Losing a pet is such a personal experience that sometimes it can seem impossible to share your thoughts and feelings with others. Sadly we all know that there is no magic word that anyone can say to make the pain go away, but it’s so true that the simple act of talking about your experience can often take away some of the hurt. You might have a partner, family member or close friend who you can confide in. Or you may prefer to speak to someone you don’t know; which is where the Pet Bereavement Support Service (PBSS) can help.

• Telephone support is provided by trained PBSS volunteers who offer emotional support and information without judgement or bias.
• UK callers can access the support line on 0800 096 6606 and it is open from 8.30am – 8.30pm everyday.
• All calls are free and confidential from a landline, although if you are calling from a mobile phone, please be aware that some phone networks may charge.
• Alternatively, if you find it easier to put your feelings in writing, you can also email the Pet Bereavement Support Service on pbssmail@bluecross.org.uk and they will reply within 48 hours.

More information is available on the charity’s website.

Many of the volunteers working on the PBSS helpline do so because they wanted to share their own experiences of pet loss and give something back to the charity that helped them. Volunteering has proved to be a cathartic experience for many, and perhaps in time you might wish to consider doing the same? More information about the service can be found in the free 30-minute webinar available to view here.

A relatively new organisation is ALLY®, a community-based support service for people experiencing the loss of their companion animal. From their base in the SW of England they are gradually expanding their network across the UK, and training opportunities are available for anyone wishing to become an accredited supporter and help others currently going through the loss they have themselves experienced.

Just remember that however you may be feeling, you are not alone. Countless others are going through the same painful experience, whilst many more have come through it with the help and support not only of friends and families, but also of strangers on the phone. Sometimes help is only a phone call away.

Until next time, very best wishes.

Shailen
The Ralph Site, non-profit pet loss support

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

Last weekend saw the 2015 World Agility Championships take place in Ermelo, The Netherlands.

This year, 387 dogs from 32 countries took part in a series of agility events designed to showcase the amazing athletic abilities of our canine friends and celebrate the partnership, mutual respect and deep understanding that exists between dogs and humans.

Agility sport is becoming more popular throughout the UK, providing a fun environment for dogs to display their natural strength and fitness, whilst acknowledging the handler’s ability to train and direct the dog over and through a series of obstacles in the fastest time, with the least number of mistakes! There are agility clubs and competitions across the UK, each adhering to strict rules of conduct to ensure that the health and welfare of the dog is forefront at all times. As well as providing the dog with the opportunity to run around at top speed, agility clubs also offer a supportive and fun social scene for you. If you’d like to find out more about the world of agility, or contact clubs and organisations in your area, you can search for local clubs here.

The great thing about agility sport is that dogs of all shapes, ages and sizes can enjoy it. Don’t be put off by the Crufts approach, which can be very regimented and serious – if that’s not for you and your dog, you’ll be pleased to know that a number of organisations run agility events more geared towards fun than competition, with classes for young, old or recovering dogs, and fewer rules and regulations for their handlers! You can find out more about these at sites as these:

UK Agility
The Agility Club
British Agility Association

But be warned – agility can be addictive! There’s no doubt that the dogs taking part love it, and there’s every chance that you will very quickly come to love the buzz of it too! Seeing your faithful friend taking a new course in his or her stride, watching intently for your signal to start and sharing a huge hug at the end of a successful round will fill you with pride and joy. You already know that your partnership is special, and your dog is talented and clever – agility allows others to see that too. What’s not to like?!

Until next time, very best wishes.

Shailen
The Ralph Site

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

We all understand the simple pleasures of sharing our homes and our hearts with animals. Coming home after a long day at work to be welcomed by a feline friend weaving around our legs, purring in delight, wipes out the day’s stresses in an instant. The sight of a wagging tail at the window as we pull into the drive, of a rabbit stretching languidly in a pool of sunlight fanned across the living room floor – these are the simple pleasures that pets bring.

