Tracy McQuarrie, founder of Dogtown SA, has put a few guidelines together on what to do when you come across a stray.

1. Make sure that the dog is a stray and not an escapee from a garden.
2. If you are able to catch the dog safely, take it to your local vet or shelter to be scanned for a micro chip. This is free of charge. If the dog has a micro chip, the owners will be contacted and the ordeal for the dog will be over.
3. If you consider fostering the dog while searching for its owner, ask the vet to check the dog out to make sure there is nothing wrong.
4. If there is no micro chip or you cannot reach the owner, you can either keep the pet until you find the owners, leave it with the vet, or take it to the closest animal shelter.
5. Put up posters in the area where you found the stray dog. Put them up at the main entrances and exits to the area, in community centres, local vets, pet stores, and around ATMs, for instance.
6. Also place an advert in the local newspaper.
7. Don’t give too much detail to ensure that the rightful owner is able to correctly identify his or her pet, telling you the gender of the dog, as well as distinct features. There are unfortunately unscrupulous people who have ill intentions, so keep it simple, for example ‘Labrador found in Arboretum’.
8. Advise the SPCA and send them the details in case the owner approaches them.
9. Should you decide to foster the dog until its owner is found, take care when handing the dog over. You can ask your local shelter for assistance.

Establishing the owner of the dog

1. If you are unsure, contact your local shelter or rescue organisation for assistance. They do this all the time.
2. Ensure the owner has proof of identification and ownership – a photograph of them and their dog is a good idea. Make sure they are able to give you all the vital statistics – sex, sterilised or intact, colouring, special features and date and place of where they went missing.
3. Keep the dog out of sight from the person claiming to be the owner, then ask them to call the dog by its name. If the dog gets excited and wants to get to the person, then you probably have a match. If the dog does not react in any way, then the claimant is probably not the owner.
4. If the dog seems concerned, scared with their tail between its legs or cowering, then the dog is displaying fear for the person. Take the dog away, making sure the person has still not seen the dog. The dog may have run away for a reason. Inform the person that the dog did not react to them or display signs of recognition.

Steps to take when spotting a stray

1. Try to determine if the dog has a collar or tag on it. Remember to always approach a stray dog sideways, carefully and slowly. The dog will be scared and unsure and you don’t want to scare it away.
2. If the dog has a tag with details on it, it is best to take it to the local vet for safekeeping until its owner can collect it. Otherwise, you could keep the animal safely with you.
3. If the pet does not have any tag but seems friendly, see if it would be happy to hop into your car. Having yummy treats always helps here. Take the animal to the nearest shelter or vet to be scanned.
4. If the animal is at risk of running into traffic, stop. When a dog is panicking and running, you may cause the dog to run away from an area they are familiar with.
5. If the animal is snarling and growling, stop. The animal is giving you a clear message that you are scaring it and it doesn’t understand you are trying to help it. Rather call for help from any of your local shelters. Stay with the animal at a distance to keep an eye on its movements. By the time the rescue people arrives, the animal could have moved and they would be unable to locate it. By staying there you are improving the likelihood of the animal being brought to safety. Someone may already have contacted the shelter to report the missing pet.

After 10 days of a stray period, Dogtown SA can assist in find the stray a new home. Contact them at network@barkingmad.co.za with the details of the dog. The Barking Mad network will go to work on spreading the word for new owners.

Create a dog buffet station fit for a king!

Treat your best friend like royalty and create a food station that helps keep their bowls from wandering around and your living space neat. The best part about creating a food station, is it can match your home décor area.

Apart from enthusiasm, you’ll need the following tools to get you started:

• screwdriver
• drill with 10mm drill bit
• compass
• pencil
• jigsaw
• G-clamps
• measuring tape
• paintbrush

These are the materials you’ll need:

300mm x 2.4m laminated pine shelf cut into the following lengths:

two 280 x 300mm,

three 450 x 300mm,

22 x 22mm pine batons cut into four 100mm lengths,

3 x 40mm cut screws,

clearly Neat plastic storage box (415 x 170 x 290mm),

two metal food bowls,

water-based enamel paint and

Harlequin Exterior Varnish to seal the pine.

