There’s great mews from The Times for cat owners and lovers!

On Monday 3^rd July 2023, reporter Kieran Gair (thank you, Kieran!) reported that the first feline blood bank in the UK to provide treatment for cats with medical conditions is to be set up by Banco de Sangue Animal.

They are a Portuguese group, and they already have animal blood banks in Portugal, Spain and Belgium. 

Like us, cats must be transfused with a matching type of blood, but they just have two blood types, namely A and B. 

Cats are prone to blood born disease, and there’s been a problem for cats because there hasn’t been appropriate blood available. 

If you think your cat would be a suitable donor, you can register him or her on the Pet Blood Bank UK’s website.

Pets need blood donors too!
Visit the Pet Blood Bank UK here.

If you think your cat could be a blood donor, he or she needs to be a large, healthy cat who likes being handled and who likes spending time with people.  And he or she should be between 1 and 10 years old, and weight no more than 9 pounds.  They also must be up to date with vaccinations and treatments. 

It takes about 10 to 15 minutes to do a cat blood donation – on average – but the whole process takes 4 hours, since the vet needs to make sure the cat is properly hydrated before they head home.

The Times say that the Royal Veterinary College stores feline blood but only for the animals treated at or referred to it, since it is a transfusion service as opposed to be a blood bank.

Visit the Pet Blood Bank UK here.  

PS Their own recent news is that they are working with Blood Bikes 4 Pets – this is a new, soon to be charity, and it’s working to create the UK’s first professional motorbike blood delivery service for pets!    They service will operate with volunteer riders who can safely take blood products across the country on specialist bikes.  A big thank you to Honda who are helping.  Visit Blood Bikes 4 Pets here – you can donate the cost of fuel to help!  We wish them God speed and all the best 

PPS The Pet Food Blood Bank UK  also need blood from dogs….. fetch more information here.  

And they are supporting the alpaca community by offering a collection kit and blood processing service for alpaca vets.  Find out more

This  June, those lovely folk at Pooch & Mutt say, Move those paws and Get Outdoors! 

They have created an range of natural meals treats and supplements that both does good and tastes good giving dogs the ingredients they need to boost their mood and behaviour and their  physical health.

And they've got some barking discount codes for you!

Get 15% off sitewide with the code AFP6EX

New customers can get 20% off with code AFP6NEW

Spend and save 25% when you spend £60 or more with code AFP6S2S

Go on - treat the ones you love so much, with Pooch & Mutt!

Will you get muddy for Battersea Dogs and Cats Home? 

It's most famous for being in the series with the late Paul O'Grady, who helps the staff with the dogs and to find the dogs new homes.  As with all charities, fundraising is a constant must, so enter the Muddy Dog Challenge!  It sounds like a barking great way to raise funds for Battersea and so enable them to help more dogs and cats.

The Muddy Dog Challenge which sounds like a LOT of fun, with a number of locations kicking off with Derby in May.  Other locations include Stansted, Tunbridge Wells, Windsor and Leeds - registrations are now closed for the New Forest. 

Each event has two options. The 5K route will have up to 18 obstacles, and the 2.5K route will have half that amount.   You can do it at a run or walk, and tackle the course with or without a dog. 

By taking part and fundraising for Battersea, you’ll be helping us provide love and care for the thousands of dogs and cats that come into our care, and even those that might never find their way to a Battersea centre.

However, you can also do a DIY Muddy Dog Challenge - you choose your own date.  It could be fun to get a group of your doggy friends together and do a walk as a challenge.

There's lots of information on the "On the day" page, where you can find out what to expect and what to bring if you are taking part in an event.  You can register here

Find out more about the Muddy Dog Challenge and register here

By the way, Battersea also have a list of things you could donate that you don't need any more - here it is.

Remembering Paul O'Grady and For the Love of Dogs

Battersea Dogs and Cats Home has been in the news a lot recently, since Paul O'Grady sadly passed away.   Paul O'Grady had presented the amazing "For the Love of Dogs", helping dogs from Battersea to cope with their time there and to find new, lovng homes.  Battersea have a tribute fund in memory of Paul O'Grady, and if you can't get to the fundraisers for Getting Muddy, or take part, one thing you could consider doing is to make a donation to the Paul O'Grady Tribute Page which Battersea have set up?  The final series starts on Thursday 13 April 2023 at 8:30pm on ITV.

