Entries by Bronwyn Hayes

More South African animal feed and pet food now contain insect larvae – thanks in part to Bill Gates

May 16, 2019 in , /by

Insect larvae are becoming an increasingly important source of protein in South African animal feed and pet food products. Cape Town-based AgriProtein has been producing insect material to add to these foods for more than a decade, and are now processing 40 tonnes of food waste per day for the larvae, says its CEO Jason Drew. The food waste – which is secured from restaurants and retailers – was destined for public landfill sites. AgriProtein uses larvae from black soldier flies. The flies feed on a substance made from the organic waste sourced from local restaurants, factories and farms.  Once […]

Botswana gives leaders stools made from elephant feet

May 13, 2019 in , /by

  Stools made from elephant feet have been presented to three African leaders by their host in Botswana during a meeting on the future of the mammals. President Mokgweetsi Masisi handed over the gifts, covered in a blue patterned cloth, to his counterparts from Namibia, Zambia and Zimbabwe. The countries, along with South Africa, are calling for the ban on the sale of ivory to be lifted. They argue that money from the trade can be used for conservation projects. Elephant poaching is a big issue across Africa and some estimates say 30,000 are killed every year. There are thought […]

Eastern Puma Officially Declared Extinct By The USFWS

May 10, 2019 in , /by

Unfortunately, the Eastern Puma has officially been declared as extinct by the U.S Fish and Wildlife Service (USFWS). For many years prior to this tragic declaration, this majestic creature could often be found in the eastern states of the US, particularly along the Mississippi River. Sadly, that is no longer true. There have been a number of factors which influenced the USFWS’s decision to list this species as extinct. The main factor is that there hasn’t been a sighting of the Eastern Puma In the wild for over eight decades. The USFWS gave a formal notice stating that due to […]

Pedigree: This Little Doggie Went to Market

May 9, 2019 in , /by

Dogs love to explore, so why not make a day of it with the entire family by visiting one of the many dog-friendly outdoor markets in Gauteng? The markets provide an opportunity to browse, find unique gifts for family and friends, grab a bite to eat, listen to live music and just relax. Pedigree Brand Manager, Ashleigh Sanderson, says taking dogs on an outing is a perfect way for owners and their canine friends to bond and spend some quality time together. “That’s why Dentastix has identified some of the top dog-friendly markets in and around Johannesburg and Pretoria. And, […]

Joburg Zoo To Get Second Elephant In Spite Of Public Outcry

May 7, 2019 in , /by

The Joburg Zoo continues to make unilateral decisions regarding Lammie the elephant’s future while the DA led City council turns a blind eye. The zoo announced in January that it was actively searching for a second elephant, prompting the resignation of the NSPCA from the Animal Ethics Committee. The zoo’s decision flies in the face of numerous specialist reports detailing the shortfalls of keeping a social, sentient animals in captivity. The zoo has yet to reply who their own elephant specialists advising them are, writes LOUZEL LOMBARD STEYN. Ongoing global petitions supporting Lammie’s release to an accredited rewilding sanctuary presently have received […]

The elderly can now foster dogs in need without the costs of owning a dog

May 6, 2019 in , /by

Silver-faced dogs and silver-haired humans have been given a chance to share love and companionship thanks to a new initiative set up to help the elderly. Cape Town, South Africa – Being a pensioner can be hard, as inflation rises the money that was once enough to survive, has quickly become smaller and smaller, making it hard to spend on things that don’t ensure basic survival. Being a senior dog up for adoption is equally as challenging. Many people won’t adopt an older dog due to health issues and the shorter period left before passing. The Cape Dachshund Rescue group […]

Whiskas Has Your Back This Hairball Awareness Day

April 26, 2019 in , /by

Do you remember the moment when Puss in Boots coughed up a hairball in Shrek 2? It was the first scene Antonio Banderas recorded as Puss in Boots and it left him temporarily voiceless, according to an interview in the New York Times. The scene highlights the reality of hairballs for cats, as does Hairball Awareness Day, which takes place on the last Friday of April every year (it’s on 26 April this year) and is aimed at educating cat owners about their feline friends and those annoying hairballs. Whiskas Senior Brand Manager, Nivashnee Moodley says hairballs occur because cats’ […]

Australia plans to kill millions of feral cats by airdropping sausages laced with poison

May 2, 2019 in , /by

The Australian government is airdropping poisonous sausages across thousands of hectares of land in an effort to kill millions of feral cats, according to reports. It is just one of the tactics used by the government as part its plan to kill two million feral cats by 2020 in order to protect native species. Cats are also trapped and shot by government officials. Dr Dave Algar, who helped develop the poison recipe, said he used his cats to test the taste of the sausages before adding the poison to check the flavour. “They’ve got to taste good,” he told the paper. “They are the cat’s […]

Ford unveils noise-canceling kennel for pets scared of fireworks, thunder

May 1, 2019 in , /by

SAN FRANCISCO (KRON) – Ford Europe has unveiled a prototype for its noise-canceling dog kennel, which claims to block out excessively loud sounds like thunder or fireworks.  In a blog post earlier this month, Ford described the kennel as “the first in a series of initiatives that applies automotive know-how to help solve everyday problems.” Ford said it applied its “Active Noise Control system,” which is currently employed in its Ford Edge.  Like the Edge, the kennel is equipped with microphones able to detect sounds, then emitting opposing frequencies that significantly reduce the amount of noise let into the kennel, if not fully […]

NSPCA offers R30000 dog-fighting reward

April 30, 2019 in , /by

The National Council of SPCAs (NSPCA) has offered a R30000 reward for any information that could lead to the arrest and prosecution of dog fighters. Their Special Investigations Unit has noted a spike in reported incidents nationally, and in some cases the dogs have had to be put down due to their injuries. The American pit bull terrier is the most popular dog breed among dog fighters. Special Investigations Unit manager Wendy Willson said that in the past few years they’d had multiple successes, and had saved hundreds of dogs. “The fights are brutal and the dogs suffer the most […]