Hayley de Ronde

Animal Welfare & Behaviour Specialist

Covering Beds, Herts, Bucks & Beyond

Guest post for Let’s Talk Pets, by Emily Parker of Catological

While most of us have heard it takes a village to raise a child, it’s become more and more apparent in recent years that it also takes pets to raise great kids. Whether it’s helping to teach children compassion, responsibility, or help them become healthier or even future entrepreneurs, pets play a pivotal role in making sure our children have healthy and happy lives.

So even though it may look like only playtime when your child is playing fetch with Fido or sitting around petting Fluffy the cat, there may be much more happening than you ever anticipated. To learn more about how pets help raise great kids, here are some fascinating facts for your consideration.

Pet Shield™ Trial

I was kindly provided the opportunity to trial this new product on its arrival to market here in the UK. With my cat having recently suffered from an unknown bout of illness, it was a trial I was more than happy to accept!

I decided before starting the trial, it was best I waited for my cats symptoms to clear. After the all clear from the vet and a thorough clean of my home, the trail could begin. I’m hoping the use of this product will ensure any further bouts of illness will be greatly reduced..

A 60 ml Vial arrived in the post, along with a spray bottle and information on guidelines and use. Products are available from Debonaire Exotic Animal Supplies in 500 ml ready-to-use spray bottles, or in larger 1 litre concentrated bottles.

As this was a trail, and with little knowledge of such a product, I decided it was best to treat surfaces that have little contact with my pets, but that were areas that were often in need of cleaning.

I decided upon the cat litter tray (the biggest potential from the spread of any disease in my home) and the walls surrounding feed areas. Would be the areas I would treat in the trial.

The Verdict

As I was working with the stronger concentrate form, a safe, well-ventilated area was chosen to make the solution. Gloves were donned and newspaper was laid down to catch any possible spillage.

The 60 ml sample I was provided with diluted to a total volume of 1 litre, my applicator bottle only held 500 ml, so I syringed 30 ml from the sample bottle and made the diluted mixture up in the applicator bottle . It’s not often you get a free trail with more product than you need!

The smell of the product is quite strong and unique, which wasn’t quite what I was expecting, but once applied and left to dry, the smell disappeared.

I wasn’t sure what to expect, but from my use so far, the areas treated are much easier to clean and do indeed remain cleaner for longer…  as to the reduction of pathogens, all I can say is my cat is still in great health!

With a background working in many different animal establishments, I can certainly see the benefits of products such as this.  A little more info on how to dispose of any unwanted product and on the scientific evidence that backs up its non-toxic, environmentally safe claims, and it will be a product set to sell well here in the UK I’m sure. 

• ‘Global warming' describes long term increases in temperature of the earth’s atmosphere.
• 'Climate’ refers to the average weather in a region over a period of typically 30 years or more. 
• 'Climate change’ refers to the recent changes in climate, which have been observed since the early 1900’s due to global warming
• 'Greenhouse gases’ are essential to the earths atmosphere, but in the right quantities.
• Global temeratures have increased by 1oC since pre-industrial times. The last time humans saw a change like this was the dawn of civilisation.
• A rise of just 1oC will create huge problems in future, for man and wildlife, which is already being seen in the Arctic. 
• Even if all greenhouse gas emissions were stopped, global temperature will continue to rise due to the gasses already in the atmosphere.

Without IMMEDIATE action on climate change, both humans and polar bears face a very uncertain future!