Alys Jones, Author at The Stray Ferret

Kim’s Canines: supporting our dogs out of lockdown

This column is written for the Stray Ferret by Kimberley Metcalfe. Kimberley has an MSc in Applied Animal Behaviour and Welfare. Her company Pooches Galore is based in Harrogate and specialises in dog training and resolving canine behavioural problems.

Lockdown has been a strange time for all of us, and our dogs included. I think though for them it is more of a positive change, having their owners around is most dogs’ dream! However, this change has also caused a number of problems for our dogs.

As we come to the end of our second lockdown, we need to check that our dogs are coping with these changes.

The primary concern that we have seen coming out of the first lockdown, is dogs getting so used to us being around that when we started to leave them home alone, they just couldn’t cope. Although this second lockdown has meant that we have been able to leave the house more, for the majority of us, we are spending more time at home with our dogs.

It is important to ensure that our dogs are fine home alone, and to know this we can record our dogs when they are home alone. Hopefully, what we will see is our dogs curling up and going to sleep.

What we don’t want to see is our dogs crying, howling, pacing around, toileting (if they are fully housetrained), not eating treats that you’ve left for them or destroying your home (you’ll probably not need a video for this one!). Although these signs don’t necessarily mean that your dog has separation anxiety, it does mean that we need to help them settle when they are home alone. If a dog is struggling with separation anxiety, it is important to build up departures very slowly to allow our dogs to get used to being home alone.

Other problems that we have seen have been around people coming into the home. As we haven’t had people into our homes, many dogs are finding it very strange when people are coming in. Hopefully for many dogs, pairing people coming into the home with a tasty stuffed kong or a nice chew will mean that your dog looks forward to people coming in rather than being fearful! It is the positive association which we want to encourage.

The most important thing to bear in mind with our dogs, is that in every home in the land there is some level of underlying stress due to the pandemic. This will have an effect on our dogs, as they pick up on the changes in our hormones and pheromones, and can detect stress and fear. This will have an overall impact on our dog’s behaviour. These might be subtle, where they sit a little closer to us, or through larger behavioural changes such as separation anxiety or aggression. No two dogs will react to advice in the same way, so if your dog has developed aggressive behaviour, it is important to get specific advice from a professional.

Sell your bohemian wares at 53 Bo Grove

This article is sponsored by 53 Bo Grove.

When Kyrensa Bentley launched 53 Bo Grove in September last year, she wanted to create an independent bohemian destination for lovers of unique and quirky antiques in and around Harrogate.

Since then, the Aladdin’s cave of vintage, retro and antique delights has developed into a much-loved community space, complete with farm shop and cafe.

And now, collectors and creators in the Harrogate area have the opportunity to launch their own pop-up-shop within 53 Bo Grove.

The team is looking for artists, sewers, knitters, crafters and collectors of vintage clothes and toys to add to the bo-ho market, and is particularly keen to feature eco-friendly products and pre-loved items.

Kyrensa said:

“We feel that by having a collective of sellers, we can offer not just a wide range of products, but a community space for people to visit. Because visitors can get so many different things in one place, you never know exactly what you’re going to find or see.

Although crafters and collectors often sell their products online, I think people are missing visiting physical shops, and with our farm shop, café and collection of different sellers, 53 Bo Grove is a social and tactile experience – it’s underrated how much having a physical space is part of being a retailer.”

Kyrensa and the team look after all of the pop-up-shops, so collectors and makers can continue to collect and make without needing to attend to their shop in person – and the affordable rent and community spirit make 53 Bo Grove the perfect place to transition from online-seller to physical retailer.

To find out more or to book your own pop-up shop, email 53bogrove@gmail.com or call 07957 364962 Monday to Friday.

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Competition launched to find district’s best Christmas lights

The search is on to find the best lit house in the Harrogate district this Christmas! With the help of Yorkshire Lighting and Electrical Services, the Stray Ferret is looking for those who’ve gone that extra mile to make Christmas 2020 more magical than ever.

The competition will launch on Facebook on Monday 23 November, and anyone can nominate themselves or a neighbour.

Glen Molloy from Yorkshire Lighting said:

“I’m delighted to be working alongside the Stray Ferret to try and bring some Christmas cheer in these hard times. It’s been a difficult year for everybody, and I’m hoping this will bring some joy to those neighbourhoods that get involved. I’m really looking forward to seeing all the hard work that goes into lighting up so many houses for Christmas 2020.”

Aside from the pride of the title of ‘Best Christmas Lights in the Harrogate District’, the winner will receive a £150 voucher from Harrogate company Lights4Fun – so they can go even further next year!

