Get Active - Help Animals

Donkeys need logs, branches & herbs

2008-12-14T06:28:00.010Z

It really is amazing what animal charities need and how they use items for the benefit of the animals they care for.

The Elisabeth Svendsen Trust has 17 donkeys in Leeds who receive lots of apples and carrots from their adoring public, and of course they love them.

Logs, branches & herbs needed! Can you help?

But these donkeys also need logs to help keep their teeth in shape and give them essential minerals.

And they can use branches with their leaves (if still attached) to hang up around the yard - more chewing opportunities and entertainment. This time of year, the donkeys spend more time inside in the warm, so they need a little something to do in their spare time.

The donkeys also need herbs - parsley, thyme, lavender & rosemary for medicinal purposes, especially hoof ailments.

You can donate logs from trees such as ash, beech, hazel, sycamore & any fruit tree.

Donkeys do a lot for children

These donkeys give riding lessons to children with special needs, and they have been doing this for nearly 10 years, when the Eccup centre first opened. So they deserve lots of treats, especially at this time of year!

Between 130 and 150 children with special needs and disabilities enjoy their lessons here in Eccup every week, so there's lots of work for these kind patient donkeys to do.

So if you live in the Leeds area and you have logs, branches or herbs to spare, please call the centre on 0113 261 9249. Rosie, Kelly, Simon, & the gang will all be very grateful!

(And if you're looking for a Christmas present for someone, you could adopt a donkey or sponsor a ride. I adopted Moses in Birmingham for my parents' wedding anniversary present some years ago, and renew every year because I know how much they love getting updates and news from the Donkey Sanctuary and the Elisabeth Svendsen Trust.)

Think before you throw

The morale of this tail is: before you throw, consider - could an animal charity in your area make use of what you've got? Use our list of animal charities to find a charity, give them a call and find out if there are any items they are really short of. Then see what you can do to get it for them. Friends & family can often come up trumps!

Hee-haw for now!

Sally

Get Active with Animals

Artist receives OBE for services to charity & wildlife conservation

2008-12-10T17:12:00.005Z

Today, I learned that artist David Shepherd has been awarded the CBE for services to charity & wildlife and conservaton. Since 1960, David Shepherd has raised over £3 million, along with supporters of the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation.

David Shepherd received his CBE from the Prince of Wales at Buckingham Palace. And he was quick to point out that we need to work urgently to conserve endangered species throughout the world. The Foundation works to support projects with grants to save critically endangered mammals in their wild habitat. These projects also benefit the local people who share their environment.

From anti-poaching investigations in Zambia to rescuing bears in China, from working to support snow leopards in Mongolia and save the Siberian Amur tiger, the Foundation knows it has more to do.

"There won't be a tomorrow for us unless we act very urgently to stop destroying all the species around us that share the planet with us. We have the arrogant assumption that we can do what we like with the planet, but we can't," he said.

Amongst other things, David Shepherd's Wildlife Foundation in Africa has been working to restore the black rhino to a South African national park after 120 years of absence.

The Foundation's web site cleverly shows how, over the years, David Shepherd has seen a decline in many species throughout his lifetime, and how some, such as the Caspian tiger, have become extinct. He is now urging the Indian Government to do more to help the tiger there.

You can find some wonderful limited editions & gifts to support the David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation and its work on his site. All profits help wildlife. Or why not adopt an animal for a loved one this Christmas? Choose from an African elephant, a black rhino, African painted dogs, an Amur tiger or a Moon Bear.

Meantime, our congratulations to David Shepherd. What an inspiration he is to us all!

Sally

Take Action to Help Animals

Dial a number to help cats

2008-12-10T16:56:00.002Z

It always amazes me the ways in which animal charities are finding ever-innovative ways to raise money.

The UK's national cat charity, Cats Protection, is now giving you the chance to call directory enquiries using their new service on 118 515.

The charity receives 9p from each call made to this number. It does cost you to make the call, but what a great way to be able to give to cats every time you need to find out a number.

Tell your friends & family about this new service, so that they can help cats too!

Miaow for now!

Sally

Take Action to Help Animals

Please Help Animal House Jamaica

2008-07-01T11:17:00.032+01:00

Volunteer for animals and make a difference!

Let me tell you about a very special animal charity in Jamaica.

Maureen Sheridan, who was born in Warwickshire, started the Animal House Jamaica back in the 1990s because no-one was doing anything to help animals on the north coast of Jamaica.

Maureen's goal was simple – to rescue and re-home one forgotten animal at a time. But it wasn’t long before the “one” became the many. Today, this registered charity, which has a no-kill policy, cares for over a hundred and fifty animals.

Life is tougher for the Animal House Jamaica than for many other animal charities, thanks to their hurricane-prone location. Jamaica has been hit by four hurricanes within the past three years and do not know when the next one will hit. Hurricane Ivan in 2005 practically destroyed Animal House and recovery has been slow and painful.

Located just outside Ocho Rios, the charity tackles the problem of strays (dogs, cats, and the occasional horse, cow and goat) and over-breeding through neutering.

It promotes humane education, and intends eventually to go into schools to educate young people as to how to treat and care for animals. But they need funds to do that as well as to continue their work in other critical areas including the provision of emergency medical care for injured animals, and their TNR (trap, neuter and release) program for feral cats.

Because there is no volunteering ethos in Jamaica the shelter has no local volunteers. International volunteers are always welcome.

So how can you help?

The Animal House Jamaica needs anything and everything: supplies, money and willing hands.

Donate on-line to Animal House Jamaica – every bit helps and goes directly to the animals

Tell animal-lovers about the Animal House Jamaica. Make a donation to it for their birthday or Christmas present, rather than giving them a gift.

Going to Jamaica on holiday? Give a day or more of your holiday to help out. In the past, two students from Calgary, Canada, and two vet students from Montreal, Canada, have recently spent a month each volunteering.

If you’re on holiday in Jamaica and can’t volunteer, you could still visit to donate supplies or funds. Or if you have friends who are visiting there, they could take supplies over for you.

If you know of any animal lovers living in Jamaica, tell them about the charity. Would they be interested in volunteering and making a difference to the animals there?

All the animals at the charity are available for adoption. Can you offer an animal a home? Do you know of anyone else who could?

Please help! You can visit the charity’s web site at http://www.theanimalhousejamaica.org/

Volunteer for animals and make a difference.

Land and animal conservation

2008-06-20T12:11:00.006+01:00

Land and Animal Conservation

One of the things we've been noticing recently is the number of people who are doing some really amazing things to help conserve biodiversity and ecosystems on this planet. It's really good to see that there are people who care passionately about the planet and want to do something to improve the state we are in.

So we've started up a web page about land and animal conservation with examples of what people are doing. We've included links to re-wilding estates and projects to protect the habitat in particular areas, plus articles on people who have bought a considerable amount of forest to help conserve it.

The good news is that there are a number of environmental philanthropists - call them what you will - who are out there making a difference, and you can play a part in their mission as well. Many have created opportunties for voluntary work, either just for a couple of weeks or longer.

Do visit this page and see for yourself!

Spare a thought for the pandas

2008-05-25T12:59:00.011+01:00

I have been deeply moved by the plight of the pandas in China. With just 1,590 left in the wild, it just seems so unfair that all the efforts to help preserve them should be hit by such a powerful earthquake. For starters, they are such beautiful animals. The preservation of the panda and his habitat helps protect the smaller species as well: that is, the eco-systems which have evolved over the years. And for another thing, the panda is playing such a wonderful role when it comes to improving international relations bewteen countries. In the 21st century, we've never needed pandas so much.

