Love pet

Louise Harris, left, with Bev Nicholson and Chinese Crested Mugly, right, threw a wedding for her pet terrier Lola after running a competition on Facebook to find a suitor


The bride wore a white dress decorated with 1,800 Swarovski crystals and accessorised with a pearl necklace.

And as she trotted into the room to the wedding march, played by a harpist, she was met by the groom, smartly dressed in a tuxedo.

Afterwards, 80 guests enjoyed a sumptuous buffet in a marquee adorned with £4,000 of flowers, balloons and decorations.


Confetti canines: The dogs were married on the grounds of a mansion in Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, costing £2,500 for the venue alone


But this was no ordinary wedding. The happy couple were two pampered dogs who were married in a ceremony in the grounds of a mansion in Bradwell-on-Sea, Essex, costing an extraordinary £20,000.

The event was planned by the bride’s owner, Louise Harris, 32, who dotes on six-year-old Yorkshire Terrier Lola and wanted to find her a partner to stop her getting lonely.

‘I wanted Lola to have the perfect day,’ said Miss Harris, who owns a dog boutique and grooming parlour near her two-bedroom flat in Chelmsford.


Pampered pooch: Aside from Lola's wedding, Louise, pictured giving the speech, estimates she has spent a minimum of £101,680 on her three pets in the last six years


‘It was meant to be a relatively small affair with 30 guests but the list just kept getting bigger and bigger because I didn’t want to leave anyone out – just like most weddings, I guess.

‘The day was perfect from start to finish and Lola loved being the centre of attention all day.’

Miss Harris ran an online competition to find the perfect partner for Lola, as the dog’s younger siblings Lulu, four, and Larry, two, are very close and often ignore her.

She received hundreds of responses, whittled them down to a shortlist of six, and after a series of meetings found Lola’s favourite was Mugly – a Chinese crested dog who was voted Britain’s ugliest hound in 2005.


Extras: Lulu acted as Lola's bridesmaid in a £100 dress by Latimer Couture, complete a £200 Swarovski crystal necklace and £150 head dress and Larry was page boy wearing a £100 tux


Lola wore a £1,000 wedding dress, made by dog clothes designer Michele Ochs, who created all the outfits in the Beverly Hills Chihuahua film, customised with 1,800 Swarovski crystals by Latimer Couture


'It was a great day and we had a great time but I don't want to do it again again time soon, so Lulu and Larry best not get any ideas!

'My dogs are well cared for and are spoilt with love as well as presents so I don't see anything wrong with spending so much on them.'

Every Friday Louise takes her dogs to have their personal weekly massages and deep coat conditioning treatments at Diva Dogs which has amounted to a whopping £14,560.

She has also spent £6,000 on beds and blankets, including custom made beds complete with initials in gold leaf and one with ostrich feather and finest faux fur, and cashmere blankets and pillows.

Each dog has their own ornate iron bowl costing a total of £800, steps worth £720 to allow them to get onto sofas, £8,000 worth of pet carriers, and £2,500 worth of hair accessories including two custom made tiaras with genuine pearls and Swarovski crystals costing £400 and £300.

She has also spent £4,500 just on Burns holistic food, £5,000 on dog insurance, £2,000 on photography and £3,000 on an oil painting.

The dogs have also been treated to £8,000 of toys and treats and £5,000 spent on their birthday parties complete with birthday cakes costing £60 each.


source: dailymail

By Mail On Sunday Reporter


Taste for theft: Pugs have been found to be the most likely dog to steal their owners' things, a survey says


Mischievous dogs are responsible for stealing a staggering £33 million worth of their owners’ possessions each year, according to new research.

Almost three-quarters of items taken are underwear, a survey found.

One in ten dogs has a taste for the finer things in life, such as cash and jewellery, while slippers, TV remote controls and toys are also on the list.


And as pupils up and down the country can confirm, even homework is included in the canine crimewave.

A study by dog food company Bakers Complete showed that pugs are the most likely to steal, followed by cocker spaniels, labradors and shih tzus.

