PUPPY AWARENESS DAY

SUNDAY 19TH SEPTEMBER - STANMER HOUSE NEAR BRIGHTON

Tickets will be on sale from 1st August 2010 and to register interest, perform or exhibit at PUP AID then email them at hello@thepet.net

 

 

PUP AID is a mini-boutique music festival to be held at Stanmer House with another celeb-judged dog show, Rex Factor, and loads of fun for all the family - and your dogs.

 

There will be a small admission charge to PUP AID with a proportion donated to Dog’s Trust (Shoreham Branch). PUP AID will try and help dog buyers everywhere be aware of how nasty this side of dog breeding is, and hopefully reduce the demand for pups bred in this way and help put a stop to puppy farming in the UK.

 

We will be gaining heaps of publicity as celebs attending will include soap stars, actors, comedians, politicians and sports personalities.  Some of the celebs have already confirmed and we can’t believe how lucky we are to have their support!!

 

ThePet.net is a social networking site whose co-founder is TV vet Marc Abraham.  An innovative and ground-breaking pet website giving owners a platform, for the first time ever, to rate and comment on the services they and their pet have received from the variety of businesses that make up the global pet industry, including vets, groomers, kennels, pet-friendly pubs and hotels.

 

 

 

heat Magazine

 

In the current issue of heat Magazine (19th Dec to 1st Jan) there is an article entitled "All I want for Christmas is..." in which the magazine asks celebrities what they want for Christmas.  Alexandra Burke says "I'd really like a Bichon Frisé puppy.  I'd call her Crunchie".  heat then shows a picture of a Bichon with the wording "Bichon Frisé @ [website address] from £500" underneath.  This wording is in exactly the same format as all the other presents celebrities want!  A dog is not a toy.  The magazine fails to advise people on being responsible (i.e ensuring they are purchasing a dog for the right reason and that they can afford to feed/look after a dog for 15+ years), they say nothing about a dog being for life or other relevant information such as the fact that Bichons coats are high maintenance and that there has been a significant increase in the number of dogs handed into rescue this year.

 

Friends of Bichon Frisé Rescue discourages the purchase of a dog as a present - particularly at Christmas time which would be very overwhelming to a new puppy just taken away from it's parents/siblings.  However, if after careful consideration you still intend on buying a puppy, rather than adopt one from rescue (puppies do need rehoming too), then we would recommend you buy a copy of Dogs Today magazine which has contact details for people working in the best interests of the breed or contact the Kennel Club for a list of their accredited breeders. 

 

We acknowledge that there are responsible breeders who use generic puppy sales websites to sell their dogs (as well as free local papers) but we also know from information received that puppy farms actively use sites like this too as they are unregulated.  A number of our members have inadvertently purchased dogs in this manner which have turned out to be from a puppy farmer.  Some of these dogs have gone on to have costly medical problems.

 

Remember the following rules when buying a puppy:-

  • Always see the puppies with their mother - Ideally you should see the father too, or at least a photo of him.  If you can't see the mother then don't buy the puppy.  If you can see more family members then that's even better.  Never buy from someone who offers to deliver your puppy, or who arranges to meet you somewhere.

  • Make sure the conditions the puppies are living in are clean, spacious and that they are being socialised with people.  Never buy a puppy just because you feel sorry for it. If you are concerned about the health or welfare of a puppy, contact the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty and advice line: 0300 1234999 or Scottish SPCA on 03000 999999. Calls are treated in the strictest confidence.

  • Ask questions - how many litters per year do they have (the lower the better - i.e one or two from different dogs), what back up does the breeder provide and request a written agreement that purchase is subject to a satisfactory vet examination (by your chosen vet).

  • Be very wary of breeders who have several litters of puppies at the same time - particularly if they are different breeds.

  • Never buy from a pet shop as many of these puppies have come from a puppy farm.

  • Pedigree certificates are not a guarantee for the condition of your puppy, and may not even mean you are being sold a pure-bred dog. If you are told that the puppy is Kennel Club registered or bred by a member of the Kennel Club's Accredited Breeders' scheme, it's advisable to check.

  • Puppies should have received their first vaccinations before they leave their mother so always ask to see the vaccination card. Beware that vaccination cards are easy to fake - if the veterinary surgeon's contact details are not visible, or has an address from outside the UK, the card may be fake.  If the details are there but you are still concerned then check with the vet - they will have kept a record.

It is very easy to get emotional and excited when buying a puppy but it is so important that you follow the above guidelines.  Remember that every puppy farm puppy sold is leaving a space for a new litter to be born.  You are not saving a puppy from a puppy farm you are continuing the cycle and exposing more dogs to an horrific life in cramped, disgusting conditions.

 

Along with many other people, FBFR has made an official complaint to heat Magazine regarding this irresponsible article.  heat Magazine clearly feel that they have not done anything wrong in promoting the purchase of puppies at Christmas as they have declined to comment.

 

1st September 2009 - REST IN PEACE SWEET KITTY

 

 

We have received the sad news that the missing Bichon, Kitty, has unfortunately been killed on the A2 this lunch time.  Our thoughts are with everyone who was involved with Kitty during the short time she was free from the puppy farm she was rescued from. 

 

Thank you to everyone who circulated emails and tried to help save this little girl.  Needless to say everyone involved is so distraught by the outcome.

 

Rest in peace little one.

 

 

4th August 2009 - Pasha

 

Friends of Bichon Frise Rescue would just like to send Pasha (the August star of our 2010 calendar) lots of love and best wishes for a speedy recovery.  Pasha has been really ill with parvo but is now on the road to recovery.

 

 

 

8th JUNE 2009 - CAN YOU HELP?

 

Do you know of a good Bichon groomer/trimmer in the Lincoln area?  If so please could you email us with the details so we can pass it on to one of our supporters.  Many thanks.

