Martin House Microchipping Service

25/08/2023

🧙‍♀️❤️

21/08/2023

16/08/2023

Welcome bats into your garden…

Britain has 17 known breeds of bats and numbers are dwindling due to fewer wooded areas, ponds and open grass spaces to feed and roost.

We’ve detailed three simple things you can do to lay on a banquet for bats.

You can find your local bat group here: bit.ly/3a21UhE

09/08/2023

17/07/2023

This is the side of rescuing that people don’t see, and just don’t realise how hard it is for us behind the scenes.
Strap in guys, while I explain.

This is Marcus.

His owner contacted me to ask me to rehome him, because….
‘He barks at other dogs and people when out so needs rehoming ’

Marcus is a 2 year old patterdale x Labrador.

He had been owned by said owner for… 5 weeks.

He’s just settling in, learning his new environment and family, and at only 2 years old he will be rather overwhelmed as well as adjusting to everything new.

Barking is how dogs communicate, and express their fears, and also excitement.

When I asked his owner what training she had been doing with Marcus to help him overcome his possible nervous behaviour, the answer was ‘he’s had none’

I explained I am full at the moment but I will let her know when I had room to fit him in.

2.5 hours later I receive a call from a vet practice.

Marcus had been taken to the vets to be EUTHANISED.

Put to sleep.
To end his life, because his owner could not be bothered to put any time or training into him.

THANKFULLY, the vets refused and called us.
They spoke to their behaviourist while they were there, and offered the owner sessions to help Marcus- the owner declined.

Killing him was the easy way to end her problem.

So, of course, with fear the owner would then just go to another vet and put him to sleep- I made room.
I don’t have room, but I’m not having it.

Marcus has been with us less than half an hour.
He has sat, taken a treat very gently.
Has met 6 dogs- enjoyed a sniff and his tail hasn’t stopped wagging

He hasn’t barked yet.

Too many people are getting pets without any consideration to the time they need to adjust, and expecting them to be ‘perfect companions’ without actually putting anything into them.

Take some responsibility and invest the time into them, you chose them to be part of your family. Stop destroying them just because you cannot be bothered to help them.
It’s not their fault.

You are safe Marcus, and loved.
You will never be treated so badly again, and that I can promise.

28/06/2023

... it is what it is!

13/06/2023

09/06/2023

Happy Friday! We made it through another week!

The summer has definitely hit! When it’s hot we have to take extra care of our pets because unlike us humans who sweat, Dogs and Cats can only cool themselves by panting and through their pads.

Exercising in temps over 20 degrees can be a risk to fit healthy dogs let alone the elderly, obese, flat-faced or large breed dogs which will be affected far more by any heat. 🌡️🔥

Please remember to keep them hydrated and cool with plenty of shade and avoid peak hot times for outdoor time/walks. Take them for a walk early morning or evening when it’s cool.

Stay safe, enjoy the glorious weather and check those pavements before you head out. Remember if it’s too hot for us then it’s definitely too hot for them! ☀️☀️☀️

29/04/2023

Breaking news
CRUEL’ ELECTRIC SHOCK COLLARS BANNED IN ENGLAND

In a ‘historic moment for animal welfare’ The Kennel Club has welcomed news that the Government has laid legislation which will completely ban the use of remote controlled electric shock collars in England, as of 1 February 2024, following a ten year campaign to .

Electric shock collars deliver an electric shock to a dog’s neck via a remote control, up to a radius of two miles – meaning a dog not within sight of its owner could still be shocked – and for up to 11 seconds at a time. With five per cent of dog owners reportedly using electric shock collars, a complete ban on their use across the UK should mean half a million dogs will be saved from being trained by these highly aversive devices.

