A fox among the pumas

An urban fox has been spotted on the Millennium Stadium pitch just days before Wales take on the might of the Pumas.

Staff are hoping the arrival of the four legged intruder is an omen of good luck ahead of Saturday's clash with Argentina.

The fox was photographed by security staff who have been on the look out after several late night sightings of the elusive animal in the shadows around the pitch.

It is not known whether the fox has adopted the iconic stadium as its home or pays visits from its lair elsewhere in the capital city.

The photograph was taken late on Tuesday night after most of the Millennium Stadium staff had left for the day.

After being snapped the fox fled into the terraces and disappeared from view for the rest of the night.

In recent weeks security staff have spotted what looks like a fox on CCTV cameras which scour the building inside and out 24 hours a day.

It is believed those sightings are of the same animal which decided to take a stroll on the newly laid turf this week.

Millennium Stadium Manager, Gerry Toms, said: "We've had skydivers, a helicopter, and abseilers drop in on us before now but never to my knowledge a fox.

"This is a huge stadium and we learn to expect the unexpected but none of us can hide our delight and surprise at knowing a fox has decided to turn up.

"They are notoriously shy so there is no threat but we are now on the trail to try to find out how he or she gets in and where he or she likes to hide here.

"We've had plenty of pigeons in the past and we introduced a hawk to frighten them off but I think some of the staff are quite pleased to know we now have a fox for company.

"Foxes are quite nimble creatures so let's hope it's a good omen before we take on the strength and power of the Pumas on Saturday.

"I'm sure the fans will now keep a sharp look out for our fox but I'm pretty sure he will keep a low profile when the stadium is busy for the game.

"They tell me that our young centre, Jonathan Davies, is nicknamed The Fox so maybe he'll have an extra fan barking instructions to him at the weekend.

"We won't be encouraging our fox to stay around the Stadium but we're advised that it is not a real problem.

"Urban foxes are extremely common and all big towns and cities have quite large populations of these creatures who tend to be spotted late at night or in the early hours."

Turf farm manager, Chris Medley, from Country Turf snapped the picture of the fox on his phone as he was turfing the pitch late on Monday evening.

"I had a shock when I noticed the fox but I was more surprised at how close I was able to get with my camera phone to take a picture of the Millennium Stadium's newest fan."

read more... “A fox among the pumas”

Double award truimph for Wrexham's animal welfare services

Wrexham Public Protection Department has received two awards in recognition of its innovative approach to Animal Welfare. The awards were presented to representatives of the service at the Delivering Pet Welfare in Wales conference in Cardiff on 11 November 2009.

The Minister for Rural Affairs Elin Jones A.M. presented the RSPCA Community Animal Welfare Gold Footprint Award to the authority's Dog Warden Service. The Gold Footprint Award is a prestigious accolade awarded by the animal charity RSPCA and recognises best practice in the Council's policies and procedures for dealing with stray dogs.

The award is only given to Local Authorities which can clearly demonstrate that they operate a first rate stray collection service which focuses on the animals' welfare. The Gold Award reflects the fact that Wrexham Councils Dog Warden Service ensures that the public have access to advice on responsible ownership and schemes which promote the benefits of neutering and micro-chipping.

The minister also presented the Animal Health and Welfare Team with an award for reaching the final in the RSPCA Innovator in Animal Welfare category. This award aims to celebrate local authorities and other organisations that have tried something different or innovative when tackling an issue relating to Animal Welfare.

The Team works with partners to develop innovative ways of providing education with regard to animal welfare and responsible pet ownership. This includes visits to schools, providing information and guidance, working within Community First groups and arranging micro-chipping events.

Andy Lewis, Chief Housing and Public Protection Officer said:

"These awards are in recognition of the hard work that these officers within the Public Protection Department have put in to ensure that standards of Animal Health and Welfare within the County Borough are improved. I congratulate the officers involved for their endeavours and the recognition they have rightly received."

"National recognition by an organisation such as the RSPCA demonstrates that our Officers operate to the highest standard and have shown commitment to both the service and the welfare of the animals they collect."

Cllr David Bithell, Lead Member for the Environment and Waste, said:

"The team have worked hard to deliver a high standard of service to residents in Wrexham and I would like to congratulate them for achieving these accolades and for their commitment to helping make Wrexham a cleaner, safer and greener place to live."

Wrexham Council now deals with ALL enquiries regarding lost and found stray dogs and members of the public are being asked not to call the police

For lost and stray dogs (Mon- Fri 8.30am -5.30pm) please call Wrexham Council on 01978 298989. Outside these times, including weekends, please call 01978 292055

The Police still retain responsibility for dangerous dogs. For this please contact the Police on 0845 6071002.

read more... “Double award truimph for Wrexham's animal welfare services”

Dog owners urged to act responsibly

Dog owners in Torfaen are being reminded they must clean-up after their pets.

