: Ms Tamasi said: “To simplify the process for pet owners, we suggest anyone planning to ship a pet speaks with a local IPATA (International Pet and Animal Transportation Association) shipper.

“Pet owners can make bookings directly with British Airways World Cargo, part of IAG (International Airlines Group) Cargo, or alterna-tively they can arrange for their pet to be handled via a specialist pet shipper.”

Q: What are the differences between animals travelling in-cabin/checked baggage and cargo? Do all pets on a transatlantic flight have to travel in the hold?

A: “For health and safety reasons, the United Kingdom Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (DEFRA) requires that pets travel

in the aircraft hold or as cargo. The same procedures are followed whether a pet is checked in as excess bag-gage or cargo.

“All animals arriving in the UK travel in the aircraft hold, except for officially certified assistance dogs i.e. guide dogs. This is for their own safety and welfare.”

Q: What are the typical prices for someone booking from Bermuda to London Gatwick?

A: “On price, it is impor-tant to note that the final amount quoted includes the prices set by DEFRA and ARC (Animal Reception Centre) for their services, which are the tariffs set for all airlines.

“IAG Cargo includes all external charges in its quotes, to ensure complete transparency and to guar-antee there are no hidden costs to the customer.”

Q: What does the owner have to do to prepare the animal for travel?

A: “There are a number of steps owners must take to ensure the safe travel of their pets.

“First, owners must meet

all the necessary require-ments of the country of destination, to ensure the safety and welfare of their pets.

“For pet travel to the UK, owners can visit DEFRA’s website which provides details of the necessary requirements. Pet shippers can also provide guidelines to the owners ahead of travel.

“The owner/shipper must also provide a suitable ship-ment container that meets IATA’s (International Air Transport Association) guidelines.

“We advise owners to refer to the IATA Live Animal Regulations regard-ing container requirements, which provide important information about ventila-tion, construction, feeding, watering and labelling.

“Pet owners must also make sure they comply with the requirements of the car-rier. IAG Cargo customers and those travelling with British Airways can use the airline’s container size cal-culator (see website).”

Q: Is there a general vacci-nation (eg. rabies) which all animals must have for UK

entry?A: “Please visit the

DEFRA website for all gen-eral information on UK ani-mal requirements.”

Q: What animals does BA allow on its flights? Does it transport small animals such as hamsters all the way up to large animals such as horses and Great Danes?

A: “IAG Cargo is licensed to carry all types of animals and has extensive experi-ence in their safe transpor-tation.

“Thanks to our freighter network of Boeing 747-8s, we have the capacity to carry larger animals such as horses on our network. Smaller animals such as cats and dogs travel in the aircraft holds of commercial flights.

“As well as the more com-mon pets that regularly travel with us, we have transported many weird and wonderful animals. They range from rare frog specimens, pygmy hippos and horses, to rhinos, big cats and even sharks.

“Via British Airways, IAG Cargo is also one of the few carriers that is licensed to transport birds.

■ PETS AND TRAVEL

TAMASI

Guide to putting your pet on a BA flight

■ PHOTO SUPPLIED

APPREHENSIVE: These two do not too look too happy about travelling in the hold but the staff at IAG Cargo make sure they are as comfortable as possible.


“You can find more information on the animal types IAG Cargo transports on the IATA Live Animal Regulations section of its website.”

Q: Are there any pets/breeds not permitted to travel?

A: “Yes — there are strict rules and regulations that exist to protect the welfare of the animal.

“We do not transport ani-mals that are being used for animal testing or exploita-tion. We also do not accept dangerous breeds of dog including the American Pit Bull and Pit Bull Terrier, along with certain snub-nosed dog and cat breeds.

“For more information about our animal travel policies please refer to IATA Live Animal Regulations or the IAG Cargo guide.”

Q: What happens next – when does the animal have to get ‘checked in’ and is this all done at the cargo depart-ment rather than normal check-in?

A: “Animals are required to be checked in four hours prior to departure at the British Airways cargo ter-minal.”

