National Pet Month
The Paul O’Grady Show’s Marc Abraham champions the message of responsible pet ownership set out in National Pet Month
I’ve just spent the last twenty minutes trying to convince the owner of Jessie, a lovely seven-year-old Border Collie, to agree to have her spayed. With recent improvements in veterinary knowledge and resources, pets are enjoying longer healthier lives, and with safer anaesthetics for animals, preventative surgery for dogs and cats has never been so important. In females, spaying eliminates the chances of both pyometra (pus-filled womb) and mammary tumours. Male pets will benefit from the non-existent risk of prostate and testicular cancer, as well as alleviating associated behaviour problems.
“With improvements in veterinary knowledge and resources, pets are enjoying longer lives”
Of course it’s not just about routine operations. Preventative medicine is equally as important. With these increasing daylight hours now, our pets are loving spending more and more time outdoors. Cats are coming into closer contact with each other, both fighting to defend their garden territories or just having sexy times. Uncontrollable dogs are let off their leads and rabbits moving into the garden add to the number of familiar risks that return every year which can and should be prevented.
Promoting responsible pet-ownership, such as vaccination and microchipping, is just one of the aims of this year’s National Pet Month (NPM), which runs until 5 May. NPM’s other objectives include raising much needed funds and awareness for our local animal charities, as well as this year’s theme – to celebrate our very own ‘Great British Pets’.
NPM’s success and popularity has increased exponentially, with pet lovers and animal fans nationwide dreaming up more creative and imaginative themes for local events, for example, my ‘Sussex Pets Awards 2006’ and ‘Bravest Pet in Sussex 2007’, which both raised hundreds of pounds for Sussex Pet Rescue and Cat Welfare Sussex.
Last year over 690 events were held across the UK and raised around £70,000 for local pet and animal charities. And as this year’s ambassador for NPM, I’m urging you all to try and better this in 2008!
So why don’t you get involved? There are many local events that you and your family and even your pet can enjoy, including fun dog shows, sponsored walks and even visits to local rescue shelters.
NPM’s jewel in its rather furry crown will be tomorrow’s (Wednesday) ‘Wet Nose Day’ – to tie in with St George’s Day – a national event celebrating animals great and small; from hamsters to horses, llamas to labradoodles, cats to cockatoos.
If you’d like to take part in NPM, you can set up an event in your local area and register it at www.nationalpetmonth.org.uk or simply turn up to events already registered on the ‘What’s On’ section of the website.