Two of the pandas who went missing after the earthquake are destined for Taiwan, where they will be warmly welcomed by a great many people who are very excited about their impending arrival. Tuan Tuan and Yuan Yuan were given their names as a result of thousands of people competing to name the animals via the web and instant messaging.

The welcome pandas receive when they are sent to places as gifts are important. First, they raise awareness of the situation these cuddly creatures; they act as a reminder that they are endangered. Second, they generate a good deal of interest in wildlife overall. And third, they prove again that animals can reach out and touch, often more effectively than people.

The centre at Wolong has been damaged and there is a huge need for medical and veterinary supplies and of course bamboo for the pandas.

Please click here for ideas as to how you can help these wonderful creatures.

Best wishes

Sally

Sally Longson
Take Action to Help Animals.
http://www.takeaction2helpanimals.com/

Disaster for People and Animals

2008-05-13T08:48:00.004+01:00

It's been a fairly horrid two weeks so far as disasters go around the world.

First, Burma, where estimates of possible deaths as a result of the cyclone run to 1.5 million.

Second, China: an earthquake of 7.9 magnitude. 10,000 possible deaths, maybe more - who knows?

What has been amazing is the will of people to help; and the way the world is organising itself to help and the speed with which it helps, given distances and conditions in the affected areas.

For however big and overwhelming the disaster, there will be something each and everyone of us can do to help. If we all chip in and do a tiny bit, that's a collective lot.

Wherever collections are being made to help those most affective, why not be an organiser at work and ask for a donation from everyone to save them from finding out themselves?

At times like this, it's important to be open minded as to what the local people need in terms of their lifestyle, rather than our own.

When we set up Take Action to Help Animals, we wondered how soon it would be before someone came to us and said, Why animals? What about people? Surely they are more important? To date, we have received one such question, but what was more about asking whether anyone had said that to us.

The point is that, when it comes to giving for animals in disasters, there are 4 very humane reasons to do it:

Many locals depend on their animals for their livelihood. They need them and won't survive without them. Animals provide their milk, butter, cheese and for some, their meat. They provide their tranpsort, they bear heavy loads, they work alongside their human counterparts in the fields. In some cases, their manure even heats their owners' homes.
The balance of nature is affected. The more species that die out, the harder it will be for planet earth to soften the blow of events such as we see in China and Burma. There will be fewer layers of nature to protect the delicate balance which has evolved over thousands of years.
Animals and people share this planet. We all have a responsibility to care for each other. The selfishness and greed of many people is increasingly impacting on the lives of animals yes, but also the human race. We are too much now in the habit of putting ourselves first and failing to care for those who also share the planet with us, such as other people and animals.
The more we can do for animals and humans, the better a place this planet will be. We have the talents to help others, especially in times of disaster; and we wouldn't be using the talents we have to the fullest if we didn't play our part. Helping others is a journey of self-discovery, and the more you do and give, the more you'll find out about yourself.

Please give today. Remember, we're all on this planet together.

Best wishes

Sally

Sally Longson
Take Action to Help Animals
http://www.takeaction2helpanimals.com/

Why pay to rent a dog? Help dog rescue centres instead!

2008-04-24T08:57:00.007+01:00

This week, we heard of a new service offered in a few large cities to give people the chance to rent a dog for the day.

Now, there are plenty of ways you can increase your contact with the dog, and you don't have to pay for them. Plus you'll be doing a really good turn to a number of unwanted dogs all around your home country.

You could:

Get in touch with a local animal sanctuary, rescue centre, or charity and ask if you can help out with dog walking.
Offer to walk a dog for the elderly, or people who are finding moving difficult e.g. after surgery, or those who are going through a difficult time and could use an extra pair of hands.
Join the Cinnamon Trust as a volunteer (in the UK) and help the elderly and terminally ill with their pet care
Offer to help a with assistance dogs, either in their training or while they are "on holiday" from training, or retirement
Join a friend who has a dog for a walk, or ask if you can take theirs - they may welcome the time to do something else

Many people who choose the first route will go for the larger well known charities, but rest assured there are hundreds of small groups worldwide who would really welcome a helping hand. They are often started by people who took in one unwanted pet, and then one thing led to another and before they knew it, they had a sanctuary of animals.

So dig deep and really rummage about for animal charities in your area; search on the Internet, ask your vet, dog groomers, kennels and catteries, pet stores and dog trainers. They will all be in the right sector and have networks in the dog world.

Yes, there's no reason why you shouldn't pay to rent a dog for the day. But why pay out of your own pocket when, as a dog lover, there are hundreds and thousands of dogs waiting for some loving attention from you?

All best wishes

Chico

Chico

Take Action to Help Aniamals

http://www.takeaction2helpanimals.com/

Get active on holiday and lend a paw!

2008-04-08T14:36:00.004+01:00

Well, we're back in the saddle after our holiday and we wanted to tell you about a very special charity we made contact with while we were there.

In the middle of Fuengirola, just outside Malaga, we spent a wonderful morning at the Asociación de Protección de Animales Domésticos, PAD for short. They have about 240 cats and 60 dogs in at the moment, and we spent the morning in the cattery. First of all, it was cuddle and stroking time; and then we got more active, cleaning feeding and water bowls, mopping the floor, shaking up the beds and later putting down fresh water and lunch for about 15 very appreciative cats.

We also spent some time talking to Barbara, President of the charity; and later we'll have a write up on her thoughts on ways you can help, whether you’re in Spain or not!

The charity currently has about 50 volunteers, of whom about 20 are regulars. Many of these are people from Scandinavia on holiday in the area, and a good number of the dogs find homes in Finland, thanks to the energies and devotion of a holiday maker to the region a few years ago.

It just shows, though, that even if you're away for a long weekend, you can get stuck in and lend a paw. And if we hadn’t wanted to get dirty, we could have just spent the time cuddling and stroking, or even brushing and grooming. If we’d been more time pressed, we could have become members for 35 Euros and made a much appreciated contribution that way.

One of the things we loved most during the morning was how much the cats appreciated our efforts. Although many of them were shy at first, they quickly wanted to get to know us and one black and white cat particularly enjoyed playtime when we got busy with the mop. He had a marvelous time playing with the ends of it; and even tried to grab a ride! A ginger cat found his way onto our backs, and enjoyed stretching out around our necks.

All in all, a great morning, and we left feeling as though we’d done something hugely worthwhile, for which our efforts had been appreciated by both those running the centre and the cats themselves; and the memory of our morning will be with us far longer than if we’d spend the morning just dozing on the beach or strolling round the shops, pleasant though that may have been. For more info on PAD, click here.

Miaow for now!

Sally

Get Active with Animals
www.getactivewithanimals.com

Planet Problems: People DO want to change things

2008-04-01T11:12:00.007+01:00

It was lovely to have so many people come up to say hallo at the Vitality Show, and find out what Get Active with Animals was all about. The conversations we had with people were very encouraging, and in particular we noticed that:

People are aware of problems on the planet with regards to climate change

All the people we spoke to about it wanted to do something about it

Many wanted to actively get involved in animal welfare - and hopefully your visit to our stand gave you fresh impetus to move from the want to taking action

Many of you had seen the programme on the state of the albatross in the last few days and were horrified that so much plastic could get so far. Programmes like this do show how our actions on one side of the world can affect wildlife and nature on the other.

We recently read a book called Planet Earth: Our Future. It raises a number of key questions about the state of the planet and the animals on it, and poses thsese to people who have been around in the industry for a long time.

This is a little book with a big heart of hope, especially if we all act now. It points out that more and more people are waking up to the need for us all to take action and do something to redress the current state of the earth.

Over the next few days, we're going to have a short break so our blogs will resume next Monday. See you then!

