Vivapets Blog

Excitement is reaching fever pitch among conspiracy theorists with the exciting news that the hunt to uncover the legendary Big Foot could finally be at an end.

According to details released on the group's website, www.searchingforbigfoot.com, the creature is male; looks half-man, half-ape; is 7-feet, 7-inches tall; weighs more than 35 stones; and has reddish hair. A grainy photograph on the website has stoked up interest in the timeless story, and here at VivaPets, we wait with baited breath to see whether this is just another flawed case in a long line of hoax findings. For now though, we’re going to put any cynicism to one side in the hope that these plucky explorers’ years of hard graft have finally paid off.

Research from America suggests not everyone is feeling the heat of the credit crunch; in fact pets are still sitting pretty despite the difficult economic climate.

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association, some 63 per cent of Americans own pets and they’re not afraid to splash the cash on them. It’s even more staggering once you crunch the numbers to find that an amazing $43.4 billion dollars (some £22 billion) will be spent on pets in 2008.

We’ve heard of children being named after their parents’ favourite celebrities – shown by the amount of Brad and Angelina’s coming into the world right now – but could we shortly see a whole new version of that craze, with animals being named after the rich and famous? One of Britain ’s comedy legends has now revealed his desire to leave his legacy on this world through one of his favourite animals.

Monty Python star John Cleese revealed he would rather have a lemur species named after him than receive a knighthood or peerage.

The comic actor recently visited Bristol Zoo Gardens to discuss conservation, as well as his love for the cute critters.

Speaking at the zoo, Cleese - who declined a CBE in 1996 - revealed: "I would rather have that than a knighthood or peerage. They're the sweetest little creatures. They never snatch food from you.”

A rabbit has become an unlikely hero after rescuing his owners from a ferocious house fire.

According to The Metro, the quick-thinking rabbit alerted his blissfully unaware, sleeping 'parents', who quickly detected the seriousness of the situation and succesfully evacuated the family from the house.

Police revealed the people inside the house may not have survived had it not been for the intervention of the family pet. Metropolitan Fire Brigade commander Mick Swift revealed: "The rabbit saved the couple from injury."

Although the house received substantial damage, the owners probably won't mind too much - it could have been much worse without the brave actions of one very special pet.

If you have any tales of heroism from your pet, then we'd love to hear from you...

A new study has thrown up some exciting new findings (don't they all!). It's been a well known fact for years now that yawning in humans is infectious, and now it seems our canine friends have caught the bug as well.

Fresh research from Birbeck College at the University of London has unveiled that dogs too can follow the human yawning 'cue'.

Science bods tested 29 dogs by creating two conditions, each five minutes long, in which a person - unknown to the dog - was sat in front of it and asked to call its name. For the first test, the stranger yawned once the dogs had made eye contact with them.

"We gave the dogs everything: visual and auditory stimulus to induce them to yawn," Birkbeck's Dr Atsushi Senju said.

The same procedure was followed in the second test, but this time the stranger opened and closed their mouth without yawning - a method of ensuring that dogs weren't just responding to an open mouth.

In the study, the team found that 21 out of 29 dogs yawned when the stranger in front of them had first. Perhaps more relevant is the fact no dogs yawned during the test where the person did not yawn.

It seems, then, that man's best friend is much closer to us than we ever previously thought...

Here at VivaPets we do love a good tale of pet heroism and bravery. That’s why we found the following story so heart-warming.

A Jack Russell called Jarvis got separated from his owner on a walk around picturesque Mount Edgcumbe in Torpoint. After several hours of searching for her beloved pet in vain, Jarvis’ mortified owner Vivienne Parry had given up all hope of finding her canine companion. But it seems Jarvis had other ideas, and hours later a crew on the nearby Cremyll Ferry called her to report a sprightly Jack Russell had somehow managed to climb aboard the boat. After verifying that the dog was in fact Jarvis, a relieved Vivienne received a call from her husband Tony to find to her amazement that the dog had arrived home, only two miles from the ferryport, before her.

A stunned Vivienne told The Sun newspaper: “I thought we'd lost him forever. But there he was, sitting in the window, wagging his tail as if nothing had happened.

"The staff on the ferry said he made several trips back and forth before hopping off on the Devon side. It's a big journey for a little dog."

 The dog in question has been summoned to court. The charge? Breaching the peace. Police in the state of Biha have demanded severe action for the dog, called Chhotu, after a repeated list of offences, most for biting a string of people. The beleaguered pooch was even sentenced to death in 2003, but thankfully the decision was overturned after pressure from several quarters.

 In the latest court proceedings, it is reported that Chhotu’s behaviour has been impeccable as the prosecution delivers its version of events, something that the dog’s lawyers believe will be a decisive factor in the trial. "Despite the presence of so many people in the courtroom the dog did not bite or bark at anyone," the canine's lawyer Dilip Kumar Deepak said in defence of his client. The case continues.

Here at VivaPets we say dogs in court - whatever next? A cat to become Prime Minister? Actually...

Chip K

One of Vivapets team members is competing at this years London triathlon!

On the 10th August Kate will be competing a 1500m swim in the London docks, followed by a 40km cycle around Central London and finish with a gruelling 10km run alond the South bank.

Kate will be raising money for the Vitalise charity, a charity that provides holidays for the disabled and their carers.

You can sponsor Kate through her Just Giving Sponsorship page www.justgiving.com/katekidger

On Sunday the 6th of July, as part of the Brighton Pride Summer festival, the ever popular "Companion Dog Show" was held at Hove Rugby Club, in association with the coast way veterinary group.

As well as some of the common dog show contests, such as the Pedigree classes, the Kennel Club Registered event, also had a few "Novelty classes".

These Included a dog fashion show and the following contests:

Waggiest tail                                                

Most handsome dog

Prettiest bitch

Best rescue dog or bitch

Best odd couple

Dog the judge would most like to take home

Best six legs

Owner the judge likes best

Best fancy dress

Dog or bitch that looks most like its owner

For more information on this years pride festival which runs from the 26th July to the 3rd of August and a timetable of events, visit the pride website at:

http://www.brightonpride.org/