Animal behaviourist Peter Neville said: ‘More often than not, dogs do this to encourage family members to play with them.’

Mr Neville said that thefts do not come naturally to dogs and stealing their owners' possessions might simply be a means of convenient entertainment.

'If an unusual or high value object does vanish and you suspect your dog is the culprit, check the obvious hiding places first, as highlighted in our research – the basket, the garden and under the sofa,' he added.

The Bakers Complete study also revealed that dogs in Scotland and Wales are the most likely to be light-pawed with their owners' belongings, while Northern Irish canines are the least likely to steal.

The research also found that 19 per cent of owners are embarrassed by their mischievous mutt’s behaviour.


Loyal companion? Your faithful friend may not be as trustworthy as you assumed


source:dailymail

By Daily Mail Reporter


Britain's soaring dog population is finally set to overtake its feline rival.
The number of dogs is at an all-time high having risen from 5million in 1970 to 8.3million today.

Cats meanwhile have fallen from a 2004 peak of 9.6million to a mere 8.6million, according to figures by Mintel for the Pet Food Manufacturers' Association.

Ben Perkins, an analyst at Mintel, told the Sunday Telegraph: 'Dogs are now seen as a fashion accessory, with the likes of Paris Hilton seen carrying hers around, whereas cats are getting less attention.

'They aren't seen as a sociable animal and you're not likely to see a celebrity holding a cat.'

Figures from the Kennel Club reveal 'handbag dog' breeds such as Pugs have increased sixfold and Chihuahuas have trebled since 2001.

Beverley Cuddy, editor of Dogs Today, told the paper that an increase in amateur dog breeding was the reason behind the rising number of canines.

Man's best friend?: While cats are falling, the number of dogs is on the rise


She said some owners have a litter of puppies and sell them on to cover the cost of their dog.

'I should be pleased but I'm horrified', she said.

'It is easy money but it means some breeds have seen a huge rise in numbers and many of those dogs end up in rescue centres because they can't be looked after.'



source:dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Remarkable: Max has not had any formal training but can predict when Andree Trotter is going to have a fit

A pregnant mother-to-be has lost her 'superdog' which can predict when she is about to have an epileptic fit.

Andree Trotter's missing greyhound-Weimaraner cross Max rushes to her side when she is about to have a seizure and she gets into a safe position.

The remarkable animal has not been specially trained to help her - although he was a rescue dog.

The 31-year-old is due to give birth to her first child in two months time and is scared of hurting herself and her unborn baby without the dog at her side.

Miss Trotter, from Oxted, Surrey, has up to five seizures a week when her condition is at its worst - and does not know when they are about to happen.

The dog disappeared from her back garden two weeks ago while she and fiance Alan Whitlock were away and friends were dog sitting.

She said: 'Obviously our friends feel terrible but it's nobody's fault, we just want him back. He is a beloved pet but he's so much more than that.

'He was a rescue dog and we started to notice that he would always be by my side, guarding me protectively, just before I had a seizure, then he would lie right by me until I recovered.

'He would growl at Alan, even though he's really Alan's dog. It was uncanny. We started giving him treats when he did it to encourage him and now I don't know how I got by without him.

'I can have four or five seizures a week when I am bad and I never know when they are coming on. I have hurt myself in the past and even fallen in the road.

'I am terrified I will have one at the top of the stairs and lose my baby without Max here. He is a lifesaver.'


Expectant mother: Andree Trotter, pictured, is concerned she will injure herself and her unborn child without missing dog Max


Max even runs upstairs - normally out of bounds to him - if she is about to have a seizure in the bedroom or bathroom.

She said: 'It gives me just enough time to lie down somewhere safe. He lies next to me cushions me and it is comforting to have him watching over me when I come round.

'I just hope he has wandered off and someone has taken him in as a stray. I would beg them to call us so we can bring him home.'

Alan, a 45-year-old graphic designer, said: 'We got him from the dog's home after he was found tied up next to a motorway.

'He is incredibly jumpy and gets spooked easily, by a vacuum cleaner or any loud noise.

'I think someone must have taken him in because he doesn't particularly like being outside.

