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It's getting towards that time of year again, so our canine correspondent John Verity offers a timely reminder about pets and fireworks...

 

I know that Bonfire Night, Christmas and New Years Eve seem to be a long way away, but now is the time to prepare yourself and your pets for the forthcoming period of the year when countless fireworks are discharged. Again this year November the 5th occurs mid week so we can expect a week or two of loud explosions that could send my four dogs into a state of panic unless I take action now. So how can we cope with fearful dogs and other pets?

Ideally we should take our animals to a distant corner of the countryside where they are away from the noise altogether but of course that is not possible.

So we have to make preparations now.

First consult your vet and seek their advise on the best method of calming down the dog.

On the market there are CD's of fireworks that can get the animal used to the sound before the real fireworks start. Ask your vet about a DAP diffuser that emits a Dog Appeasing Pheromone, similar to the scent of a lactating bitch. Don't worry we cannot smell it but the dogs can and the scent can have a calming effect on the dogs. For those who prefer the natural remedies a product called Valerian is available from www.dorwest.com. this has the similar effect of a DAP diffuser. Some dogs may get the calming effect from a method of massage called the Tellington T Touch which uses a technique that helps a dog overcome a variety of health and behaviour problems by specific movements. More information on this T Touch is available on www.ttouchteam.co.uk.

Another method that works with my dogs is the use of a radio. Try Classic FM as this appears to be the most calming radio station and is used in the kennels of Hearing Dogs for Deaf People.

I have not mentioned our other pets. Cats should be kept indoors during the hours of darkness and other furry friends kept in a quiet area of the house and the radio can be used to calm them down.

One last word. Keep calm yourself. Do not let the animals see that you are nervous as that will cause them to pick up that signal. Do not leave the animals alone in the house if they are nervous of the explosions and if you are having a firework party let your neighbours with pets know so that they can take extra precautions to avoid their pets becoming nervous and agitated.

John and Pauline Verity are still over the moon after their 4 year old Border Collie Wisp beat all comers at the British Agility Association Grand 2009 finals held at Ashfordby in Leicstershire to become British Clever Dogs Champion 2009.

The sport of Clever Dogs has been around in the United Kingdom for about 10 years and consists of the dogs having to complete an agility course and then run up a line of small hurdles, collect a tennis ball from a spring loaded box and then return to the handler. Dogs compete against each other in a knockout type of competition for the Grand Final and it is the winner of the best of three heats that goes through to the next round.

 

Wisp in action

John and Pauline have been training agility dogs for about 10 years and have previous successes with the now retired 15 year old Smudge who won the Clever Dogs Champion title in 2001 as well as successes in dog agility competitions up to 2006.

As well as Wisp and Smudge, John and Pauline have two other Border Collies. 11 year old Jake is well known at St. Leonards Hospice as a Pets As Therapy dog and 2 year Oscar is not only in training to become an agility dog but also is training to become a sheep herding dog.

All John and Pauline's dogs are re-homed dogs who have been given a second chance.

On a cold January day with real winter weather, the palace gatehouse shines in the declining winter sun, and its good to see that the doors are open to give us the view that helps to make Bishopthorpe special.

For those readers with a few quid squirreled away, if its in a British institution - bank, building society, assurance company etc. - you can check the exact details of the new Financial Services Compensation Scheme rates here.

The Parish Council have for over a year been trying to get details of overall traffic plans and associated surveys associated with the Terrys Development with no success.  We have no general problem with the overall plans for the site but do not believe enough effort or thought has gone into the related traffic issues.

 

We believe the last survey of traffic travelling through Bishopthorpe was several years ago and conducted in August when the schools and subsequently people are generally on holiday.

 

I would like to thank the Micklegate Ward Councillors for arranging a public meeting with the developers on 2 July at the Racecourse. Our own Councillor John Galvin was also at the meeting but as he is on the Planning Committee is unable to contribute to the discussion. However it was most unfortunate that although invited there was no representative from City of York Highways/Transport Department. 

 

This was very disappointing for everyone as all questions raised were about traffic issues. The developers were unable to answer the questions but significantly had not even included Bishopthorpe on the map of their traffic routes to site - perhaps they felt they had to keep their heads down!

 

We felt we were getting nowhere with the traffic survey so the Parish Council has now decided to undertake our own.  This will be from Monday 7 July until Friday 11 July at 7:30 -9:30am and 4:30 - 6:30pm. We will be counting cars travelling to and from Bishopthorpe to York along Bishopthorpe Road.  This will be split between those travelling from Acaster Lane/ Main Street Bishopthorpe and those travelling along Church Lane (probably using Bishopthorpe as a "rat run" to/from the A64).

 

This will give us base line figures so we are able to build on these for the expected traffic to and from the Terrys Development thereby giving the full picture of the expected traffic density.  We are told that there will be well over 2000 new jobs created by this development and obviously this could have a major impact on the traffic flow through Bishopthorpe.

 

Currently, as you are fully aware, Church Lane is very busy as it has the Doctors surgery, the Church and an entrance to the Infant School on what is a narrow lane and if cars are parked 2 way traffic halts.  The junction with Bishopthorpe Road is also very sharp and vehicles are unsighted coming from Main Street.

 

We believe the majority of traffic should be directed to the site along Tadcaster Road, as specified by the developers, but we are unclear how they expect to achieve this objective.  The construction of a specific link road to and from the A64 connecting with Bishopthorpe Road is one solution but we are aware to allow the shops and pubs to flourish in our village some traffic must be allowed and in some instances encouraged to come into Bishopthorpe on race days.

 

Stewart Harrison

Chairman - Bishopthorpe Parish Council

In 1842, The Times gleefully recorded an uncomfortable episcopal episode.  Read all about it - here!

 

Down among the allotments the spring sun is gently warming the soil, gardeners are preparing their vegetable beds, and the rhubarb is almost ready to eat.  Surprisingly, the allotments have a long, varied - and not always peaceful history.  Read about them here.