The announcement from Westminster comes thirteen years after these cruel and outdated devices were banned in Wales, under The Animal Welfare (Electronic Collars) (Wales) Regulations and they have also recently been banned in France, as of January 2023. Following a cross-welfare organisation event in Westminster in November 2022, co-hosted by The Kennel Club, the organisation also continues to ramp up its campaign to see regulations introduced in Scotland – last month hosting a drop-in session for MSPs with MSP Christine Graham and the Scottish SPCA – after the Scottish Government’s guidance, condemning the use of shock collars in 2018, has been shown to be ineffective.

There is wide-ranging evidence demonstrating the detrimental effect that these can have on the welfare of dogs. In 2019, a study carried out by the University of Lincoln showed that electric shock collars compromised dog’s well-being, even when used by ‘professional’ e-collar trainers, and were no more effective in training than positive reinforcement methods.

Mark Beazley, Chief Executive of The Kennel Club said: “The legislation banning electric shock collars in England, which comes into force next year, is a historic moment for animal welfare and will put an end to the misery and suffering of countless dogs who are still subject to these cruel and unnecessary devices. There is simply no excuse for using these devices, which cause physical and psychological harm, especially given the vast array of positive training methods available.

“This is the culmination of over a decade of campaigning for us and we applaud Defra for helping to safeguard the welfare of our nation’s much-loved dogs. More action is urgently needed in Scotland, where regulations are needed to replace the ineffective guidance currently in place, and we will not rest until we see the complete ban on these devices that cause suffering and harm.”

Further information about The Kennel Club’s campaign to ban electric shock collars can be found by visiting thekennelclub.org.uk/banshockcollars

31/03/2023

How true this is xx

29/03/2023

The rainbow bridge was buzzing
Animals stood in line
From elderly sheep, to mangy dogs
They knew this was the time.
This wonderful man with a heart of gold
Spent his spare time saving them all
Salvaged from slaughter and saved from hell
He was the one to call.
His compassion was endless, he wanted them all
To take every one for his own
He cried at the cruelty, held them all tight
Many he took to his home.
His talent for comedy was world renowned
His quick, dry humour, was his gift
Accompanied by Buster, his love of dogs was clear
As every episode was full of mirth filled wit.
His silent love was Battersea, where he helped behind the scenes
To help to find a home for every pet
Prime time schedules helped his cause, to find more loving homes
Became a favourite on our tv sets.
By now the field was full, as many more lined up
The clouds beginning to clear to let him through
Paul O Grady, gave a grin and opened wide his arms
“Come here, every single one of you!”

RIP Paul O Grady

19/03/2023

Happy Mother’s Day!

07/03/2023

An original Pawccasso 🐾🎨

15/02/2023

More than 17,000 of you have written to the Prime Minister Rishi Sunak to support us in our calls for his government to deliver on the promised Kept Animals Bill – vital legislation that will help address several significant animal welfare issues ➡️ https://bit.ly/3XVa9jt

Despite the cross-party support, and a manifesto commitment to tackle puppy smuggling, the Bill has not been seen in Parliament since November 2021, meaning underage puppies and heavily pregnant mums, as well as mutilated dogs with cropped ears can continue to pass through the border 💔

The delay has gone on long enough. Stand with us. Email the Prime Minister today and demand the Government brings back the Bill 👉 https://bit.ly/3XVa9jt

21/10/2022

Make a paw print Christmas tree for a keepsake! https://www.craftymorning.com/paw-print-christmas-tree-keepsake/

02/09/2022

To throw or not to throw?

Fetch- a fun, easy way to play and exercise our dogs. However, research has began to highlight both the physiological and psychological consequences of this repetitive, high stress game.

Everybody can name at least one four legged friend that is a ball ‘pest’, and unfortunately, us humans can’t resist continuously throwing a ball to feel as if they are meeting the demand of our canine friend. So why is this a problem? Experts believe that fetch increases the level of adrenaline and cortisol production. These hormones are commonly associated with the ‘fight or flight’ instinct, controlling impulsive moods. Just like after we have climbed a mountain, or finished something that has given us a real ‘buzz’, but imagine this happening over, and over, and over, several times a day, without the opportunity to calm- exhausting, right?