'We're offering a substantial reward for anyone who finds him.'

They have put up hundreds of flyers, visited local rescue homes and even been to a pet psychic in a desperate bid to find him and bring him home.


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Perfect pet: Emma Stone adopted a new pooch from a store in Los Angeles yesterday


A dog is a must-have accessory for many Hollywood A-listers.

So up-and-coming actress Emma Stone ensured she was bang on trend yesterday by adopting a new puppy from a rescue centre in Los Angeles.

The 22-year-old actress looked low key in a blue and green checked shirt, blue jeans and brown boots as she collected the pooch.


All smiles: The 22-year-old star beamed as she held the little dog in her arms inside the store


The actress already has one black and white dog, but was clearly happy to be getting another.

She smiled and joked inside the store as she held the black and tan dog in her arms before taking him on a short walk outside.

The actress was taking a break from filming the new Spider-Man film in which she stars as Peter Parker's love interest Gwen Stacy opposite Andrew Garfield.


Paws for thought: The actress led her new little pet out for a short walk before taking him home with her


The star has dyed her hair back to its natural blonde from her trademark red for the role.

'My natural hair is blonde, so it’s kind of nice,' she told MTV. 'I looked in the mirror and said, “Oh my god, it’s me again, it’s been so long."'

The film, directed by Marc Webb also stars Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen and Sally Field, and is set to be released in July 2012.


New role: Emma is currently filming Spider-Man alongside Andrew Garfield as the web spinning superhero


source: dailymail

By GEORGINA LITTLEJOHN

Part of the family: Peaches, Philip Schofield's family's cat, passed away this afternoon


He's a prolific Tweeter and keeps his followers up to date on all the fun things that happen to him during his day-to-day life.

But today, Phillip Schofield's messages brought sad news to his followers after he announced that his beloved cat had died.

The This Morning presenter took to his Twitter page this afternoon to sadly announce that 18-year-old Peaches had passed away today.

Peaches, his family's pet, had been nearing the end last night when Schofield took to his page.

He wrote: 'Glass of red (well a bottle) Top of The Pops 2 and nursing our very old pussy cat who I fear is not long for this world :(.'

And this afternoon, after Peaches had passed away, he sadly had to announce: 'Bye bye old girl'.

Later, he added: 'Thank you so much for your lovely messages, we all really appreciate them. She was 18 and 1 month, so had a really good innings.'


Heartbreaking announcement: Schofield announced Peaches's passing on his Twitter page


Schofield lives near Henley-on-Thames in South Oxfordshire with his wife Stephanie and their two daughters Ruby and Molly.

The family decided to bury their beloved feline in their back garden, placing a stone slab over the grave with a makeshift wooden headstone that simply read, 'Peaches'.

And two red roses had been poignantly placed on top of the grave, which was surrounded by patches of snow.


Final resting place: Schofield tweeted a picture of Peaches grave where he is buried in his garden


After he posted the photo of Peaches's grave, Schofield was inundated by responses from his fans and followers, offering their sympathies.

One wrote: 'Oh Scofe, u have made me cry! lots of hugs 2 u+family.'

And another added: 'so sorry to hear your sad news she looks lovely. I bet she had such a lovely life with your family '


In mourning: Schofield, seen here outside the This Morning studios last month, has been sent messages of sympathy from his fans


source: dailymail

By ANDREW LEVY

Deafening: Smokey the cat's purrs average an astonishing 80 decibels - more than THREE times louder than most cats


For cat lovers, there is nothing more soothing than the sound of their pet purring with contentment.

But when Smokey kicks off, it’s time to reach for the ear plugs.

The sound she produces can reach an incredible 92 decibels – the same a
s you’d experience watching a Boeing 737 coming in to land.

Even from five feet away the level is 80 decibels, the same as a car passing 25ft away. Most cats produce around 25 decibels.

Owners Ruth and Mark Adams say the 12-year-old British Shorthair can drown out TV and radio shows and phone conversations with her ‘cooing purr’ which they describe as ‘sounding as if she has a dove stuck in her throat’.

