I have 4 yorkies/poodle dogs between the ages of 2 & 4. One of the males as well as one of the females insists on watering our tiles every night while we are sleeping. They don’t do this during the day or any other time when we’re awake. How can I get them to stop? I have tried washing the patch they use with various detergents such as bleach, handyandy, etc. but with no success. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Continue Reading

In recent weeks, there have been a spate of letters in the newspapers from individuals claiming that the hype surrounding fireworks is nothing more than a racial ploy to spoil their fun. What’s more, it appears these folks are vegetarians, which they believe exonerates them from the terror, maiming and death suffered by millions of creatures caused by their firework sprees.

Continue Reading

I have a 2 year old tortoiseshell cat with very long hair. She is from a very mix breed family. She has been nurtured and never leaves home, a very homely cat. I just do not understand why doesn’t she gain weight. She eats twice a day. she gets lots of snacks, but she just does not gain weight she looks so skinny. Continue Reading

Hi. I am probably the most hated woman in my street. Last year with both Christmas and New Year, I stood outside my house and screamed and shouted at everyone like a fishwife about their dangerous fireworks. I stood their with the phone in hand and phoned the cops on all of my neighbours. WHY? I have animals and find it inconceivable that my animals should suffer because of uneducated stupid human beings.

Continue Reading

I adore my Siamese cat Ming, who is under a year old but has just presented us with a litter of 6 dear little kittens of the rainbow nation. I thought Daddy was the white Persian from next door, but I’m having my doubts now, because the kittens are all different colours which is a mystery to me.

They are three weeks old now, and I hear a lot of caterwauling going on at night and notice that Ming’s gone AWOL.
I don’t think she can get pregnant while she’s nursing, but I can’t help worrying that she may be promiscuous and have more babies. Do you think this is possible and if so what can I do about it? I don’t think I can keep all her kittens as it is.
Thank you for your informative and fun website. I’ve learned so much already.

Continue Reading

Our wonderful animals have done it again. This time the rat is helping to save millions of lives by detecting Tuberculosis in human saliva, using their remarkable scenting ability. A group of researchers at the Sokoine University of Agriculture in Tanzania have successfully trained African Pouched rats (Cricetomys gambianus) to detect and diagnose TB, using techniques first developed to teach the animals to find landmines. Continue Reading

Hi

My children have 2 male pet rats, which we keep in separate cages, as they have become territorial and seem to fight when they get together.

I recently separated them from fighting and the attacking rat turned on me and bit me. Once he had bitten me he turned his back on me when I tried to pick him up to put him back in his cage, and would not let me pick him up. I had to get oven gloves to pick him up and put him back for fear of him biting me again, as the bite was quite deep and I was bleeding quite a bit.

Continue Reading

Hi Glynne

Numerous dogs in our area have been poisoned so I have made a choice to leave our animals inside when we go out in the evenings. I am not gone all night but rather a couple of hours and make sure that our dogs have enough fresh air, light and water. I have being doing this for many years as they are all house trained and have their own basket/beds in which they sleep. Recently however I have been returning home to find that my boxer has left a number 2 on our bed covers. This behaviour has only started recently and I am not sure what to do or how to stop it?

Continue Reading

Recently, I saw a lovely coloured photo in the paper of two dog handlers, a German Shepherd puppy and his owners who had donated him the SAPS. There they all were, happily frolicking in the grass with Woof who looked ecstatic at the prospect of his new career. Continue Reading

Hi Glynne

Given a chance, my dog often chooses to roll on the foulest smell available. For example on a very old, dead, rotting seabird on the beach.

Can you tell me why she does this and what I can do about it?

Neither of enjoy the washing down with a hose that follows! Thanks

Peter Continue Reading