Q: What crates/food/water do you allow on board?

A: “Containers and ken-nels must meet British Airways World Cargo and IATA regulations to ensure the safety and welfare of travelling animals.

“Kennels must have a water container securely attached with external access for filling. Pet own-ers can also attach food to the container so animals can be fed with the owner’s brand choice. However, we do not allow food within containers during flight.

“Pet owners can refer to the IATA Live Animal Regulations, as well as IAG Cargo regulations, which provide details of the suit-ability of containers.”

Editor’s note: IAG Cargo has launched a Kennel Cal-culator app to help pet own-ers in finding the correct size kennel they need to transport their animals. See www.iagcargo.com/kennelcalcu-latorapp

Q: How is the animal looked after on the flight? Do you have special staff monitoring food and water in the hold as well as at the airports?

A: “IAG Cargo has expe-rienced, specialist staff that follow strict rules and regulations to protect the welfare of all animals in its care.

“Water levels for all animals are constantly monitored and replenished regularly by our specialist staff.”

Q: What is the air tempera-ture in the hold?

A: “IAG Cargo provides a Notification to Captain, which alerts the cockpit to all animals on board, ensuring the appropriate temperature and ventilation conditions are set in the air-craft hold.”

Q: How soon after landing can the owner pick the pet up?

A: “IAG Cargo is the closest facility to the ARC (Animal Reception Centre) and has airside access, allowing animals to get from the aircraft to the ARC as quickly as possible.

“This means animals can quickly be released from their flight kennels after a long flight into the custom-made runs at the ARC to receive the necessary vet checks and Customs clear-ance prior to being released to their owners.

“In addition, IAG Cargo has its own dedicated Live Animal vehicles, giving us an advantage over the majority of airlines who rely on the ARC’s own vehi-cles to collect animals from airside.

“Customers can also track the status of their live cargo via the recently launched iagcargo.com website and the IAG Cargo mobile app.”

Q: Do you have medical staff assessing animals before and after the flight?

A: “To travel, all animals require a valid health certif-icate issued within 10 days of travel by the pet’s veteri-narian. IAG Cargo’s Live Animal Acceptance staff are experienced and fully trained to accept pets.

“As pets travel in the hold of the aircraft, they

have to be taken to the ARC where they are assessed by medical staff prior to their release. This is for the pet’s own safety and welfare.”

Q: Does the animal then have to go through Customs in the UK?

A: “IAG Cargo, through the brand British Airways World Cargo, has been working with the ARC since the Pet Travel Scheme came into play over a decade ago.

“To facilitate the process, we work with a desig-nated Pet Travel Scheme Customs clearance agent, JCS Livestock. JCS handle all our Pet Travel Scheme arrivals — collecting the necessary paperwork and completing the Customs clearance process.

“We have a similar rela-tionship with JCS and the ARC at Gatwick Airport.”

Q: How do pets typically behave on a flight? Do some get frightened by the noise and strange surroundings?

A: “Pets tend to behave well during flights as the dark conditions of the hold allow animals to settle in and fall asleep for the dura-tion of the flight.

“Naturally some pets may

find strange surroundings more distressing than oth-ers, so to make the journey as enjoyable for them as possible, we advise owners to familiarize the pet with its kennel/container before the flight, and to provide additional comfort such as a familiar blanket.”

Q: Are there any further tips you can give to pet owners?

A: “There are a number of tips to improve the expe-rience for travelling pets. Taking a dog for a long walk before the flight helps.

Labelling the kennel with the pet’s name (particularly if it’s a dog) also ensures the pet handler at the ARC is able to communicate more effectively with your pet.” ■

FOR MORE information see www.britishairways.com/travel/pet/public, www.baworldcargo.com/prod-ucts/liveanimals, www.defra.gov.uk, www.iagcargo.com, www.iata.org and www.iatatravelcentre.com. Contact the Bermuda Government Department of Environmental Protection on 236-4201 or e-mail [email protected]

CorrectionIn our last edition of

Animal Tales we ran an article entitled ‘When trav-elling overseas with your pet’.