April is #NationalPetMonth.

It celebrates and raises awareness of responsible pet ownership, running educational campaigns and resources.  And it celebrates pet ownership, sharing the many benefits of our wonderful pets across Britain.

There are many events and fundraisers which take place during National Pet Month to help the incredible welfare organisations and charities working hard to help pets everywhere.  There are all sorts of events taking place, so keep an eye out in your area for happenings!

There are live broadcasts through social media plus campaign blogs and there’ll be lots of advice on everything from good pet nutrition, the importance of regular health checks, vaccinations, cleaning up after pets, dental health, prevention of disease, puppy training, kitten training, creating a dog friendly office, how to watch for changes in our pet’s behaviour and what to do about it – how to be a sustainable pet owner and the pluses of taking on an older rescue animal.   So there’s lots of learn and get involved with!

National Pet Month brings animal welfare charities, professional bodies, pet businesses, schools, youth groups, vets and pet lovers all together.  It’s co-ordinated by NOAH (the National Office of Animal Health) and UK Pet Food.

You’ll also probably find lots of pet-related businesses running discounts and offers for National Pet Month – or a part of it!  Viovet is one of these, with up to 20% off many products for dogs and cats.

So here are the National Pet Month social channels

Twitter

Facebook

Cat lovers should pounce here to “joinscratchingpost” whilst dog lovers should dig to “joinparkbench” both on Facebook.

Get involved in National Pet Month #NPM23:

• #PetPawsitivity – send a 30 minute video or picture of you and your pet, explaining what you love about being a pet owner
• Set up a mini fundraiser online for a UK pet charity and rescue
• Get everyone involved in the month – why not get the kids to create and share pet pictures and stories?
  
  

You could also share the Top Ten Tips for Responsible Pet Ownership

 Visit the National Pet Month website here.

Include the hashtags #NationalPetmonth or #NM23 in your posts and don’t forget to tag NPM and any other charities you mention at the same time!

Visit National Pet Month for more information

If you love dog programmes on the TV, there’s a new series called The Dog Academy starting on Channel 4 on Thursday 30^th March 2023 at 8pm.

The programme has a team of top specialists trainers who instruct owners in dog management skills and psychology.   The dogs are described as some of the unruliest in the country. 

The hope is that viewers will be able to pick up some useful tips and advice from the programme.  No doubt lots of dogs will watch with interest! 

#TheDogAcademy

The first programme features a ferocious cockapoo called Bear, who is driving a wedge between his owners with his aggressive behaviour.  And a chihuahua called Gina has a penchant for attacking other dogs, so her owners carry around in her own zipped up "safety bag". 

The second programme features a Dalmation and a Jack-Russell cross, and there's a barking Jack Russell with his 3 brothers joining in, and another cockapoo in the third programme.   

We then meet a German Shepherd and another cockapoo who have a  sibling rivalry and a collie who is muzzled owing to a lunging and nipping habit.

There are 8 programmes in the series, so race over to fetch more information from Channel 4 here.

I found an article on how you can watch The Dog Academy Online for Free from anywhere which may be of interest.

Do you know what a sugar glider is??

Well, now's your chance to find out!  This could be a great gift for an animal lover who loves finding out about new types of animals, or anyone who just enjoys being around animals!

Meet Sugar Gliders for Two with The Animal Experience
in Cambridgeshire
£75.00

Discover all about these pint-sized possums from expert guides on hand!  Go directly into the enclosure to meet them - you'll probably find you're used as a climbing frame, so make sure you cover your arms and legs as sugar gliders have small claws.

You'll have the chance to feed them their favourite food and watch how they interact and behave.

Use our exclusive code AHW2023 and you can enjoy 15% off this experience - the code is site wide, although some products are excluded.

Find out more from BuyaGift

Have you ever wanted to meet a Giant Tortoise?

Well, you could head to Paignton Zoo in the beautiful county of Devon!  They have a Meet the Giant Tortoise experience for one or two people, and these include entry tickets to the zoo as well!