Best wishes

Sally

Get Active with Animals
http://www.getactivewithanimals.com/

Lending a paw

2008-03-21T09:45:00.007Z

Gosh, it's been a terrific 24 hours. Did you know that, as part of this product we're launching at the Vitality Show, you'll get a special bonus called "52 Ways to Help Animals?"

What's happened is that because all of you in the human race are short of time, leading busy lives, we thought it might be helpful to give you 52 things to do - one for every week in the year. Mind you, you don't have to work it like that. If you can do 5 tasks in one week (they aren't long), that's great. The 52 ways cover as many animals as possible in as many different parts of the world as possible. It's a great way to show that you really can make a difference to an elephant in Africa while sitting in your office in sunny Swindon.

The thing is, that I know from experience that many animals need your help. The world is changing, not just because of climate change - we can have an argument about that another time.
Take me. I was a stray. I was what is known as an Unwanted Dog. And that hurts. I'm lucky because I found a home - I got off my backside and went looking. And that's what animals are doing to survive. We're having to go out of our way and into pastures new to survive and find stuff to eat and drink. Some of us are in rescue centres, being cared for while people come and decide whether they want to take us home or not. It's hard to watch people passing you by when you've been in a cage for a year. In the end, many of us just crawl into a corner, knowing it'll just be the same old story. You raise your hopes - could it be me, this time? will they pick me? - and then, no, they're dashed yet again. And it's worse for the mature brigade. I know because my good friend - we'll call him Oscar - told me. He'd been in kennels for a year before he got placed. At least he wasn't put to sleep.

So we're very excited about this 52 Ways to Help Animals. It will give you the chance to make a difference in ways you hadn't heard of before.

Lunch calls, so if you'll excuse me...and then I must have a power nap. All this preparation for the Show is exhausting me - I need to rest my brain and paws after eating.

Chico

Virtual Marketing Director
Get Active with Animals
http://www.getactivewithanimals.com/

The Power of Animal Magic

2008-03-20T10:45:00.007Z

Welcome to this blog, and just in case you missed the last one, I'm Chico - that's me on the left - and I'm busily preparing Get Active with Animals for the brilliant Vitality Show in London, 27 - 30 March.

There's more and more awareness now of the benefits animals can bring to help our wellbeing and happiness. At Get Active with Animals, we're going to be promoting a great new product at the March event which will help you to show how you can tap into our powers. Why? Because animals really are amazing, you know. If I know someone is a bit down, for instance, I'm very good at doing silly things to cheer them up. (Sometimes my owners don't go a bundle on my silly things, but then you can't please all of the people all of the time.)

When my boss had a tooth op for example, let me tell you what Trouble did for her. (He's the white cat in the photo on this blog and rumour has it that he is almost as big as I am, so I'm glad he's in the UK and I'm in Spain). Well, he stayed with her very quietly for hours afterwards. He helped lower her stress levels and soothed and calmed her. He didn't do anything particularly; he was just there by her side. He knew she was in pain, and feeling as though she'd done several rounds in the boxing ring. Yes, he did try to eat her toast the following morning - but then it did take her an hour to eat a slice, and she had to fend him off. But his actions made her smile, which helped make her feel better.

The thing is, that you don't have to own pets to benefit from their animal magic, and we're not talking about just dog walking and horse riding, either. There are tons of things you can do, mind body and soul, to bring some animal magic into your life and make you smile.

I know animals can't work a palm pilot, or a blackberry, or drive a car, or stuff like that. But we have the power and ability to connect people and bring people together, whether we are in the same country or thousands of miles away. And we've got the power to reach out to people that even trained human professionals who've been in the job for years just cannot match.

That said, people are very good at opening tins, refilling water bowls and, ummm.....taking me to the vet.

Woof for now

Chico

Virtual Marketing Director
Get Active with Animals
http://www.getactivewithanimals.com/

Teaching kids respect for animals - an opportunity to volunteer!

2008-02-17T16:20:00.007Z

At a visit to Crufts, I made a bee-line for the animal charities at the event, and one which stuck out particularly in my mind - amongst others - was the Blue Cross. Amongst other things, according to its web site, it seeks "to promote a sense of respect and responsibilty towards animals in the community."

This Oxfordshire-based charity offers opportunities for volunters to go into schools to talk to young people about animals and their needs, and in particular responsible pet ownership.

I thought I'd use this blog as a way to highlight this need. If you've got experience of children and love animals, and you're willing to undergo a Criminal Records check, this could be of interest to you. According to their blurb, they have a home study course for you to do, and you'd need to commit to four talks a term, once you're trained up.

If you want the opportunity to strengthen the relationship and understanding between pets and chidren - who are, after all, the future pet owners of this country - then take a lead, wag your tail and click here and then click on Volunteer as a Children's Speaker. There are plenty of other ways you can volunteer for animals, too.

It could lead to a whole new exciting era to your life and a great opportunity to give back to pets who give us so much. By the way, I don't think you have to live in Oxfordshire, and the kids are all under 12.

Volunteer for animals and make a difference.

Please help stop long distance transport of animals

2008-02-13T16:31:00.005Z

The world has the technology now to transport meat - be it frozen or not - without subjecting live animals to long journeys to their slaughter.

And animals are suffering horrendously on many journeys they make - extreme temperatures, hunger and thirst, stress, exhaustion, over-crowding and unsanitary conditions.

There is now a GLOBAL effort to put an end to their suffering. And you can join the campaign.

If you have one minute to spare, please visit http://www.handlewithcare.tv/

Please then sign the petition. It is calling for the stopping of long distance transport of animals for slaughter.

The site then gives you the option to forward the opportunity to sign the petition on to anyone you think who may want to join this vital campaign to stop the long distance transport of animals.

This campaign involves a number of organisations such as the WSPA, the RSPCA, ILPH, Born Free and Compassion in World Farming.

We need to add weight to this campaign. Visit http://www.handlewithcare.tv/ and click on the area of the world relevant to you.

If you live in the EU, you can petition the European Commissioner and the President of the EU today asking him to ensure EU welfare standards rigorously. Although the EU already has many laws on this area, they are not being enforced, and as a result many thousands of animals are suffering.

It only takes a minute and a couple of clicks to add your voice and take one small action. Together we can make a difference.

Best wishes

Sally

Sally Longson
http://www.takeaction2helpanimals.com/
Work out how you can help animals
http://www.getactivewithanimals.com/
Boost your wellbeing with animals
http://www.animalhumanwellbeing.com/
Learn more about the animal human bond

Tack up your knowledge before buying a horse

2008-02-13T13:23:00.006Z

You may have seen the terrible news about the many horses who were rescued by the RSPCA in Buckinghamshire who are now being cared for by a number of charities around the southern parts of the UK. Many animals had to be put down, while a good many more were found dead at the scene.

Amongst these is the Horse Trust, situated in the Chilterns, which has launched an appeal called Horse Heaven. Over 30 animals are now in the Trust's hands, all requiring veterinary attention and to provide for their daily needs. The Horse Trust is appealing urgently for funds (please click HERE to make a donation and read more about it) or send a cheque to The Horse Trust, Slad Lane, Princes Risborough, Bucks HP27 0PP.

These days there is a lot of very good information available on the Internet about pet and animal ownership. Much of this is provided by animal rescue charities. There is absolutely no excuse for people who own animals not finding out about their ownership responsibilities.

The Horse Trust has a lot of terrific information on its site, including the costs, care and commitment of horse and pony ownership. Their "Before You Buy" PDFs cover subjects such as:

buying and owning your first horse;
the cost of keeping a horse;
loaning and leasing a horse
a sample loan agreement
choosing a horse
the pre-purchase examination of horses

If you know of anyone who is thinking of taking on a horse, be it for themselves or their children, they would do well to visit the Trust's site and learn more about the responsibilites that come with this wonderful equine creatures before signing the cheque.

