With today being the 80th anniversary of VE Day in Europe, many of us will be commemorating the date in some way, with VE Day events planned locally, nationally and internationally.
It’s a particularly significant day to champion the important role that dogs and cats played in World War II in serving and protecting their nation. Whilst cats were often used for pest control, dogs were employed as guards of posts and supplies, to act as messengers, to transport medications to injured soldiers and to undertake search and rescue activity. Some dogs were even trained to jump out of planes alongside their platoon! All animals played an important role in boosting general morale.
As part of their schools education programme, the Dogs Trust tells the remarkable story of Sarge the dog and his role in WWII. Determined to find care for him after their house was badly damaged in a bomb blast in 1941, Sarge’s family offered their dog to the Civil Defence Service as a way of ensuring he would be looked after. The Civil Defence Service pledged to return dogs to their owners after the war.
Sarge went from domestic pet to search and rescue hero in the Blitz. When he alerted his handler to an unexploded bomb, Sarge then went on to international acclaim, being sent to France to clear the area for the D-day landings in 1944 and remaining abroad, saved countless human and doggy colleagues overseas with his keen instinct and heroics. When he eventually returned to Britain, Sarge was reunited with his family who couldn’t believe the activity their family pet had undertaken. A true doggy hero. Click here to read about Sarge’s story in more detail.
Pets continue to play a hugely significant role in our lives today as companions who have the ability to make life feel better all round. Many have more formal roles in supporting the wider community.
Do give a special hug to your pet today to thank them for their companionship, and also in remembrance of the valiant efforts of their ancestors in helping to shape the lives we lead today.
Photo of dog sniffing out Blitz survivors: Imperial War Museum
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Did you know that, as part of their course, vet students need to complete a minimum of 30 weeks’ experience in veterinary practice in their holidays as part of their degree requirement? At 387 Vets and The West Midlands Cat Clinic, we enjoy welcoming vet students at different stages in their learning into practice, to help enhance their clinical skills and knowledge on placement. This is Sophie-Zara, a third year student at Harper-Keele, who has been with us for the past fortnight. As well as observing surgical procedures and vet consultations, Sophie-Zara set herself some practical objectives to complete, all of which she achieved. This was Sophie-Zara helping carry out a male neutering procedure under vet guidance and supervision, an extra to her objective list so exciting to undertake and she did a great job! We look forward to welcoming Sophie-Zara back in September and to hearing how she’s been progressing!
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A big shout out to our Registered Veterinary Nurse Paige who is currently looking after these two tiny house guests. The kittens were found on a farm having been abandoned by mum and were brought in to the practice yesterday. They are still so young that they have yet to open their eyes but they are super strong and are happy to let us know when they are hungry! They need very regular bottle feeding which we’ll all be helping out with during work hours. Paige has volunteered to be mum overnight and this weekend until the babies go into longer term foster care with cat charity Voices 4 Cats on Monday. We wonder if they’ll open their eyes before the weekend is out! The kittens will be in excellent hands and we look forward to hearing how they get on!
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Bonnie’s owner brought her in to see us as she had noticed a change in the five year old’s behaviour. The cockerpoo had stopped greeting people, was snapping at other dogs on her dog walks and had started weeing and pooing in the house. She also seemed unnaturally anxious and her owner wondered whether she might be in pain.
We gave Bonnie a thorough examination. She seemed healthy body-wise but when we looked in her mouth, we could see that Bonnie had clear signs of periodontal disease (gum inflammation and receding gums). She also had a fractured canine tooth. Dental X-rays confirmed that Bonnie had attachment bone loss around several of her teeth. The dark areas in the accompanying x-ray photos indicate bone loss and problem areas underneath the gum line in stark contrast to the healthy teeth alongside where the gums and bone fully cushion the tooth and root.
Our vet Selenia, who holds a postgraduate certificate in small animal dentistry, operated on Bonnie and ended up removing the six compromised teeth. She also fixed Bonnie’s fractured canine using restorative methods, shaping and then sealing the tooth to prevent further issue down the line.
We are delighted that 2 weeks post op, Bonnie has stopped toileting indoors, is eating and drinking normally and is much more herself. It turns out that Bonnie’s poorly teeth were literally the root of her problem. We are glad you are feeling better beautiful girl!
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A big high five to beautiful Summer who came in to stay with us yesterday morning for a procedure and brought her special teddy with her. Summer has had teddy since birth and both are now 7 years old! She carried her friend around with her whenever she needed to move from her kennel, and had the waggiest tail whenever teddy was near. Happy, happy dog! True best friends!
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