In addition to three-quarters (74 per cent) of Brits carrying a picture of their pet on their mobile phone, it seems we also like to dine with our pets. Even if it’s steak or roast chicken we’re cooking up, 50 per cent enjoy the same meal as their owners – putting a new spin on dinner for two!

However, it seems there are limits to our dedication. While most people (90 per cent) said they would rescue their pet if their house was on fire, unbelievably one in ten (10 per cent) still said they would save their mobile phone first!

To celebrate Gala TV’s ‘Pet Hour’, the UK’s favourite bingo channel has recruited TV vet Joe Inglis to co-host the show, which will be web-streamed at www.galabingo.com and broadcast on Sky and Freesat Channel 861 between 8-9pm every Friday from 9-30 April 2010.

In addition to playing a special 10p pet-themed bingo game to win cash prizes and the opportunity to adopt a pet, the BBC’s One Show vet will be revealing other surprising facts about the ways people pamper their pets, such as:

* 33 per cent of owners allow their pets to sit in the front seat of the car
* 27 per cent have named a pet after a TV character e.g. Del Boy, Homer, Buffy
* 22 per cent will only stay in hotels which allow pets
* 18 per cent regularly take their pets to a grooming parlour
* 16 per cent only feed their pets organic meat
* 12 per cent dress their animals up in specially bought pet clothes

Joe Inglis said: “I’ve been a vet for 14 years and am still amazed at some of the things people do for their pets as we really are a nation absolutely dedicated to them. But, as well as pampering them, it’s really important to know how to care properly for our animals’ health and wellbeing, which is why I’ll be talking about everything from animal arthritis to pet passports on Gala TV throughout April.”

Kevin Loman, Gala TV manager, said: “We know our viewers are mad about their pets – some people even send in pictures of themselves playing bingo with their dog or cat! So we’re delighted that Joe Inglis will be hosting a month of pet bingo on Gala TV and would like to encourage viewers to send in their questions for him. It’s a great way to learn something useful while they play bingo!”

Gala TV awards 200,000 winners a year and gives away approximately £20,000 each night in prize money. Viewers can play bingo and a variety of side games through the web-stream or by simply using their remote control red button.

Visit now for more information www.galabingo.co.uk

http://www.helsburypark.co.uk

Dogs

1. Bella
——–
2. Max
——
3. Bailey
———
4. Lucy
——-
5. Molly
——–
6. Buddy
——–
7. Maggie
———
8. Daisy
——–
9. Chloe
——–
10. Sophie
———-

“I was shocked to see Max bumped from No. 1!” said Curtis Steinhoff, senior director of corporate communications for VPI. “Max has been the most popular dog name for so long, I didn’t think anything would take him down. I can only wonder if Max’s dethroning has something to do with Bella being the name of the heroine in a certain vampire book/film series that’s pretty popular these days.”

The same ten names appeared on 2009 and 2008′s list of Top Ten Dog Names, with only the positioning of each name changing slightly.

More importantly, the survey, which polled more than 700 dog owners nationwide, also showed that while dog owners still find joy in giving their pet a gift, some are opting to invest in more practical items such as apparel and recreational gear rather than the typical “fun” items such as toys or treats. Eighty-nine percent of owners polled said that they would dress their dogs in boots and/or coats to protect them from the cold and winter elements. When asked what their top product selection priority was, the majority chose functionality over safety, comfort and appearance.

“Most pet owners tend to have strong emotional bonds with their dogs and regard them as full-fledged members of the family,” said Lisa Paxton, owner of Ultra Paws. “Listening to and understanding the needs and concerns of pet owners helps us to create new products that are suitable for all dogs and will ultimately benefit the entire family.”

According to the survey, the most popular activities that families include their dogs in are walking, recreational activities such as running, biking and hunting, visiting friends’ or relatives’ homes, running errands and family vacations.

Inspired by the upcoming Meet the Breeds(TM) event, the world’s largest showcase of cats and dogs, the American Kennel Club (AKC) and the Cat Fanciers’ Association (CFA) joined forces this summer to put an end to the age old debate over who is the most beloved pet of all – dogs or cats.

In a last minute surge, cat lovers tried to claw their way to the top, but couldn’t drown out the loud bark of dog lovers. More than 9,000 pet lovers cast their ballot over the eight-week debate. While cat owners outnumber dogs by nearly 13 million among the pet-owning public, dogs fetched 65% of the vote while cats caught 35% of the poll. Dogs led the pack by the widest margin in Chicago (69%), Seattle (69%) and Detroit (69%) while cat-lovers’ purred loudly in Baltimore (45%), Philadelphia (41%) and Houston (41%). Official results, including a run-down of results in the metro areas with the top votes — New York, Chicago, Los Angeles, Seattle, Philadelphia, Portland, Houston, Dallas, Raleigh, Detroit, Atlanta, San Francisco, Denver, Phoenix and Baltimore.