Best regards

Sally

Sally Longson
http://www.takeaction2helpanimals.com/
Work out how you can help animals
http://www.getactivewithanimals.com/
Boost your wellbeing with animals
http://www.animalhumanwellbeing.com/
Learn more about the animal human bond

St Valentine's Day....Please show some love to Animals!

2008-02-01T09:36:00.000Z

Well, Valentine's Day is around the corner, and many of us will be thinking of loved ones and something special to buy them.

If you are both animal lovers, why not forgo giving each other presents and give some money to charity instead?

You could adopt an animal for each other, or spend some time visiting an animal sanctuary or event, or just give something to a local rescue centre or organisation.

And if you're both into conservation and protecting the planet, why not consider donating a tree or sponsoring an acre of rainforest? You could do this jointly or for each other.

Many of us already have a great deal (which secretly we know we don't need). In a world where so many have so much, and so many have just a little or nothing at all, make this Valentine's Day a time to spread a little love and happiness around the world.

Let's show others we care, whether they are people or animals.

Best wishes

Sally

http://www.takeaction2helpanimals.com
http://www.getactivewithanimals.com
http://www.animalhumanwellbeing.com

How to Click for Charity

2008-01-19T13:26:00.000Z

How many searches do you do on the Internet every day? In a week? I'd bet it adds up to a lot.

So how would you feel if, every time you clicked away, you could raise some money for your favourite (animal) charity?

Well, there's a great web site called Click Now. It was set up in 2005 to help charities raise money from internet activity. Currently, it supports 200 charities. More are signing up every day.

When you use the Click Now facility to search on the internet, Click Now receives money from the search engines, and the charities receive 50% of the gross revenue. Easy!

There are lots of animal charities already on the list. If you're favourite one isn't on the list - well, make it happen! Nominate them. It only takes a couple of minutes.

Click on your charity's logo and it will take you to its own Click Now page. Why not make your charity's Click Now page your Home Page - so every time you log on, up it comes!

And if you tell your friends and family about it - well, that really has the power to increase the revenues your chosen animal charity receives.

What are you waiting for? Get searching using Click Now.

All best wishes

Sally

Sally Longson has three web sites all designed to improve the wellbeing and happiness of animals and people worldwide by encouraging greater interaction between them and a give and take approach. You can find out more at:
http://takeaction2helpanimals.com/
http://getactivewithanimals.com/
http://www.animalhumanwellbeing.com/

Please help dancing bears

2008-01-14T10:35:00.000Z

International Animal Rescue (IAR) comes to the aid of animals needing hands-on rescue and rehabilitation. The charity has offices in the US and UK, and it runs projects in India, Malta and Indonesia.

One of these projects involves the sterilising and inoculating stray dogs and cats. According to the vital campaign, Animals Matter, there are an estimated 600 million dogs and cats in this world, and 80% of those are stray animals.

IAR’s veterinary clinics, which are registered with the Indian Government’s Animal Birth Control scheme, work in Goa and Tamil Nadu to sterilise cats and dogs. (IAR also travels to those parts of Europe where there is a need stabilise the local feral cat population.) Please do your bit to help them by getting your pets neutered.

Please help release a dancing bear in India

IAR is works to remove dancing bears from the streets of India, and it funds bear sanctuaries in Agra (north) and Bannerghatta in the south. Many of the bears have been abused in their captivity as dancing bears (read more HERE); most have had their canine and incisor teeth and claws ripped out. At a few months old, a red hot poker is inserted into the bear’s nose and up through the top of its snout. A rope is then inserted through this hole.

The bear is taught to dance by the handler pulling the rope sharply upwards. Bears soon learn to stand on their hind legs to avoid the appalling pain suffered if they don’t.

Rescued bears are taken into quarantine in the sanctuaries for three months before they begin to socialise with other rescued bears. It takes ages to rebuild trust with humans again.

IAR have rescued about 460 bears so far, but there is more to do. Wildlife SOS, who manage the Agra sanctuary, estimate that some 600 bears are still dancing on the streets of India, even though this practice was made illegal in 1972.

A suggestion for Valentine’s Day.

You can help IAR by making a donation.

For Valentine’s Day this year, instead of exchanging presents with your loved one, why not set a bear free? If you don’t have a special person in your life, why not make a bear your loved one?

You could contribute towards some Bear Necessities, anywhere from £10 to help provide a rich and varied diet for a month, or even rescue a bear.

Please spread a little love around the world to these bears in India. Even if you just spread the word about it, it will help.

Best wishes

Sally

http://www.takeaction2helpanimals.com/
http://www.animalhumanwellbeing.com/
http://www.getactivewithanimals.com/

Don't give presents - donate to an Animal Charity instead

2007-12-21T10:32:00.000Z

Well, it's that time of year again when festive fever is reaching its height and many of us are desparately trying to think of inspiring gift ideas for those people who just have everything.

If this sounds like you, and you're trying to think of something to get an animal lover, our previous blog suggested adopting their favourite animal for them.

Now that Christmas Day is practically upon us, and posting time is very short, if you're still scrambling around to think of something, may we make a suggestion?

What we've done this year with a couple of people who are in the "they have everything" category is to make a donation to an animal charity on their behalf. We've simply written a cheque to the charity and sent it in to them with a little note to say it's on behalf of whoever. We had a chat about it with them, and they're going to do the same with us.

Please don't think we're trying to be smug or saintly about this idea. We haven't given anymore than what we would ordinarily spend on the folk involved, and if we were saints, that's what we would have done.

We've really reached a point where, with so much going on in the world, it seems that we've just got into the habit of buying presents for the sake of it. It's a habit to start breaking; and so we just wanted to let you know what we've done to give you the idea of doing the same too.

In organising this whole thing, we've had conversations with people we wouldn't ordinarily have had at the charities themselves; perhaps we've made new friends for the future - and most important of all, we've been able to help animals directly.

Have a very Happy Christmas, everyone.

Sally

PS Please note our new site to help animals at http://www.takeaction2helpanimals.com/ with its six point plan. Why not give it a go between Christmas and New Year and make 2008 your year to really help animals and make a difference? The plan is absolutely FREE to work through!

Adopt an Animal this Christmas

2007-12-10T09:59:00.001Z

Christmas is fast approaching, and for those of you who just don't know what to get the person who has everything, what about adopting their favourite animal for them?

Most animal charities, great and small, offer animals up for adoption or sponsorship. That doesn't mean the animal comes to live with you in your home. Schemes vary, but most charities will send the recipient things such as:

a regular newsletter, often by post or perhaps by email
a certificate or greetings card
a t-shirt or soft toy of your cuddly animal
a photo of their adopted animal and report on his or her progress
information about the species

As said, the package varies from one charity to another; and so does cost, in part depending on the animal; we've adopted a polar bear from Care for the Wild for £24.95 a year.

Alternatively, why not suggest friends and relatives who are trying to think what to get you for Christmas (or your birthday) an animal for adoption?

We've got a long listing of animal charities in the UK which may help you at the Animal Human Wellbeing site and a link through to charities elsewhere in the world too. Don't forget the smaller sanctuaries and groups which work to help animals in your area but may not be registered as charities, owing to the sheer weight of administration (and cost in terms of money and time).

