Registered Charity No. 205594 Newsetter€¦ · sweet, and would be suitable for first-time owners. She can live with other rabbits, and with children (handled under supervision).

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Spring 2015

Registered Charity No. 205594

R E S C U I N G A N D R E - H O M I N G A N I M A L S S I N C E 1 9 3 7

Meet some of our animals looking for a home

One of our dogs, Taz, playing ball.

Could you save your pet’s life in an emergency?

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10page

Newsletter

One Rescue Dog’s StoryWe follow Tramp on his busy first couple of weeks with us at the Home.

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Welcome to our spring newsletter. We love to keep you up to date with our animal news, and all those that we, thanks to you, are able to care for. This issue we have an extra page of adoption updates featuring some of our long-stay animals, see pages 8 and 9. And if you have room to adopt, then take a look at those looking for a home on pages 4 and 5. This includes our cover star Taz, a patterdale x who loves his playtimes.

We follow one dog’s story from being abandoned to finding his feet here at the Home – will he find someone to love him? Find out more on page 6.

Spring brings lots of hope and a fresh outlook to the year, but it is important to take a step back and look at the past too to really get things into perspective. We have some facts and figures from 2014 for you on page 3 and you can see what we have achieved in one year – and we couldn’t have done it without your support.

Thank you – and with best wishes

Liz OldroydChair of the Trustees, Bath Cats & Dogs Home

Mogwai

139 animals came to us because of cruelty or neglectBrought in by RSPCA Inspectors, these animals could tell us some terrible stories but we always look to their future and happy homes. Oreo had spent two years in a 1 x 2 foot cage, was malnourished and covered in fleas but was an affectionate cat who loved to explore. His health improved quickly and he was adopted in September. We enjoyed the odd pairing of great dane Odin and affenpinscher Mogwai, adopted in September.

212 stray animals were reunited with their familiesMicrochipping your pet is still the best way for us to find you when we get a stray animal in. You can microchip dogs, cats, rabbits, ferrets and even tortoise!

* Did you know them? That’s a cocker spaniel x poodle, cavalier king charles spaniel x bichon frise and a jack russell x pug respectively.

Contents

Liz OldroydPublished by Bamboo House Publishing Ltd, Bath. www.bamboohouse.co.uk

Get in touch with us at:

Bath Cats and Dogs HomeClaverton Down, Bath BA2 7AZ

01225 787321 [email protected]: 205594 (RSPCA Bath & District Branch)

Garden for cats We have just started building an enclosed cat

sensory garden just behind Hurle Cattery, with help from the Support Adoption for Pets grant won last year. It will include climbing posts, willow tunnels

and herbs, plus a sheltered seat for staff and cattery care volunteers to socialise with them. Follow the

story in our News section online, and there will be a bigger feature in our winter newsletter.

Did you know?

From April 2016 your dog

must be microchipped by

law, or face a fine of £500.

We offer free microchipping for cats

and dogs. Please call 01225 787321

to find out more.

1171 animals found a new homeThis included 136 baby animals (6 months and under) like Bella and Bailey. And it included 47 dogs over the age of 8, like Boston.

We met 66 lap dogsThat’s an 83% increase from 2012! They were mostly the fashionable crossbreeds such as cockerpoo, cavachon and jug*.

101 small animals were adoptedIncluding 33 rabbits, 24 guinea pigs and 18 ferrets. We also helped 6 tortoise – we usually only see 1 a year.

2014 Round Up

Brandy was just a puppy when he came to us.

Page 32014 round up

Pages 4-5Looking for a home

Pages 6-7One rescue dog’s story

Page 8Long-stay animals find their forever homes

Page 9Photos of your adopted animals

Pages 10First aid for pets – could you save your pet’s life in an emergency?

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Bella

Dot

BuddyPatch & Snowy

Odin

Oreo

Bailey Boston

Brandy

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Found a home: Patch & Snowy, Remus, Luna, Maisie, Uggi, Pansy & Tim, Zep.

Still waiting: Harry the ferret

We are sad to say that Goldilocks the rabbit died despite emergency care due to gut stasis – a common rabbit problem. Her best friend Rapunzel is still looking for a home but has a new friend - Mulan.

Looking for a home

WAFFLES

Waffles is a lovely boy who will call for attention. He can live with older children/teens. His number is BC27893 and he is in the Fuller Cattery.

