Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
IT’S always good to have a talented hairdresser by your side. This morning, I went to have my haircut and happened to say, I’d like my hair the same as one of the Sky News presenters, but I didn’t know her name. Quick as a flash someone googled the presenters and a short while later, I came out looking like Anna Jones (my hair, anyway).
Although for humans a trip to the salon can be a luxury, for some dogs it’s a necessity.
In order to celebrate the reopening of hairdressers after lockdown, Battersea Dogs and Cats Home have shared some of the dog grooming advice they’ve learnt over the years. They emphasise the importance of ensuring the dog has a positive association with grooming, taking each step slowly and choosing the right brush for the dog’s coat.
But it’s not just dogs that need grooming. Other animals can need grooming too especially long-haired ones such as Mary. Two-year-old Morley and Mary came into the care of the National Animal Welfare Trust (NAWT) last month. Mary is a long-haired Sheltie guinea pig and Morley is a Rex Cross guinea pig.
They can be a bit nervous until they get to know you, but since they’ve been with NAWT, their little characters are increasingly shining through.
Every morning they come to the front of their run to talk to the carers. Guinea pigs are well-known for being chatty and have a wide range of vocalisations which mean different things for different occasions, for example, when expecting food or when separated from their companion.
They love to cuddle together, chew on apple branches and play hide and seek with each other.
When Mary and Morley arrived, they were examined by a vet who said Morley is partly blind due to cataracts in one eye.
The vet also found Mary has medical problems but nothing which stops either of them being chatty and playful.
NAWT are looking for a loving retirement home for Mary and Morley. If this could be with you call 020 8950 0177 or see nawt.org. uk.
As well as guinea pigs, NAWT have dogs, cats and rabbits in their care. They would love help with giving them a Happy Christmas and are asking us to fill a shoe box with gifts such as food, toys and blankets.
When full, please take it to the centre at Tylers Way, Watford by pass, WD25 8WT between 11am-4pm.