Keep well and happy

Sally

Sally Longson
Action4Animals (Work out how you can make a difference)
Animal Human Wellbeing (Improve happiness and wellbeing of people and animals)
Get Active with Animals (Improve your own wellbeing by getting active)

Help Rehabilitate Racehorses

2007-12-05T10:33:00.000Z

If you're looking for a Christmas present with a bit of a difference, why not order a cookbook, "Turf to Trough" from Moorcroft Racehorse Welfare Centre? The book costs £10.00 plus postage and packing, and it has great recipies from the great and the good in the world of racing. Trainers, jockeys, journalists and more have all contributed a recipe with a top tip, and the book often makes hilarious reading. You can also purchase beautiful Christmas cards to send to horse-loving friends and family.

The centre rehabilitates and retrains racehorses and prepares them for a second career. Some horses enjoy a new life as companion animals only, but others move onto all sorts of different activities. They may be happy hackers or train to do dressage, cross country, show jumping and more. The centre takes up to 35 horses at a time.

The Sussex-based centre is a wonderful place to visit and you can become a Friend of Moorcroft and receive regular updates and news of events. If you have saddlery, rugs, boots and like equipment which you don't need any more, you could donate it to Moorcroft.

Do visit the centre's website to find out more about it at http://www.mrwc.org.uk/

Sally

Sally Longson
Action4Animals (Work out how you can make a difference)
Animal Human Wellbeing (Improve happiness and wellbeing of people and animals)
Get Active with Animals (Improve your own wellbeing by getting active)

Hedgehog Alert

2007-12-04T14:13:00.000Z

The RSPCA have been receiving a surge in the number of hedgehogs coming into their wildlife centres. Nearly 300 have found their way there, far more than in past years.

RSPCA centres at King's Lynn, Stapeley Grange Wildlife Centre near Nantwich, Cheshire, and West Hatch Wildlife Centre near Taunton in Somerset have all experienced a rise in the number of young hedgehogs coming into their care.

There are various possible reasons for this: the warmer weather we have been experiencing in September and October (who says there's no climate change?) may have led to more autumn litters. The tiny hoglets (baby hedgehogs) may just not be able to cope with the sudden cold bursts we are seeing in November and may be too small to cope with hibernation.

The good news is that since the BBC's Autumn Watch raised awareness of the issue, more people are simply on the alert. RSPCA wildlife scientist Adam Grogan explains "Hedgehogs need to find lots of food in order to gain weight before they hibernate, and will desparately seek food wherever they can."

The problem is that when the ground becomes cold and hard - as it does in cold snaps - then hedgehogs may not be able to find the food they need. They become dehydrated and emaciated.

So what can you do to help?

If you are worried that hedgehogs are too small to hibernate, the RSPCA suggests that you feed them in your garden with mincemeat or scrambled eggs or a hedgehog food. Give them fresh water, not bread and milk.
Create an area in your garden specially for them, with lots of leaves, twigs and brushwood. Hedgehogs like to wander (three or four kilometres each night) so if you can leave a small hole in your hedge for them to crawl through into your neighbours' gardens, they will appreciate it.
Call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 if you find a sick or injured hedgehog or take it into a wildlife centre. Put them into a large box with lots of fresh hay, newspapers or dry leaves. Keep human contact to a minimum.

Keep warm!

Sally

Sally Longson
Action4Animals (Work out how you can make a difference)
Animal Human Wellbeing (Improve happiness and wellbeing of people and animals)
Get Active with Animals (Improve your own wellbeing by getting active)

Save the Rhino

2007-11-24T10:43:00.001Z

You may have seen the most appalling pictures last night on the news, with the slaughter by poachers of three adult black rhino at the Imire Game Ranch in Zimbabwe. Amber, DJ and Sprinter were all murdered. Amber was pregnant and close to giving birth.

The black rhino's situation is critical - they are the most endangered species on this planet. The Imire Game Farm has been involved in animal conservation work since 1972. In 1987, a decision was taken to remove the rhinos which the poachers had not slaughtered from the Zambezi Valley and to relocate them in intensive protection zones in a bid to save Zimbabwe's last black rhino.

There is much you can do to help these animals - please take any action you can to help:

Spread the word and tell a friend about the Save the Rhino site. Encourage them to take action.
You can donate money.
Become a member of Save the Rhino
Attend one of their events

Aim to do one of these things by the end of the week. Please don't do nothing at all.

Sally

Sally Longson
Action4Animals (Work out how to help animals)

Get Active: Stop Horses Suffering on Long Journeys

2007-11-23T11:40:00.001Z

Stop horses suffering

The International League for Protection of Horses has this week launched its campaign, Make a Noise. Volunteer for animals and help stop this suffering.

You can add your voice to this campaign and help the ILPH in its goal to halt around 100,000 horses enduring long journeys to slaughter across Europe. Every day, horses are packed into lorries, often in temperatures of 40 degrees plus, dropping to minus 30 degrees. Many have never been in a box or lorry before, adding to their fear and suffering.

The ILPH is seeking to achieve three things:

Enforce EU legislation rigorously, which means that only those horses who have been vetted for fitness travel safely in individual stalls with food and water as required and a break from the box;
Finite journey times will be introduced for those horses on their way to be slaughtered;
An end to long distance travel for horses being taken long distances for this purpose.

You can get involved and help out with this campaign in a number of ways, such as sending emails, writing letters, organising fund-raising events, contacting your local MP or MEP, recruiting campaigners and more. Click HERE to find out how.

You may be getting together with friends this weekend. Find out how many of them love horses and then see what you can do collectively to help the ILPH in their work. Volunteer for animals and make a difference!

Please visit the Make a Noise site and send it to a friend who is a horse lover. The more people that know about this and take action, the better. Campaigns need bums on seats, voices and noise, spirit and action if any difference is to be made.

Stop horses suffering!

National Tree Week

2007-11-22T17:28:00.001Z

The 21st November saw the arrival of National Tree Week in the UK. This annual event celebrates trees and woods and it's a great time to plant trees now. Activities across the UK are taking place, with tree dressing, woodcrafts, walks and talks, and even singing.

You can get involved by taking part in the many events taking place, or by planting your own tree in your garden. Why not get a group of neighbours together and plant a tree? The Tree Council has lots of tips on its site about how to do this, because trees need care and nurturing, especially during the younger years of their lives.

The tips cover things such as:

the size of tree
where to plant
allowing roots to breathe
points to check when buying a tree
planting
aftercare

There's a lot more to it than you think, but trees can give huge pleasure to people and animals alike, so why not visit the site and plant a tree?

The Tree Council works to promote the planting and care of trees in towns and countryside. There are now thousands of Tree Wardens across the UK, all voluntarily caring for their communities' trees and woods. Could you become a Tree Warden?

Find out more about this event at http://www.treecouncil.org.uk/; and find some time in the next 10 days to get out and explore the woods and forests near you. Please don't forget to pick up your litter and take it home.

Sally

Sally Longson
Animal Human Wellbeing (Improving the happiness and wellbeing of people and animals)
Action4Animals (Work out just how you can help animals)
Get Active with Animals (A great way to get more exercise)

New Donkey Experience

2007-11-16T15:59:00.000Z

Today I had exciting news of an experience which is being offered by the Donkey Sanctuary in Sidmouth in the beautiful county of Devon. If you know someone who would adore an opportunity to get close up to one of the world's most gentlest creatures, then this day would make a fantastic Christmas present.

The Donkey Sanctuary has launched its Donkey Carer Experience, which will give you the chance to work at the Sanctuary. There you can make friends with over 400 rescued and unwanted donkeys.

The Experience lasts for a day, and gives the Donkey Carer the chance to really get stuck in and get hands-on experience. You'll be grooming, feeding and exercising the donkeys, mucking out and enjoying a tour of the farm.

Those taking part will receive a certificate, a framed photo of them with the donkeys, a t-shirt, lunch and refreshments (now these include a Devon Cream Tea and I can highly recommend that) plus a personalised donkey collar.

