PDSA Survivor award

About PDSA Pet Survivor

In October, alongside the Sunday Express, we launched our nationwide search for the PDSA Pet Survivor of 2013: the pet that has faced the worst injury or illness – yet lived to tell the tail. After receiving an overwhelming number of extraordinary stories a panel of judges, including TV vet Steve Leonard, pet lover and Atomic Kitten star Liz McClarnon, and PDSA vets, shortlisted six miracle pets to take part in a public vote.
Pet lovers throughout the UK voted in droves for their favourite story of death-defying survival against all the odds and today we can announce that the winner of the title PDSA Pet Survivor of 2013 is courageous cat Robbie, from Croydon.
Robbie survived terrible burns after sheltering in an abandoned sofa that was later set on fire – with the poor cat still inside.
The Pet Survivor Award recognises Robbie’s sheer determination to pull through against all the odds, as well as his owner’s devotion to his care and the dedication of the vet team, who provided his life-saving treatment.
Robbie was nominated for the competition by his now owner, Gill Smith (54), a retired police officer from South Croydon. Gill took the kitten in after his fire ordeal so he would have a safe ‘forever home’. Robbie was just six-months-old and thought to be a stray when he found himself in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Warning: the stories below contain images which some may find upsetting

Robbie

Robbie suffered horrific burns, but stunned everyone with his survival spirit and patient nature

Pet Survivor Award winner - Robbie

Stray kitten Robbie trapped in sofa inferno
Age: 6 months (at time of injury)
Location: Herne Bay and Croydon
Looking for a dry bed for the night little stray Robbie managed to find himself a very comfy spot inside an abandoned sofa. Sometime later his sweet retreat became a raging inferno with Robbie still inside.
Robbie was rushed to nearby Broadway Vets with severe burns to his face, head, legs and paws. Principal Vet Sarah Platt said: “Robbie was in shock when he arrived and needed intensive care. He stayed with us for six months during which time he had two skin grafts and daily dressing changes. One of his back legs also had to be amputated. But Robbie always loved attention even when he was critically ill, very few animals could have coped the way he did.”
Despite the pain and discomfort, Robbie was very tolerant and patient as he received thousands of pounds worth of treatment to put him back on all-fours. Incredibly, much of this was paid for by the local community after the vet practice published appeals in the local paper.
Gill was visiting Herne Bay when she saw Robbie’s story in the local press and joined in the fundraising activities to finance his treatment. She visited him regularly, despite living some distance away and, when no owner came forward, she offered Robbie a home for life.
PDSA Vet Elaine Pendlebury said: “Robbie is a truly inspiring story for us all. He coped so well with his pain and suffering and fought back against severe injuries that not all pets would have overcome.”
Pet Survivor Judge Liz McClarnon, said she found the judging of the six finalists almost impossible as all touched her heart: “When I read Robbie’s story I thought what a beautiful and brave feline he is. To be honest I cried reading his story.”
Vet and TV presenter Steve Leonard added: “All of the Pet Survivor stories made me very proud of my profession and grateful to work alongside such dedicated animal enthusiasts. Animals so often surprise us with their stoicism and tenacity, and there are so many lessons we could learn from them. Robbie’s is a horrific story, but has an amazing outcome with a great community effort.”

The competition finalists

One-year-old Robbie was up against five other incredible pet survivors in the competition plucky pets who are in the running for the title of PDSA Pet Survivor of 2013. Although Robbie romped away with the winner’s trophy, his two closest runners-up in the voting were:
Rex, the Border Collie who suffered severe head injuries after squeezing through a crossing gate and being hit by a train. Rex’s skull was shattered and he eventually had to have an eye removed but he still managed to wag his tail.
Will, a three-year-old Saluki-Lurcher cross who was found abandoned, starving and with a broken leg in the Yorkshire Dales. He had been there for around three-weeks before a group of walkers discovered him and the Upper Wharfdale Fell Rescue Association were able to bring him to safety.
PDSA would like to thank everyone who entered their incredible pets for the competition and everyone who voted for their favourite per survivor. All funds raised from the text votes will help PDSA provide treatment for the sick and injured pets in our care.
Watch the website for details of the PDSA Pet Survivor Awards 2014!