MILLY

Milly is a friendly but independent girl, and sometimes playful even at 12 years old. She needs a quiet home without other pets. Her number is BC22518 and she is in the Fuller Cattery.

PEBBLES & MR PABLO This brother and sister love to cuddle up together and would like a quiet home. Their reference numbers are BC6172 and BC6175, they are in the Fuller Cattery.

TESS Tess finds the company of other dogs very difficult, so you can imagine how much she struggles here. But look through this and you will find an affectionate and funny girl who loves belly rubs, paddling in water and afternoon kips. Tess can live with older or teenage children. Her reference number is BD25328, please ask about her at reception.

Here are some of our animals looking to be adopted. Call or pop in to find out more about them, or visit www.bcdh.org.uk

Sponsored by

ALFIE Alfie is a typical collie – smart, active and independent. He would like a country home and plenty to do. He is good with dogs but would prefer to be the only pet. He can live with older children. His reference number is BD27662, please ask about him at reception.

MAXMax is a happy lad who loves to give cuddles. he is very gentle and playful. He likes to bat a tennis ball about with his big paws. His reference number is BD27921 and you can find him with his friend Jackson on A Block.

BEN & JERRYThese young boys are really sweet - they are a little shy but gain confidence with you. They would like a lovely area to call their own and plenty of attention. They can live with children (handled under supervision). Their reference numbers are BG27638 and BG27639, and you can find them in the Small Animal room.

MULAN Mulan is a young Netherland Dwarf rabbit who is shy but sweet, and would be suitable for first-time owners. She can live with other rabbits, and with children (handled under supervision). Her reference number is BR27241, please ask about her at reception.

Update on the animals featured in the Winter issue:

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Tel: 0117 967 8602www.doggeddesign.co.uk

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DAY ONEWe get a call from one of the Dog Wardens saying that he had a dog to bring in. Sometimes we get three or four in a day. He looks a bit like the cheeky stray dog from the film Lady and the Tramp, so we call him Tramp.

We check for a microchip using a scanner but there isn’t one, and then take him over to a kennel whilst the warden relays his notes to us.

It turns out he was seen by a member of the public on his way to work, tied to a lamppost. Thinking his owner had probably just popped away he didn’t think anything of it until he saw the dog in the same place when on his way home 9 hours later. He had to cut him free from a rope holding him there. After asking around the streets nearby he did the correct thing and called the Dog Warden.

A kennel is already set up with a bed, blankets and toys. The carer gives the kennel a spray of DAP – a relaxing pheromone spray – and gives Tramp a collar with a training line on. This means she can manoeuvre him in and out of kennels without manhandling him, reducing stress and keeping herself safe.

His new carer prepares a simple dinner that is easy to digest – starting tonight with a tin of Chappie.

WEEK ONEThis week is for settling in and having a routine. Even though it seems obvious that he was abandoned,

technically Tramp is a stray dog so we have to wait in case an owner turns up for him. After 7 days he is signed over to us and we can now start preparing him for a new home.

Tramp has a health check at our vet centre, and given flea and worm treatment as well as his first set of vaccinations. He is aged at around 8 months old.

He is obviously underweight, so is moved onto a puppy food which has lots of calories and protein in for a growing boy.

One rescue dog’s story

WEEK TWOTramp starts his assessment. This is a set of basic tests to see how he will cope in everyday life and being handled. We look at his reaction to being groomed, playing with toys and meeting strangers and other dogs. He passes his handling tests with flying colours – he is very gentle and responsive and we find that he knows a few of his basic commands such as sit and down and a very cute ‘give paw’.

The behaviourist for the block has concerns about his reactions to dogs in kennels and on the lead which have been very vocal and energetic. They get him to meet a stuffed toy dog (nicknamed Paxo) and Tramp gives a playful bounce to ask him to play!

He is taken for a mix with one of our working behaviour dogs, under

strict observation. Although once off lead it seems that all Tramp wants to do is leap and play! We can only guess, but it seems that Tramp has had no training for walking on the lead, and perhaps little chance to run off lead with dogs, and is very frustrated. Being young, he has a lot of energy and excitement that needs burning off and channelling through training and guidance.

Now that we know a little more about him, he is moved to a more public kennel block – F Block.

Tramp’s socialisation with other dogs continues and his carer and behaviourist start some basic lead walking training with him – and are very impressed with how smart he is.

