In this week’s Scoop, celebs take to the red carpet with pooches to help build a new pet hospital, we examine the strange case of the Asian Ladybirds and meet the lucky dog who survived an earthquake.
Lucky dog rescued from Italy earthquake rubble
On Sunday a strong earthquake struck Italy – pulling down buildings and causing untold damage. It’s not the first time this year, or even in the last few months, that Italy has suffered these quakes, but thankfully this time no-one seems to have been seriously hurt or killed. This was probably due to the towns having been evacuated following the last quake in August.
Then this story emerged – the video above was posted on the BBC’s Facebook page and shared more than 11,000 times. It shows the touching moment that emergency firefighters in tje Italian town of Norcia reach a dog in the dust and rubble – you can see its paws poking out of the wreckage of a building. They gingerly dig around the dog and pull the poor pooch free. They then give the thirsty dog a drink of water and, even more touchingly, give the pup a bit of much-needed affection. What a brave and fortunate pup!
Dont’ panic about the ladybirds
This story was a strange one. Images, articles and social media posts began circulating of a poor pooch called Bailey who had gotten some nasty looking ladybird bugs stuck to the roof of his mouth, with reports claiming they were very dangerous. (We’re not posting the pictures here because we don’t want to add any more unnecessary panic.) This might’ve panicked some dog lovers, however, observant readers noticed that the news report was covering a dog in the United States, and the original ‘scare’ may have been originally reported almost 12 months ago.
What should we make of this, then? Well, there have been some reports of ladybird-type insects known as the Harlequin Ladybirds attaching themselves to the inside of dog’s mouths – which is reportedly painful for the dog if left untreated. And there have been people in the UK reporting infestations of these unusual, foreign bugs invading their houses in the last few days. However, it is unlikely that your dog will suffer from the same issue as Bailey. Even if your dog eats a Ladybird in your garden or out on a walk, they’re unlikely to cause your dog harm – especially if the bug is the everyday British type. Having said that, if you notice your dog is excessively drooling or drowsy, then take a look inside their mouths and check with your vet if you’re concerned.
Bottom line is – don’t worry too much and certainly don’t panic, but we should all keep an eye on our dogs to ensure they’re happy and healthy, just like we always!
Swanky coats and collars, and that’s just the humans…
Well-dressed celebs took some dogs for a posh walk this week at the annual Collars & Coats Gala, which is hosted by Battersea Dogs & Cats Home. Collars & Coats is an appropriate name for such an elegant event, hinting at the human dress code, and of course – the presence of dogs! Pet Vitamin supplement makers Vitabiotics supported the event to raise awareness of their charitable work with Battersea Dogs & Cats – for every purchase of their new SuperDog supplement, they’re donating to help fund a new veterinary hospital to care for rescued animals and pets in need of expert care.
Celebrity guests included hunky model David Gandy, Strictly Come Dancing judge Craig Revel Horwood, comedian Harry Hill and journalist and fashionista Hilary Alexander OBE. Enjoy these snaps of the celebs celebrating the work of Battersea Dogs & Cats Home.