Mrs Adams, from Pitsford, Northampton, said: ‘She even manages to purr while she eats. The only time she is quiet is when she is asleep.

'It’s either adorable or annoying, depending on what mood you’re in. You don’t even have to stroke her to start a purring session. Often she’ll do it for no reason.’

Guinness World Records said it had a category in place for noisiest cat but no entries yet. A spokesman said: ‘If Smokey can purr at over 80dB it would be an astonishing feat.’


Record breaker: Owner Ruth Adams has submitted an application for Smokey's piercing purrs to the Guinness World Records


Diana Johnson, of Northampton Cats Protection, who has met Smokey, said: 'I have never heard anything like her purr in my life. It can drown out your conversation.

'It is very unusual and I've never found a cat with a purr that is anywhere near as loud.'

Smokey has become an honorary volunteer for Cat Protection's Northampton branch and is helping to raise awareness of the important cat welfare work they do.



source: dailymail

By MAIL FOREIGN SERVICE


In a pickle: Ksyusha the kitten loves nothing more than a tight squeeze


You've heard of the cat in the hat. Now meet the cat in the vat.

It certainly seems that Ksyusha the kitten has got herself into an impossibly tight spot.

But according to her owner she has no problem escaping the glass container, rather like a feline Houdini.


Playful: The excitable female kitten has been squashing itself into jars from when it was a few weeks old


Cute: The cat's owner has been taking photos of her animal and posting them on the internet since the start of last year


‘It looks like she is stuck, but actually her body is not as big as it looks because of the large amount of fur,’ said Yuriy Korotun, who lives in Moscow.

‘She likes hiding in different places and is full of character.’


In a spin: The female kitten has been always been playful, according to her owner


Mischievous: Ksyusha plays with a chair leg


Yuriy said he first realised his pet, a Himalayan breed similar to a Persian, had a love of confined spaces when he heard a commotion in her kitchen one day.

‘I came in to find her in the jar,’ he said. ‘I couldn’t believe my eyes.’

She is also partial to curling up in the washing machine, said Yuriy, who has posted pictures of Ksyusha on the internet.


Similar: Ksyusha's ability to get in and out of seemingly impossible situations harks back to the comedy capers seen in classic kids' cartoon Tom & Jerry


Korotun got the shock of his life one day when he heard some commotion in his kitchen and discovered the fun-loving feline with more than her paws in the jar.

Her ability to get in and out of seemingly impossible situations harks back to the comedy capers seen in classic kids' cartoon Tom and Jerry.

source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Poster dog: Not only has Lucy Lou been elected as mayor of Rabbit Hash in Kentucky, but she is also the face of the locally made wine, Elk Creek, which is sold in the village shop, one of only seven buildings in the hamlet


When it comes to politics, this border collie knows who the real top dog is.
For Lucy Lou has just been elected the four-legged chief executive of the tiny town of Rabbit Hash in Kentucky.

The quaint hamlet, on the Ohio River, had several four-legged candidates in the running for mayor including a cat, a donkey and an opossum.

But the collie was heads - and tails - above the rest and managed to win the tightly-fought election.

She even managed to beat her best friend, as a man was also in the running.
As the top dog she has few responsibilities apart from ceremonial duties that includes greeting tourists.

Manager of the historic Rabbit Hash General Store Terrie Markesbery said: 'She's famous for greeting the public. when you get out of the car, she comes right up to you.'

The village, which is only three acres and hold seven buildings, was recently awarded $1,000 from the Reader's Digest as part of the brand's 'We Hear You America' 100-city tour.

The tour was in promotion of the recently updated 'Off the Beaten Path' travel guide.

Lucy Lou has also become the face of a locally made wine, sold in the village shop.

'She's perfect for the job. It's a low-paying, highly visible position,' Markesbery said.

'She has to do a lot of footwork.'


source :dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Perfect pet: Emma Stone adopted a new pooch from a store in Los Angeles yesterday


A dog is a must-have accessory for many Hollywood A-listers.

So up-and-coming actress Emma Stone ensured she was bang on trend yesterday by adopting a new puppy from a rescue centre in Los Angeles.

