Cape Town residents have until Monday 16 March to comment on a draft Nature Reserves Bylaw devised and published by council. The proposed document intends to protect and preserve nature reserves in the municipal boundaries and ensure the safety and enjoyment of visitors to these areas. Cape Town is an integral part of the Cape Floristic Region, with much of its unique … [Read more...]
Putting the 5 Freedoms for Animals into basic education
The Five Freedoms for Animals is a set of basic principles of animal welfare that are endorsed by the World Organisation for Animal Health and form part of the United Nation’s One Health programme. Social scientists around the world suggest that loss of empathy is at the root of our troubled and violent world. Cambridge University’s Professor of Developmental … [Read more...]
Japanese government stops testing pesticides on dogs
The Japanese government has announced that it will no longer conduct year-long poisoning tests for pesticides on dogs. The one-year program was developed in order to test the toxicity of agrochemicals. According to Humane Society International (HSI), the tests subjugate groups of beagles to daily doses of pesticides in order to gauge the toxicity to humans. Dogs involved are … [Read more...]
Banting diet for dogs
The true judge as to whether a diet is “perfect” for both dog and human is based on whether they are able to provide the correct pH balances, with a leaning towards alkalinity. Thus, when one looks at popular human diets, this important formula is always fulfilled. The Banting Diet, promoted by our own legendary Professor Tim Noakes, fulfills these requirements. Often his … [Read more...]
Reversing the plight of the oribi
The Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) Threatened Grassland Species Programme (TGSP) has entered into an exciting partnership with the South Africa Community Action Network (SA CAN) that will assist the EWT in combating illegal hunting with dogs, especially when threatened species such as Oribi are targeted. The Oribi, a highly specialised antelope inhabiting Africa’s … [Read more...]
Website launched for SA’s rarest carnivores
The new website of the Wild Dog Advisory Group South Africa (WAG-SA) was launched recently, developed by the Endangered Wildlife Trust (EWT) in consultation with WAG-SA participants. WAG-SA is a collaborative advisory group made up of key stakeholders in the fight to keep South Africa’s Endangered Wild Dogs alive, including reserve managers, landowners, researchers, … [Read more...]
Saving rhinos with new canine recruits
Rico, the Endangered Wildlife Trust’s (EWT) two-year-old Belgian Malinois sniffer dog, has been hard at work foiling the efforts of wildlife poachers trying to smuggle contraband through O.R. Tambo International Airport. Rico (photographed below) recently flagged a suspicious package and, once law enforcement officers and other sniffer dogs were brought to the scene, ivory and … [Read more...]
Save the African Painted Dog
“If a man aspires towards a righteous life, his first act of abstinence is from injury to animals,” said Albert Einstein. If you, like us, love our threatened wild dogs, here is a great way you can help conserve these beautiful animals. Following the success of the Woolies Rhino Bag in raising much needed funds for protecting our rhinos from extinction, they have now … [Read more...]
Everest Summiteers Collaborate for Conservation
At a one-of-a-kind event in Johannesburg last month, 18 of the 25 South Africans who have summitted Mount Everest, and two non-South African summiteers now residing in this country, collaborated in support of conservation. The event, held at the Hyatt in Rosebank, was attended by more than 160 people and raised over R500 000 for Wild Dog conservation, primarily through an … [Read more...]
Animal Rights and Welfare
As guardians of our domesticated pet, we have a responsibility to protect them from harm and assure them of basic humane rights. That said, it should be our honor and privilege to harbor this companion in our home. A being so loyal, committed, loving and affectionate, you will not find anywhere. Yet, world-wide and in South Africa, animal abuse is prevalent and often … [Read more...]
Home-made pet food naturally best
The age-old and currently resurging culture of providing your pets with natural home-made food is shrouded in misperceptions. These are carefully crafted by large marketing budgets of the influential multi-national pet food industry, out to stop this return to common sense. Some people even fear that that natural foods are nutritionally inferior or even dangerous and harmful. … [Read more...]
A leather shoe for lunch or granny’s Sunday roast?
A leather shoe or rump steak are both rich in protein. A metal nail or spinach, rich in iron. Which is more nutritious? A spectrum of multi-vitamins from the pharmacy or Granny's Sunday roast of chicken, sweet potato, veggies and salad. Both are balanced in minerals and vitamins, but which is more nutritious? In the pet food industry a healthy nutritious meal is determined … [Read more...]
Wholesome diets are what pets deserve
Australian veterinarian and author, Dr. Ian Billinghurst maintains that 'dogs fare best when fed a natural, unprocessed, raw diet based on bones, meat and vegetables.` Durban veterinary homeopath, Dr. Jane Fraser says that `most commercial foods are cereal and carbohydrate-based and full of by-products and derivatives. They are unnatural and totally inappropriate for … [Read more...]
