Harrogate Borough Council has this week submitted a plan to build a pet crematorium at Stonefall Cemetery.

It follows the lead of councils in North East Lincolnshire and Barnsley, which have already opened or started work on pet crematoriums.

Harrogate council currently charges £36 to collect dead pets from people’s homes.

Currently, the closest pet crematoriums are in either Thirsk or Skipton.

The crematorium at Harrogate would be built inside a converted shipping container.

The plans also include converting a storage building at Stonefall into a “goodbye room”, where owners can say their final farewells to their pets before they are cremated.

A decision on the proposal will be made at a later date.

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A Harrogate vet has warned dog owners to avoid popular walking spots if their pets have symptoms of a mystery illness spreading across town.

There have been widespread reports of vomiting and diarrhoea among dogs that have been to the East Yorkshire coast in the last week. However, dogs have also caught the virus in Harrogate.

The Harrogate Vet, on Leeds Road, told the Stray Ferret that its vets have seen a three-fold increase in dogs with gastroenteritis in the last week.

Sarah Woods, one of the vets at the practice, said:

“It is not unusual for viruses to spread but this is different in terms of the sheer number of unwell dogs we are treating — around a dozen a day.

“We do not want dog owners to panic or change anything they are doing.

“Dogs that have symptoms of vomiting and diarrhoea just need to avoid popular areas to prevent the spread.”

Ms Woods added that most dogs they have seen have responded well to treatment.

Kelly Anne, who owns a miniature schnauzer called Pepper, said her dog became unwell after a walk around the Skipton Road area of Harrogate. She said:

“She has really not been herself at all, it has just been really sad to see.

“Last night I saw her stomach contracting and how much pain she was in. It made me cry.”

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Nicky Shamir, who works as a hypnotherapist, recently took her cockapoo Barney for a walk round Harrogate’s Valley Gardens. She said:

“On the way back he started with diarrhoea and when I managed to get him home he just slept.

“He is just eight months old so it was really unusual and I took him to the vet. We have now got him on some medication and he is starting to improve.”

Kirsty Atkinson owns three cocker spaniels called Isla, Miley and Jet. She told the Stray Ferret:

“One started being ill on Tuesday evening then the other Wednesday and last one started yesterday.

“The only place they have been walked is around the block we live on Harlow Avenue and the bit of parkland at the end of Hartley Road so we could only have picked it up there.

“It’s a bit worrying but more reassuring that we maybe know it’s just gastroenteritis and that they should be better within a few days.”

Harewood House will host a Big Dog Walk tomorrow so dogs can meet new four-legged friends while walking around the stately home’s famous grounds.

There’s a choice of 2km, 5km or 10km routes and tickets are currently still available for walks that start at 2.30pm.

Owners and their pets are advised to arrive one hour before their booked time to have a sniff around before the walks start, and there will be staff along the route to offer thirsty dogs a drink.

Dogs will be welcome to walk three routes around Harewood House’s grounds

There will also be a ‘dogstacle’ course, shopping, expert advice, a dog show and refreshments.

A Puppy Socialisation Walk at 10am will give owners the opportunity to introduce puppies to other dogs in a safe, organised way.

For tickets visit here.

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The Stray Pets Rescue Club is our monthly profile of animals in and around the Harrogate district, in desperate need of a loving home. Could you help Jerry the Patterdale Cross, cats Mitchell, Webb & Lollipop, or rabbits Mojo & Mystery in their quest for a loving home? 

Jerry – Patterdale Cross

Age: 14-15 months

Jerry’s story: Jerry was left tied to a tree, and was handed to the dog warden after being found.

Temperament: Jerry is very friendly and also very lively. He can be a little unpredictable around other dogs.

Ideal home: Jerry will be a fantastic dog for someone who has time to spend training him. He needs a very secure garden, and a home without children or other pets.

If your family has space for Jerry, contact Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs. 

Mitchell, Webb & Lollipop – Domestic Short Haired

Age: 2.5 years & 1 year

Mitchell, Webb & Lollipop’s story: This trio came to the RSPCA as part of a multi-cat seizure, where their previous owner did not have enough time to spend with all the cats. They are very much bonded to one another, so need a special adopter who can give a home to all three.

