Marc Abraham

If you ‘have’ to offer your dog an Easter egg, then please source a chocolate-free alternative containing dog-friendly carob for example, and keep all chocolate eggs well out of reach, even if they’re gift-wrapped. Xylitol rapidly releases insulin into a dog’s bloodstream, causing an extreme drop in blood sugar, lethargy, vomiting, weakness, and seizures, and as with chocolate any suspect ingestion should be considered a medical emergency and veterinary help sought straight away. Signs of ingestion of these foods may not develop for several days, but when they do, your pet could exhibit nausea, drooling, abdominal pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, lethargy, pale gums, and increased heart and breathing rates, so make sure they’re checked out if you’re at all worried. Other edible doggy dangers include hot cross buns containing sultanas and raisins, which can cause kidney failure; as well as common Spring bulbs, like daffodils and tulips, which can lead to an upset stomach, painful abdomen, and accompanying vomiting/diarrhoea.

When 8-year-old tabby Tom (pictured) found himself homeless last year, he thought he might have found a new feline family when he came across a colony of feral cats living in a nearby community garden. · Tom tried to make friends, but sadly didn’t receive the reception he was hoping for. · Despite being a lover and not a fighter, Tom and many of the stray and feral cats in the area were unneutered, which lead to multiple quarrels breaking out. · Because Tom was small for his age and new to the area, he was singled out and regularly got scratched, bitten and bullied by the other cats. Mayhew’s Animal Welfare Officers have since returned to the area where Tom was found to Trap, Neuter, and Return (TNR) the feral cat population. If you are concerned about a colony of feral cats in your area, please email Mayhew’s Animal Welfare Officers at awo@mayhewanimalhome.org or call 020 8962 8000.

As she was so desperately thin and malnourished, Mayhew started Tess off on a special diet – feeding her six small meals a day to prevent her stomach being overwhelmed, and so build up her strength gradually. There is still a while to go before Tess is fully recovered, but Mayhew’s teams are hopeful that she will continue to improve, carefully monitoring her progress, and celebrating every small victory. Despite having a shaky start, Tess has started to respond to Mayhew’s dedication, care and attention, and now engages in gentle play and daily walks. You can also find out more about Tess’s progress here and on Mayhew’s social media channels, where you can watch regular video updates and help spread the word about the life changing work they do.

The Mobile Health Unit is an initiative by Satpuda Foundation, a partner of Born Free’s Living with Tigers programme, which gives local communities like Khursapar access to vital healthcare. Living with Tigers programme supports a network of Indian NGOs to help conserve wild tigers and find solutions to human-wildlife conflict across the Satpuda region of central India. Initiatives like the Mobile Health Unit help wildlife conservation because they instil sympathy and trust with local communities in the work of Living with Tigers, and also act as a way for Living with Tigers to find out if anything new is happening in the community that could adversely affect wildlife. Jones added: “For villages like Khursapar, Born Free’s Mobile Health Unit is a real lifeline for the communities it serves.