We can all acknowledge that our canine friends are intelligent, to the point that sometimes I begin to wonder if my dog can read my mind? Well, research has been constructed that pretty much suggests that dogs will fetch us an item that appears to make us the most pleased- who smiles at the sight of a wiggly long eared hound returning a fluffy green tennis ball- Hard to resist? Well perhaps OUR love of fetch further fuels our dogs desire to constantly bring back toys and demand another go.

So after half an hour of fetch- our dogs are happy that they are making us happy, and have enough cortisol running through their veins to continue for hours, what’s happening to the rest of the body? As with everything that both we, and they do, repetitive activities cause injury- simple! When a dog chases a ball, they use their hind limbs to propel them forwards, demanding sudden function and engagement of the hind limbs. Then comes the braking to collect the ball. The dog will brace the forelimbs, put strain through all the musculature that was propelling them forward to enable a sudden stop, and then, the ball changes direction or bounces… Well, cue the scrabbling, twisting, turning, jumping- Adrenaline and cortisol already whooshing through the veins, the dog MUST get the ball, regardless of how, and then comes the wipeout.

If your dog is 100% healthy, with no clinicial musculoskeletal conditions, this continuous, high intensity game could predispose them to early injury/degenerative conditions, including osteoarthritis, cranial cruciate injury, muscular tears/strains. If a condition is already diagnosed, excessive strain will probably exacerbate the condition. It isn’t uncommon to see dogs that play a lot of fetch with intermittent lameness that occurs after exercise- adrenaline and cortisol is good at masking pain, therefore takes some time for these hormones to wear off before they feel the after effects of tumbling about.

We also can’t forget to mention the excessive panting, increased respiratory rate that we see during a game of fetch- this is also associated with high arousal and energy expenditure, and obviously increases strain on the heart and rest of the cardiovascular system. If your dog has an underlying medical condition that impacts these systems, is a brachiocephalic breed (short snout), or overweight, they could be at larger risk of experiencing difficulties associated with this.

So, next time our friend delivers us a tennis ball, what can we do instead? Let’s put down our ball flingers and have a think… They’re all designed to sniff! A stimulating treasure hunt will exhaust them mentally, without the physical demand of fetch. Simply hide some treats, or toys around the house or garden and let them sniff away. The pet market has hundreds of options to enhance this game further- Kongs, snuffle mats, licky bowls, all sorts! Fortunately for us, our canine friends are much easier to tire mentally than they are physically. Alternatively, teaching a dog to sit and wait for an object to be thrown, and released to retrieve when told, reduces the impact associated with chasing a moving object, making it safer still.

And as with everything in life, it is reasonable to say ‘all in moderation’- the less you complete a task, the less likely you are to be influenced by its effects. So, the occasional game of gentle fetch will reduce your dogs being influenced by the effects discussed above, however, all it takes is one dodgy bounce! And remember, a mentally stimulated, physically healthy dog, is a happy dog.

A massive thank you to Bella Le Roy MSCVetPhys for writing this article for us.

12/08/2022

After 69hrs we have are boy back.

Totally overwhelmed by the support we can’t thank everyone enough.

Thank you so much

🥺❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

11/08/2022

This little chap was found in East Stratton woods, extremely hungry and very dehydrated. He's a male spaniel with no microchip and is now with Cedar Vets in Alresford. (Tel. 01962 732535.)

Please share this for us. It's very rare that we get appeals for dogs that have been found and very sadly, we know that local dogs are being stolen to transport elsewhere to order. It would be lovely to get this one back home.

30/07/2022

⚠️ STOLEN DOG ⚠️

Ivy was stolen from The Game Fair today. There is now a £5,000 reward to get Ivy home safely. If you have any information, please contact Skinner’s.

Let’s make Ivy too hot to handle and get her reunited with her family as soon as possible!

20/07/2022

I know of 2 German Shepards loose their life chocking on tennis balls.