Temperament: These three cats had been left extremely nervous of people. They have been in care for quite some time and have come on well, and although they are still very nervous when people are around, they are ready to start their new lives with a loving new family. Mitchell, Webb and Lollipop are very playful and active with their toys and each other – they will enjoy interacting with you for fuss and playtime once they get to know you.

Ideal home: They will find moving to a new home very strange, so adopters will need a spare room where they can be together to begin with. Once they’ve settled and gained confidence, they can begin to investigate the rest of the house. Adopters will need to be patient; Mitchell, Webb and Lollipop will need to be kept as house cats for a very long tie and may never have the confidence to go outside. They will need a quiet, adult-only home, but could possibly live with other cats.

If you could help Mitchell, Webb and Lollipop, visit RSPCA York, Harrogate and District. 

Mojo & Mystery – Rabbits

Age: 10 weeks

Mojo & Mystery’s story: This sweet pair were born at the RSPCA, after both mum and dad were no longer wanted by their previous owner.

Temperament: Mojo and Mystery are young, cheeky and playful little boys, who will make wonderful and entertaining family pets. They love treat time, and like being hand-fed.

Ideal home: Mojo and Mystery will need to live in a hutch which is a minimum of 6 feet, with an attached run of at least 8 feet. These boys will be happy to live indoors if given lots to do, and can live with secondary school aged children.

To provide a loving family home for Mojo and Mystery, visit RSPCA York, Harrogate and District. 

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The Stray Pets Rescue Club is our monthly profile of Harrogate animals in desperate need of a loving home. Could you help Ernie, Toby, or Amber? 

Ernie

Age: Ernie’s passport says he is eight, but he could be older.

Ernie’s story: Ernie arrived at Miss Mollie’s Rescue from Romania, about five weeks ago. The team at Miss Mollie’s think he had a hard life before being rescued. He is stiff on his legs and has a nasty scar on his face, but since arriving in Harrogate he has been taking joint tablets and is improving every day.

Temperament: Ernie shares his kennel with another dog, and likes being around dogs. He has started enjoying walks but his favourite things are rolling in the grass, sitting in the sun, his dinner and his bed.

Ideal home: Ernie would be well suited to an owner who is happy to have short walks. He would love to have a garden and a cosy place to chill out.

If your family has space for Ernie, contact Miss Mollie’s Rescue. 

Toby

Age: 16.

Toby’s backstory: Toby is looking for a long-term foster home. He is currently living alone at Harrogate Cat Rescue, after his owners became unable to look after him. Toby isn’t in the best of health and is suffering from liver disease. He is stable on antibiotics.

Temperament: Toby is an affectionate, laid-back boy. He loves nothing more than sitting on your knee, or watching the world go by from a sunny window ledge.

Ideal home: Toby will benefit from regular, gentle brushing and companionship. All his food and veterinary treatment will continue to be paid for by Harrogate Cat Rescue.

If you could be a foster carer for Toby, contact Celia at Harrogate Cat Rescue on 07749 461042.

Amber

Age: Three.

Amber’s story: This labrador cross lurcher’s previous owners lost their home in a fire and could not take her (and her sister Jade) to where they were staying.

Temperament: Amber is incredibly friendly and energetic. She can be bouncy and excitable when she is playing, so will benefit from someone taking the time to train her and take her on lots of walks.

Ideal home: Amber loves to chase small, fluffy things, so needs a secure garden (where she can’t run off chasing rabbits) and a home with no cats. Because Amber is so energetic, she needs to live with adults and older children. She can live with another dog that is happy to be around her lively personality.

If Amber could be the perfect fit in your home, visit Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs. 

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Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs is a district charity determined to give dogs that would otherwise be put down a loving home.

If you love dogs even half as much as these volunteers then you’ll understand why they’re so passionate. The team, headed up by Julie Hart, run a kennels near Masham.

The teams works with locals vets, North Yorkshire Police and the social services to look after dogs that otherwise might find themselves being put down.

The charity says it often “fills the gap” of other rescue charities that may not have the space.

Jade (left) and Heidi (right) are the two currently up for adoption.

Set up in May 2014 the charity has rescued around 230 dogs from Yorkshire and rehomed them all over Britain.

Julie Hart, chairlady of Saving Yorkshire’s Dogs said:

“We just can’t stop helping them, it’s all about the dogs. You have dogs lives in your hands and we all work hard to save them. It’s our vocation.”

Julie and her team help to rehabilitate dogs by training them and paying for any necessary vet treatment to get them ready for their new loving home.

