Page 9 - Paws and Hooves - Spring 2016

Don’t fret about a new pet
Thinking of getting a new pet? Concerned about health issues associated with certain breeds? Check out a website developed by Royal Veterinary College scientists with the Universities Federation for Animal Welfare to help you make an informed decision.
Many painful and serious diseases in pets are the result of genetic conditions and, in recent years, concern has been growing amongst prospective buyers about the increase in these genetics-related health and welfare disorders in potential pets.
The website aims to assist with this, providing comprehensive and detailed information, presented in a readily understandable way, to help you decide which species or breed to choose.
The website covers not only information on a variety of genetic conditions themselves but also, most importantly, their effects on pets’ welfare. The site also provides a useful list
of questions to ask when buying a pet in order to help avoid perpetuating the problems, as well as information to help breeders avoid or tackle problems.
This should have bene ts for purchasers who may be spared the expense and concern of looking after an animal in poor health. More importantly, choosing and breeding from animals that are less likely to suffer from these conditions should improve the welfare of many animals in future generations by reducing the incidence and severity of these diseases.
The website now includes 52 breeds of dog as well as cats, rabbits, horses, guinea pigs, birds and sh.
www.ufaw.org.uk
Join us for the
Dog Olympics 9th October
Come along and enjoy a fun- lled family day out in the beautiful grounds of Hat eld House in Hertfordshire.
On the day you can enter fun showing classes, have-a- go at agility and yball, try your paw at Olympic themed games and competitions, take a leap over the fastest scurry, walk around the Hat eld House estate and more...
Don’t have a dog? Enjoy the demonstrations and watch all the fun unfold!
Support the ACT and our QMHA 30th birthday appeal on the day in our raf e and tombola, as well as buying treats for you and your dog from our cake and trade stalls!
Further information will be available on our website as details for the day are nalised. You can pre-register there now or email us at act@rvc.ac.uk to let us know you’re interested!
www.rvc.ac.uk/act
We look forward to seeing you and your dogs there so please make sure you save the date!
Sunday 9th October 2016
Paws & Hooves 2016 9