In 1991, following a series of savage dog attacks on children, Parliament took the decision to enact bans on four breeds of dog in the UK. This included the notorious Pitbull Terrier, the Japanese Tosa, the Dogo Argentino and the Fila Brazileiro (the bans also extended to their mixes and any dogs boasting typical characteristics of the breeds). The...
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Everyone knows that cats go wild for catnip, but why? Considering many people compare its hallucinogenic effect in cats to marijuana in humans, isn’t it surprising we happily expose our animals to it? Of course the two are gulfs apart; catnip doesn’t have any detrimental health impacts, for one thing; neither is it addictive. Yet, cats...
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When it comes to choosing the right food for your dog, weighing up the options and knowing what to look for can be a difficult task. Today, there are so many commercial diets on the market, each claiming to improve or support this, that and the other, and navigating our choices can be a confusing process. In theory, we shouldn’t need a PhD to...
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"The thoroughbred race horse is a genetic mistake. It runs too fast, its frame is too large, and its legs are far too small. As long as mankind demands that it run at high speeds under stressful conditions, horses will die at race tracks." (Bill Finley, columnist) After Seedling's fatal fall at last year's Grand National event, it is worth revisi...
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So many times I’ve heard it said – ‘crossbreeds are healthier than pedigrees.’ The argument is everywhere, but is it actually true? From what snippets I’ve read online, pedigree dogs cost more to buy, maintain and insure, get sick more often and live shorter lives. Crossbreeds, on the other hand, have intelligence and...
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Article as featured in Local Rider Magazine. If there is one thing all horse owners desire it is to improve and maintain their horse's condition, whatever its discipline, workload and state of fitness. A balanced diet combining adequate forage will maintain your horse to a good degree but there will be times in every horse's life and career when co...
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If someone asked you to list popular symbols associated with Christmas, who would mention Rudolph? Shooting to seasonal stardom after his creation in 1939 by copywriter Robert L. May, ‘Rudolph’ has come to represent the festive magic of christmas, not just in the United States but across the globe. The chance creation of a disheartened...
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As all horse owners and riders will know, tack is incredibly expensive and something that most of us only intend to buy once. Quality saddles, bridles, stirrups, girths and numnahs can cost a small fortune, especially if they are custom made. Combine the cost of tack with that of rugs and all manner of yard and stable equipment (horse boxes and tra...
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It is estimated that in the United States alone, some 6,000-7,000 tigers are privately owned as ‘pets’ in households and backyard enclosures. More tigers than are currently in existence in the wild in Asia. Other big cats, including lions, cheetahs and panthers, as well as bears, monkeys, alligators, and a variety of other reptiles and...
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