What a busy few weeks we have been having as mum and dad get ready for the indoor tree season.
It is a funny custom at this time of year when the humans decide that they want to bring a tree into the house and hang lights and baubles on it.
Charlie has learnt, the hard way, that not all trees are for, shall we say, sniffing. He thought when it was raining the other evening that mum had thought of him and provided a warm, lit, sniffing tree inside. How wrong was he?
So far this year they have not put any of those chocolate coins up, we would really like them but mum and dad say that we can’t have chocolate as it is poisonous to dogs…but it smells soooo good!
Charlie seems a bit of an expert when it comes to mum trying to sneak in chews and toys. She has been rumbled on a few occasions and had to give things up.
We like sprouts.
Sprouts
One interesting thing has come out of the season of cheer has been the abundance of sprouts. I had never really been into the small green veg but between us we have eaten our way through hundreds of them recently.
Sprouts have taken over from turnip and are great fun to throw around as they roll and are fun to eat as occasionally they get stuck on your teeth.
Mum keeps our sprouts in the fridge and this keeps them firm and cool. Who says that boys don’t like their greens? Go on try them they are fantastic.
On the subject of sprouts on veg box recipies they have been carrying out their annual Sprout Peddling Competition. One of the responses to the article, Elizabeth Smith, has posted a great article about Millie’s Festive Sprouts Recipe.
It has some great information on how to win friends and influence those humans over the festive season.
Buy a dog a dinner
The Cheshire Dogs’ Home has a great scheme this Christmas for dog lovers called the Buy a Dog a Christmas Dinner Appeal. Every year the Manchester & Cheshire Dogs’ Home receive thousands of stray and abandoned dogs and run a Christmas campaign to help feed and look after the dogs in their care. You can make a simple donation via the website or by calling the Appeals Department on 0161 205 7136 and donate over the telephone using your debit/credit card.
Many other animal charities offer similar fundraising activities at this time of the year. Let us know about them by using the comments section below.
Dry food during the Credit Crunch
One of the major pet charities is reporting an increase in stray dogs and is at bursting point as the credit crunch and new legislation starts to bite.
The Battersea Dogs & Cats Home has issued a warning that it is at bursting point due to an unprecedented increase in the number of stray dogs into the Home this year.
With the cost of animal food increasing The Home has also produced a list of top tips to help cash-strapped pet owners care for their dogs and cats during the credit crunch.
The Home has taken in 6,430 stray dogs so far this year, compared with 5,335 at the same stage in 2007. Strays currently account for 82% of dogs at the Home.
Jan Barlow, Chief Executive of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home, says: ‘We are just over a week away from Christmas and are almost full. While we think part of the rise in numbers of strays is because people can’t afford to keep their dogs any more so are dumping them on the streets, we’re also extremely worried that people losing their dogs don’t where to turn to try and find them.
Many people are not being reunited with their lost dogs because they don’t realise that, since the Clean Neighbourhoods and Environment Act came into force fully in April, stray dogs are dealt with by local authorities.’
Happy Christmas from Barney.
Barney, the US President’s Scottish Terrier has made his final christmas video before President and Mrs. Bush leave the White House.
In the video called A Red, White and Blue Christmas Barney is joined by Ms. Beasley, also a Scottish Terrier, as they watch the decorations being put up around the White House and remember past holidays.
You can watch the video here
Give Your Pets a Merry Little Christmas
The festive season is just around the corner and The Blue Cross are encouraging pet owners to include their furry friends in all the fun too. Read on and listen to their petcasts to discover money saving present ideas for pets as well as tips on how to ensure your pet has a fun Christmas. They also highlight some safety reminders: after all, this is a time of year that we all can over-indulge!
That is all for now, until next time
Buster and Charlie.
