Responsible Ownership

In return for the pleasure and companionship owning a dog or cat brings us, it is our responsibility to look after them properly.

• Put yourself in your pet's shoes...
• Daily Routine
• Good Behaviour
• Health & Pet Insurance
• Identification & Loss Prevention
• Going Away
• Children
• Pet Passports

Put yourself in your pet's shoes...

A good rule of thumb is to imagine how you would feel if you were your pet. For instance, would you like breakfast added to last night's stale supper or your bed being in the noisiest room in the house?

Most of the behavioural and veterinary problems we encounter at Battersea are due to owners not looking after their pets properly. In this section we give you some guidelines. But the basic needs are simple: to feel secure pets need to have a daily routine and be loved.

Daily Routine

Dogs need to be exercised regularly, usually twice a day in all weathers. You should carry poo bags with you to clean up after your dog (available from our Shop). Cats will not use dirty litter trays and may resort to using your pot plants instead so replace litter regularly and disinfect trays every so often.

Tinned or dried pet food provides a balanced, nutritious diet but remember to provide extra water with dried food. Water must always be clean and fresh. Human food is not recommended. Chocolate can be poisonous to dogs.

Your pet's bed should be in a quiet, draught-free place out of direct sunlight. Vacuuming or laundering the bedding will keep smells, and fleas, at bay.

Good Behaviour

Both you and your dog will be happier if he is socialised with people and other animals, and is easy to control. Dog-training classes allow your dog to meet others in a controlled environment, and enable you to learn correct handling techniques. This will strengthen the bond between you. Socialising from an early age will help prevent behavioural problems. Regular walks provide your dog with a change of scene and the chance to meet other dogs. Remember, your dog needs a social life too. Don't encourage your dog to chase cats or other small animals.

Most cats need access to a garden but indoor cats, who do not benefit from the mental stimulation provided by the outside world, can become bored and stressed. This can lead to serious behavioural problems and destructiveness. Cat activity toys are available so your cat can amuse herself when you are absent. Both indoor and outdoor cats enjoy playtime so interact with your cat through play, and provide a scratching post so she can exercise her claws without shredding your sofa. Studies have shown that indoor cats who are allowed to sleep on their owner's bed at night are happier and more confident cats.

Check out our Spoil your Pet, Q&A, Basic Training and Behaviour Hotline pages.

Health & Pet Insurance

Don't wait until your pet becomes ill before registering with a vet. Your pet will need annual vaccinations which is also a good opportunity for a complete health check. Your vet will advise on the most effective worming and anti-flea treatments, as your pet's health will suffer if parasites are not controlled. Regular grooming keeps coats clean and healthy, and is essential if you have a long-haired pet.

Neutering not only prevents unwanted litters but also tumours and other health problems. If you have a male dog or cat, it can also help to curb straying or aggression. Cats are prolific breeders. In five years, a female cat can be responsible for 20,000 offspring. Battersea Dogs & Cats Home neuters all adult cats, and a high percentage of adult dogs, before they go to new homes.

Pet insurance is an important consideration. A relatively small regular payment will guard against unexpected veterinary fees and allow you to provide the best healthcare for your pet. There are a number of pet insurance policies to choose from. Ensure the policy includes third party liability to cover you should your pet cause an accident.

Identification & Loss Prevention

Most owners wrongly assume that their pet will never go missing but sadly, as the number of strays we receive every day proves, they are mistaken. Identification is important for both dogs and cats. It is a legal requirement that all dogs wear a collar and identity disc. Cats should wear elasticated collars, which will allow them to escape should they become entangled whilst climbing. Microchipping is a widely recognised method of permanent identification. Your vet can provide this service. We microchip all Battersea dogs and cats before they go to new homes.

In the street, keep your dog on a lead at all times. Before letting him off in a safe area for the first time, be confident he will respond to your recall. Do not let your dog out on his own. He will be classed as a stray and could be impounded. Ensure your pet's vaccinations are up to date before allowing your pet outside.

Cats should not be shut out at night. Most road traffic accidents involving cats occur after dark and it's rather cruel to force a cat outside after she has spent the evening indoors, especially during cold weather. You may choose to accustom your cat to staying in at night and provide her with a litter tray. To become familiar and confident in her new surroundings, a newly acquired cat should be kept inside for at least four weeks. Do not feed her before letting her out for the first time but feed her immediately she returns. You can train her to respond to a signal when food is ready for instance, by whistling. Kittens should not be let out until they are at least six months old.

