Hayley de Ronde

Animal Welfare & Behaviour Specialist

Covering Beds, Herts, Bucks & Beyond

With bullying being such a problem in today’s world, any parent wants to make sure their child is able to understand how it feels to walk a mile in someone else’s shoes. Because of this, studies have shown that owning a pet can help a child develop empathy toward others.

According to the American Humane Society, kids who become pet owners at an early age learn the importance of kindness, love, and respect, enabling them to gain a greater understanding of how to treat both humans and animals. By forming an emotional bond with their pet, they learn to transfer these behaviors to other places such as school, sports teams, or other situations. In many cases, the kids will decide they want to become volunteers at local animal shelters, where they can help even more animals.

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. 

The Coca-Cola and WWF Arctic Home campaign was launched at the Science Museum Thursday 17th January 2013, with an interactive augmented reality experience that brought the issue of climate change, and the plight of the polar bear, to life. 

The polar bear has been an iconic marketing figure for the Coca-Cola company for 90 years, representing family and togetherness for the brand. It is for this reason Coca-Cola is pledging over £2.5million over 3 years to help conserve the home of the polar bear and to help ensure their plight is brought closer to home to consumers. 

The money pledged will be used to:

• Protect and manage what is left of the polar bears environment.
• Aid research into understanding polar bear population and habitat.
• Reduce conflict between man and polar bear, as habitat decreases.
• Fund a Polar Bear Summit, to highlight the issues it faces.
• Tackle climate change and educate on our interdependence with nature.

Raising awareness of climate change and the plight of the polar bear, Arctic Home forms part of a global partnership between Coca-Cola and WWF that began in 2007 to reduce the company’s carbon emissions and to facilitate water conversation and sustainable agriculture, by reducing Coca-Cola’s environmental impact. 

WWF are working to sustain the arctic home of the polar bear (and the many other species that require this unique environment to survive), but without government support their ability is limited. WWF is encouraging Arctic governments to hold a polar bear summit this year, to ensure the plight of the polar bear is highlighted.

The funds raised to aid the Arctic Home campaign, and the public interest generated, has the potential to attract high level attention from government leaders, with the potential to make positive changes to our future and that of the polar bear!