The 22-year-old actress looked low key in a blue and green checked shirt, blue jeans and brown boots as she collected the pooch.


All smiles: The 22-year-old star beamed as she held the little dog in her arms inside the store


The actress already has one black and white dog, but was clearly happy to be getting another.

She smiled and joked inside the store as she held the black and tan dog in her arms before taking him on a short walk outside.

The actress was taking a break from filming the new Spider-Man film in which she stars as Peter Parker's love interest Gwen Stacy opposite Andrew Garfield.


Paws for thought: The actress led her new little pet out for a short walk before taking him home with her


The star has dyed her hair back to its natural blonde from her trademark red for the role.

'My natural hair is blonde, so it’s kind of nice,' she told MTV. 'I looked in the mirror and said, “Oh my god, it’s me again, it’s been so long."'

The film, directed by Marc Webb also stars Rhys Ifans, Martin Sheen and Sally Field, and is set to be released in July 2012.


New role: Emma is currently filming Spider-Man alongside Andrew Garfield as the web spinning superhero


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Staggering: Louise Harris has spent £100,000 on her three Yorkshire Terriers over a period of six years


Shopaholic Louise Harris has spent a staggering £100,000 on her three dogs in SIX years.

Louise, 31, loves nothing more than spoiling her three Yorkshire Terriers Lola, six, Lulu, four, and two-year-old Larry.

The pampered pooches have their own £2,000 four-poster bed, £200 collars, £400 tiaras and £2,500 bespoke jewellery complete with rubies, emeralds and sapphires.

And Louise admits she even spent an incredible £4,000 on luxury Christmas presents last year - just on her beloved pets.

She said: 'Even I'm a bit shocked at the amount I've spent on them - it's totally barmy!

'But they are my babies and a part of my family. I love spoiling them and making sure they have the best of everything.

'A lot of people think I'm mad, and I realise it's completely over the top, but I want to give them the best life I possibly can.'

Louise's splurge on her pets all started six years ago when her sister Olivia convinced her to look at a Yorkshire Terrier puppy called Lola.

She fell in love the tiny pup, which could fit in the palm of her hand, and started ordering clothing and collars online from America.


Luxury lifestyle: Lola, Lulu and Larry have their own four-poster bed worth £2,000


She said: 'I bought Lola the smallest dog collars I could find here but they were too big and really poor quality. When I ordered them from the States they just fit perfectly and you could see how much more comfortable she was.

'At that point I would never have dreamt of dressing her up but when it got really cold in the winter she was refusing to go outside so I bought her a jumper and as soon as she had it on she bounded straight out into the garden.

'After that I started buying her other clothes - before I knew it, she had a whole wardrobe!'

In 2006 Louise added to her family by buying Lulu, now four, followed by Larry, who is now two.


Spoilt: Louise Harris spent £4,000 on Christmas presents for her three dogs


Louise admits that the dogs do dominate a lot of her life, so any future partner would have to love them as much as she does.

She said: 'My dogs wouldn't come before my partner but they would have to be happy living side by side.

'A dog can't make its own breakfast so they would have to understand it's my priority in the morning to make sure they have food.

'But as its normally scrambled eggs we could all eat that and have breakfast at the same time!' And with three dogs to kit out in the latest designer dog clothes, her spending has shot through the roof.

In six years she estimates she has spent a minimum of £101,680.


Bejewelled: The pooches own collars encrusted with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, swarovski crystal and gold leaf


She spent £26k on clothes, collars, and harnesses, including couture item made just for Lola costing £400 features vintage brooch with crystals, £250 collars with swarovski crystal encrusted stones made with high quality leather, and bespoke jewellery consisting of 5 pieces with rubies, emeralds, sapphires, swarovski crystal and gold leaf costing approximately £400 - £500 each.


source: dailymail

By LORRAINE FISHER

Paying attention: Shirley spends all day in class in case Rebecca has a hypeoglycemic attack


She can’t read and her maths is pretty poor, but she is undoubtedly the star pupil in her class.