In the article we quoted Government veterinary offi-cer Dr Jonathan Nisbett as saying: “Many airlines from Bermuda to the East Coast, and maybe also Canada, will allow you to carry a small animal into the cabin, but British Airways (BA) will not allow this on a trans-atlantic flight to London because of the length of the flight, so the animal will be put in the hold.”

A spokesman for IAG Cargo, which handles BA World Cargo, told the Bermuda Sun: “This is in fact untrue — it is DEFRA (UK Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs) who does not allow for animals to enter

the UK in the cabin so it is not a British Airways regu-lation…

“DEFRA sets out the regulations which are in the IATA Live Animals Regulations (LAR) under government regulations. In addition to these, carriers can also publish their own regulations which we do under BA carrier regula-tions in the LAR.”

The link to the Live Animal Regulations web-site is: www.iagcargo.com/iagcargo/portlet/en/html/BALiveAnimals

The spokesman added: “As both British Airways and Iberia are now part of IAG it is worth noting that Iberia is now Pet Travel Scheme approved. This means it can use its com-bined network to ship ani-mals into the UK without the need for quarantine.” ■



COPY SUPPLIED BY BFAB

Since 1992 the Bermuda Feline Assistance Bureau (BFAB) has worked to reduce the number of unwanted cats and kittens in Bermuda.

Operating solely as a ‘grass roots’ co-operative of private citizens, the reg-istered charity has spayed over 22,000 cats to date.

BFAB was formed with the single objective of tack-ling the island’s cat popula-tion and is run by a small committee and a host of committed volunteers.

In its early phase, BFAB worked to spay the origi-nal feral cat population that lived in the island’s open spaces and which had arisen over many years in our once agrarian society. Today, that feral population has been sterilized and has largely died off.

Nonetheless, BFAB is today engaged in an effort to ethically reduce a popu-lation of animals that has arisen from domestic pets or cats kept by people that are not spayed.

LegislationThere is currently no

spay- neuter legislation in place in Bermuda and as a result, residents are not required to sterilize their cats.

As BFAB puts it: “it is a matter of people either choosing to not spay cats that they keep or an inabil-ity of people to afford the cost of spaying a cat at the commercial veterinary practices that results in the continuance of the cat popu-lation.”

These two factors; no legislation, and people not spaying their cats work against the charity’s best efforts.

BFAB actively test the cats for feline leukaemia and FIV, and thus the char-ity has contributed to the health of Bermuda’s domes-ticated cat population, as demonstrated by the lower incidences of disease being

reported by the veterinary practices on the island.

BFAB now must address an emerging population of stray and abandoned domestic felines that, if left un-treated, could reverse its significant success to date.

Trap-Neuter- Release BFAB employs two dedi-

cated trappers who conduct the charity’s Trap-Neuter- Release activities five days a week.

Surgery is conducted at a dedicated facility by a quali-fied licensed veterinarian.

On an average day as many as 10 cats are neu-tered by surgical means and the left ear is ‘tipped’ so that it is readily apparent that the cat has been sterilized.

Trappers respond to calls made to the charity’s help-line which can be found on its web-site www.bfab.bm.

The group has an active dialogue with the SPCA

and the Department of the Environment but receives no financial assistance from either.

BFAB is funded solely by donations from the public. As it stands it is providing a free spay neuter service to the entire island.

RemovalWhile many individu-

als request that the cats be returned to them once they have been spayed, some people merely want the cats in their area removed.

What BFAB believes is important for the public to recognize is that this is an island-wide phenomenon that will always exist as long as people do not steril-ize their cats.

If one simply removes cats from one area, new fer-tile cats move in and create a bigger issue.

Those cats exist because someone originally kept a

cat and allowed it to have kittens. Sterilized cats in a neighbourhood will tend to keep others away and over-all the numbers will dimin-ish over time.

Simply removing cats does nothing to reduce num-bers as has been proven over the 20 years that the charity has been operating.