Follow these detailed steps:

1. Attach the two long panels to the two short panels to create a box. The long panels are a bit taller than the short panels; this is to allow for the lid to fit snugly.
2. Calculate where the two bowls will go on the remaining 450mm plank and use the compass to draw circles to cut out holes for the bowls. Remember to make the holes smaller than the circumference of the bowl lid.
3. Using the 10mm wood bit, drill pilot holes on the inside of the circles you’ve drawn in step two.
4. Secure the wood to your workbench with G-clamps and cut out the circles with the jigsaw.
5. Measure the width of the timber on the short sides of the lid, and attach the four 100mm batons on the inside of this measurement on the four corners.
6. Paint the lid with two coats of enamel paint and seal the bare wood with two coats of clear Harlequin Exterior Varnish. Allow the paint to dry thoroughly between coats.

Voilà! Your best friend is ready for royal dining.

(Instructions courtesy of Builders)

Type ‘cats’ and ‘exercise’ into your browser and you’ll be bombarded with a slew of Grumpy Cat memes mocking the very thought of exercise; “I exercised once, it was awful” and “My favourite exercise is a cross between a lunge and a crunch… lunch.” And while many cats are quite content to sit on a windowsill all day long, taking naps and watching the world go by, this doesn’t mean cats don’t need or enjoy playing games.

What many pet parents don’t know is that when it comes to cats, play isn’t just about fun and games. For cats in the wild, the act of play is a serious business that helps kittens learn important survival skills like stalking, chasing and trapping prey.

Even if your cat never ventures outside your home, this basic instinct to hunt can remain strong, which is why it’s important to give our cats the opportunity to express this natural behaviour through play.

Kittens and adult cats are both stimulated by the same sort of games, though kittens don’t require a great deal of encouragement to get started.

Dr Guy Fyvie, Nutritional Advisor at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, provides pet parents with these important tips on how to play with your cat or kitten to enrich them mentally, physically and strengthen your bond:

The right toys

The first thing you’re going to want to find is a proper toy to play with your cat. If you’re trying to stimulate prey hunting behaviour you don’t want to use your hands. Even if your cat is gentle, she might bite if she becomes too excited. You want your cat to associate your hands with petting and feeding, not hunting and killing.

Sound stimulation

Toys that have bells or ‘squeakers’ are especially good to give your cat if she is likely to be left on her own as the noise acts as an extra stimulus.

The important point to remember with all these toys is that you need to alternate them to prevent boredom. Don’t just throw all your cats toys on the floor at the same time. Cats are smart and tire of toys quickly. Instead, put out only one or two of their toys and change them regularly. This will be far more interesting for your cat.

Games

• A fantastic type of toy for you and your cat to play with is the kind that has a ball, mouse or feather at the end of a string. Sometimes the string is also attached to a wand. These toys simulate moving prey.
• Scratch posts and cat trees will entice your cats to climb, which uses their muscles and naturally wears down their claws. Cats love to see the world from above and cat trees and scratch posts give them a relaxing spot to nap on or peruse their kingdom like The Lion King’s Simba.
• Put a few kibbles of your cat’s favourite cat food in different places each day (including on top of tall furniture) and bring out the hunter in your cat!

Favourites

Cats can become very attached to small stuffed toys, and every once and in a while will bring them out to play with. Some will meow and howl over a favourite stuffed toy. There is no conclusive explanation why they do this; however, it is all good fun and part of your cat’s playtime.

How often should your cat play?

Two play sessions a day would be fantastic for both you and your cat. You might find having a playtime just before bed (or even adding a third one) will help settle down a cat that gets into trouble at night.

If your cat doesn’t feel like playing the first time, don’t get discouraged. Keep trying and you’ll start to work out how and when your cat enjoys playtime. Just like kids not all cats like the same type of games. Together try and figure out the games that awake the leopard in them.

Healthy cats that spend a lot of time outdoors will get plenty of exercise by hunting, playing and exploring. Sometimes if a cat spends too much time indoors they can put on weight due to a lack of exercise, however, exercising your cat is not difficult, along with helping your cat lose weight; it makes a big difference to your pet’s overall, health and happiness.

Remove the itchy from your scratchy

South Africans are fortunate in that they enjoy a balmy climate for most of the year. However, as a result of our warm weather the high risk period for allergy sufferers can extend for up to nine months of the year – or even more if you live in Zululand. What many of us don’t realise is that humans are not the only ones to suffer from allergies – man’s best friend is at risk as well.

