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Microchipping pays off for lucky dog and owner.

 

Sent: Thursday, February 06, 2003 7:40 PM Subject: Stolen Jack Russell

We had our Land Rover stolen on Friday 17th January 2003 with our Jack Russell inside. Neither the vehicle or dog have been found to date so we are emailing as many rescue centres as possible to distribute her details as we do not know how far she may have travelled.

Midge is a spayed Jack Russell bitch who was stolen from farm buildings between Grafton Underwood and Warkton on the outskirts of Kettering, Northamptonshire. She is broken coated with a tan head and ears (the ears are a darker shade of tan and flop over her head) with a white muzzle. She has a tan patch on her right shoulder and another on her rear. Her tail is also tan with white underneath and is docked. She stands approx 10 inches at the shoulder. She was wearing a collar at the time of theft - this was navy blue with red stripe stitching with a black snap fastening and she also had a tag with her name and 2 contact numbers on it. She is micro-chipped. She is a friendly dog but can be a bit timid at times. Please find a picture attached. We are offering a reward for her safe return.

We would be grateful if you could contact us if you have any information on Midge. We are obviously desperate for her safe return. Please email us or phone us. Many thanks for your help - V & C.

Border Collie Rescue HQ
57, Market Place, Richmond
North Yorkshire. DL10 4JQ
0870 4445838 - Fax 0870 4445840
Hi V and C,

Sorry for delay in response. Got your message and will keep info' on file. Sorry to hear about this - I have soft spot for Jack Russells. Will let you know if we hear anything. Can't put it on our website because Midge is not a BC but have printed out details and put in front of duty desk in case anyone calls. Have you told local authority dog wardens? Let us know if Midge turns up. Hopefully the investment in the microchip will pay off.

Best of luck for her safe return. Mike Cooke Border Collie Rescue

Sent: Saturday, March 08, 2003 10:02 AM Subject: Midge

Just to let you know that our Jack Russell, Midge, who was stolen with our land rover on 17 Jan has been found!   She was found on Wednesday afternoon (5 March) wandering in a multi-storey car park in Northampton City Centre and was taken to the local police station where she was traced back to us through her microchip. She is fit and well and seems none the worse for her travels!

Thank you very much for your help. V & C

Border Collie Rescue HQ
57, Market Place, Richmond
North Yorkshire. DL10 4JQ
0870 4445838 - Fax 0870 4445840
Hi,

Excellent news - thank you very much for letting us know. Seems like someone has been looking after her - or perhaps she just has good survival skills! Very pleased she is none the worse for the experience of nearly 2 months. Proves the value of microchipping. Can we quote your case? - omitting your names of course - as an encouragement for others to microchip their pets and working dogs.

All the best for the future. Mike  Border Collie Rescue

What's Really in Pet Food - find out more here.

Border Collie sold for record price at auction in Skipton.

Proposals to restrict the availability of fireworks.

MP Bill Tynan has put forward a Private Member’s Bill, aimed at controlling fireworks, and supported by many animal rescue organisations.

The group wants fireworks display operators to be trained and licensed. This would cover fireworks which are not available or sale to the general public. They are also asking that fireworks should only be sold within certain periods.

Proposed changes to animal cruelty laws

In 2002, it was announced that new laws were being considered that will mean that children under 16 could be barred from buying pets.
Also included in the legislation are proposals for the licensing of animal sanctuaries and measures that will oblige the owners of animals to look after their charges properly.

Every year the RSPCA investigates more than 100,000 cases of animal cruelty, but relatively few of these end up as prosecutions.
Last year, there were around two and a half thousand convictions but many cases of neglect go unsolved because RSPCA officers are currently unable to probe them, because their hands are tied legally.

Animal Welfare Minister Elliot Morley has said a new Bill would cover the welfare of all farmed, wild or exotic animals in captivity as well as domestic pets and those used in entertainment and sport.
Mr Morley said there had been complaints from the public over the care and treatment of circus animals.
He said farm animal welfare also required attention in some areas.
The proposals will go out for further consultation, but could become law within two years.