BFAB calls upon people to encourage their neighbours to spay cats that they keep in their yards as the most constructive contribution to this issue that anyone can make.

That, along with encour-aging our politicians to support the passage of cat spay-neuter legislation, will go a long way to further reducing the unwanted cat population on the island for the benefit of everyone. ■

THE CHARITY’S help-line can be found on its web-site: www.bfab.bm

Charity urges islanders to spay their catsWith no spay-neuter legislation this is best way to cut population

■ PHOTO SUPPLIED

CATS GALORE: The Bermuda Feline Assistance Bureau calls on cat owners to act responsi-bly by having their cats spayed or neutered to help control growing population.



We all want to preserve the memories of our pets, and as they take up such a big place in our hearts, it’s only right they should have a big presence in our homes.

In this era of digital tech-nology, you can now create larger-than-life prints of your best friend to adorn your walls.

Whether it is a profes-sional portrait or just a snapshot you took yourself, you can obtain customized prints in any size you can imagine.

At Colourlab Bermuda Ltd, Loris Toppan has built up a reputation for fine art and photographic reproduc-tion.

A retoucher of more than 20 years’ experience, Mr Toppan started his photo-graphic printing business four years ago in Paget.

He can reproduce high quality images onto various backgrounds, ranging from photo papers to waterco-lour, to metallic and canvas. He also uses archival inks and laminates.

Mr Toppan has built up a reputation among local art-ists and photographers, and is regularly called upon to produce art gallery prints for exhibitions.

He also completed the digital work for Graham Foster’s book on the National Museum of Bermuda mural, Hall of History: Bermuda’s History

in Art, and has undertaken the colour correction for Masterworks’ forthcoming 25th anniversary book.

Now however, Mr Toppan is building up a reputation for animal prints. He can

create beautiful canvas prints of your pet, from your own digital photos.

Mr Toppan said more and more pet owners are contacting Colourlab, want-ing to preserve a favourite image of their best friend for posterity.

“I’ve done a number of prints for people whose pets have passed away,” he said.

“They’ve ordered nice big canvas prints so they can have their buddies on their wall.

“In this modern digital era all you need is the high-resolution file. It doesn’t have to be a professional shot — these days so many people are taking such nice photos on their own.

“People bring in their digital picture and we then print that onto canvas, as if we are printing onto regular glossy paper.

“We use an archival can-vas which lasts for more than 100 years, with archi-val inks. We then coat the canvas with an archival art varnish that protects it from the environment, mould and humidity.

“Once the print is done, people can stretch the can-vas so the image stretches all the way around the frame. I either wrap the canvas myself or it is done in conjunction with Frameworks.

“We can put the canvas onto a board for a tradition-al frame. There is no need for glass because the image is already protected, and it means there is no reflection — your eye just sinks into the image itself.

“I believe that you should use your own images to dec-orate your home, because your images are your mem-ories. A picture becomes so much more endearing than an image you would purchase.

“So, if you have a favou-rite cat or dog, they are a member of your family and it’s easy to get a great pic-ture.

“You can end up with a beautiful image, just by taking a photo of your pet by accident — for example, of your cat playing in some flowers.

“I can also colour correct or enhance any image.

“People like to have these prints because it’s the mem-ory of a best friend they’ve had for a decade, captured for permanence.” ■

Colourlab Bermuda Ltd73 Ord Road, Paget. Call 236-5051 / 799-6180, or e-mail [email protected]. Website www.colourlabber-muda.com

■ PHOTO BY AMANDA DALE

FINE ART: Loris Toppan, Colourlab owner, displays a canvas print of a nature photograph by Chris Burville, as featured in The Charman Prize exhibition at Masterworks Museum of Bermuda Art.

Turn a pic of your pet into a work of artDigital images can be reproduced on various backgrounds

‘It doesn’t have to be a professional shot — these days so many people are taking such nice photos on their own.’

LORIS TOPPAN Colourlab Bermuda owner

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Animal Tales - November 2012

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