Latest news with #RSPCA

Bristol woman left dogs to starve to death after moving homes

BBC News

4 hours ago

BBC News

Bristol woman left dogs to starve to death after moving homes

A woman who left her two dogs to starve to death after moving out of her flat has been banned from keeping animals for life. Nicole Louise Cooper, from Bristol, had owned Bruno and Aniyla for three years but deserted them in October 2024 and did not 23-year-old pleaded guilty to causing unnecessary suffering to an animal following a prosecution by the RSPCA for the pets' "inhumane deaths".Cooper was also sentenced to a year in custody, suspended for two years, and must pay £587 towards costs and a victim surcharge. She was ordered to carry out five rehabilitation activity requirement 13 December 2024, police carried out a welfare check for Cooper at the bedsit she had been occupying at Molesworth Close, south Bristol. The property was vacant but officers found the dogs' remains inspector Dan Hatfield, who investigated for the charity, said the animals were found near each other in the main room, which measured three metres (10ft) by four metres (15ft). A vet who examined the bodies said the ultimate cause of death would have been through dehydration and starvation leading to organ their report to the court, the vet described the dogs' passing as "a very inhumane way to die".Cooper will be unable to appeal the ban for the next 15 years.

Gel-infused cooling mat prevents dogs from overheating

Daily Mirror

7 hours ago

Climate
Daily Mirror

Gel-infused cooling mat prevents dogs from overheating

During a heatwave, it is advised to keep dogs in the shade, and go out for walks when it is cooler on morning and in the evenings As the nation basks in a heatwave, pet owners should keep a special eye on their beloved dogs. According to the RSPCA, canines are at high risk of dehydrating or getting heatstroke during high temperatures. Pet owners can take preventive measures, including keeping pups in the shade, making sure they drink plenty of cold water, and having something cool on which they can lie. The RSPCA recommends sitting dogs on a damp towel, but these are not waterproof and hence not accident-friendly. An alternative is investing in a pet-cooling mat specially designed for hot weather conditions. Amazon is selling a Pecute Dog Cooling Mat with prices ranging from £17.99 (for the small size) to £49.99 for the extra large size. The gel-infused mat is waterproof, scratch-resistant, and wear-resistant. There's no need to refill it; shoppers can pop it in the fridge or freezer before use. The Pecute Dog Cooling Mat absorbs a dog's body heat, stopping them from overheating and dehydration. It can be placed on top of dogs' beds, as well as inside crates or kennels, or on top of couches and floors. Free Amazon Prime membership Product Description For consumers with plenty of garden space, a paddling pool is another heatwave option. Pets at Home is selling a Cooling Pet Paddling Pool for £20 and it requires no inflation. It is also designed with a lead clip for secure bathing and a drainage plug. Amazon's Pecute Dog Cooling Mat has more than 17,00 customer reviews. A customer ordered the XL size for their 45kg German Shepherd, commenting: "He loves it and uses it all the time. Cushioned and so cooling for him. Have used others in the past, but not so cushioned, and now he's 12, he needs a bit more comfort. Would thoroughly recommend." A second buyer approved of the product, but said their dog 'hated it' and refused to use it. The customer said their dog still opts 'to lie on the tiles.' This could be an issue for other dog owners too, but there are other kinds of cooling items on the market. For instance, this Dog Cooling Vest from Spark Paws fits over the body like a harness. It is offered in a seven different sizes with prices from £18-£22. It promises to reduce a dog's body temperature by using evaporation. To use, wet it in water, wring it out, and then place it on your dog's body. Back to customer reviews on Amazon's Pecute cooling mat, a fourth person bought it for their cockapoo, who has been using it for a week: "It does work and he feels noticeably cooler to the touch after lying on it - it's really helped him through the recent heat spike." The shopper continued: "He's had a little scratch, and the material hasn't torn or anything and remains strong. It seems to be pretty resistant and good quality, at least so far. I'd recommend it, and so would our cockapoo."

Was James Cameron's The Abyss pulled from Disney+? Explaining the scene that got the movie banned in the UK

Time of India

12 hours ago

Entertainment
Time of India

Was James Cameron's The Abyss pulled from Disney+? Explaining the scene that got the movie banned in the UK

The Abyss is a 1989 sci-fi horror film directed by James Cameron and released in 1989. The film's premise harkens back to the Cold War era, with an American submarine sinking in the Caribbean. A search-and-rescue team frantically searches for the wreckage in the depth of the ocean before the Soviets find it first, but in the process, they discover new horrors unexpected horrors in the depths. The film had a contentious release in the United Kingdom thanks to a scene that animal rights groups alleged was animal abuse. The scene portrayed a real-life rat being submerged in liquid fluorocarbon. Although the rat reportedly survived, the British Board of Film Classification nonetheless deemed the scene a violation of the 1937 Cinematograph Films (Animals) Act and demanded that all UK prints of the film cut out the scene. However, the controversy has resurfaced with the film's Disney+ release. The Abyss Disney+ release was uncut The Abyss's Disney+ release drew renewed controversy from UK animal rights groups such as the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) after they discovered that the version of the film released on the streaming service was uncut. Their protests have proven successful, as the film has since been pulled from the UK region of Disney+, meaning that audiences once again have no official way of viewing the controversial banned scene. All prior theatrical and home video releases of The Abyss had complied with the BBFC order and excised the scene. The RSPCA denies engaging in 'cancel culture' The RSPCA, on their social media, accused streaming services of exploiting loopholes that allowed them to get away with including alleged animal abuse that national censor boards were meant to prevent. 1989 film, 'The Abyss' on Disney+, features a scene where a real rat is forcibly plunged into a tank full of chief vet shared concerns with the BBFC at the time, and the scene was cut under laws which prohibit showing animal cruelty on the big screen or in videos. In a statement, an RSPCA spokesperson said that they wouldn't protest the film's return to Disney+, provided the controversial scene was removed, stating: "This isn't about cancel culture – we'd welcome Disney Plus reinstating the film to their platform, just with this troubling scene removed…This was instead about highlighting a loophole that currently exists allowing animal abuse scenes deemed unacceptable elsewhere to be streamed freely and legally into our homes - and protecting the public from having to see this animal abuse content." While it's entirely possible for the BBFC-compliant UK cut of The Abyss to return to Disney+, the banned scene will remain banned for the foreseeable future.