Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
BEFORE I go to a meeting, I often say to myself “While I’m there, is there anybody I need to see?” To which I often think “No, but there’s plenty I want to avoid”.
Getting on with others is important, not just for humans but also for many animals as they interact with each other. Unfortunately for Suki, a Siberian Husky, she’s not good with meeting other dogs.
She has been under-socialised since she was a puppy and isn’t sure how to interact with them. Suki is currently in the care of Dogs Trust Harefield who are looking for new owners who can help Suki socialise with other dogs.
She is very beautiful, extremely fluffy and has lots of energy. If you think you could offer Suki a loving home, see her details at dogstrust. org.uk. Her new owners should be experienced with huskies or be knowledgeable about the breed.
Besides rehoming animals, an important strand of Dogs Trust’s work is campaigning to improve the lives of dogs.
A key campaign they’ve been involved with is to call on the government to end puppy smuggling.
This is the practice whereby puppies are brought into the country with either no or falsified paperwork and often without receiving the necessary treatments and vaccinations.
The puppies travel for long periods in squalid, cramped conditions with no toilet breaks, no food and insufficient water. They are then sold to unsuspecting buyers who often pay large sums of money for what turns out to be a sick animal.
Peggy is just one example of a smuggled pup who came into Dogs Trust’s care. Found in the back of a van terrified and drenched in engine oil, Peggy’s fur had to be shaved off and she had to wear a jumper to keep warm.
Currently going through parliament is The Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill which would make puppy smuggling more difficult. It’s currently at the Committee stage and Dogs Trust is amongst those animal charities being called to give evidence.
We need to keep our eye on this bill as it deals with other topics we talk about here such as the need to ban the keeping of primates as pets.
The bill isn’t perfect but it’s a start.
Meanwhile if you’re thinking of getting a puppy and want to avoid being the victim of pet smugglers then have a look at Dogs Trust’s puppy-buying advice at dogstrust.org.uk.
And remember always ask to see the puppy with its mum.