Your pets may live indoors permanently (leaving aside those essential, and always enjoyable(!) trips to the vets as required). In some cases this is through your choice, in others it is out of necessity. There is debate about the pros and cons, rights and wrongs, and to an extent it depends on the species and individual animal in question.

Regardless, if you share your home with an indoor pet, it is essential to do what you can to keep him/her happy and healthy. We have put together some top tips for anyone with a house rabbit, cat or dog, which we hope you will find useful:

Rabbits

• Keeping rabbits indoors means that you and your family get to interact with them much more. There’s also the added advantage of keeping him or her safe from predators.
• Rabbits can be litter trained, and you will find that this is easier if they have been neutered.
• Neutering your house rabbit will also reduce spraying and territory marking.
• Provide a safe and secure place where your rabbit can sleep and rest. You may choose a hutch or cage with the door left open so that your rabbit can come and go, otherwise a box or designated corner of a room with plenty of clean hay is just fine too
• Bunny-proof your home! Rabbits will naturally chew and dig, so keep electrical cables out of reach and provide a tray or box filled with hay for them to scratch about in
• Rabbits are sociable animals and company is recommended. Another rabbit is best, but rabbits will also tolerate cats and well-behaved dogs

You can also find lots more advice and information on keeping rabbits indoors for example at this and this site.

Cats

• Adapting to life indoors is easier if it is the norm from kittenhood – it is not really fair to keep a cat inside if he or she has previously been used to exploring the great outdoors
• Consider providing a feline friend for company, especially if you are out during the day
• Keep the litter tray clean and emptied regularly – cats are fastidious creatures and will typically not use a dirty tray – at least not happily. Always provide separate feeding and water bowls if you have more than one cat, along with one more tray than the number of cats (so three trays for two cats)
• Provide plenty of stimulation – lots of toys, scratching posts and access to a variety of places for cats to explore and rest
• Monitor your pet’s weight – indoor cats can be prone to weight gain
• Keep your cat’s vaccinations up to date. Many viruses and diseases can be spread on our shoes and passed on by other pets who may go outside. Moreover you never know when you might need to put your cat in a cattery unexpectedly.

You can find lots more advice and information on keeping cats indoors at the Your Cat and RSPCA websites.

Dogs

• Many people believe that dogs should not live solely indoors. However, with careful consideration of practicalities such as your own lifestyle and the size of your house, as well as the size and condition of your dog, it is possible for dogs to live happily indoors.
• Clearly there is a huge benefit to an indoor dog being small – the amount of exercise and stimulation needed for larger pets to thrive is very difficult to achieve without regular access to the outdoors.
• **It is recommended that indoor dogs are still taken out for regular walks.**
• Scatter-feed dry food and treats in order to provide stimulation and exercise. Hide food around the house and use activity feeders to keep your dog’s mind active. There are several in our shop, along with treats and pastes to go inside.
• Provide a safe place for your dog to rest that he or she knows is only for him/her. Crate training your puppy from the start will help your adult dog feel comfortable and behave well indoors. There is much more detail on this positive training technique on the RSPCA’s website – search for ‘crate training’

As mentioned, keeping pets entirely indoors is contentious and some people feel very strongly one way or the other. If your pet is indoors then with planning and patience, indoor pets can live alongside you and your family, making your house truly feel like a home.

Until next time best wishes,

Shailen

The Ralph Site

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of trying to help you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

Those of you with rabbits will no doubt already know that Saturday May 9th marks the start of Rabbit Awareness Week 2015 – an annual focus on all things leporine created by coalition of experts, organisations and welfare charities from the rabbit community.

To mark the occasion, many vets, rescue centres and pet stores across the UK are holding special events; ranging from free health checks to food sampling and rabbit education workshops. You can find out what’s happening near where you live HERE.

One Small Hop – What Will You Change?