During the voting process, cat and dog lovers both posed convincing arguments for their preferred pet.

Cat lover

– “Cats don’t hang all over you wanting attention. . .they don’t eat
disgusting things and then try to lick your face.” – Sheryl Woods

– “Cats don’t have to be walked and they don’t bark!” – Terri Ford

– “Cats are much easier to live with – with much less work. Don’t have
to be walked, go outside, and are quiet.” – Sheila Ullmann

Dog lover

– “While I voted for cats, I really do love dogs, particularly my dog
Salukis because he reminds me of cats of course.” – Chris Moore
– “Cats have to have do-over lives because they didn’t figure out how to
have fun the first time around.” – Marilyn Finley

– “Dogs walk around with a smile as man’s best friend and are always
there for us.” – Kelly Smith

What do you think? Dotty for dogs or crazy for cats?

The case studies will be used as part of an editorial series, no names or private client details needs to be given and client anonymity will be protected.

The case studies themselves should detail what the problem(s) was in the dog’s behaviour and what solutions/techniques were applied to help correct the problem(s).

Where possible it would be helpful to know the background of the dog and to get some professional perspective on how and why the problem behaviour developed in the first instance.

If you’d like to be involved please contact us at: editor@k9magazine.com

Full credit will be given to each trainer who’s case study is used, along with links to their website, contact details etc.

The Companion Animal Welfare Council (CAWC) has issued a call for evidence relating to the use of electric pulse training aids, or ‘shock collars’, in companion animals.

The CAWC is aiming to produce an independent report on the implications of the use of these electronic training aids.

Professor Daniel Mills, a Council Member of the CAWC and Professor of Biological Sciences at the University of Lincoln, said: “This review considers devices designed for use in the training of dogs, cats and horses, and any other companion animal species, which involve the application of an electronic current to the skin to aid the training process.”

A working group is seeking specific verifiable information in relation to direct experience of both the use of these devices and alternatives in relation to achieving specific training goals. An online questionnaire has been launched to collate information.

The group wishes to receive reports from individuals regardless of the consequences of their experience so it can identify both the positive and negative attributes of this method of training in practice. Reports must be based on direct experience and not second hand reports. A sample of respondents will be contacted for data verification purposes.

The questionnaire is available on line at www.ecollar-survey.org and will only take a few minutes to complete. It requests individuals to report on the single most significant experience or context in which they have used a device.

Please note that only one submission per user is allowed. The Group would also like to stress that this call does not seek opinion on the regulation of the devices.

The report will anonymise private sources and individuals providing evidence either directly or indirectly unless permission is gained to the contrary, although specific examples may be cited in an anonymous way.

But if you’re like Tonight presenter Jonathan Maitland, whose dog Monty costs £2000 a year to keep, it may feel like the bills are excessive.

K9 Media Ltd, publisher of K9 Magazine and DogMagazine.net, was commissioned to undertake a pet owner satisfaction survey, quizzing pet owners about their views on vet fees and pet medical treatment.

In these touch financial times, animal refuge homes are reporting that pets are being abandoned in record numbers. In the last five years, more than one and half million pets have been put down – because their owners can’t afford them.

One of the biggest costs are vet bills, and in a specially commissioned Tonight survey carried out by K9 Media – 76 per cent of dog owners said the cost of keeping their pet healthy has become too expensive.

In this programme, the Tonight team takes Monty the dog, Rupert the rabbit and Mickey the cat on mystery shopping visits to find out the truth about vet bills.

Tonight exposes how the cost of medical procedures and medications can vary considerably from practice to practice and we discover that some vets are prepared to recommend expensive treatment that is completely unnecessary.

The programme meets one devoted pet owner that has paid £15,000 for treatments for her dog (only £4,000 of which was covered by pet insurance) and we reveal how she is paying a 250 per cent mark-up on medication sold to her by her vet.

And the programme interviews the victims of a vet, and the nurse that testified against him, who was struck off after being found guilty of five charges of disgraceful professional conduct. He attempted the make false insurance claims, charged pet owners for work he never did, and evidence emerged of poor treatment.

But in May last year, the same vet was reinstated and can now practice again.