Simon Norton, Marketing and Customer Experience Director at Lights4fun said:

“This year more than ever before, the home is at the heart of Christmas. There are many ways in which lighting has lifted our spirits, from outdoor displays that brighten the evenings of those passing by to placing candles in windows in support of key workers. As a Harrogate business we are proud to partner with the Stray Ferret in their search for the best dressed Christmas house. We truly care about our community and are always so proud to support our local causes and businesses.”

A-Plan Harrogate: a personal insurance experience

This article is sponsored by A-Plan

The opening of A-Plan Insurance’s first ever Yorkshire branch in Harrogate could not have come at a better time. As the coronavirus pandemic leaves many feeling isolated, A-Plan’s personable approach and support for the local community is heartening.

As a broker, A-Plan provides a tailored service with high standards of personal care to its clients, ensuring that policies are properly explained and meet your specific home or car insurance needs.

No transactions are done online, so whether you’re able to attend the new Princes Street branch in person (which is fully covid-secure and open during this lockdown), or prefer to speak to an advisor over the phone, you are guaranteed a personal service.

Despite being a national firm, A-Plan’s service is refreshingly local. All of the staff live in the area, so have the knowledge of local streets, properties and risk areas to ensure your quote is personal to you – and not just based off an internet search.

A-Plan Harrogate was opened by the Deputy Mayor of Harrogate, Councillor Zoe Metcalfe

Branch Manager Chris is Ripon born and bred, and after two decades working for A-Plan elsewhere, has returned to God’s Own County.

Chris said:

“I am excited to be coming back to my Yorkshire roots and bringing the A-Plan experience to the north of the country.

Harrogate’s a vibrant town for both business and pleasure and I can’t wait to introduce my young family to everything the town has to offer.”

All of the advisers at Harrogate’s A-Plan branch are fully qualified with a CII (Certificate in Insurance); they work and build relationships with over 30 insurance providers at a time, but as they aren’t paid commission you get impartial advice and the very best price for your individual needs.

Buying insurance has become an impersonal experience; price comparison websites expect you to do all the work, and you can’t always be completely sure that the cover meets your specific needs. If your home, vehicle or other item is out of the ordinary it can be very hard to be sure you’ve bought the right product for your requirements.

Unlike some call centre systems, there are no time-targets for A-Plan staff, and they genuinely care about you. Branch manager Chris once arranged for a staff member to make a two-hour round trip to deliver documents to a customer without access to a printer, and makes it his personal mission to ensure every client receives the first-class service they deserve.

That person-centred approach carries over into A-Plan’s support of the local community. Chris and the team have launched a scheme in support of Saint Michael’s hospice, where a £50 donation is activated if you mention the charity when taking out a new car, van or home insurance policy, providing much needed support to the Harrogate based charity. The branch is also supporting the Harrogate Theatre Emergency Appeal and has sponsored 2 seats for when this valued venue reopens to the community.

To speak to A-Plan Harrogate about your insurance needs, you can call the local branch on 01423 647235 or visit them at 10 Princes Street, Harrogate, HG1 1NH.

Stray Pets Rescue Club: Ginger, Bongo, Badger and a rat all need loving homes

The Stray Pets Rescue Club is our monthly pet profile of animals in desperate need of a loving home. This month’s selected pooches are Ginger and Badger with the addition of some very intelligent rats, and Bongo the Bosc Monitor…

Greyhound, Ginger

Age: 3
Ginger’s story: Ginger has just retired from his career as a racing greyhound. He is shy with new people at first, but if you give him some space, Ginger soon comes out of his shell.
Temperament: Ginger is sweet-natured, affectionate and adores his food! Ginger absolutely loves being around dogs as they really boost his confidence.
Ideal home: He has never lived in a house before, so he needs patient owners who will help ease him into the next chapter of his life as a family pet and teach him basic training, including housetraining. While he gets used to life with his paws up, Ginger’s new owners will need to be around all the time. Once he’s settled, he should be ok to be built up to being left for a few hours. Ginger can live with children over 16 years old and will happily share his home with another similar dog. Like all ex-racers he has a high prey drive so he cannot live with cats or other small furry pets.

To find out more about Ginger and the adoption process, visit Dogs Trust Leeds.

Bosc Monitor, Bongo

Age: You never ask a lizard its age…
Bongo’s story: Bongo has been at Knaresborough Exotic Rescue for about 5 months, arriving due to a change in circumstance.
Temperament: Bongo was nervous at first but over time and with the correct care and handling, he’s coming around to being a lovely calm lizard.
Ideal home: Bongo will need a home with experience and a large enclosure. He is currently about 2 feet in length, but Bosc Monitors can grow to over 4 feet long so will eventually need an enclosure at least 6-8 feet in length, providing about 32 degrees at the warm end and approximately 20 degrees at the cooler end. Bosc Monitors can make great house lizards providing they have a heat source in the house. They have a diet mainly consisting of defrosted chicks and rodents but can also eat locusts, eggs and some raw meat.