Rex

Rex’s determined nature helped him to survive a collision with a train, which shattered his skull

Rex

Rex was hit by a train, shattering his skull
Age: 2
Location: Brough, East Riding
Playful Border Collie Rex was on a walk near his home and decided to race a train on the nearby track. Suddenly he disappeared from owner Philip Aberthany’s sight. He managed to squeeze through a crossing gate and, to Philip’s horror, was hit by the train and thrown onto the opposite tracks.
Rex was rushed to the vets with severe head injuries and with his left eye out of its socket; Vets at the Swanbridge Veterinary Hospital stabilised Rex but advised the distraught owners that he was unlikely to last the night. And even if he did there was a chance of permanent brain damage.
But when owner Caroline visited Rex at the surgery he managed to lift his head a little and wag his tail. “I left him with a blanket that I’d kept stuffed inside my jumper jumper all day, hoping the smell would comfort him,” said Caroline. “He looked so poorly but he was determined to hang on.”
Eventually Rex was strong enough for vets to operate: “His skull was in bits,” said John Levison, “His eye eventually had to be removed and all through his treatment Rex never growled or snapped once. We were amazed at the speed of his recovery.”
Now Rex is back on four paws he is due to visit local schools to highlight the dangers of straying onto train tracks.
PDSA Vet Elaine Pendlebury said: “I think that many other dogs would have died after being hit by a train. Rex must have been at death’s door and showed that ‘fighting spirit’ to overcome his life-threatening injuries. Rex’s bravery is truly an awe-inspiring story.”

Will

Will is happy in his new home after his terrible ordeal on the Yorkshire Dales

Will (Wufra)

Lost in the Yorkshire Dales for three weeks with a broken leg
Age: 3
Location: Grassington, North Yorkshire

Starving, freezing cold and with a broken leg, Will, a Saluki/Lurcher cross, was saved from certain death when a group of walkers spotted him in the Yorkshire Dales. Vets believe he had been there for at least three weeks.
Brought to safety by Upper Wharfedale Fell Rescue Association (who called him Wufra), Will had no known owner, so local dog lovers Brian and Helen Coates took him in, and rushed him straight to the Kingsway Veterinary Group practice.
Will had a shattered leg and weighed just 12kg, just half the weight he should have been. His internal organs had begun to shut down and at that stage he was closer to death than life: “Will arrived at our surgery in a terrible state,” said vet Tony Turnbull. “He was so severely underweight and dehydrated, we were worried he wouldn’t last the night. He needed a lot of intensive care, but he was a real little fighter and stunned us all with his determination to live.”
Finally, after three weeks and a 5kg weight gain, he was strong enough to undergo an operation to repair the fracture to his leg. Loving owner, Helen said: “I felt we had to give him a chance. He had come through so much and he was still hanging on to life, even though the odds were stacked against him. It’s so wonderful to have him here in his forever home in front of the fire, and that’s where he’s staying!”
Alan Scowcroft from UWFRA said: ”Wufra (Will) is extremely lucky to be alive and we’re very pleased that he is now making an excellent recovery. Our team is on call for emergencies 24/7 whether those requiring rescue have two legs or four.”

PIP

Pip was crushed by a tractor wheel shattering her pelvis, hydrotherapy helped her recovery

Pip

Crushed by a tractor but sheepdog Pip fights back
Age: 1
Location: Blackburn
One hot afternoon, Blue Merle Border Collie Pip took a breather under the wheel of a tractor to shelter from the sun. Seconds later, hidden from the driver’s view, Pip was horrifically crushed as the vehicle moved forward.