He is neutered, with a follow-up check up to make sure that he is

healing well.

So will Tramp find a new home? We will conclude his story online www.bcdh.org.uk and on our Facebook page facebook.com/BathCDH.

We follow Tramp on his busy first couple of weeks with us at the Home.

Did you know? By law

you must report found dogs to

your Dog Warden. Look in our

FAQ section online for a guide on

what to do if you find a stray dog.

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‘Long stays’ adopted

BELLE

A ‘long stay’ animal is one who has been with us over 6 months. Some animals need a bit more time to settle or complete their

rehabilitation with the behaviour team. Some just get overlooked or need a very specific home.

Recently we have had a lot of success in finding homes for some of our long stays – you may recognise some familiar faces below who are now in their forever homes. There is no time limit to an animal’s stay with us, as long as they are healthy and happy. Several schemes are run by the behaviour and carer teams to ensure the animals get all

the attention and home comforts that they can under the circumstances. The re-homing and communications team also work to highlight them with potential adopters. One particular scheme is the Companion Dogs scheme – where dogs who find outside life very stressful are found homes where their owner is their whole world. Larry is a recent success here, he had been with us for 3 years.

Monty

Harry

Fifi adopted in 2013

‘As you can see a year on, she is very happy and relaxed! We are so glad we found her, she is perfect for our family!’

Sasha adopted December

‘She’s doing really well and enjoyed the little bit of snow the other morning. She has completely taken oven the sofa and the bed but the cuddles are worth it.’

Harry adopted January 2014‘He is the most gorgeous cat with heaps of character. I lost a cat a few months before I took Harry on and said I would never get another cat but I missed having a feline friend so much I relented and I’m so glad I did!’

Monty adopted October

‘He has settled in brilliantly, enjoys playing ball.’

Megan adopted in 2002

‘We’ve had a lovely life together. She was ‘about 3’ when we got

her so she is ‘about 16’ now! I now don’t walk to the beach

with her, I drive to the car park and walk from there. She

still loves her walks, loves food, and loves her “boyfriend”,

Sammy, a 10 year old Golden Retriever. She is the light of

my life and we have been so happy (“happy” isn’t a strong

enough word!) to have adopted her from you and are

eternally grateful.’

Sasha

Megan

Fifi

Your adoption storiesWe thought we’d share some of the lovely photos we get sent from adopters of our animals settled in their new homes.

REMUS ZEP

SHADOW LARRY BELLE

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COURTNEY

First Aid for PetsCould you save your pet’s life in an emergency? We talked to vet Heidi Richards about why you should get some basic skills.

Why would this talk be of interest to pet owners?

Everyone who has an animal would like to know what to do if their animal is in trouble. This is a very practical talk giving straightforward advice for commonly encountered problems as well as medical emergencies. You’ll be able to know when you can handle it at home, or when you should get to a vet.

What range of subjects will be covered?

The subjects range from what to do with cuts and stings, how to help if an animal is involved in a road traffic accident and emergency help for choking and bleeding. We’ll also include other subjects such as heatstroke, CPR and fitting.

Will there be a practical element to the talk?

Yes, we’ll be demonstrating how to bandage a limb, very useful for small cuts, sore pads and broken nails which are so common and can bleed a lot. Every person will be given a bandage pack to take home. We’ll use models to show CPR and the Heimlich Manoeuvre and we’ll hopefully bring in one of the Home’s dogs to show how to assess pulse, colour and breathing.

Why are you doing the talk?

It is important information, so pet owners can do basic care in their own home saving them a bit of money and potentially the life of their pet. My colleague Janine was telling me how, just days after attending a First Aid for Pets course, her dog got stung by a wasp and she knew exactly what to do without panicking. She didn’t have to go to the vets so the course paid for itself in that one incident! Of course it also raises vital funds for the Home, as all money raised will go directly to the care of the animals.

Heidi is hosting a talk on First Aid for Pets at the Home on Thursday 16th April at 7pm. Cost is £15 and includes a free bandage kit to take home with you. All money goes to help animals in our care.

Spaces are limited, please call 01225 787334 (office hours) to grab a seat now.

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Heidi works for Bath Vet Group, and is one of the regular vets in our Vet Suite.

www.bcdh.org.uk Rescuing & re-homing animals since 1937

Registered Charity Number 205594Want to make a donation? Call 01225 787334 or visit www.bcdh.org.uk/donate_today