While the majority of dog owners are responsible, there is still a significant minority who let their dogs foul the borough's streets and green areas.

An area of particular concern is Blaenavon, especially around Blaenavon rugby ground.

The executive member for housing, planning and public protection, councillor Gwyneira Clark, said: "This is a big problem, with serious health implications. Members of Blaenavon RFC regularly have to pick up faeces from all over the pitch before they can train or play.

"There is absolutely no excuse for failing to pick up dog mess and we strongly urge dog owners to depose of dog faeces responsibly."

Regular surveillance visits in Blaenavon have increased and 13 fixed penalty notices of £75 have been issued to dog walkers in the last few months.

A local man, David Giles, was also prosecuted at Abergavenny magistrates, where he was fined £100, ordered to pay £50 towards prosecution costs and ordered to pay a victim surcharge of £15.

Councillor Clark added: "Dog owners are encouraged to carry a bag when out with their dogs so they can clean up after them.

"Any plastic bag can be used and the waste can be disposed of in any bin, as long as the bag is securely tied."

To report a dog fouling problem, contact 01633 647621/22.

Photograph: A vey nice dog who is a friend of the editor. She does not live in Torfaen and would never dream of 'doing a whoopsie' in the street

read more... “Dog owners urged to act responsibly”

Bates welcomes review of ‘puppy farming’ laws

Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, Mick Bates AM, has welcomed the move by the Minister Elin Jones to undertake a review of dog breeding law, which could see stricter licensing for dog breeding in Wales in an effort to regulate puppy farming.

Commenting on the news, Welsh Liberal Democrat AM Mick Bates stated:

“I am deeply concerned not enough is being done to protect the health and welfare of dogs being bred in the UK. I have been appalled by the conditions that have recently been exposed at dog breeding facilities, with animals being kept in small, dark, confined pens in awful conditions and no access to outside space. Tighter regulation of breeding is needed as a matter of urgency, so I welcome the move by the Minister to review the law on dog breeding.”

A recent Kennel Club YouGov survey (July 2009) highlights that 72% of people in Wales believe that the Welsh Assembly should be doing more to eradicate puppy farming, 85% believe minimum health and welfare requirements should be introduced for those breeding dogs and only 8% believe puppy farming is necessary in order to supply the demand for domestic dogs.

Mick Bates added: “It is clear that we need a change in the law relating to dog breeding. The current law allows for hobby breeders to keep any number of dogs providing they each produce no more than four litters over a year, but this is extremely difficult to monitor. A business of breeding dogs for sale should be defined based on the number of dogs being bred, as this is far easier to check and control.

“Council dog pounds are overrun with strays, costing the tax payer millions each year, animal rescue organisations are crying out for more funds and huge numbers of pups in kennels are being euthanased due to the lack of available space in kennels for housing stray dogs. Dogs continue to be imported from Ireland which only exacerbates this problem, yet there is no regulation in place to control the number of imported dogs.

“We need more rigorous legislation, with procedure to record and monitor dogs bought and sold by breeding facilities and pet shops and the need for all pups sold to pet shops to carry a vet’s certificate and vaccination papers before being sold on. These records should be available for inspection by an independent body and would enable easier monitoring of pups. Poorly treated animals can then be traced back to the source to identify breeding facilities that are not complying with the requirements of their licence.”

read more... “Bates welcomes review of ‘puppy farming’ laws”

Review of 'puppy farm' legislation is 'significant step forward' says AM

A Welsh Assembly Government review of the licensing and regulation of dog breeding in Wales has been described by Wrexham’s AM, Lesley Griffiths as being “a significant step forward for animal welfare.”

The moves comes following the consideration of new evidence which arose out of projects undertaken by Welsh local authorities which have that addressed a range of animal welfare issues.

One of the areas of concerns which were highlighted in the work, included the neglect and cruelty that have taken place in some so-called “puppy farms”.

The initial data which was gathered by local authorities, showed there are 249 unlicensed dog breeding premises across Wales.

Commenting, Lesley Griffiths AM said:

“Without doubt, this review will be welcomed by animal lovers everywhere. It is a significant step forward for animal welfare in Wales.

“The Welsh Assembly Government are to be congratulated for triggering this action and I hope at the end of their review, the law will be tightened up to ensure we have only the highest standards when it comes to dog breeding in Wales.”

read more... “Review of 'puppy farm' legislation is 'significant step forward' says AM”

Appeal after puppies are stolen

Police are appealing for information after puppies were stolen from a farm near Caernarfon.