Mike (left) is still under the care of SYD and Pete (right) has been rehomed now.

The charity has previously featured its dogs in our Stray Pets Rescue Club feature. But over the pandemic the charity’s income has been heavily impacted.

Depending on the number of dogs it takes in, the charity needs to raise around £50,000 each year to keep going. But during the pandemic Julie estimated the charity had lost over £30,000.

The charity continues to fundraise via its facebook page and online, here.

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Julie said that during the pandemic the number of dogs it was taking in had dropped but that was changing now:

“Now we are getting busy again as people go back to work and they don’t have the time for their dogs again. We’re seeing more pandemic puppies come in. People have got them through training but haven’t done the basics with them.

“And of course owners can’t socialise them fully in lockdown so they are coming into us.”

People living in the Harrogate district have complained about an increase in dog owners leaving poo bags tied to trees, dumped in bushes or even thrown into private gardens.

Lockdown has led to a puppy boom, with many buying a new four-legged family friend.

However, many people told the Stray Ferret they were fed-up seeing discarded poo bags in our most scenic locations, such as the Pinewoods and Stainburn Forest and were appalled by the “lazy” and “disgusting” behaviour of some dog owners.

Mark Hanford said bags were everywhere:

“The dog poo bag pandemic has been raging for years, it’s an absolute disgrace — it’s everywhere! Crab Lane and St. John’s area is really bad for it!”

“We have a real problem in our lovely village. The majority of the village are disgusted. How do we shame the perpetrators? Or shame Harrogate Borough Council to clear up the mess the overdevelopment of our village has caused?”

Police are appealing for help finding the owner of a Cockapoodle that bit a man near Burn Bridge.

The man was attacked about 50 metres from the path entrance to Crimple Meadows woodland playing fields.

According to North Yorkshire Police, the dog was one of two large brown Cockapoodles with thick brown curly hair. One dog was light brown and the other dark brown.

They were with a white man who is described as stocky, 5ft 9 inches tall and in his late fifties. He was wearing a dark green coat and did not have the dogs on leads. A North Yorkshire Police statement said:

“The darker brown dog started jumping up at a member of the public and bit the male victim on the arm, causing minor injuries.

“We are requesting the public’s assistance to help establish who the man with the two dogs was.”

The incident took place at about 10am on October 7.

Anyone with information can contact North Yorkshire Police by calling 101 and selecting option 2. Ask for PC Thornborrow. You can also email jackie.thornborrow@northyorkshire.pnn.police.uk.

If you wish to remain anonymous, you can pass information to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Quote the North Yorkshire Police reference number 12200176089.

Two students from Harrogate have left their hall of residence in Sheffield and returned home to protect their mental health from the impact of isolation. 

Alex Hamshaw and his girlfriend, both 18, are first year students at Sheffield Hallam University.

Alex’s girlfriend had to isolate for two weeks at the start of term when a flatmate not following covid guidelines came into contact with someone that had tested positive.

Both have struggled with the impact that following covid guidelines has had on their ability to make new friends, and decided to leave after three weeks, before Sheffield moved into tier three restrictions. 

Speaking about why they left Sheffield, Alex said:

“We decided to come home after my girlfriend finished isolating, as if that had happened again for her or for me, it would have really negatively impacted our mental wellbeing. Coming home means that we were in a different tier to Sheffield, we could go out and see friends and see each other, and that was better for our general wellbeing than being in Sheffield.” 

They’re not planning to move back to university until case numbers decrease, with the expectation that this won’t happen until after Christmas. 

Despite moving home, they are still paying rent for their Sheffield accommodation and Alex estimates that he will have lost about £1500 by the time that he returns. 

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While at home, the pair have decided to set up their own online business, Personal Paws Co, selling customisable dog collars and leads out of Paracord, a lightweight nylon rope originally used in the suspension lines of parachutes. 

Alex’s dog Molly, modelling a collar.

With hopes to sell 500 collars or leads by Christmas, the teenagers are also hoping to do some good with their profits. Up until the 25th December, Personal Paws Co will donate 5% of its revenue to the Harrogate District foodbank.

Alex said:

“As we approach winter and it gets colder, it is even more challenging for children at this time of year, and so we have decided to donate 5% of all sales to Harrogate foodbank so that more children can enjoy a free meal as days get shorter and nights get longer. In our opinion, it’s the little things that help.