Distraught owner, Joanne Waggett, rushed young Pip to Abbeydale Veterinary Surgery where she heard the shocking news that her dog’s pelvis was completely crushed. To compound matters, the vet team also discovered that the diaphragm had ruptured and Pip’s stomach had been forced into her chest. The only saving grace was that she could move her tail, indicating her spinal cord was still intact.
Pip’s pelvis was rebuilt by plating the right side and removing the hip bone. Miraculously, Pip not only survived but was trying to get to her feet just two days after surgery.
“Pip is an extraordinary dog,” says Head Nurse Lianne Lowe. “It was so rewarding to see her survive against the odds.”
Back home on the farm, Joanne slept by Pip’s side for two weeks. She was even given her own hydrotherapy pool – a converted cattle trough filled with clean water and sterile salts for Pip to swim in twice a day.

“That she survived the accident is a blessing, but that she is now able to run and play and herd like a normal dog is truly a miracle,” said Joanne.
To top it all, Pip recently passed her initial sheepdog assessment and is all set to make a super, loyal, hard-working sheepdog.
Vet Martin Gabbot said "Pip’s survival was unbelievable, I have never seen a dog come back from this type of injury in 12 years. Pip is very intelligent and incredibly friendly, and the family made a huge effort with the recovery."

Malteaser

Malteaser almost froze and starved to death, but was saved by vet nursing and love from her owner

Malteaser

Frostbitten cat found in compost and ‘loved back to life’
Age: 5
Location: Ely, Cambridgshire (now living in Yorkshire)
When Bengal cat Malteaser went missing in February, her owner Amanda Kayes (36) was very concerned for her normally stay-at-home pet.
Though heavily pregnant, Amanda searched for Malteaser that evening and took the next day off work to find her beloved pet. “I put up fliers and called the all local vets. It was so cold and the temperatures were dropping rapidly. I was beginning to think that we would never see Malteaser again.”
It was five long, cold weeks, with temperatures reaching -12C on some nights, before Amanda received a call from a vet. A concerned householder had found a cat collapsed in their compost heap and taken her to the surgery.
Malteaser was found five miles from her home but thanks to her microchip she was reunited with Amanda: “I was so relieved, I rushed to see her and she made a few squeaks when she recognised me. She was really unwell though, had lost half her bodyweight, lost several teeth and had heavily frostbitten ears and paws.” The frostbitten cat stayed with Cathedral Veterinary Surgery for two weeks, where Amanda visited her twice a day.
“Malteaser was really sick and just skin and bone,” says vet Ian Halliday. “She needed intensive care and was extremely malnourished. What saved her was the daily visits from Amanda”.
Now fully recovered, she is enjoying every minute she spends with Amanda and the new baby. Vet Ian Halliday says: ”In our opinion, this cat was loved back to life.”
PDSA Vet Elaine Pendlebury said: “Malteaser was at death’s door – she’d lost about half her body weight and was extremely malnourished. Cat, owner, vets and nurses all worked to pull Malteaser through what could have been a very grim outcome.”

Thumper

Thumper was nearly paralysed in a fox attack, but surprised everyone with his will to live

Thumper

Left for dead: miracle rabbit walks again after fox attack
Age: 4
Location: Worthing, West Sussex
Four-year-old rabbit Thumper faced the fight of his life when he was attacked by a fox in the garden of his home and left for dead.
On finding her beloved pet in a terrible state, heartbroken owner Emma Miller rushed him to Grove Lodge Veterinary Group in Worthing. Vets warned her that Thumper might not last the night: “When I heard this my whole world fell apart,” recalls Emma. “Thumper has been with me through thick and thin and I would be lost without him as he’s part of my family.”
When morning came, there was good news at last for Emma. Thumper was still holding onto life despite the result of the x-rays showing he had sustained four fractured ribs. There was also a wound on the back of his neck, where he had been shaken – indicating there was a chance he had spinal injuries:
“Thumper was mostly paralysed but he was still fighting so were we not prepared to give up on him, “said vet Laurel Bowker. “Most rabbits would have died from shock after an attack like this but not Thumper - and our nursing team wanted to give him every chance.”
Gradually he became more responsive, and the vets confirmed that he still had feeling in his legs so he was almost ready to go home. “Thumper couldn’t hop for two weeks,” said Emma “but now he can do four hops and the vets are all amazed by his progress. They call him the bionic bunny!”
Judge Liz McClarnon said: “I know all too well about rabbits dying of shock, when I was younger mine died after a fox attack. Thumper is so brave.”
PDSA Vet Elaine Pendlebury said: “Thumper must have been just a whisker away from dying. Rabbits are so prone to shock and it is a miracle Thumper pulled through. That Thumper overcame all of these injuries is inspirational and truly can be called a survivor!”