For more information on identification and loss prevention, take a look at our Identify your Pet and Safeguard your Pet pages.

For legal information on dog ownership, please take a look at our legal information.

Going Away

When planning a trip away, ensure you make proper arrangements for your pets. You should only consider friends or neighbours if they can be trusted to care for them properly. If necessary, take time to introduce your pet to his carer before you go away. For instance, your friend joins you and your dog on a couple of walks. Explain his daily routine and leave contact numbers for yourself and your vet in case of emergencies. Put a new identity disc on your pet's collar with the contact details of his temporary owner.

If you are considering a boarding kennels or cattery, visit beforehand to check it is suitable. Ask things like, how many daily walks do the dogs get? Word of mouth is the best recommendation. You will need to book up well in advance, especially at peak holiday times, as the best kennels and catteries are always well booked.

Children

Most dogs and cats co-exist happily with children if they have lived with them from an early age. It is important that children are taught to respect animals and are not allowed to treat them as toys. For instance, teach children the correct way to pick up a cat. Pets need their own space, so children should not disturb your pet when he is sleeping or eating. Never leave a dog alone with children. Always supervise to ensure children do not tease or overexcite your pet.

Pet Passports

You can get your pet a 'passport' under the Pet Travel Scheme (PETS), without having to go through quarantine.

For full details, please refer to the website of the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs, under Pet Passports Scheme

(please also see our non endorsement policy)

The first thing you should do is check whether the country you'll be travelling to qualifies under the scheme. Many countries including those in western Europe, Australia, New Zealand, Japan, Cyprus and Malta are included. The mainland United States is still excluded though, because rabies is commonly found there.

Some countries in the scheme require separate documents, such as an Export Health Certificate, before they will allow your pet to enter their country. You also need to work out how you will be travelling, and contact your carrier to see what their individual requirements are.

And make sure that you do everything well in advance - the PETS certificate takes six to seven months to become valid so you will have to plan well ahead.

Here are the six steps you'll need to go through.
1. Get a microchip
Before any of the other procedures for PETS are carried out, your pet must be fitted with a microchip so it can be properly identified.

2. Get vaccinated
Your pet must be vaccinated against rabies at a vet's, who can also check the microchip or fit a microchip if your pet hasn't already got one. Before you go, check your vet is authorised by the Government as part of the PETS scheme - authorised vets are known as Local Veterinary Inspectors (LVIs).

3. Arrange a blood test
After the vaccination, arrange with your vet for your pet to have a blood test to make sure the vaccine has given the animal a satisfactory level of protection against rabies. The best time for a blood test is about 30 days after the last vaccination. If the pet fails the blood test, he will have to be vaccinated again and another blood test taken.

4. Get a PETS certificate
Once steps 1, 2 and 3 have been successfully completed, you can get an official PETS certificate from your vet. The certificate becomes valid six months after the blood test, and will be valid until your pet's rabies vaccination booster is due. The vet can advise you how long the vaccination lasts.

Once your PETS certificate becomes valid, you can take your pet out of the UK and bring him back without the need for quarantine. But there are several things you need to do before making the return journey:

5. Treat your pet against ticks and a tapeworm
A qualified vet must treat the animal against ticks and a tapeworm from 24 to 48 hours before you check in for your journey back to the UK. Both parasites can cause serious, even fatal, disease in humans. The vet must also issue an official certificate to show that this treatment has been carried out. If you're going abroad on a day-trip with your pet, you will have to have this done just before you go, so the treatment has been done 24-48 hours before you come back.

6. Sign a declaration of residency
Before your pet enters the UK, you will have to sign a declaration that he has not been outside any of the PETS qualifying countries in the previous six months.

These guidelines are very basic. For more details contact DEFRA - the Government's Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs.

Pet Travel Scheme
Department of Environment, Food and Rural Affairs
Area 201
1a Page Street
London
SW1P 4PQ

Telephone +44 (0)870 241 1710
E-mail [email protected] Fax +44 (0)207 904 6834

http://www.defra.gov.uk/animalh/quarantine/index.htm
This article is intended for information only and does not constitute or represent to be a definitive guide on the Pet Travel Scheme.