World Animal Week: time to focus on animal welfare. Pete the Vet on Newstalk’s Pat Kenny Show

To listen to this week’s podcast, click on the link at the foot of this page.

World Animal Week

Every year, World Animal Week runs in the first week of October, commemorating the feast day of St Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of animals, on 4th October
This is as an opportunity to stress the need for animals in our society to be cared for properly
As examples of the focus on animals this week that we discussed in today’s radio show

• there is a government press release today which ties in with this theme – it happens to be about sulky racing
• Spiders are being discussed in national newspapers
• A scorpion was found on a Dublin building site today
• Animal charity Dogs Trust is organising “Pupcake Day” today, Friday October 6th.

I was at the ISPCA launch of World Animal Week last week, along with models and ISPCA Ambassadors Rosanna Davidson and Holly White
The ISPCA is running a #GiveThemAVoice campaign and is calling on all animal lovers to raise awareness and make a difference during World Animal Week.
Pet owners can help in so many ways

• giving their own pets some extra love and attention
• rehoming a rescued animal
• volunteering in your spare time
• making a donation to help the many animals in the ISPCA’s care.

As a charitable organisation, the ISPCA relies heavily on public support to continue their work rescuing, rehabilitating and responsibly rehoming thousands of animals that desperately need help. 88% of ISPCA funding is received from public donations and legacies and they really need your help to continue their vital work.

You can support the ISPCA during World Animal Week by texting ISPCA to 50300 to donate €4. Text costs €4. ISPCA will receive a minimum of €3.25.

Questions from listeners about pets

• My partner and I really want to get a kitten but one of us is allergic. Is there anything we can do?
• My Labrador’s tail is completely down. Last week we brought him to the vet to give him anti-inflammatories. It has slightly improved but not much and is still sagging, where usually it is wagging 24/7. What should we do next or what is the cause?
• We are getting a new kitten soon and he is about 7 weeks old, I am unsure what injections should he be getting, when should I bring him to the vet ?
• Are rowan berries, beech nuts or acorns harmful to dogs?
• We recently moved house and bought our cat a new cat house and bed but she won’t go into it. We are in the countryside and the cat house is sheltered and is itself under a roof. I’ve been feeding her outside it but she still is not sleeping there. Any advice?
• With Halloween coming in a few weeks time, a few kids already have bangers on the street. How do I protect my cat and dog as they seem very frightened by them?
• There is a cat that has been around the local area for some weeks now but last night came into the back garden and never stopped making what sounds like a distressed sound. I fed and gave the cat water it was cagey when we approached but I don’t think it’s a wild cat. I do think there is something wrong and I think she’s pregnant. It cried all night outside either the back or front of house what can I do? the DSPCA can’t take her unless injured or harmed

To find out Pete’s answers to these questions, listen to the podcast below.