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Pete Wedderburn has published his response to the Panorama programme (which aired on Thursday 22nd July). In this, he writes that he does "worry about the fact that such documentaries can give an overall impression that is unbalanced.The documentary team set out with a sensationalist agenda, and video footage was carefully gathered and crafted to fit that purpose." He highlights the fact that most vets are extremely trustworthy and ends with a piece of advice for pet-owners: "Find a vet that you instinctively like as a person. Ask questions. Talk to the support staff. If you're worried, ask to have a look behind the scenes. Believe your own perceptions. Don't be paranoid, and please, don't fall for the hype: don't stop trusting us all." Read his blog here.
An outbreak of canine parvovirus in Northamptonshire has made national news. According to the BBC, vets from this area have urged dog owners to make sure their vaccinations are up to date and to report any unusual signs in their pets.
A parasailing donkey has caught the media's attention over the last few days. As the Guardian reports "Police in southern Russia have launched an animal cruelty investigation after a tour operator forced a donkey to parasail over the sea. Video footage showed the beast being catapulted into the air after a group of men on a beach at Golubitskaya, on the Sea of Azoz, strapped it into a harness."
According to a recent article in the Telegraph 'Yoga meditation music 'helps cats relax'. A study undertaken by a veterinary nurse found that: "those who were played yoga meditation music and Om Shanti tunes calmed down and began to breathe more slowly while in cages at the practice in Powys, Wales."
According to new research, and a report on the Telegraph (available to read here), "dogs that growl and bite people may not be hostile by nature - merely depressed". The researchers hope that these new findings, relating to serotonin levels in aggressive and non-aggressive dogs, will help in the development of new ways to treat canine aggression.
A new doggy icecream has caught the attention of the media recently. Running with the headline 'Every dog has its day... and new ice cream van ensures every dog can have its sundae', The Daily Mail Online states that "A team of scientists investigated the perfect combination of temperature, texture and taste, ensuring the treats would be delicious to dogs and completely safe."
According to a recent article in the Independent, Latin Americans are spending more on "humanising their pets". The newspaper suggests this may be because of the increasing number of 'pet parent': pet owners who treat their pets like children.
The BBC has recently run a story with the headline: 'Dog fighting is 'massive' problem'. Following the arrest of yet another dog owner for "possessing fighting dogs, and cruelty charges" an RSPCA worker has described dog fighting as "a massive issue" nationally.
New TV series My Pet Shame aired on TV Wednesday 14th July. Hosted by TV vet Marc Abraham and 'Gavin and Stacey' star Joanna Page, the series focuses on pets and their embarrassing ailments.
Brian May has written a comment piece for the Guardian online entitled 'Kill the cull, not Wales's badgers'. In this, he argues against the proposed badger cull in Wales, which has been given much media coverage lately, and puts forward reasons why the cull has been ordered only "under the pretext of fixing a disease problem in farmed animals."
The Guardian weekly online has run an interesting article concerning the frequency and context of the use of mammals in the media. Chris Tibble writes: "The list of animals domesticated by humans is surprisingly short, but the cultural preferences and prejudices that determine which are companions and which are protein are revealing." Read more here.
