MAKE THE PLEDGE TO STAMP OUT STRANGLES!

Posted on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 by Sasha Melia

Redwings Horse Sanctuary is urging horse owners to join its fight to stamp out strangles in the UK as part of the latest stage of its award-winning campaign.

Launching today (Friday 9^th November), owners and livery yard managers can make an online pledge, showing their commitment to help prevent the devastating and highly infectious disease, which can cause misery not just for horses but the wider equestrian community.

As “Pledgers”, horse owners will be agreeing to champion good biosecurity practices, to communicate openly if their horse may have been in contact with strangles and to clear their horse of being a strangles carrier if they become infected.

Meanwhile yard managers will be pledging to reduce the strangles risk at their businesses through screening new arrivals, producing a yard protocol for their clients and responding immediately if a strangles case is suspected.

The Pledge is part of a brand-new Stamp Out Strangles online hub created by the charity, full of free information and advice on spotting the signs of the disease and preventing or managing an outbreak. And with strangles being a topic of continuous scientific research, all Pledgers will receive regular campaign updates so they can keep informed of the latest guidance and stay one step ahead of the disease.

Horse owners can also access a map of livery yards who have signed up to the Pledge so they can see which businesses are committed to helping protect their horse from strangles.

Strangles is a prevalent disease with more than 600 outbreaks recorded on average in the UK each year, according to the Animal Health Trust.

Redwings’ Education and Campaigns Manager, Andie Vilela, said: “As well as being a miserable experience for the horse, an outbreak on a yard, riding school or other equestrian business can bring activities to a standstill for several weeks and be financially devastating.

“We understand it can be hard to make changes to hygiene practices, especially while fitting busy lives around caring for horses. However, we know the appetite to improve biosecurity standards is out there. Over 90% of more than 2,000 horse owners we surveyed in 2016* said strangles should be more of a priority, and 80% said they would choose a livery yard that screens new arrivals for the disease.

“With the launch of the Pledge and our brand new online hub, we hope this will give horse owners and yard managers the impetus and support to make meaningful changes – whether it’s the introduction of routine temperature checking or formulating a yard screening protocol with a vet – so together we can stay one step ahead of strangles and stamp out this disease for good.”

The Pledge has been endorsed by LiveryList, the UK’s largest livery yard directory. Cheryl Johns, Founder, added: “There is an increased demand from horse owners for yards and their staff to have an active part in ensuring the health and welfare of their clients’ horses. This has now evolved into many yards insisting on screening and isolation for new arrivals, which gives confidence to horse owners.

“LiveryList encourages both horse owners and yard managers to take the Pledge so they can receive the support they need to better their infectious disease prevention and help raise further awareness of this critical issue.”

Redwings’ campaign was inspired by its own experience of strangles. In 2015, the charity recorded its first outbreak in 25 years of using an infectious disease screening protocol. However, prompt and decisive action by the charity’s vets and equine care teams meant that just 30 horses (2% of all its rescued residents) were infected.

In November 2017, the campaign was honoured at the Animal Health Trust’s UK Equestrian Awards for the bold work it had already undertaken to remove the stigma associated with strangles and raise awareness of its prevention.

To make the pledge and access the new Stamp Out Strangles online hub, visit www.redwings.org.uk/strangles

Is your pet your hero? Nominate them now for 2019 Blue Cross Medal – Soap-star Hayley Tamaddon and animal-loving celebs join the search for hero pets to receive charity accolade

Posted on Wednesday, November 14, 2018 by Sasha Melia

Blue Cross pet charity is calling for stories about hero pets from across the nation as nominations open for the prestigious Blue Cross Medal. Animal lovers across the UK are being encouraged to nominate inspirational pets who could be the next medal-winner.

 

The Blue Cross Medal has celebrated inspirational pets for almost 80 years, and awarded its first in 1940 to a dog called La Cloche for saving his owner from drowning during the Second World War after a German torpedo hit their ship.

 

Bravery and companionship isn’t always as dramatic as La Cloche’s story, so last year Blue Cross opened the medal up to more nominees in the hopes to hear about the everyday pet hero who is changing lives in all kinds of ways; from cats who’re there to listen when there is no one else, dogs who help with social anxiety; guinea pigs who are a child’s best friend; any pet who helps people in any way, big or small.

 

Last year’s winner was an incredible pet. A young mastiff called Lemmy won the award after being nominated by his owner for saving the lives of her two sons. Rescue-dog Lemmy brought his young owner Max back from depression and suicidal thoughts and turned his life around. A true hero in every sense of the word.

 

Sally de la Bedoyere, Blue Cross Chief Executive, said: “Pets are amazing, they help us in so many ways, from rescuing us from loneliness to teaching us new things, and even saving lives. The Blue Cross Medal is a wonderful way to draw attention to the incredible things our pets do for us every day and to celebrate them. We’re very excited to hear all the amazing stories to be sent through and can’t wait to pick the next medal winner.”

 

Animal-loving celebrities are helping support the Blue Cross Medal this year, including soap-star Hayley Tamaddon, who also partook in a photoshoot with homeless pets at one of the charities rehoming centres. Embarrassing Bodies’s Dr. Dawn and The Bill’s Lisa Maxwell are also showing support and broadening the search.

 

Emmerdale and Coronation Street’s Hayley Tamaddon said: “Pets have always played a wonderful part in my life and I’ve been grateful to each and every one of them for it. The wonderful German Shepherd I had growing up called Sheeba would be my strong contender for the Blue Cross Medal nomination – she thought she was my bodyguard, she was always close by me and she made me feel so special and loved.

 

“Pets do so much for us and the Blue Cross Medal is all about celebrating that, so I would urge anyone with a special pet in their life to nominate them right away!”

 

The Blue Cross Medal is open to pets that have done something brave, life-changing partnerships, assistance animals and serving or working animals. Deadline for entries is 15 February 2019. To nominate a pet and find out more, visit www.bluecross.org.uk/medal.

 

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