WUFF JUSTICE

NEW research shows that a 5th of people have fallen out with their neighbours following an argument about their cat or dog.  This means that 4.3million UK households find their neighbour’s pets a constant source of annoyance.

The poll of 3,000 homeowners, conducted by Esure, reveals 37%of Brits have been kept awake at night due to the loud barking of the neighbour’s dog.  16% have complained to the neighbours about the noise of the dog, and 7% have been so aggravated they phoned the RSPCA or police.

The nation’s pooches are also responsible for scaring 12% of children, who are terrified to walk out of their front door in case they come face to face with next door’s dog.  As a result, 6% of homeowners claim to have reported the offending pet to the police after fearing for their family’s safety.  And 11% of dogs have been blamed for chewing up plants, toys and garden possessions.

Mike Pickard, Head of esure pet insurance, which carried out the poll said:- “Unruly pets can turn a peaceful neighbourhood into a battleground and a garden fence into the frontline.  With pets causing so much friction between neighbours up and down the country due to their bad habits and behaviour, it’s every pet owner’s responsibility to make sure they’re well-trained and controlled so as not to cause a nuisance.”

But dogs aren’t the only offending pets, as neighbouring cats also cause problems for homeowners.  A 3rd of people have returned home to find next-door’s cat sleeping happily in their house, after getting in through their cat flap or open window.  Cats are also guilty of digging up 9% of the nation’s gardens, simply to go to the toilet.  In fact, 1 in 10 people have had an argument with the neighbours over trespassing pets.

Homeowners also can’t stand cats howling or whine at each other, fighting with other cats, or wandering round like they own the place.  And 12% of people get infuriated when the neighbour’s cat brings dead animals into their home or garden as ‘gifts’.  Cats also get the blame for scratching car roofs, bonnets, fence posts and garden furniture.

9% of homeowners admit they are at the end of their tether, and are considering moving to escape the neighbour’s pets.  But 4 in 10 people wouldn’t move into another house with neighbouring pets.

Mike Pickard continued:- ““All pets have the power to be destructive and cause damage to someone’s property or belongings.  By buying pet insurance, owners have added peace of mind that they have accidental damage cover to potentially pay the cost of the repairs if their pet damages someone else’s personal property.”

TOP 10 PET ANNOYANCES

1.  Barking dogs
2.  Cats or dogs fowling in the garden
3.  Cats or dogs howling in the night
4.  Aggressive dogs
5.  Cats fighting
6.  Bad smell of dirty pets
7.  Whining cats
8.  Cats bringing dead animals into the house or garden
9.  Trespassing cats and dogs
10. Damage to property

Let us know what your views are on this topic by emailing our news room to:- news24@southportreporter.com.

Revealed:- Britain’s Most Heroic Face

SQUARE forehead, magnetic eyes and a Roman nose – the makings of a hero is all in the face, according to a unique new study released by Wood’s 100 Old Navy Rum. And, to test the theory, it has created a composite image of the “ultimate heroic face”.

The campaign marks over 150 years of the historical drink – celebrating its strong naval heritage and examining the ever-changing roles of men and what makes a hero in today’s society.

It comes on the back of new research from Wood’s 100, revealing that we consider the army and navy to be society’s most heroic people (41%), followed by doctors and paramedics (25%), and the police and fire services (23%). Perhaps unsurprisingly, ‘politicians’ came bottom of the list with just 1% of votes!

Now, the results have inspired the search for the UK’s most heroic male face, and, working with Naomi Tickle – a leading international personologist and face reader – Wood’s 100 has identified the key facial characteristics that epitomise heroism.  The heroic traits, which include magnetic eyes, square chin and a Roman nose, were applied to famous actors, sportsmen and entrepreneurs – all well known for either portraying heroes, or achieving great things – and a composite image was created.

Gemma Adams from Wood’s 100, said:- “We all have different ideas of who our heroes are and what qualities a man needs in order to be heroic. But, as part of our study into what values makes a man heroic today, we thought it would be fascinating to actually see what that face could look like. We involved Naomi to put a bit of science behind the search, but at the same time realise there is an element of fun to our research – at the end of the day, you can still be heroic, no matter what your face shape.”

Naomi Tickle, author of ‘You Can Read a Face Like a Book’, said:- “The relationship between the physical facial structure and personality has been well researched since the 1920's. Heroic people trend to share the same personality traits, and these are clearly represented in the face. As we all know, a strong jaw line or steely eyes can give someone an air of immediate gravitas, but there are also less obvious traits, such as wide set eyes.”

The Report:- Heroic Facial Qualities

Based on top ‘heroic facial traits’ identified in the Wood’s 100 research and by Naomi.

Charm - The more sparkling and magnetic the eyes, the more charming. Add low set eyebrows to this, and you have someone who can immediately win people over. It sets up an immediate rapport with the person they are interacting with.

Tenacity/determination - The protruding chin. If it is also square at the end, these individuals never give up and they fight to the end. The square chin is often seen in people who are good in mediation.

Selflessness - An oval forehead and a Roman nose, mean they go the extra mile for people, often putting others before themselves and their family.

Leadership/competitiveness – Individuals with this trait are typically highly competitive, and can take their ideas forward. The head is much wider at the back. Football and rugby players all have this shape head. They are the movers and shakers.

Big picture/strategy – represented by wide set eyes – these people look at the big picture and can take on many projects at once.

Generosity - a full lower lip indicates generosity. Individuals with this trait give of themselves, time and money.