Shirley the labrador spends the school day making sure seven-year-old Rebecca Farrar’s life is not in danger.

Rebecca has an aggressive form of type one diabetes which means she could have a hypoglycemic attack and slip into a coma at any time. She cannot tell when this is about to happen but Shirley’s extraordinary nose means that she can smell when the little girl’s blood sugar levels are becoming too high or too low.

When the dog detects a change she will lick Rebecca until she or her teacher notices.

If she gets no response, Shirley will sit on the girl or even go and fetch the medical testing kit in the classroom at Harpole Primary School in Northamptonshire.

Once the dog has done her job, classroom assistant Theresa Hodgkiss tests Rebecca’s blood sugar level and either gives her some sugar if it is too low or an insulin injection if too high.


Girl's best friend: The dog has been with Rebecca fro a year


Shirley has been attending school for a year after being trained to spot the problem by the charity Medical Detection Dogs.

‘It’s an absolute life-saver for Rebecca to have the dog at school,’ said her mother Claire. Rebecca, who has a twin brother, Joseph, was diagnosed two years ago with type one diabetes, where the body produces no insulin.

Since then she has needed hospital treatment eight times and suffers up to five attacks a day.

‘It happens very quickly,’ said Mrs Farrar. ‘One moment she’s fine, the next she’s collapsed.’


source: dailymail

By DAILY MAIL REPORTER

Keeping fit: Corgi dogs Martin and Aston have a great time playing tetherball in a playground with each other


Maybe this owner should be advising Her Majesty on how to keep her beloved corgis fit and healthy.

Pets Martin and Aston are seen getting a great run-out playing on a tarmac playground in a game dubbed 'corgiball' on YouTube.

Nodding the yellow ball hanging on a string and weaving around the metal pole, they work up a sweat in the rain.

At one point the ball gets wrapped around the pole and the dogs try to untangle it, in a video posted by the user '2BallardCorgis'.


Fun in the park: The 'corgiball' video has been compared to the 2008 video 'Two Corgis on a Treadmill'


The video was linked by a user on the website Videogum, who said: 'Corgis playing tetherball should be an Olympic sport. As the gods intended.'

The YouTube clip has been compared to 'Two Corgis on a Treadmill' - a video of 'Lily' and 'Charlie', which became an internet sensation and has been viewed almost 600,000 times since it was first posted in December 2008.


Corgi Tetherball game


source: dailymail

Lifesaver: Scientists have used a Labrador retriever to detect the early stages of bowel cancer in volunteer patients (file picture)


Man's best friend just became even better, with tests showing that dogs can sniff out the early stages of bowel cancer.

A labrador retriever detected traces of cancer with more than 90 per cent accuracy from samples provided by volunteers.

Because a dog’s sense of smell is 1,000 times more sensitive than a human’s, it can apparently pick up chemical compounds specific to certain cancers.

The findings could lead to screening tests for the early stages of bowel cancer, which is when cure rates are highest before the disease has spread around the body.

Experts hope a laboratory sensor can be developed which will identify the mix of chemicals involved.

Previous research has suggested that certain breeds – usually labradors or Portuguese water dogs – can sniff out bladder, skin, lung, breast and ovarian cancers.


Lung and breast cancer patients are known to exhale biochemical markers which can be traced to tumours that exude substances not found in healthy tissue.

Trained dogs have also picked up melanomas by sniffing skin lesions, while even domestic pets have raised the alarm with agitated behaviour which led their owners to seek medical advice.

For bowel cancer, the current NHS screening programme uses a test which detects minute amounts of blood in stool samples.

But researchers behind the latest study say this has limited value as it picks up only one in ten cases of the disease’s early stages.

The latest research, published in the journal Gut, found an astonishingly high success rate. Over several months, researchers used the labrador to carry out 74 sniff tests.

They acknowledge that it might be difficult to use dogs in clinical practice owing to the expense and time it takes to train them – thought to be several months.

But they hope that cancer-specific compounds detected by dogs could be incorporated into a new sensor which could be used to test samples as part of screening.

source : dailymail