During the afternoon of Thursday 15th October four Jack Russell puppies were stolen from a farm in Saron.

The puppies – two dogs and two bitches, with two of them being tan and white in colour and two tri-coloured, were nine-weeks old when they were stolen.

Between 2 and 3pm on the same day, a postman was delivering in the area when he was approached by two women who were asking for directions to the farm.

The women are described as being in their 20’s and were wearing Tshirts, jeans and baseball caps. They were using a small dark coloured hatchback car. Both were of stocky build and spoke with English accents.

PC Luke Fox said: “I am appealing to anybody who may have been recently offered to buy Jack Russell puppies to contact us immediately.”

Anyone with information is asked to contact PC 2686 Luke Fox at Caernarfon Police Station on 101, or 0845 607 1001 (Welsh line), 0845 607 1002 (English line) or Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111.

Alternatively send a text message to 66767 or email – northwalespolice@north-wales.police.uk

read more... “Appeal after puppies are stolen”

Cardiff dogs home staff care for abandoned puppy

Staff at Cardiff Council's Dogs Home are caring for a lurcher puppy who was found abandoned in a Cardiff car park.

Staff at the Dogs Home were shocked at the condition of the puppy when he was brought to the home by a member of the public last week in a highly emaciated state and needing urgent medical attention.

The ten week old pup who has been named ‘Nigel’ by Dogs Home staff was incredibly thin, weak and in a very bad way. It is likely he had not eaten or had anything to drink for a week. Nigel was so weak he could not even lift his head.

After regular feeding day and night by the Dogs’ Home staff the pup has made some improvement and should make a full recovery. Nigel is a very affectionate puppy and will be looking for a caring new owner when he is well enough to be re-homed.

Cardiff Council's Dogs Home is home for over 30 stray dogs at present all looking for new homes.

Councillor Margaret Jones, Executive Member for the Environment said: "Dog ownership should not be entered into lightly and people should remember that abandoning dogs is criminal offence. The only way we can reduce the growing number of stray animals is by encouraging responsible dog ownership. That includes having your dog neutered and micro-chipped.”

The Cardiff Animal Pound may be found at Westpoint Industrial Estate, Penarth Road, Cardiff.

Its opening hours are: Monday-Sunday 9am-4.30pm Bank Holidays 9am-12.30pm. Closed Christmas Day. Tel: 02920 711243 or 02920 70 8141

Photograph: Nigel the ten week old lurcher puppy pictured with Dogs Home Assistant Michelle Edwards who has been nursing the pup back to health.

read more... “Cardiff dogs home staff care for abandoned puppy”

AM welcomes "no exemptions" pledge on electric shock training devices

Wrexham's Assembly Member, Lesley Griffiths, has welcomed news that the Welsh Assembly Government is to remove any exemptions from draft regulations it is preparing to ban the use of electronic shock devices used to train dogs and cats.

The news comes after lobbying of the Government by Assembly Members, including Lesley, and the Kennel Club, to remove veterinary exemptions from the draft legislation. This means that the eventual legislation can be enforced more effectively, therefore, strengthening the ban.

The announcement comes following extensive public consultation conducted by the Kennel Club, which showed that 57% of respondents favoured a complete ban on electric shock training devices.

The findings were supported by a recent YouGov survey conducted on behalf of the Kennel Club which demonstrated that 70% of those polled disapproved of the use of electric shock collars on dogs.

The results also concluded that 60% of respondents agreed the use of electric shock collars had a negative effect on the dog’s physical and psychological health and welfare.

The Welsh Assembly Government say the process of amending the legislation is expected to take approximately three months, meaning legislation could be introduced early in 2010.

Lesley Griffiths, who as an Assembly Member will be involved in passing the final regulations in the Senedd, said:

"I am pleased that the Welsh Assembly Government has listened to the concerns of AMs about the scope of the draft regulations.

"There is widespread determination amongst the public - which is shared by Assembly Members like myself - to make sure Wales bans these cruel devices as soon as possible.

"The banning of of shock collars in Wales, would send a clear signal that we will not tolerate this cruel and uneccessary form of training any longer."

read more... “AM welcomes "no exemptions" pledge on electric shock training devices”

Successful open day for pet owners was held at Porthmadog recently

The event was organised by Gwynedd Council and the RSPCA and was aimed at promoting responsible animal ownership.