Denying that the plans amounted to an "animal rights bill", Mr Morley said: "It won't give your cat the right to sue if it doesn't get ten meals a day and a comfy chair."
Under current laws, children aged 12 can buy pets and Mr Morley said it was an area which needed examination.
"Under the new proposed bill, I do not believe there will be any place for docking of dogs' tails for cosmetic reasons. there may be some occasions when tail docking may be necessary for welfare reasons and these should be considered on a case by case basis."
Mr Morley added: "We recognise that few people are intentionally cruel to animals but rather more neglect welfare by failing to understand animals' needs. He continued, "We are publishing a review of the scientific and veterinary aspects of tail docking in dogs. The conclusions indicate that, with the exception of a few specific health reasons, tail docking in dogs has no real benefits for the welfare of the animal.
"Raising the age at which children can buy pets unaccompanied by an adult and the licensing of animal sanctuaries are two examples of useful steps, so that those responsible for animals are full aware of what they are taking on."

At present animal owners can be prosecuted only if an animal is clearly suffering. Under the proposed new laws, treating animals in a way likely to cause suffering will be treated as an offence.

The RSPCA wants “five freedoms” to be adopted for all pets and circus animals. These include  -

• Freedom from hunger and thirst.

• Freedom from discomfort, to provide comfortable cages or resting areas.

• Freedom from pain, injury and disease and rapid treatment if they are ill.

• Freedom to express normal behaviour, so they have enough space and company.

• Freedom from fear and distress and treatment to avoid mental suffering.

DEFRA has stated they will take all views into account in the drafting of the Bill.

Upon its announcement last year, many of the proposals in the governments white paper were ridiculed in the media and branded unworkable. Suggestions were made that it was just another step towards a 'nanny state' where our human rights would be further eroded.  Fair comment, perhaps, amongst reasonable people, but the facts speak for themselves - we do need some sort of legislation to enable animals to live under our control without suffering and cruel exploitation. If it takes away our human right to be cruel and unkind to animals than that fine by Border Collie Rescue. Our experiences clearly demonstrate that many amongst us are neither kind or reasonable and the only way they will stop their bad practices is when they are forced to.

Concerns over organ transplants.

KIDNEY transplants for cats will be allowed in Britain for the first time if the Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons? (RCVS) gives the go-ahead.

It looks more likely that the procedure will be given the green light than the red because the RCVS council has already asked for certain points to be included in its guidance to vets, and this has been done.

And transplants for dogs could be next. Although canine transplants has not yet proved to be as successful on dogs, due to problems with tissue typing and finding matches, it is thought that if the problems can be solved there is no reason why it should not be allowed in dogs as well at a later date.

Renal problems in cats is a common occurrence and they suffer from them in relatively early age, compared to dogs. This means that if a transplant is carried out the cat should enjoy several years of improved quality of life, another factor which has been considered by the college.

If the go-ahead is given, transplants will be performed on cats at an estimated price of £8,000 per operation.

Considerable expertise is needed to perform transplants, and the average vet will not immediately be equipped to be able to carry them out. Even if they were, however, the college is insistent that the procedure should only take place at ?centres of excellence?.

More difficult and labour intensive than the surgery is the after-care and careful nursing of the animal and the need to prevent rejection of the organ through immuno-suppressant drugs. This latter process would be more costly than the transplant operation itself.

And lurking behind it all is the spectre of the ethical and moral grounds involved Where will the organs come from and how can it be ensured that the donor animal is as high a priority as the recipient?

In the US, where transplants are already carried out, organs are taking from stray and abandoned animals; but the person who owns the recipient pet must agree to take on the donor too and care for them.

The RCVS will only give its agreement to renal transplants if there are stringent controls attached to the practice. Mr Hockey said these were needed due to ?the particularly sensitive nature of transplant work?.

The Meat and Livestock Commission in the UK have updated their leaflet No 5 - 'Essential Sheep-Dog Matters' to include 8 pages of general Welfare Advice from Border Collie Rescue.

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