Always give the PDSA your support donate today even £1.00 helps

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By making a donation today you can help us continue our vital services and please gift aid your donation.
   

grim news

Cats, dogs and other animals have been integrated into humans' lives to a surprising degree: A child growing up in the United States today, for example, is more likely to have a pet than a father at home, according to the American Humane Association.

But in households with a history of domestic abuse, pets can be a complicating factor. Not only are pets likely to be the target of abuse, but people who are the victims of abuse often refuse to seek shelter for fear of abandoning their pets.

The statistics are grim: Seventy-one percent of pet-owning women who go to abuse shelters reported that their abuser had injured, maimed, threatened or killed pets, according to the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence.

puppy fur dog bed

Get them spayed or Neutered

Nearly 8 million dogs and cats enter U.S. shelters each year, and approximately 4 million of those are killed annually. 

This is a staggering number of innocent lives that are lost. This number does not account for the millions more who spend many years, if not their entire lives, in a small cage waiting to be adopted.

In order to make sure that we do not contribute to this problem, it is important that owners have their pets spayed/neutered by their veterinarian or take advantage of free/low-cost options.

If you are interested in a new addition to your family, I strongly encourage you to visit a local animal shelter in order to find one. All dogs adopted from shelters already have been spayed/neutered, are up-to-date on vaccinations, and many are microchipped.

To help be a solution to this very real and unfortunate problem, please spay/neuter your pet and always choose to adopt a pet from a local shelter.






the author

Travelling abroad with your pet

More and more pets are travelling abroad with their owners under The Pet Travel Scheme (PETS). The scheme enables dogs, cats and ferrets to return to the UK after travelling to a number of qualifying countries both within the EU and beyond without the need for quarantine.
From 1 January 2012 all pet dogs (including guide and hearing dogs) can enter or re-enter the UK from any country in the world without quarantine provided they meet the rules of the scheme, which will be different depending on the country or territory the pet is coming from. The changes will mean that the rules on rabies vaccination for entry into the UK will be in line with the rest of Europe.
Animals which do not meet all the rules must be licensed into quarantine. They might then be able to obtain early release if they can be shown to comply with the necessary pet travel requirements.
Dogs travelling to the UK, on or after 1 January 2012, can undergo the necessary pre-entry treatment (e.g microchipping, vaccination and blood testing as required) either before they travel in the country of origin, or if they enter quarantine in the UK, whilst they are in quarantine.
Before you can bring your dog into the UK from the EU and listed non-EU countries, you need to:

• Step 1 – Have your dog microchipped – First your dog must be fitted with a microchip so it can be properly identified.
  
  
• Step 2 – Have your dog vaccinated– Your dog must be vaccinated against rabies. Rabies boosters must be kept up to date. You will need to wait 21 days after the first vaccination date before you can enter the UK. A waiting period is not required for subsequent entries into the UK, provided rabies boosters are kept up to date. If the vaccination is in two parts, the 21 day wait will be from the date of the second vaccination.
  