The event included:

• Free microchipping for dogs, cats and rabbits
• Free dog tags and registration
• Free advice and assistance on responsible pet ownership

A total of 50 animals, both dogs and cats, were microchipped on the day. Making sure that your pet is properly chipped and tagged is essential – should your dog, cat or rabbit get loose or go missing it could help in bringing them home to you.

Since April 2008, responsibility for stray dogs has been transferred from the police to local councils. The action day goes hand in hand with Gwynedd Council’s Companion Animal Welfare Enhancement Scheme, which is funded by the Welsh Assembly Government.

Gwynedd Council were working in partnership with the West Gwynedd branch of the RSPCA on this scheme. The charity donated 250 microchips to the event, and more than £50 was raised for their coffers on the day.

Alaw Vaughan Jones, Gwynedd Council’s Animal Welfare Officer, said: “The day was a great success with many people dropping by for information. Gwynedd Council staff also spoke to many dog owners on nearby streets in Porthmadog on the day, reminding them of the importance of registering their pets and responsible dog ownership.

“We hope to hold a similar event in the Arfon area in the future.”

Councillor John R Jones, Gwynedd Council’s Senior Resources Portfolio Leader, added: “Losing your beloved pet can be an upsetting and stressful experience. Microchipping and registering an animal offers the hope of speeding up the process of getting the animal home.

“The scheme can also mean that a dog will not have to be taken to kennels – which can be confusing and distressing for the animal and expensive for the owner as they have to pay a release fee as well as a fee for every day spent there.”

For further information telephone (01766) 771000 or go to the Gwynedd Council website: www.gwynedd.gov.uk

read more... “Successful open day for pet owners was held at Porthmadog recently”

AM backs dog chipping scheme as stray numbers soar

Wrexham's AM, Lesley Griffiths was at the head of the queue when the 'chip van' called on the National Assembly for Wales this week in Cardiff Bay.

The Dogs Trust 'chip-van' rolled up in Cardiff Bay to persuade Assembly Members to support the introduction of compulsory microchipping of dogs in Wales.

Over 12,000 stray dogs were collected in Wales in the last year, an increase of 26% from the previous year. Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity believes the most effective and humane way of reducing stray dog numbers in the long-term is through microchipping, alongside education and neutering.

The introduction of a compulsory microchipping scheme would:

* enable lost or straying dogs to be reunited promptly with their owners

* permanently identify a dog which is effective at all times and is virtually impossible to alter and remove which is a clear advantage for dogs that are stolen

* enable clear identification of the dog’s owner when prosecution is being considered for dog thieves and antisocial behaviour

* significantly impact on the workload of all those dealing with stray Dogs

* reduce kennelling costs and save time

* allow puppies bred on puppy farms to be traced to their source

* significantly increase the welfare of racing greyhounds as they could be traced back to their owners whilst they are racing and once they retire

Recent research carried out by Dogs Trust shows that 94% of local authorities and 93% of vets are in favour of compulsory microchipping.

The Dogs Trust 'Chip Van' began its countrywide tour back in July, and has been travelling the length and breadth of the country calling on all dog owners, local authorities, vets and politicians to make a change and insist that all dogs should be microchipped in order to increase the number of stray dogs reunited with their owners.

In support of the scheme, Lesley Griffiths AM said: "I am convinced that a compulsory microchipping scheme would bring great benefits to both dogs and owners. The rise in the number of stray dogs in Wales alone, is sufficient reason for a scheme to be introduced here.

"There is a growing body of opinion - which I support - that believes the permanent identification of dogs will not only reduce the number of strays on our streets but would also deter activity amongst dog thieves."

read more... “AM backs dog chipping scheme as stray numbers soar”

Mick Bates AM adds support to chipping campaign

Shadow Minister for Rural Affair, Mick Bates AM, joined the Dogs Trust outside the Senedd this week to give his support to the campaign for compulsory microchipping of dogs in Wales.

Over 12,000 stray dogs were collected in Wales in the last year, an increase of 26% from the previous year. Dogs Trust, the UK’s largest dog welfare charity believes the most effective and humane way of reducing stray dog numbers in the long-term is through microchipping, alongside education and neutering.

Commenting Montgomeryshire AM Mick stated:

“I welcome this campaign which can play a huge part in promoting responsible dog ownership and ensure that the millions of pets that go missing each year have more chance of being reunited with their family.

“Currently owners are required to ensure their dogs wear a collar and tag, but these could be lost or removed. Permanent identification would provide a better solution to reduce the number of stray dogs and enable them to be returned to their owner.

“Microchipping would also reduce costs for local authorities and play a part in tackling the increasing problem of puppy breeding, allowing ill-treated animals to be traced back to their source.”

read more... “Mick Bates AM adds support to chipping campaign”