Dr Guy Fyvie, Veterinary Affairs Manager at Hill’s Pet Nutrition, says, it’s important not to forget your dog when you are establishing your allergy fighting plan.

“Environmental allergens pose an invisible but constant nuisance to many dogs. More than 50% of allergies in dogs are caused by the world around them – pollens, moulds and house dust mites can be found anywhere and in any season. The good news is that there are numerous small, simple changes that we can introduce to help to eliminate or reduce the signs and irritation of our dog’s allergies.”

Dr Fyvie recommends 4 steps to take care of your dog and help prevent allergies:

1. Keep your dog’s coat healthy.

If your dog is suffering from an allergic environmental reaction it is recommended that you bathe your dog in cold water.  For really bad cases this is recommended three times a week.  This will help to calm itchy irritated skin and can reduce allergens in the coat.  Again, if you are in a drought stricken area a sponge bath with a bottle of still mineral water will help.  While plain water is often just fine if you are washing your dog, make sure you are using the right products.

“There are a few pet friendly hypoallergenic and gentle medicated shampoos available from your vet. Make use of these or if you use a dog parlour make sure they are using the right soaps for your pooch. Also, invest in some dog grooming wipes which can remove loose hair, dirt and odour causing bacteria from your dog’s fur,” says Dr Fyvie.

2. Conduct tests with your vet. The cause of the allergy may not always be obvious but there are several tests that your vet can perform which identify what your dog is allergic to. Dr Schissler, an Assistant Professor of Dermatology at the James L Voss Veterinary Teaching Hospital in Colorado State University, USA, has a diagnostic path that includes five steps for determining what allergies are affecting your dog. Your veterinarian will be able to assist you in implementing these tests and providing you with a treatment plan.

1. Test 1 – Flea comb for fleas.  Flea treatment is critical when managing itchy pets. Flea allergies can leave dogs with itchy skin that they just can’t stop scratching.  The scratching damages the skin and other allergens can then penetrate, perpetuating the allergy. Bacteria can then enter, potentially leading to infections, creating a vicious cycle that is notoriously difficult to eliminate or control. It’s important to treat fleas with oral or topical veterinary approved products and to treat the dog’s environment at the same time.
2. Test 2 – Skin Cytology: This is a non-invasive pluck or smear test which looks at skin cells under a microscope and can quickly identify bacterial and yeast infections.
3. Test 3 – Skin scraping: This is a commonly performed test which is used most commonly to diagnose parasites like mites and fungal infections. Your dog’s skin is scraped with a blade, often after the fur has been shaved off in the area.
4. Test 4 – Fungal Culture: This is where vets collect a hair sample from your dog either through plucking or gently scraping the skin surface around the affected lesion. It can help to identify whether a skin lesion is caused by fungal infections like ringworm.
5. Test 5 – Food trial: A well-performed elimination food trial is necessary to diagnose and differentiate food allergy from environmental allergies. “Food allergies are actually not as common as often thought in pets,” says Dr Fyvie, “even though we as humans have seen an increase in our own food intolerance over the years.” A successful food trial requires a big commitment from pet parents because their dog can eat absolutely nothing other than the prescribed food for 8 to 12 weeks.

3. Wash your dog’s bed/s. “Yes some dog owners spoil their dogs with more than one bed! Wash them every second week in a washing machine on the hottest programme, that won’t cause damage to the beds. If they don’t fit into your washing machine, a really good hand wash will work just as well. Make sure they dry properly before your dog uses them again,” says Dr Fyvie.  “If you are living in the Western Cape or other drought affected areas, rather vacuum your pets’ beds twice a week.

4. Feed your dog the right food. Professor of Companion Animal Clinical Studies at Onderstepoort Veterinary Academic Hospital, Andrew Leisewitz, says that by just changing your dog’s food, they can experience a significant difference. “I saw a really terrible atopic case on the verge of requiring a last resort removal of the ear canal due to swelling and environmental allergies. However, after just a month of changing the dog over to Hill’s Prescription Diet Derm Defense the pet came off all cortisone medication and has remained well controlled.”

“Controlling what your dog eats, maintaining a healthy coat, reducing their exposure to allergens and conducting the right tests with your vet, will go a long way to ensuring that your dog remains healthy and doesn’t suffer during the hottest months of the year,” says Dr Fyvie.