The Day costs £150.00 and will take place on the following dates in 2008: 15th May, 25th June, 8th July, 10th September and 16th October.

All funds raised from the daty will go towards the Sanctuary, which has 10 farms in the UK and Ireland, and also is involved with projects in Europe, Egypt, Ethiopia, India, Kenya and Mexico.

For more details visit the Donkey Sanctuary's web site or call 01395 578 222. Next time you are in Devon, do stop in and visit - it makes a great day out.

Sally

Sally Longson
Animal Human Wellbeing (Improving wellbeing and happiness for animals and people)
Get Active with Animals (A great way to get more exercise)
Action4Animals (Work out just how you can help animals)

Pets give blood

2007-11-14T08:45:00.000Z

People have been encouraged to give blood for years (click HERE to find out where you can give blood in the UK in your area) and you may have heard of two fantastic opportunities for animals to do the same.

First, there's the Animal Blood Reigster (click on that link or call 01582 883 950) which matches potential blood donors to vets who have customers in need.

Second, there's the Pet Blood Bank UK (visit http://www.petbloodbankuk.org/ or call 01509 232 222) which has been established to process, store and distribute pet products in the UK.

In Scotland, 150 police dogs are standing by ready to give blood at short notice. Their handlers are well aware that these dogs may need transfusions of their own, if injured in the line of duty, and they would need supplies at a moment's notice.

Do tell friends and family of these services, your local vet too, if you have one. The site will help vets enormously, because sourcing blood supplies from healthy dogs is not an easy task. If you have a pet of your own, you could register him or her as a donor.

Sally

Sally Longson
Animal Human Wellbeing (http://www.animalhumanwellbeing.com/)
Action 4 Animals (http://www.action4animals.com/)
Get Active with Animals (http://www.getactivewithanimals.com/)

Save the Polar Bear

2007-11-13T09:57:00.001Z

Today, we wanted to let you know about a campaign site to save the Polar Bear. Time is running out for them. We have read different estimates of how two thirds of this magnificent creature could perish by 2050 and more disturbing reports of how the polar bear could be extinct by 2040.

Whichever estimate you read, there's no doubt that the Polar Bear is in trouble. The ice cap is melting, which means that polar bears are finding it much harder to find food. They are having to swim further, and, magnificent swimmers as they are, more are drowning from exhaustion as they have to travel further and further to find food to feed themselves and their young.

Polar Bear SOS is mobilising people to take action to ensure the animal is listed under the Endangered Species Act. The Natural Resources Defence Council (http://www.nrdc.org/) has a site, Polar Bear SOS, dedicated to its cause. You can find this site at:

http://www.polarbearsos.org/

Please take a few moments (say five minutes) to visit this site and take action. For example, you could:

Print off some of the reports and read them on your way to work, if you commute by public transport;
Share them around a family dinner and discuss what you can all do around your home to help the bear (such as turning everything off at source and not leaving on standby)
Ask for stickers to remind yourself to unplug
Send a comment to the US Fish and Wildlife Service to urge them to include the Polar Bear among the Endangered Species list - the comment has already been written for you
Watch the TV ad put out urging Americans to support the polar bear
Tell five friends about the site
Join the on-line network - you can do this on the home page

Whatever action you take, please do something to help this wonderful animal.

Best wishes

Sally

Sally Longson
Animal Human Wellbeing (http://www.animalhumanwellbeing.com/)
Get Active with Animals (http://www.getactivewithanimals.com/)
Action for Animals (http://www.action4animals.com/)

National Orangutan Week

2007-11-12T08:38:00.001Z

We're thrilled to tell you that Trouble has had an excellent few days since our last blog. He's been eating and managing to keep his food down. He's not enjoying his tablets that much, but overall he is far happier in himself and doing all those things he used to do, which added so much magic to our day. Now we just have to wait and see what impact the medication has. If it works, well, all to the good. If it doesn't....well, our message to you is to appreciate your pets as much as you can while you have them.

Now, did you know that this week is National Orangutan Week (12 - 18 November)? The Orangutan Foundation clearly outlines ways in which you can help out in its work, even from the comfort of your own home.

For example, you could:

adopt an orangutan;
buy a range of gifts, t-shirts and items from the on-line shop;
help with fundraising, either by joining in an event yourself of organising one (You can even borrow Nick (that's an orangutan costume) to help you;
help out in the London office with administrative tasks
organise Get Fit for Orangutan events, by organising a sponsored something

There's lots more you can do to help, so click HERE for more info and ideas. If you want time out to do your bit, why not consider taking part in the volunteer programme in Indonesian Borneo?

Orangutans are in grave danger of extinction because their habitat is vanishing at a frightening rate, and the Orangutan Foundation (part of a wider international community) works to conserve these beautiful creatures and its habitat while undertaking long-term research into their ecology and other fauna and flora within their rainforest.

For more info on the Orangutan Foundation and these wonderful animals, please visit their web site. At the very least, do sign up for their email updates, which you can do from the homepage, and just takes a moment of your time.

Sally

Sally Longson
Animal Human Wellbeing (http://http://www.animalhumanwellbeing.com/)
Get Active with Animals (http://www.getactivewithanimals.com/)
Action for Animals (http://www.action4animals.com/)

Bedding to Local Charities

2007-11-08T15:55:00.000Z

Well, it's been a couple of days since I reported on Trouble's progress, and our loved cat is certainly more with it than he was on Monday. He's showing more of his usual behaviour and expressions; he seems brighter and keen to exlore the garden again, and he keeps coming into the kitchen when we're doing anything which resolves around food. That said, he still is being quite sick, bless him, so we're not out of the woods yet by a long shot; we'll know more tomorrow when we see the vet for a check-up. We'll let you know how that goes tomorrow.

Meantime, we've been thinking about bedding these last few days. If you ever have blankets and towels to throw, please consider giving them to any local animal charities in your area - animals love to snuggle up to something warm and soft while waiting for a new home.

Love your pets

2007-11-06T09:08:00.000Z

Trouble came home yesterday from the vets. He has a chronic inflammation of his colon, plus a mass which may be related to that or not - there is a chance it could be cancer. At 22, a biopsy to discover whether it is or not is going to be too much for the old fellow, so we are giving him medication and a special diet and we'll see how this helps the inflammation. If Trouble does well, we know the small mass isn't cancer. If he deteriorates after the antibiotics, the chances are it is.

It's very much a wait and see game, at the moment, but things are looking more hopeful. I must say, the vets have been wonderful and we know our cherished feline friend is in very special and knowledgeable and caring hands.

It's been a very emotional three days for us; we know our beloved feline friend isn't right; we hope that the medication will help and that the small mass discovered above his colon will turn out to be related to the inflammation and not cancer. For now, we are simply glad to have him home, and this morning he is lying quietly behind the sofa and purring loudly.

When we thought we had just a little time let with him, I wrote a list of all the things I wanted to do with that time:

I want to give him as much love as I possibly can, and the best quality of life;
I want to put together memories – almost like an album of Trouble, with pictures, bits of his fur, thoughts of his family and friends
I want to create a memorial to him - something which will keep him fresh in my memory, something devoted to him - sort of like a charity
I want to draw him, photo graph him – find all the pictures we’ve got – do a sort of texture thing of his fur, capture his expressions, the funny little things he does, memories people have of him.
Finally, I wrote down that we needed to talk about whether we will bury him or cremate him after hes's died, and if we bury him, what we'd put him in and what we'd put in with him.

I know this all sounds pretty morbid, but when you're faced with a very short time left with someone you love so much, it's a very powerful way to suddenly look at your relationship with them, how much their lives have enriched you and what you want to do with them to bring you both lots of love, happy memories and good times together.