The RAW focus for 2015 is ‘One small hop – what will you change?’ A rabbit’s quality of life can be greatly improved by making just a few small actions, and RAW suggest that all rabbit owners consider making at least one on-going change this May, such as:

• Ensuring that good quality hay / grass makes up the vast majority of the diet
• Providing permanent access to a large run
• Choosing a hutch that allows your rabbit to make at least three continuous hops from one end to the other, and which is tall enough for him / her to stand on the back legs without the ears touching the roof
• Encouraging foraging, to mirror natural behaviour – hiding food under straw and inside toys for example
• Cleaning the toilet area every day, and the whole hutch at least once a week
• Providing company – rabbits are very sociable animals and should be kept in friendly pairs or family groups. Of course, neutering is advisable if your pairings are not same-sex and you do not wish your rabbits to breed! Contrary to popular thinking, rabbits and guinea pigs should not be kept together – the different needs and characteristics of each species are not compatible, and can thus cause stress
• Interact regularly with your rabbit, ideally at ground level where they feel safest
• Vaccinate your rabbit against the potentially fatal diseases Myxomatosis and Viral Haemorrhagic Disease
• Check your rabbit regularly for fleas, ticks and evidence of flystrike. The latter is a nasty condition, caused by flies laying their eggs around the rabbit’s bottom. Maggots then hatch and feed on the animal and the situation can quickly become life threatening

Why not give your rabbit friends a little treat to celebrate their very own week?! You’ll find plenty of ideas in our shop – our favourites include this, this and this.

Thanks as always,

Shailen
The Ralph Site

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.

When is the right time to bring home a new pet?

The honest answer is that there isn’t one simple response to this question.

Some people are so distraught by their previous bereavement and accompanying grief that they never want to have to go through the process of losing a friend again. Others may feel that they still have so much love to give, and by welcoming a new pet into their lives they are able to honour the memory of a much-missed friend.

Grief and loss are incredibly powerful, personal experiences that cannot be defined or explained. None of us will ever know how we will cope, and indeed the level of ‘coping’ will vary hugely from day to day. That’s why the best advice is to wait a while before deciding on a new pet; and only you can decide how long this time needs to be.

Some factors to consider might include:

• What else is going on in your life? If you are about to undergo a period of change or stress, such as moving home, switching jobs, taking a holiday or undergoing an operation, it would be sensible to delay bringing home a new pet until such a time as you are able to commit the required time and resources to helping him or her settle in.
• Your general sense of positivity. Whilst none of us ever forget the much-loved friends we have lost, a time does come when we are able to think about the predominantly happy memories of our time with them, rather than dwelling on the more recent time without them. Once you have reached this point, you may feel that it is appropriate for you to move on with a new friend.
• Fostering or looking after pets for friends and family. It can be difficult to know for sure if you are ready to take on a new pet, and so fostering for a local rescue centre can be a great way to enjoy some time with a new friend, without the enduring commitment. Similarly, offering holiday care for a dog or cat known to you is another good way to test out how you are going to feel about having another animal in your life.

There is no ‘right’ time that is the same for everyone.

Often we may feel guilty if we bring home another companion – it can seem as though we are trying to replace a friend, attempting to fill a pet-shaped hole with another pet. Of course this is not the case – those of us who care for pets are drawn to the individual personalities and traits of each. We don’t simply ‘get a new pet’; we choose to share our love and our lives with a unique character. Nor do we just ‘get a dog’, we welcome George, or Spot, or Snowy into our home and our heart.

So whilst we can’t tell you when is the right time to bring home a new friend, we can tell you that you shouldn’t ever feel guilty about doing it. You will know when the time is right, and it won’t matter what anyone else says. Sharing your life with a furry friend is both a privilege and a joy, and denying yourself the opportunity to love and be loved again would be such a shame.

If you would like more practical information and advice, you’ll find plenty of food for thought at The Ralph Site, here.

Thanks as always,

Shailen
The Ralph Site

Please note: The Ralph Site is not affiliated with the third-party organisations in any of the links shared here, and the views, ideas and suggestions expressed in this and other blogs are simply shared with the intention of helping you, our friends, take care of the special animals in your lives.