 

 

2010 CALENDAR

 

Would you like your dog to have his/her moment of fame?  Why not send their photograph to us to be used in our 2010 calendar?  All the proceeds from the calendar go to helping more Bichons in need.  You can send as many as you like - the more the merrier - and there is no fee payable.  Come on, it only takes a few minutes to find that star photograph.  You can send them in the post or email them (the larger the file the better please!).

 

Please send your Bichon photographs to us by the end of May 2009.    For more details please visit our Calendar page.

 

 

MERCHANDISE UPDATE

 

The shop page has now been added to our site where you can preview the items that we will have available for sale shortly.

 

 

MERCHANDISE

 

Following the results of our questionnaire sent out to members with our Autumn magazine, we are pleased to announce that we shall be soon be selling merchandise.  All the members who replied requested we produce note cards and we will also be offering birthday cards, pens and bags.  These items are on order so keep checking our website in the next couple of weeks as we will be adding a new page to our site from where you can view and purchase these goods.

 

 

PHOEBE

 

Fantastic news......little Phoebe has found a new home!!!!  We are so happy for her here at Friends.  What a wonderful Christmas present for Phoebe after everything she's been through.  We wish Phoebe and her new family all the best for the future.  You can read all about Phoebe on our donations page.

 

 

ELDERLY BICHON FOUND TIED TO A TREE

 

 

The RSPCA is appealing for information after an elderly Bichon was found tied to a tree in Eastham Ferry Woods, Wirral, Merseyside.

A member of the public found the white female dog, who RSPCA inspectors estimate to be 10 years old, around 11am on Tuesday 14th October.  She was tied to a tree with a piece of rope and she had badly matted fur on her stomach, paws and back legs.

The member of the public took the dog to a local vet before contacting the RSPCA. On examining the dog, the vet found she was also suffering from mammary tumours and decayed teeth.


Do you recognise this dog?  RSPCA Inspector Leanne Cragg is at a loss to explain how the dog came to be abandoned. She said: "It's possible this dog was deliberately abandoned, or she could have been stolen and dumped. Either way she must have been very frightened and uncomfortable.  She was not wearing a collar and had no microchip, so there's no way of telling who she belongs to at this stage.  Now we want to hear from anyone who saw anything in the area, or who recognises her either as theirs or belonging to someone they know. If anyone has any information I urge them to call the RSPCA."

The dog is currently being cared for at the veterinary practice where she continues to receive treatment.

 

Anyone who recognises this dog, or with any information about this incident, is urged to contact the RSPCA 24-hour cruelty and advice line: 0300 1234 999. Calls are treated in the strictest confidence.

 

THIS LITTLE BICHON HAS NOW FOUND A NEW FOREVER HOME.

 


 

GOOD NEWS FOR MALLY!

 

Mally (now called Louie) had a x-ray on Friday 10th October 2008 and the good news is that his back legs (bones and joints) are ok.  It appears that the muscles haven't stretched whilst he has been growing.  They are hoping some physiotherapy will help him bend his knees and if this doesn't work they will cut one of his tendons to allow the muscle to extend when he bends his leg.  Check out our Dogs in ResQ page for some new photographs of the gorgeous little boy.

 

Update from Louie's new Mum

Louie's condition is called Quadriceps Muscle Contracture (QMC).  This condition is normally seen when there has been a bone trauma, i.e. fracture.  The specialist who saw him, Mr Ferguson, said he has never seen a double QMC in such a young puppy and would suggest that Louie's condition is congenital rather than trauma based.  He did not take any x-rays as he feels that at his age x-rays won't be definitive.  He could not however find any signs of fracture through examination.

He also does not think that surgery would do any good and can often lead to more painful problems for the dog.  His left leg is beginning to bend at the knee and he does tend to bend it a little when standing eating and drinking.  We have therefore to concentrate the physio on his right leg.  Like me he does not see Louie's condition as being anything other than normal for him and he was tickled pink to see just how he can run when Mr Ferguson took Louie's lead off and he ran over to Tobi to play.

We have another appointment for the 9/2/09 when he will assess Louie again and perhaps take x-rays.  He feels however that he will always have wonky legs (no big deal just as I have always thought).

 

 

CAN YOU HELP MALLY?

 

 

Can you help the sweetest little Bichon ever?  His back leg joints (at the top) appear to be fused together so he is unable to walk around like a normal puppy.  He is mobile as he uses his front legs to drag himself around.  He was given to Many Tears Animal Rescue for help as his breeder couldn't bring himself (thankfully) to having him put to sleep.

 

There is a slideshow of photographs showing Mally and how he moves about.  Just as a warning though, I watched it this morning and had tears streaming down my face - mainly because he is such a beautiful puppy and also because it is awful what he is going through (I also don't think the choice of music helped!).  To view the slideshow click below

 

 

 

Mally's Slideshow

 

  

 

Have you seen a Bichon with this condition before?  Do you know what it is?  Can you tell us what treatment he needs?  Any information relating to this condition would be gratefully received.  Please email us at fbfrmag@yahoo.co.uk and we'll compile every bit of information we get and pass it on.

 

 

 

 

We have moved those dogs requiring sponsorship to a new page.  There is a link to this page on our Dogs in ResQ page.

 

 

We are pleased to announce that we have introduced two new pages to our website. 

 

The first is our Dogs in ResQ page where we will be posting information about Bichons currently in rescue looking for their forever homes.  We are not rehoming dogs ourselves and our main objective of raising as much money to help Bichons in need has not changed. 

 

The second is our donations page.  Every time we make a donation to help an individual Bichon we will be updating this page on the site so you can see where your money is being spent.

 

We plan to keep expanding our website so if you have any suggestions then please drop us a line.

 

  
 
 

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