We'll bring you a further update on Trouble's progress tomorrow.

Meantime, we wish you and your animals happiness and wellbeing. If you have pets or animals, give them all a special hug and quality time today, and tell them how much you love them. Call someone you know and tell them how much they mean to you. Make the most of the time you have with those you love.

Sally

Sally Longson
Animal Human Wellbeing
http://www.animalhumanwellbeing.com/

Trouble's Progress

2007-11-05T10:51:00.001Z

Well, those of you who read our last post will know that our feline friend, Trouble (pictured left) is not a well cat right now.

Today we dropped him off at the vet for an ultrasound and x-ray to see what is happening to his tummy. We called the vet for a pre-op discussion, and could hear Trouble complaining loudly from his cage. According to the vet, he was trying to open the door to get out, his paws were through the bars tapping at the lock. He had picked up a bit yesterday and eaten more than he had for last few days put together; he wanted a brush; he enjoyed a stroll or two in the garden.

Yesterday morning, I woke early and spent an hour with Trouble, me with a mug of tea, drawing book and pencils (plus rubber, need I say), drawing him. I talked softly to him, telling him how much I loved him and how wonderful he is. He purred for an hour, solidly. During the day, every time I went past our sitting room door, I peeped in to see how he was. Today before taking him into the vets, my husband and I each had a special cuddle with our cat, again telling him how very special he is and how much we love him.

We will be calling the vets' later to see how he is and when we can pick him up. Long term prognosis right now: possibly could be a tumour or an inflammation of his colon.

We need to make sure that all our decisions are based on what's best for Trouble and not ourselves.

Again, as I mentioned yesterday, if you are a pet owner, please make sure you give your pet and yourself quality time together. Talk to your pet, stroke him or her, play with them, give them a brush or a cuddle. Tell them how much you mean to them. Ask yourself whether you are falling into a habit of taking your pet for granted, someone who is always there ready to welcome you, and how much quality love and attention you're really giving them.

We'll be back later with news, as and when we have it.

Animals are Great Friends

2007-11-04T15:33:00.000Z

Well, today is a very worrying day in our household.

Our 22 year old pussy cat, Trouble, pictured to the left, is not well. He keeps being sick after eating, and antibiotics haven't helped. Our vets have been marvellous, and the next step is to take him back in on Monday so that they can x-ray him and see what is going on. The possibilities include a tumour, an inflammation of the bowel or intestines or kidney problems or a number of other things. Suddenly we are faced with the very close loss of a very wonderful and special friend. I just cannot believe it.

Animals are such good friends, and perhaps one of the best ways people can learn about the most important value of giving back is to look to them for guidance and to learn from them. They ask us for nothing, and expect nothing; they are there, loyal and loving, giving unconditional love and support in times of joy and sadness. They give companionship to the lonely and depressed, make us laugh, make a home feel lived in, and give a full feeling to our lives. As Anatole France says, "Until one has loved an animal, a part of one's sould remains unawakened."

We do not know what the outcome will be of Trouble's tests until Monday is over. We will need to give back to him in the best way we can, most notably to attend to his needs and - perhaps - do the kindest thing we can with the support of our vets. For now, we are giving him everything we can - love, kindness, thanks, time, quiet, peace; he's choosing his places to go to be quiet.

If you are a pet owner, please spend more time with your pet. You can't do it when they are gone. If you are not a pet owner, please show understanding to those who have lost pets, even if you don't quite comprehend our distress and sadness.

It takes all sorts to make a world; and all kinds of giving back to make a happier world. Animals have their part to play in creating a happier world and we need to show them our appreciation.

I'll let you know how Trouble is in a blog as we get news. Meantime, thank you my darling Trouble, for all your loving kindness and the joy that you've brought us. Our home will be a far emptier and less magical place without you on Monday.

Upgrade Your Mobile for Cats

2007-11-02T09:24:00.001Z

Did you know that you can support national cat charity Cats Protection by getting a new mobile phone?

Cats Protection have partnered up with Connect 4 Charity to enable you to switch networks or upgrade your mobile, and best of all, cats will benefit.

The cat charity says that YOU will get a new mobile FREE, while the charity will get a donation when you switch suppliers or upgrade! The scheme hooks into all the major UK networks, so you'll get the best deal.

You can do this ON-LINE or by calling 0845 890 0336 Monday to Friday 8am to 8pm, Saturday 9am to 6pm.

For every pound Cats Protection receive, a whopping 93 pence goes directly to help the cats.

Miaow for now,

Sally

Sally Longson
Animal Human Wellbeing
http://www.animalhumanwellbeing.com/

Keeping Animals Safe from Fireworks

2007-11-01T09:00:00.000Z

Fireworks are all around us at this time of year, so it's important to be proactive and keep pets and animals safe during this season. Remember that an animal's hearing is far more sensitive than ours.

The good news is that the number of reports of cruelty to animals through fireworks decreased last year, according to the RSPCA's report, Measuring Animal Welfare in the UK 2006.

In the last five years, the RSPCA had seen a steady increase in the number of complaints relating to fireworks and animals reported to the RSPCA, but last year, that dropped by 65%. This could be because pet owners are more pro-active in searching out advice for their own pets and conscious of their animals' safety.

So here are 12 points for keeping animals safe and secure during the fireworks season:

Keep your pets indoors.
Turn the TV and radio on and up to drown out the noise of the fireworks.
Close all the windows and draw the curtains. Put a rug or blanket over bird cages, but remember to allow for air to get in.
Give animals somewhere safe to hide, which is warm and cosy.
If you must have fireworks at home, buy the quieter sort.
Ensure your animals are microchipped so that if they do flee in fright, they can easily be identified and returned to you.
If your animals show signs of stress and fear, such as messing, cowering or shaking, don't be angry with them. Give them a loving cuddle and support; and if they hide somewhere, don't try to haul them out - leave them be.
Dog walkers may prefer to give their dogs longer walks during the day when fireworks are less likely to be let off so that just a quick walkies at night will suffice, possibly in your garden. If you are at work, could you ask a neighbour, friend or relative to do this for you?
Bring small animals normally kept outisde into the house and give them extra bedding to hide in.
If you have horses, double check their fences are strong in case they bolt or take flight in fear. Check on them more often.
Before you light bonfires, check them for animals such as hedgehogs who may be enjoying a quiet nap in them.
Don't play with fireworks near animals. If you are having your own private firework display, tell neighbours who have pets, so that they have the opportunity to take appropriate care for their animals.

If you see any cruelty to animals as a result of fireworks, call the RSPCA on 0300 1234 999 or call the Police. Try to get other witnesses as well.

The RSPCA has lots of information on its site about Fireworks and animals, including a poll, a poster, and tips on firework displays. Click HERE to access it.

Best wishes

Sally

Sally Longson
Animal Human Wellbeing
http://www.animalhumanwellbeing.com/

The Animal Footprint

2007-10-31T09:08:00.000Z

We hear a lot about the carbon footprint these days, but what about an Animal footprint?

The RSPCA in the UK has created an Animal Welfare Footprint, a fun quiz enabling you to find out just how friendly you are towards animals in terms of your footprint.

It only takes a few minutes to do on-line but certainly gives you food for thought and helps you highlight any extra steps you could take to improve animal welfare by careful questioning and changing your buying practices. For example, when you buy eggs, do you always buy eggs which come from Free Range, barn or Freedom Foods?

You can take the quiz at http://www.animalwelfarefootprint.com/

Meantime, the RSPCA has produced a unique report called "The Welfare State: Measuring Animal Welfare in the UK 2006". The report comments on areas such as wildlife, farming, research aniamls and pets.