  
• Step 3 – Get pet travel documentation – For animals arriving in the UK from an EU country, get an EU pet passport. From a non-EU listed country or territory you will need to obtain an official third country veterinary certificate (NB Croatia, Gibraltar, Norway, San Marino and Switzerland are also issuing passports).(see http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/pet-owners/documentation/ for more details)
  
  
• Step 4 – Tapeworm treatment – The European Commission and European Parliament have agreed that the UK can continue to require dogs to be treated against tapeworms. This is because of the potential risk of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis being introduced into the UK which would represent a public health concern. The new regulation will ensure that a dog must be treated by a veterinary surgeon 24 to 120 hours (1-5 days) before entering one of the countries listed as EM-free (UK, Ireland, Finland and Malta).

There is no longer a mandatory requirement for tick treatment. (see http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/pet-owners/parasites/ for more details), although the British Veterinary Association recommends very strongly that owners continue to treat their animals both before and during travel to prevent infection with tick-borne diseases such as   and Ehrlichiosis, which can often be life threatening to pets.

• Step 5 – Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route – Your dog must enter the UK from a listed country or territory travelling with an approved transport company on an authorised route.

Preparing your dog for entry into the UK from unlisted non-EU countries:

• Step 1 – Have your dog microchipped – First your dog must be fitted with a microchip so it can be properly identified.
  
  
• Step 2 – Have your dog vaccinated –Your dog must be vaccinated against rabies. There is no exemption to this requirement, even if your dog has a current rabies vaccination. Rabies boosters must be kept up to date.
  
  
• Step 3 – Arrange a blood test – After your dog has been vaccinated, it must be blood tested to make sure the vaccine has given it a satisfactory level of protection against rabies. The blood sample must be taken at least 30 days after vaccination. The length of the waiting period before entry to the UK is three calendar months from the date your vet took the blood sample which led to a satisfactory test result. The three month waiting period will not apply if your dog was vaccinated and blood tested in the EU and issued with an EU pet passport before it went to an unlisted country
  
  
• Step 4 – Get pet travel documentation –You will need to obtain an official third country veterinary certificate.(see http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/pet-owners/documentation/ for more details)
  
  
• Step 5 – Tapeworm treatment – The European Commission and European Parliament have agreed that the UK can continue to require dogs to be treated against tapeworms. This is because of the potential risk of the tapeworm Echinococcus multilocularis being introduced into the UK which would represent a public health concern. The new regulation will ensure that a dog must be treated by a veterinary surgeon 24 to 120 hours (1-5 days) before entering one of the countries listed as EM-free (UK, Ireland, Finland and Malta).

There is no longer a mandatory requirement for tick treatment. (see http://www.defra.gov.uk/wildlife-pets/pets/travel/pets/pet-owners/parasites/ for more details), although the British Veterinary Association recommends very strongly that owners continue to treat their animals both before and during travel to prevent infection with tick-borne diseases such as Babesiosis and Ehrlichiosis, which can often be life threatening to pets.

• Step 6 – Arrange for your animal to travel with an approved transport company on an authorised route – Your dog must enter the UK with an approved transport company on an authorised route.

In addition to adhering to these requirements, the UK veterinary profession recommends that owners talk to a vet as early as possible to make sure your dog is protected from all diseases and parasites encountered abroad.

Always consider your dog’s welfare and think about planning your trip to ensure that they have sufficient stops to stretch their legs and relax along the way.  Think carefully about the temperatures that they are exposed to and make sure you have plans in place to keep them well hydrated and cool.  Finally, remember to pack a ‘travel bag’ for your pet including his bedding, food, a water supply and things like his favourite toys.  Your dog should also have plenty of room to turn around and lie down while you’re on route.

For further information on travelling abroad with your dog, contact your vet.

DO YOU KNOW THIS STAFFI - LOST IN OXLOW LANE I N DAGENHAM ESSEX

 

 

Staffi found near oxlow lane please share if RSPCA can't find owner they will destroy it in a weeks time if u know the owner or can give it a good home get in touch

 

 

 Please please Help to see if anyone  could give her a home or knows of anyone who could
Dont let the RSPCA put her down.