“We choose to start the business because we both have an interest in dogs and we wanted to create a product which was durable, comfortable and customisable in size and length which all dogs and dog owners could use. The profits not given to the food bank are going to be saved as a way to financially support us after graduating from uni.”

Do you have a similar story to tell us or are worried for your son and daughter isolated at University? Get in touch on contact@thestrayferret.co.uk 

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 Gracie and Boki with the addition of a six-foot Boa constrictor, Sssirius, and adorable kitten, Rosie…

English Bulldog, Gracie 

Age: 5
Gracie’s story: Gracie was rescued by Saving Yorkshire Dogs. She was used for breeding to make money and was abandoned after reaching the maximum age for reproducing. Gracie has given birth to around 30 puppies in her lifetime. As a result, she has been left with a large caesarean scar.
Temperament: Despite her rough life, Gracie gets along very well with humans and other dogs and she loves to give slobbery kisses.
Ideal home: She loves her food a little too much, so be sure not to leave any sitting on tables or counters. She is also very strong to walk with on a collar and lead, so she is currently being trained to walk on a harness. She will not be rehomed with families who have cats or children under 10 years old.

To find out more about Gracie and the adoption process, you can visit Saving Yorkshire Dogs‘ website by clicking here or contact them on 07562 986101.

Boa constrictor, Sirius – ADOPTED

Age: 8
Sirius’ story: Sirius was named after the Harry Potter character and is a staggering 183cm in length (6ft). He was rescued by K’rescue Knaresborough and was covered in sores after coming into direct contact with an unprotected heated bulb which has been treated.
Temperament: Sirius arrived at the rescue as a cautious and very cage-defensive (protective of the enclosed area) individual. He has since become passive and extremely inquisitive through hours of taming sessions. With his good-hearted nature and beautiful colours and patterns, Sirius would make a fine pet for any reptile-loving family.
Ideal home: Sirius will require a large enclosure. As these snakes are typically nocturnal, a hiding area should be provided. His new home must include a water bowl and a protected heat bulb or heat mat. Reptiles are ectotherms; they acquire thermal energy from the environment. A thermometer must be used to check that the temperature is at 25 degrees and he must be fed a large thawed rat every two weeks.

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

Golden Retriever/Collie, Boki

Age: 5
Boki’s story: Boki was saved by Miss Mollies Rescue from Romania when he was a puppy. He was run over by a car and left on the side of the road when the rescue found him. He has since made a full recovery and is now looking for a permanent home.
Temperament: When he first arrived at the rescue, he was quite a nervous pooch and didn’t like to interact with people. But after years of TLC, he has blossomed into a sociable pet and is ready to find his forever family. He is clean, non-destructive and a gentle soul – perfect for a family with children.
Ideal home: Boki needs a home that already accommodates a canine to be his companion and somewhere with a regular routine in a quiet area.

To find out more about Boki and the adoption process, you can visit Miss Mollies Rescue‘s website by clicking here or call them on 07585 324172.

Kitten, Rosie – FOSTERED

Age: 10 months
Rosie’s story: Celia, who owns Harrogate Cat Rescue, found Rosie abandoned on the street with her kittens after their carer died. So, she took them into foster care, but noticed that Rosie’s breathing was louder than usual. After taking three doses of prescribed antibiotics with no improvement, she returned her to the vet. She was diagnosed with Laryngeal Hemiplegia, a disease which causes paralysis of the voice box (larynx). This is rare in cats and usually affects horses. Her illness has now lead to lung inflammation. She is currently taking steroids to reduce the inflammation. She now needs a long-term foster home and Harrogate Cat Rescue will cover her veterinary treatments.
Temperament: Rosie is the most sweet-tempered, affectionate girl who loves human company. She is very family-friendly and would make a wonderful companion. She still has a full life ahead of her and is looking for some tender, love and care.
Ideal home: She is after a long-term foster family (rather than adoptive) and all she needs is dust-free cat litter, as dust exacerbates her noisy breathing.

To find out more about  Rosie and the foster process, you can visit Harrogate Cat Rescue‘s website by clicking here or call Celia on 07305 332961.

The Stray Pets Rescue Club currently works with four different rescues on its monthly profiles; K’rescue Knaresborough, Miss Mollies Rescue, Saving Yorkshire Dogs and Harrogate Cat Rescue.