To find out more about Bongo and the adoption process, you can visit K’rescue Knaresborough’s Facebook page or give them a call on 07837 445352.

Lurcher, Badger

Age: 4
Badger’s story: Badger was living as a stray and handed to SYD Rescue by a local dog warden.
Temperament: Badger is lovely and friendly but is very energetic and can be boisterous. He loves going for walks, but needs to be kept on a lead or he will chase other small animals. He is very clever and is currently doing clicker training.
Ideal home: Badger is looking for new family who have had dogs before and who can take him for walks and to secure fields where he can run around and play lots of games. He likes to chase small furry animals, so cannot live with cats or other small pets. Because he is so energetic and bouncy, Badger cannot be homed with children under the age of 12.

To find out more about Badger and the adoption process, you can visit the Saving Yorkshire Dogs website or call them on 07562 986101.

Rats

Age: babies from 8 weeks old, adults between 6 months to 1 year
Temperament: Rats make fantastic pets for people of all ages. They are very intelligent and bond to people well – and love nothing more than snuggling in jumpers and hoods! As rats get older, they are happy to be taken out on harnesses, and the possibilities are endless when it comes to learning tricks.
Ideal home: Rats can be kept on wood based cat litter, and need a larger cage than mice and hamsters. They eat rat nuggets and a mixture of fruit and vegetables, and don’t smell as much as people think!

To find out more about adopting a rat, you can visit K’rescue Knaresborough’s Facebook page or call them on 07837 445352.

The Stray Pets Rescue Club works with animal rescues around the area on its monthly profiles.

Harrogate BID launches online shopping directory with the Stray Ferret

Harrogate BID and the Stray Ferret have joined forces to launch a new online shopping directory to support local businesses in the run-up to Christmas.

The Shop Harrogate Online site will provide customers with a one-stop-shop to buy from local retailers forced to move online by the coronavirus lockdown restrictions.

People will be able to find and buy from fashion, homeware, food and drink, and beauty retailers, as well as finding services such as accountants, lawyers and other local professionals.

Sara Ferguson, Harrogate BID acting chair, said:

“We are delighted that Harrogate BID is partnering with The Stray Ferret to power this special page to encourage people to ‘Shop Harrogate Online’.

There are so many businesses that are continuing to trade during this second lockdown, and the directory will help them promote their services. For those looking to make purchases locally, it is a single point of reference.

Remember, when you Shop Harrogate Online, you are helping support the Harrogate economy and safeguard local livelihoods and jobs.

And don’t forget you can also purchase the Harrogate Gift Card, which is accepted by more than 100 local shops, restaurants, bars and cafes. Every £1 loaded on to a card means £1 kept within the local economy.”

Businesses across the Harrogate district can list their website for free at thestrayferret.co.uk/shoplocal

Today is a Remembrance Sunday like no other

This column is written for The Stray Ferret by the Bishop of Ripon The Right Reverend Dr Helen-Ann Hartley. Today is Remembrance Sunday– at 11am there will be a two minute silence to remember the fallen.

A few days ago, a friend posted an image on social media which bore the words: “We are not all in the same boat, but we are all in the same storm: support each other, don’t judge, be kind”. When I have a Zoom-free moment to reflect on the past months, I’ve seen all those elements in play: support, judgement and kindness. Quite a lot of that has been on social media, but some of it has been in my own experience: things I have observed, conversations I have had, feelings that have bubbled up inside me. As we plunge into another lockdown in England I am having to dig deep and ensure that support and kindness are front and centre in all that I do, and that any hint of judgement is put firmly to one side. I wonder how you are feeling at the moment?

Today is Remembrance Sunday. Usually I would be in the Spa Gardens in Ripon at a Civic ceremony, followed by a service in Ripon Cathedral. This year I will be at home. When I became Bishop for Ripon, one of the objects I was given at my welcome service was a porcelain poppy made by pupils at St Aidan’s school in Harrogate. That poppy is currently outside our front door which has seen much less visitor footfall than usual, but it’s important it’s there. I am aware that some Remembrance events are going ahead, but I am also aware of many that have either been cancelled or have moved online.

In every respect however, this is a Remembrance Sunday like no other, and it’s particularly difficult for those veterans who are increasingly frail and anxious at this time. Back in August, on Yorkshire Day, I was delighted to be able to meet Captain Sir Tom Moore at a special (COVID-secure) gathering of various groups and agencies to hear about his new Foundation. Sir Tom may be 100, but his spirit radiates kindness, support and positivity. His attitude reminds me of another phrase which is on a card that sits on a bookshelf in my office, and which relates to words at the start of this reflection: “We cannot control the wind but we can direct the sails”. In other words, attitude matters, and there’s the challenge: to use this time of lockdown to nourish kindness towards those in need but also to be kind to ourselves, and through that to be bearers of hope in our communities.