The report has 35 indicators to report changes and work out how things have changed for the better or worse, using a system of green, red and amber traffic lights.

The GOOD news is that the percentage of people who feel that for a society to be truly civilised, animal welfare must be a key priority has rocketed up to 73%. It was 54% in the previous year.

This leads us to Mahatma Gandhi's great quote: "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way in which its animals are treated."

We'll have more on this report in a few days, but meantime, you can read more about it at http://www.animalwelfarefootprint.com/

Best wishes

Sally

Sally Longson
Animal Human Wellbeing
www.animalhumanwellbeing.com

Provide a Garden Home for Wildlife

2007-10-30T09:48:00.000Z

Now, have you heard of the Royal Society for Protection of Birds?

The charity has launched Homes for Wildlife, a new initiative to help people like you and me make a difference to the wildlife in your garden and/or neighbourhood! They are hoping that 200,000 people will join this exciting project.

The aim of Homes for Wildlife is to tackle existing declines in garden birds and was launched on 27 October 2007, so it’s very new. The project will give us folk the ability to transform our gardens into wildlife havens.

The RSPB estimates that UK gardens cover about 5,000 square kilometres of land (i.e. the same area as Northumberland), and they all have the potential to be wonderful places for wildlife. Even a plant pot on a balcony is better than nothing, as it provides food and shelter for insects and the like.

The initiative builds on three key things:

1. Provide a home for insects – leave patches of long grass.

2. Grow a good mixture of nectar and seed rich flowering plants – alyssum, sunflower and knapweed – and you’ll attract insects and birds.

3. Put in well structured deciduous trees, native shrubs and climbers such as honeysuckle, rose and ivy. They don’t take up much room, and offer birds food and shelter.

Remember, a hedgehog which nests in your garden may also be wondering up to see your neighbour as well; a tiny wood mouse may have a network of gardens to scurry through. Just as we have our community of shops and surgeries, the pub and the garage, so wildlife has theirs.

If you’d like to take part in this project, register for an information pack on-line at www.rspb.org.uk/hfw or call 0870 240 1001.

As well as providing food and shelter for wildlife, you’ll be asked to give details of the birds and other wildlife using your home and garden, which gives you an excellent opportunity to learn more about them.

Find your local animal rescue centre

2007-10-29T15:17:00.000Z

How much do you know about the animal rescue charities in your area?

Could you name them and would you be able to contact them if you were out on the road and came across an unwanted animal? Would you be able to tell a colleague at work who was looking to adopt a pet about a centre in your area who had animals available for re-homing?

Spend just five minutes searching out the animal rescue charities in your area. Use a search engine such as google, or your local phone book.

Put their names and numbers in your address book, palm pilot, mobile phone - whatever you carry around with you.

If they have a web site, visit it to find out:

where it is
what it does e.g. does it offer help to certain types of animals?
what help it needs - do you know of anyone who could offer that help?
the opening hours it has
whether it re-homes animals
what it suggests you do if you find an unwanted animal

Arm yourself with this information, and you could be a great new friend to this shelter and help animals in your area.

Sign up to Animals Matter

2007-10-27T12:13:00.000+01:00

Well, fellow animal-lovers, have you heard of the campaign Animals Matter? It's a vital one and all it takes from anyone keen to help animals is a couple of clicks or two to voice your support for this campaign.

The campaign is seeking to achieve a Universal Declaration on Animal Welfare, achieving recognition worldwide that animals matter; that they do feel pain and can suffer, and that we've got a responsibility to put an end to cruelty to animals.

What drives this? Well, facts such as:

About 60 billion farm animals produce meat, eggs and milk for us annually, but most are raised in farming systems where their welfare needs aren't met.
Of the 600 million dogs and roughly the same number of cats, about 80% are stray or unwanted.

The illegal trade in wildlife and wildlife parts is a soaring black market. Many animals are killed inhumanely.
About 80% of power on farms in developing countries is provided by animals. Again, their needs frequently aren't met and many suffer hugely.

When there's a natural disaster, how often are animals' needs considered?

If we can improve the welfare of animals, given that so many work to help people, it follows that people will be helped too. One billion people worldwide rely on their animals. That's a huge number.

The world desparately needs to work on this issue together. Please sign up to the campaign at http://www.animalsmatter.org/ - it will take just a few moments of your time. I know because I've done it.

Then please forward the site's details to as many animal loving friends as you can think of and get them to sign up too. The campaign needs 10 million signatures - that's only one in every six people in the UK signing up to it, for example - and it's still short of one million.

Animals need our help today, and a great first step to Get Active for Animals is to sign this petition - and you don't even have to move from your seat. You can do it right now:

http://www.animalsmatter.org/

All photos are images from the Animals Matter site.

Getting Active

2007-10-26T14:51:00.000+01:00

Time is moving on this year, and many of us will - dare we say it - begin to start looking for Christmas gifts for loved ones. It's that time of year.

We've got some great ideas for Christmas presents for animal lovers everywhere.

Did you know that many animal charities produce a good number of gifts and products, calendars and diaries which make great presents or stocking fillers for friends and relatives? This means that you can help an animal charity out by buying from their shop, give pleasure to a friend or family member, and help yourself by buying on-line., so saving you stress as you try to work your way through queues, traffic jams and other hold-ups.
Why not buy them an annual membership of their favourite animal's charity as well or instead? This will generally mean that they receive a regular newsletter with information, details of events taking place, possibly a magazine, and more - it varies from organisation to organisation.
What about adopting an animal for them? This does not need to be expensive. I have a polar bear called Nanuk from Care for the Wild - she lives in the Canadian Arctic where she is monitored bya team of scientists. I receive regular reports on her, plus news from the charity.
Simply make a donation in their name. You could, as a family, make one joint donation to your favourite animal's charity, rather than spending it on presents you don't really want.
Buy them a book on their favourite animal so that they can learn more about it. Knowledge is power, and it could lead them to a new career. For example, if you have a younger relation who is choosing their career and is thinking of working with animals, what about buying them a book related to working with animals?

The one thing that many charities won't do is to allow pets to go out to new homes in the month leading up to Christmas, because it's not a good time to have animals settle into new surroundings with all the hustle and bustle of festivities. It's better for them to arrive when it's quiet. So if you are planning to give a rescue animal a new home for Christmas, you may be better either leaving it to the New Year or doing something about it well before the party season starts.

We have many links to charities on our site at Animal Human Wellbeing under the Useful Links section, so do pay it a visit.

Meantime, keep well

Sally

Sally Longson
Animal Human Wellbeing/Action4Animals

2007-10-26T10:25:00.000+01:00

Welcome to this, our very first Blog!

We're mad about animals here, and we want to promote the message of the benefits they can bring to each of us, be we young or old, well or suffering from some ailment, and wherever we are. Animals do a lot to boost wellbeing world-wide, whether it be helping people who need them for their livelihoods or going into nursing and residential homes, hospices and hospitals to give cheer, raise a smile, make people (residents and staff) laugh and lift their spirits.

There's a lot we can all do, too, to help animals and improve their lives. We're going to do lots of blogs about this, so please come back and visit us soon.

My web sites (http://www.animalhumanwellbeing.com/ and http://www.action4animals.com/) both aim to improve the lives of people and animals worldwide. Action4Animals is particularly devoted to Helping animals, as its name suggests. Both sites are continually undergoing development (aren't they all!) but in the meantime, I'll be blogging regularly with news, updates, thoughts, ideas and links as to how each of us can Get Active for Animals, because that's going to be its main focus.

Wishing you and your animals happiness and wellbeing,

Sally

Sally Longson
Animal Human Wellbeing/Action4Animals