The Royal College of Veterinary Surgeons has the job of regulating vets – and although they can’t dictate what vets charge – they can step in if they consider vet bills to be excessive.

The programme asks whether the Royal College is doing enough with the powers it has and if there should be more regulation in the industry.

K9 Media Ltd has recently announced the formation of a stand-alone business unit, set up exclusively to analyse pet industry trends and pet owner specific market research.

K9Media: Market Analysis has been set up to enable businesses to gather information and data on a diverse range of pet related consumer and industry habits. [More information here]

Top Canine Claims
1. Ear Infections
2. Skin Allergies
3. Pyoderma/Hot Spots
4. Gastritis/Vomiting
5. Enteritis/Diarrhea
6. Urinary Tract Infections
7. Benign Skin Tumors
8. Osteoarthritis
9. Eye Inflammation
10. Hypothyroidism

“The large number of claims received for these medical conditions attests to their often repetitive or chronic nature,” said Dr. Carol McConnell, vice president and chief veterinary medical officer for VPI. “A dog with allergies, for example, will most likely require continuing care and a cat with diabetes will be no stranger to the veterinarian’s office. Pet owners have a tendency to fear major accidents and illnesses – car crash injuries, or cancer – but a chronic condition can be just as detrimental to a pet’s quality of life and financially burdensome to treat.”

Most of the top pet conditions will bring about a noticeable change in the behavior or appearance of a pet. Pet owners can ensure that they recognize an illness quickly with regular observation of a pet’s daily routine and inspection of a pet’s eyes, ears, and skin. Any lumps, sores, unusual odors, or drastic changes in behavior suggest that one’s pet should be promptly examined by a veterinarian. Even before a problem manifests, semiannual physical exams can help diagnose problems early or in some cases prevent many illnesses.

If left untreated, any of the top 10 conditions could result in serious health problems and eventually cost hundreds of dollars to treat. In 2008, the most expensive of the common canine conditions was benign skin tumors, with an average submitted claim fee of $340. For cats, the most expensive common condition was renal failure, with an average submitted claim fee of $267.

For both dogs and cats, Max was the most popular name in 2008. Overall, VPI’s data indicates that traditional pet names, such as Fido, have taken a back seat to “people” names like Max. In fact, some of the most popular dog and cat names – Bella, Chloe, Sophie and Bailey – also rank among the Social Security Administration’s most popular baby names.

Dogs                      Cats
1. Max                          1. Max
2. Bailey                        2. Chloe
3. Bella                          3. Tigger
4. Molly                         4. Tiger
5. Lucy                          5. Lucy
6. Buddy                        6. Smokey
7. Maggie                      7. Oliver
8. Daisy                        8. Bella
9. Sophie                      9. Shadow
10. Chloe                     10. Charlie

“Pets are often viewed as members of the family, treated like members of the family and, as a result, named like members of the family,” said Curtis Steinhoff, senior director of corporate communications for VPI. “Max may sleep on his owner’s bed, eat gourmet food and wear clothes to go out on the town. Rover probably does not. Max is short, yet easy to distinguish from common commands, so it is easy to understand why it’s such a popular pet name.”

This is the sixth consecutive year that Max is the top name for dogs and cats. Since last year’s results, the most notable increase in any name has been Bailey, which was No. 9 in 2007. Other changes in 2008 include the addition of Sophie (No. 9) and Chloe (No. 10) in place of Jake and Rocky for canine names, and Shadow (No. 9) and Charlie (No. 10) in place of Sophie and Princess for feline names. As in 2007, Max joined Lucy and Bella as names popular for both cats and dogs in 2008.

Only 13 dogs in VPI’s database went by Fido in 2008, placing the name at No. 2,866. Rover wasn’t far behind at No. 2,534. Surprisingly, some dog names are more popular than Rover and Fido were Liebchen, Zowie, Munchie, Ginger Snap, Butchie, Dundee and Grendel. Other classic dog names that ranked low in popularity included Lassie (No. 1,572), Pluto (No. 1,009), Patch (No. 667), Spot (No. 659), Fluffy (No. 338), and Rex (No. 138).

Besides being the most common name in 2008, Max also owned the distinction of the name with the most variations. VPI’s database includes such Max-inspired pet names as Maximum Max, Max Power, Max Avalanche, Maximus Gladius Spartacus, Minimax, Sergeant Maxwell T. Steel, Max the Moose, Max Crime Fighter, Cherokee Max, Peanut Max, T.J. Maxx, Duramax, Fatmax, Maxmax, Maxator Midnight and Mad Max McNaughty.