Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett

Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column

QUEEN Elizabeth II’s love of corgis is well-known. One of the most poignant images relating to her death, shows a royal corgi looking behind to make sure the Queen is holding their lead only to see no one there.

The lead is just trailing on the ground. Doubtless the corgis the Queen has left behind will be well cared for but such a drawing reinforces the need for pet owners to make sure if anything happens to them, arrangements have been made for their pet to be well cared for.

Many animal charities have schemes which facilitate pet owners making such arrangements. These include Battersea Dogs and Cats Home’s, the Forever Loved Service (battersea.org.uk), the Pet Peace of Mind service organised by Blue Cross (bluecross.org.uk), the RSPCA’s Home for Life scheme (rspca.org.uk) and the Canine Care Card scheme organised by Dogs Trust (dogstrust.org.uk).

The National Animal Welfare Trust has detailed online documents which help us think of aspects that are important if we can’t look after our pet either temporarily because, for example, we are ill (Tails of the Unexpected scheme) or because we have died (Pet Care Card scheme).

Included in their Tails of the Unexpected pack are a Care Guide which outlines different options of care, a Pet Care Summary Form which includes items such as emergency contacts and the arrangements that have been made. The pack also includes a Card to carry with us which tells people our pet is home alone and Animal Care Forms for owners to give information about their pet. To access the documents go to nawt.org.uk.

One aspect of pet ownership highlighted by rehoming charities when an animal is adopted is that the adoption is intended to last for the life time of that animal.

For example, All Dogs Matter (ADM) emphasise that adopting a dog could be a 15 year commitment – that is certainly what ADM will be looking for by anyone wanting to adopt Sykes.

This twelve-week old spaniel cross puppy came into the care of ADM after being found as a stray. He’s looking for an owner who has had dogs before and is willing to take him to puppy training classes. If the introductions go well, he could potentially live with a calm female dog. For details see alldogsmatter.co.uk.

ADM will be having a stall at this year’s fabulous Chiswick House Dog Show which takes place on Sunday September 25 (11am-4.15pm) on the cricket pitch in the grounds of Chiswick House. See details at chiswickhousedogshow.org.uk.

Spaniel cross puppy Sykes