Senior dog society launched.

Older dogs are promised a better deal from a new organization offering support to them and their owners. The Senior Dog Society has been set up to promote dogs aged seven and older, offering advice on their welfare and providing links and contacts with a number of relevant canine organizations.

One such partner is insurer MORE THUN, which has pledged to insure dogs over the age of eight - something many other insurance companies won't do.Steve Kingshott, head of pet insurance, said: "MORE THUN is pleased to be one of the Senior Dog Society's partners.A third of the UK's dogs are now classed as old and it's important that their owners are given support."

Other companies joining the society include Denes Petcare, Nylabone, Johnson's Veterinary Products, Gelert, Chudleys, Gilbertson & Page, Robinsons and Pet life.

Society founder Linda Goodman said: "When was the last time you heard someone say: 'Isn't that old dog cute?' While unbridled enthusiasm for puppies seems to be a given, once a dog reaches maturity and heads for middle age, this enthusiasm can wane." The society hopes to help owners learn about the ageing process in their dogs and find any advice and support they need in areas as diverse as behavioral problems, specialist veterinary clinics, showing older dogs and finding bereavement counselors. There is also a mascot called Scamp the senior sleuth, who will track down offers and expose bad practice.

Annual membership is £20, including a £1 donation to dog charities. The Senior Dog Society can be contacted on tel. 01239 614009 or email

Letters danger for dogs.
A dog who enjoyed chewing the morning post was surprised to find his jaws glued together. Floyd, the Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, took pride in retrieving the post every morning. But one day his owner, Bernard Meneham, noticed that the usually vocal dog was rather quiet. On closer Inspection he saw that Floyd's jaws were tightly locked together and he was whimpering and distressed.

Floyd was rushed to the PDSA in Croydon where vets tried to find out what was wrong - and it all became clear when his owner filled them in about Floyd's daily postal routine.
Mr. Meneham explained: "Floyd was always excited about his daily postal duties and often the letters would end up being affectionately chewed before we had a chance to open them."
It was this chewing that had resulted in pieces of glue and paper being deposited in the dog's mouth, which eventually glued his jaws together.

PDSA vet Ann Radford gave Floyd a general an aesthetic before carefully prising open his mouth, using surgical scissors to break down the pulp.She said: "This is the first time I have seen a dog's mouth glued together from eating an envelope!”“I've advised his owner to install a letter container over the letterbox so it can't happen again."

_{source Your Dog Mag.}