Meet the Giant Tortoises with Entry Tickets for Two to Paignton Zoo
£95.00 from Virgin Experience Days

Within the Giant Tortoise enclosure, your guide will introduceyou to these very loveable animals.  You can hand feed them while you discover all about their unusual ways and this is a great chance to ask any questions about them. 

Meet the Giant Tortoises with Entry Ticket to Paignton Zoo
£59.00 from Virgin Experience Days

After your experience, spend the rest of the day exploring the zoo and seeing the amazing animals there! 

Please note from Virgin's website:

• Minimum age: 8 
• Under 16s must be accompanied by an adult (admission fee applies)
• This experience is not suitable for wheelchair users
• There is good disabled access throughout the zoo
• This experience takes place in an area viewable by friends/family who can watch and take pictures and videos
• The experience content, equipment used and restrictions may vary

View more animal experience days around the country available through Virgin Experience Days here

 UPDATE SEPTEMBER 2023:

There was a baby bear experience available in Kent at the Wildwood Trust but Boki has grown up now, so this is no longer available.

However - you can still have a bear experience at the Wildwood Trust's Kent site - find out more about it here!

Notes from the earlier blog:

The Wildwood Trust is based in Kent (and Devon, but Boki is in Kent).  The Kent site is home to over 200 native animals, past and present, with bears, wolves, bison, deer, owls, foxes, red squirrels, wild boar, lynx, wild horses, badgers and beavers among those living in the 40 acres there.  

Wildwood Trust is dedicated to saving Britain’s most threatened wildlife, and it's taken part in many conservation initiatives, such as saving the water vole and using wild horses to help restore nature reserves.  It's brought the Euroepan beaver back to Kent and brought the hazel dormouse & red squirrel back to areas where they have been made extinct.

And one of those living at the Wildwood Trust in Kent is Boki!  He's a baby bear whose family sadly rejected him.  He was hand-reared by the team at Port Lympne and now Boki has come home to Wildwood Kent, where he'll learn how to be a bear.

Wildwood report that Boki has settled in well, and for a limited time only, they have a Boki the bear experience, giving you the chance to get close up and personal!  It is uncertain at the moment (April 2023) how long this experience with Boki the baby bear will continue - probably to September 2023 -  partly because of course Boki won't be a baby bear forever but also because he is starting to meet the adult bears and so there may be times when the experience with Boki needs to be suspended for a while.

Please note Wildwood Kent's "Things you need to know before you book" before you book.

Good luck, Boki!

Visit the Wildwood Trust here.

Images © Wildwood Trust

Those lovely people at Green People (who produce organic beauty products for all the family) have a great gift set for your dog!

It's called the allPaws Fetch Me a Bath Dog Gift Set, and it includes:

• allPaws Scent Free Dog Shampoo 200ml
• allPaws Wild Mint Dog Shampoo 200ml
• A natural rubber ball

It's normally £30 but it's on offer for £20, saving you £10.  However, these are selling fast, so don't delay - race over to Green People here!

If they could talk to the animals, walk with the animals – well, you can walk with the animals!

There are over 20 animal walking experiences available through Virgin Experience Days – experiences to get you walking and meeting new animal friends!

Meet, Walk and Feed the Donkeys for Two at Lucky Tails Alpaca Farm, -
a great way to see the beautiful Warwickshire countryside!
£40.00 - Find out more

There's Alpaca Trekking and Entry to Eagle Heights Wildlife Foundation for Two
with incredible views of the Darent Valley.  
£70.00 - Find out more

The range of animals varies, but there are opportunities to walk with donkeys, alpacas, llamas, huskies, and even sheep and pigs and have a gentle stroll with pygmy goats! 

There's a Llama Trekking Experience Day For Two in Northamptonshire
There's one llama between two people on this 3.5 mile trek 
£120.00 - Find out more

And if you love to be active outdoors, you could look at trying your hand at yoga with goats in Suffolk (yes, honestly), and a hawk walk.

There's Yoga with Goats for Two in the Suffolk Countryside
when you can meet some social, intelligent and affectionate goats
£36.00  Find out more

What's more, you can enjoy 15% off with Virgin Experience Days (even on special offers) thanks to our exclusive code, GMS8F2CX.  It's valid until 31.1.23 and it's site wide, apart from excluded products.

Fly off to Virgin Experience Days to see their range of animal walking experiences here