Veterinary technician poisons her cocker spaniel for attention

Bretman appears at court
Georgina Bretman
Munchausen syndrome by proxy is a form of abuse where the caregiver delibrately makes the recipient ill in order to gain sympathy and attention from others. The recipient in this case is a cocker spaniel named Florence. Georgina Bretman was convicted of causing unecessary suffering to Florence–the first case of its kind in Scotland. In 2011, Florence recieved emergency care several times for vomiting and seizures. Veterinarian Lesley Herd became suspicious. “Because of the pattern of collapse and low blood glucose on each occasion, and the fact that the dog was normal between episodes, I was suspicious insulin had been administered to the dog.”

cocker spaniel named Florence
Florence: Bretman’s cocker spaniel

The fact Bretman is a veterinary technician is deeply troubling. She happended to work in the same clinic with Herd. Bretman was fired from her position. Florence was rehomed and is doing well. Bretman returns to court for sentencing this month.

Feeding better quality chicken

I’ve been buying our store’s brand chicken for years until now. Our store began carrying an “all natural” brand. The meat is better quality and not as fat. It also has a healthier pink color. Leaner meat means faster preparation times because there’s less fat to remove.

The all natural brand also uses smaller chickens (smaller bones): Now I can prepare drumsticks since they’re small enough to grind. These all natural drumsticks take half the preparation time compared to thighs since there’s hardly any fat to remove. I end up with smaller portions but supplement with chicken gizzards.

all natural chicken
All natural chicken
store brand chicken
Meijer’s brand chicken

Not all dog trainers show compassion

Picture of Margaret Greaves
Margaret Greaves: winner at Crufts 2014 (credit: SWNS)

Margaret Greaves, a highly respected dog trainer and winner at Crufts, 2014, was recently convicted of animal suffering and neglect. Three of her dogs were so neglected they were euthanized by a tearful veterinarian.

A cocker spaniel ‘with faeces dangling from his coat’ had a ‘depressed demeanour’ and was ‘shoved in a corner almost forgotten’

Greaves recent sentence includes a 3-year banned from having or caring for dogs. Her 12 week jail sentence was suspended.

Caged dog
Former Crufts winner provides squalid living conditions (credit: SWNS)

We saw a deer

I took Hoshi for a walk during my wife’s doctor’s appointment. I saw a fawn by the tree line and it saw us and hid. It’s legs were wobbly. Maybe it was a newborn. I picked up Hoshi so he could see better and we walked closer. Then we heard large branches breaking along the tree line. A huge doe jumped out, looked at us, then bolted towards the street! I saw her run along the road and disappear.

I don’t know why she ran towards the street instead of going deeper into the woods. We were a good distance from the tree line when it happened. I didn’t mean to scare her and I hope she’s okay. Hoshi became excited when he found her scent by the road and started tracking her path. I took a video of Hoshi with my phone but had all sorts of problems.