by Wendy Stokes
If you are walking your dog near a frozen pond or lake, be sure to keep your dog on a lead. If your dog sees water fowl, it might run across and break the ice. A dog in freezing water is a tragedy but it can often manage to get out without assistance. If not, telephone the fire brigade who will try to come quickly if you give them good geographical bearings of your position. Never try to rescue your dog by trekking onto the frozen ice yourself. Many loving people have lost their own life whilst trying to rescue their pet in this way.
Should a dog wear a coat in the winter? Some dogs from cold climates have thick coats and their difficulty comes more during a hot summer than during a cold winter. However, if your dog has a thin 'greyhound' type coat, yes, a coat during the cold weather does help keep them warm when the weather gets near to zero.
If your dog pulls on its lead, a harness costs only a few pounds and solves the problem immediately. You should always walk your dog on the left with the lead in your right hand, held also in your left hand. This means that while passing another dog walker in the street, that there are two people between the two dogs. No fights here! Needless to say, dogs should never be off the lead in the street because they might have a fright or bolt and cause an accident.
You should never give chocolate which is poison to dogs. If you wish to give them a treat, avoid human sweets and cakes. Doggy treats, specially made for them are enjoyable and will not cause expensive dental problems.
Let's just think for a moment about the plight of dogs in our traditionally animal loving culture, dogs which are being bred from pedigrees not old enough to show signs of major genetic malfunctions, yet old enough to transmit them to their offspring. Many of these genetically inbred dogs cost their owners such a vast sum in vet fees that they are soon euthanased or end up in one of the hundreds of dog shelters all around the UK. Others, also of the 'fashionable' kind, are bred despite being very unsuitable for small homes, requiring perhaps a 20 mile a day run in order to be content. These are also frequently abandoned, some on motorways, in shopping centres and outside dog shelters. It's really not good for dogs to live for months in a cage. It is a fate worst than death for some as they become distressed or depressed. It's a merry-go-round of breeders making money from puppies and volunteers spending valuable time and money trying to rehome them with caring owners that have both time and money to care for them. If you would like to adopt a homeless dog, please choose wisely and do your homework on the breed's requirements and potential health problems, by doing so, both owner and pet will have much 'health and happiness'.
Useful links:
www.bluecross.org.uk
www.rspca.org.uk/home
www.dogstrust.org.uk