Anything For Animals

posted by admin on May 25

This article details all you need to know as a beginner about a year in the life of a bat in the UK: 

Animal Type: Mammalia - Chiroptera

Species Info: There are 2 main Orders of bats in the world: Megachiroptera and Microchiroptera - but only the latter are found in the UK. 

UK Distribution:There are 17 species of Bat in the UK, with all these found in the South including the tiny Pipistrelle (only 5 grams) and the larger Daubenton’s and Noctule Bats, with only a few species found in the North.

Preferred Habitat: Around water (as this attracts their insect prey) and in quiet locations - although are quite happy to live in towns on canals or by lakes.  They need roosting sites nearby to where they feed - one for hibernating and another for summer roosting, so a variety of buildings, caves and holes in trees (or bat boxes) are essential.

In Spring:  Waking Up After Hibernation.
In early March, bats may still be hibernating but some will start to feed if necessary - however April is the month that you are most likely to start seeing many bats feeding at night in the UK.  By May there will be plenty of activity in the Bat world as the females are actively looking for communal nursery sites in which to have their young.

In Summer:  Giving Birth & Young Taking To The Skies.
The young are usually born in June (usually only 1 young per female per year).  These young stay in the nursery though most of July, building up strength until they start to leave the nest in August.  After the young have left, the females go off in search of males to mate with.

In Autumn:  Mating & Searching For A Hibernation Site.
The adult males and females spend most of September mating, as well as starting to build up fat reserves for the winter ahead by feasting on insects.  If the weather stays warm there could still be feeding into November, but when temperatures start to drop, the bats start to hibernate.

In Winter:  All UK Bats Are Hibernating.
You will rarely see a Bat through the cold winter as they will be be hibernating somewhere quiet and secure.  As the winter moves on they will stay in that place, gradually using up their fat reserves to stay alive.  Only when temperatures warm up nearing Spring will they naturally begin to stir and set out hunting again.

UK/World Events: 
May: UK National Moth & Bat Night
August: European Bat Weekend

Bat Groups:
UK - Bat Conservation Trust
US - Bat Conservation International
Other - South-East Asia Bat Conservation

Other Information:
Bats in the UK are protected by strict laws and you can be liable for a fine of up to £5000 and possible imprisonment per incident or ‘per bat’ if you deliberately capture, injure or kill a bat, destroy a roost - even if not in use, or intentionally block access to a bat roost.  So call an expert if in doubt!

posted by admin on Jul 9

A Black & Tan Long-Haired Large Dog that tops the polls!

German Shepherd Dogs are one of the most-registered breeds of dog across the US and Europe due to their loyalty, intelligence and ease of training - as well as their unique appearance.

And for this exact same reason - they are a favourite breed for the armed forces and security trades to use for protection and defence.

The History Of The Breed:
Quite a recent herding breed, the German Shepherd (or GSD) grew in popularity in Germany and throughout Europe around the turn of the 20th century.

Although sometimes called the German Shepard, Berger Allemand, Deutscher Schaferhund or Alsatian - they are one and the same breed and the history of the latter no longer applies so is not a preferred term of breeders and show people alike!

Hekto Linksrhein was a working dog that was found at a show by a dog enthusiast looking for the perfect working dog.  This man was Max von Stephanitz, and he went on to intensively breed from this dogs progeny and started the genetic base for the German Shepherd we know today - and all today’s Shepherds can draw a genetic link to his puppies!

The prefix of ‘German’ has hampered the breed in the past due to the 2 World Wars, however, this goes to show the popularity of the breed has remained.  By registrations is is the 3rd most popular breed in the US at the moment, 3rd in Canada, 4th in the UK and 2nd in Australia - beating the Australian Shepherd on home turf!

Problems With The Breed:
Unfortunately, the breed was originally designed to be a working dog - as were many herding dogs we have as pets today.

This leads to a whole host of problems, as looks and temperament start to dominate breeding rather than health and internal structure.  Breed judges might say that they need to have a longer nose or a more sloping back - purely for human satisfaction - rather than for the benefit of the dog!

As a result of all the human demands - German Shepherds now suffer from a huge list of genetic problems - in reality these sometimes painful and life-shortening traits are being bred into the puppies so that the adults can ‘win’ in shows.

Hip dysplasia, elbow dysplasia, chronic digestive conditions, liver shunt, monorchidism and many more common ailments are well known across the breed - but afflicted animals are still bred from - as these problems are not always visible in young dogs - so can still be entered into shows!

Problems With The Owners:
There are tests available for the discerning buyer who wants a healthy - disease free pet - but many buyers just buy their dogs because they are a German Shepherd rather than a healthy German Shepherd. 

Unfortunately, it is more common for the latter of the 2 buyers to not neuter their pets therefore passing on these ‘bad genes’ to the next generation of casual buyers.

If people stopped buying German Shepherd puppies that had these illnesses (or no proof that their parents didn’t have these illnesses), then breeders would have to stop breeding them - and focus on healthier individuals to make a living.  It’s like selling faulty household goods or furniture.

Why buy a dog for several hundred dollars that is going to be in pain, get ill or have to have an operation and cost you hundreds more in vets bills - when you could buy the exact same dog and have it live it’s whole life healthy and pain-free?

Do your research before you buy - and have yourself a happy German Shepherd for the next 10 years…..

posted by admin on Jun 2

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Teacup chihuahuas are so popular at the moment - and have starred in many recent Hollywood movies! One film was even just about chihuahuas - nothing else!

These tiny little dogs are very similar to standard chihuahuas as there is no actual ‘breed’ that defines the teacup variety other than their size - being that they are smaller than the standard show type.

What Is A Toy Dog?
Well, the definition of a ‘toy dog’ is just a small dog really!  It isn’t a certain group of breeds or even a certain breed of dog so to speak, although there are several breeds sizes used in shows that use the ‘Toy’ prefix - such a ‘toy poodles’. 

However, there are also very small dogs that are classed in other working groups like the Australian terrier.

Toy dogs span many different dog types including spaniels and terriers - although not all toy dogs are lap dogs - many are (or were) working dogs, usually ‘ratters’ and ‘hunters’.

Some toy breeds were designed to be small for pleasure and to ’sit on a lady’s lap’, but others were made smaller for a specific purpose - like a ‘fox catching dog’ may have been bred over time to be smaller to fit in underground tunnels and dens etc.

Chihuahuas obviously fit into the general ‘Toy Dog Group’ of the US and UK Kennel Clubs, which also include both lapdogs (like pekingese and papillon) and miniature versions of working dogs (yorkies and toy poodles).

Teacup Chihuahuas:
Standard Chihuahuas come in a variety of sizes and colors and with either long or short hair.  The breed standard in each country varies slightly in what size or weight is acceptable in showing (the height isn’t a problem) - but of course your teacup chihuahua can be as tiny as you like if it is just a pet. 

Even if it does literally fit into a tea cup, it is still a chihuahua if both it’s parents were - it just won’t win and awards with the Kennel Club - however, it will still win everyone’s heart!

Teacup chihuahuas are one of my favorite breeds (along with teacup poodles and teacup pugs of course!) and chihuahua puppies are just the cutest thing ever!

I traveled all the way to Mexico several times to get a glimpse of some native chihuahuas - as the breed originated in the state of Chihuahua in northern Mexico.  It was definitely worth it for me!