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Game of Thrones actor makes heartfelt plea to fans
Dog rescue groups have reported a massive increase in huskies since Game of Thrones premiered in 2011.

Spike in husky sales and abandonments due to ‘direwolf’ character

Game of Thrones (GoT) actor, Peter Dinklage, has made a plea to his loyal fans, to stop impulsively buying huskies. There has been a major spike in the sale of the breed since the introduction of the ‘direwolf’ characters, in the Game of Thrones television series.

Fans in the U.S. and U.K. are reportedly buying huskies from breeders and pet shops, naming them after their favourite GoT characters and, upon realisation of the commitment and hard work involved with caring for a dog, abandoning them at animal shelters and rescue centres.

Peter Dinklage, a long-term vegetarian and supporter of animal rights, has collaborated with animal welfare organisation - PETA - to request that fans stop buying dogs, on a whim. The actor also asked fans to reconsider their decision to buy dogs, as opposed to rehome them from shelters.

Dinklage stated: “Please, to all of Game of Thrones’ many wonderful fans, we understand that due to the direwolves’ huge popularity, many folks are going out and buying huskies. Not only does this hurt all the deserving homeless dogs waiting for a chance at a good home in shelters, but shelters are also reporting that many of these huskies are being abandoned—as often happens when dogs are bought on impulse, without understanding their needs.

"Please, please, if you’re going to bring a dog into your family, make sure that you’re prepared for such a tremendous responsibility and remember to always, ALWAYS, adopt from a shelter.”

Over six million cats and dogs are handed over to animal rescue centres each year, with half of them euthanised due to the limited space and lack of funding at these animal shelters. Dog rescue groups in both Northern California and the UK, have reported a massive increase in their numbers of huskies since the Game of Thrones series premiered in 2011.

PETA states that this is not the first time an on screen pet has sparked major sales in a particular dog breed. 101 Dalmatians, Beverly Hills Chihuahua, Legally Blonde, and Men in Black all triggered a sudden spike in sales, followed by an increase in abandonments, of the respective dog breeds featured.

As a result, PETA encourages prospective pet owners to consider whether they are ready for a life-long commitment and, if so, to adopt from rehoming centres, rather than buying pets from breeders and pet shops. Rehoming an animal means that new pet owners can have a real, tangible effect on the overpopulation crisis that is currently sweeping through shelters in the U.S. and the U.K.

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Vets to run marathon for World Animal Protection

News Story 1
 Two recently graduated veterinary surgeons will be running the London Marathon in April to raise money for the charity World Animal Protection.

Alex Bartlett and Maeve O'Neill plan to run the race together if they are given the same start times.

Dr O'Neill said: "You're always limited in what you can do to help animals, so it is nice to raise money for a charity that helps animals around the world."

Dr Bartlett added: "I have never run a marathon before and am excited to run my first one for such a good cause!"

Both Dr Bartlett and Dr O'Neill have fundraising pages online. 

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News Shorts
BSAVA releases new Guide to Procedures

The British Small Animal Veterinary Association (BSAVA) has published a new edition of its Guide to Procedures for Small Animal Practice.

It has added four new procedures; cystostomy tube placement, endotracheal intubation, point-of-care ultrasound and wet-to-dry dressings.

BSAVA says that it is an essential step-by-step guide to diagnostic and therapeutic procedures performed in practice. The textbook includes new images and illustrations, as well as high-definition videos for use prior to procedures.

Nick Bexfield and Julia Riggs, editors of the new edition, said: "We have built upon the success of the previous editions by responding to the feedback received from the BSAVA readership, and hope this new guide helps to further increase the confidence and accuracy with which these procedures are performed."

Print copies are available in the BSAVA store, with a digital version in the BSAVA library.