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Dates & News:

ZimDog News, can be accessed from: www.vanerp.net.

2 October there was a training session with the dogs at Mukuvisi Woodlands. Five dogs came to demonstrate.

All Breed Shows have been postponed indefinitely according to the latest news.

GSD Bulawayo is still in existence and have been given the go ahead to move into the Horse Society grounds, once details such as rent have been worked out. 5 Members from the outgoing committee have stayed on – Paul Greeff, Pauline Greeff, Gail Hayward, Johnny Hayward and Ann Hancock. Graham Bryce and Cindy Ordman have joined the committee, which should be a big improvement all around.

Two Obedience Championship shows will be held on 16 and 22 October.

Gill Houghton We hope the operation was a success and will update you on her progress.

Heather Armstrong is slowly improving and managed to be at the Athol Evans demonstration.

More News:

Guy Jeavons, originally from this country many years ago and a well known member of the Show circuit, before he went south and then moved on to Canada with his partner, is judging in South Africa at SA Ladies in early October; he says it is his first trip back since 1999.  It's a pity more of us didn't know sooner, as some would perhaps liked to have supported him.

News from Zambia from Andreas Livaditakis, ex Rotties and Min S/H Dachs, is that he is doing well at their Shows with his new crop of puppies.  He had originally obtained stock from Guy Jeavons whilst he was still in South Africa.

"It was nice to see that KUSA's Dog's In Africa, August issue, published pictures of Mashonaland Ladies' Kennel Association's and Hatfield Kennel Club's Championship Show winners this year."

The demand for animal therapists has grown

Gone are the days when mere walk in the park was enough: Jo’burg dogs were being pampered with massages and spa baths to treat their sore joints. The demand for animal therapists has grown so much that woman kinesiologist Margaret Murphy now uses aroma-therapy massage on dogs. “If you’re a screwed-up animal then Jo’burg’s the place to be,” said Murphy. While some pets are treated for medical reasons, some owners are choosing to spoil their dogs.

On Thursday Murphy treated the dogs of animal behaviorist Julia Davies and watched as the two sniffed at a variety of aroma-therapy oils. Davies’s Border Collie settled on a dash of nongrass for its five-minute massage while the other animal indulged in geranium. Murphy rubbed the oils into their skin and fur. Another human kinesiologist, Robyn Yates, is also venturing into new territory, with kinesiology for dogs. As with humans, she tests different muscles to see how the body reacts in order to relieve stress and emotional baggage. “It involves muscle tests to access the conscious and what is required for healing’” said Yates, who also does acupressure on dogs. A more established service for Jo’burg dogs having a bad hair day is mobile grooming. Armed with baths and hairdryers groomers travel to pets that do not like to leave home. Hydro Pooch owner Xondra Hutchings said the mobile benefited dogs who “had had a bad experience at the dog parlour” and elderly dogs. “It is for the pampered miniature poodle and for the owner who doesn’t want to put a dirty dog in their brand-new car,” said Hutchings, who grooms up to 16 pooches a day.

Veterinary nurse Alison Glen runs an innovative practice in Chartwell, northern Jo’burg. She uses a heated pool, a physiotherapy room with ultrasound and red Palates balls to train and rehabilitate injured, post-operative, arthritic or simply fat dogs. On Wednesday, an overweight golden Labrador called Sandy, which suffers from elbow displacia, was calm as Glen's assistant, Malulgisa Mgqalo, lifted it into the spa bath. The dog's head was stroked as it sat placidly in the 30-degree water as the jets pumped waves to ease its aches and pains. "After an operation, for example, we may do balancing exercises on a boogie board, or swimming with arm bands and resistance. You have to use your imagination with animals." Glen said. The number of patients she sees has risen from about three to ten dogs a day and she operates only on referrals from vets. Glen occasionally takes cats into the pool. She says, "I wanted to do horse physio, but when I was studying at Onderstepoort and working with sick, grumpy race horses much bigger than me, I realized it was not for me."

(Editor: I know of a miniature dachsie, who has a neck injury and is on the water/swim treatment on a boogie board and will find out the progress, as she was a mighty sore little animal)

Athol Evans Complex had their yearly garden party with a cake competition, a big raffle and a music band, as well as a pipe band

A dog demonstration was organized with 4 of them finding their owners scent, between various other cloths, the result was: Hi Athol Evans Complex.

 

Musical chairs with all the dogs, as well as a Scottish Dancing dog with its owner Gladys. Above dancing through her legs, left a walk backwards and right a Scottish ‘Roll’. Very impressed to see.

"A new Dog Wash and Grooming facility”

A new Dog Wash and Grooming facility has been opened by Joy at 4 Borrowdale Lane, Borrowdale, Harare, phone 04-883099 or E-mail to e-mail vetserve@zol.co.zw for an appointment. Times 08.30 to 11.00 and 15.00 to 18.00 weekdays. Saturdays 09.00 to 12.00. Emergencies by appointment.