Have ferret will travel

FERRETS, cats and dogs will qualify for new and improved ‘passports’ from January 2012.  Britain is to adopt in full the EU pet movement system which makes it easier and cheaper for people to travel with their pets while maintaining controls against the spread of rabies.  Microchips inserted in the animals’ flesh take the place of paper documents.

Pets travelling to and from EU countries, as well as Australia, Japan and the USA, will only have to wait 21 days after vaccination instead of 6 months as at present. Blood tests will no longer be required.  Animals coming from ‘unlisted’ countries such as China and India will not have to undergo compulsory quarantine, but must be vaccinated against rabies 4 months before travel and be blood tested.

The Government says that hundreds of thousands of animals have been moved since the EU scheme was introduced in 2003 without one single case of rabies being associated with them.

The North West Liberal Democrat Euro-MP, Chris Davies, worked on the ‘Pet Passports’ legislation when it was first introduced, and said that it was based on developing practice in Britain with only minor differences.  But he explained that ferrets had presented a particular problem.

“MEPs were unsure whether to allow ferrets to have a passport because the results of blood tests weren’t certain in the case of kittens and ferrets. Eventually we were persuaded that the risks were so small as to be negligible.  So have ferret, will travel!”

Leave the meter running

LANCASHIRE Euro MP Brian Simpson has added his voice to the growing campaign to crackdown on "car clocking", the practice of rolling back a car's mileage counter to deceive buyers.  In a letter to leading policy-makers, Mr Simpson called for the EU to put an end to this practice by looking at how an innovative not-for-profit system for mileage-tracking is working in other European countries.

In Belgium and the Netherlands it is compulsory for used cars to be sold with a "Car Pass", which has seen car clocking reduced dramatically. The small document costs around £5 and has mileage readings for the vehicle at various dates in its history, alongside make, model and chassis number.

Speaking about the letter, Labour's Mr Simpson, who sits as Chair of the European Parliament's Transport Committee, said:- "A car retailer can get a vehicle's mileage lowered for just £40 from one of dozens of online companies and fraudulently increase its value by hundreds of pounds".

A recent report by The Office of Fair Trading estimates that in the UK one out of every 39 cars taking an MoT test has had their mileage altered or "clocked" to show a lower figure, with a cost to car buyers of more than £500m a year in inflated prices.

"Mileage fraud cannot be allowed to continue. A new system for the UK, replicating the successful model in other EU countries, would be good news for cars buyers who are currently being ripped-off, good news for the many reputable car retailers and good news for road safety", added Mr Simpson.

At the moment, car shoppers wanting to know more about the mileage of a used car are forced to search the Government's Directgov website for a back catalogue of MoT information.  Whilst the website offers a great service, mileage and other key information must be offered up front by the retailer.

Ladies Charity Night at Skylounge

THE count down is on and soon our Editor will be a bit lighter as he will be waxed on the night! Anyway not to put you off going the night will be full of fun things to see and do, with 2 male strippers, a drag act, male auction (dates included), and raffle as just a few of the things going on... This night will be fun for ladies of all ages... The event is on 22 July 2011 and is a ticket only event. Doors open from 7:30pm with the event running from 8pm to 11pm. then the club opens as normal, but the Ladies Night will go on in the Skylounge, in Southport.  To get tickets simply call or txt:- 07814218759. Tickets are just £10 each. All money goes to Sharde Green Maternity Unit's Baby Beet Appeal.

PETA LAUNCHES 'EUROPE'S SEXIEST VEGETARIAN' CONTEST FOR 2011

WHAT do Jay McGuiness and Eliza Doolittle have in common? They are the reigning king and queen of PETA's wildly popular Sexiest Vegetarian Celebrity contest. But it's not just famous folk making vegetarianism look so good. People all over the world are making the compassionate choice to leave meat off their plates. That's why PETA is once again running a contest for cuties other than the rich and famous – Europe's Sexiest Vegetarian contest.

"Vegans and vegetarians care about animals and the future of our planet, and they feel better and look better – and that makes them sexier. After all, who wouldn't want to cuddle with someone who radiates both passion and compassion?", says PETA's Abi Izzard.

Why are more people going vegetarian? For one thing, vegetarians are, on average, fitter and trimmer than meat-eaters are, so the best thing that people can do to be buff and beautiful is to dump meat from their diets. Also, the consumption of meat and other animal products has been conclusively linked to heart disease, diabetes and cancer. Going vegetarian is good for the planet as well: a recent UN study concluded that a global shift towards a vegetarian diet is required to reduce the worst effects of climate change. And, of course, meat is murder on animals.

Entrants must reside in Europe, be vegan or vegetarian and be at least 18 years old. After the entry round ends on 12 August, PETA staff will choose eight male and eight female finalists. The finalists' photos and bios will be posted on PETA.org.uk. People can vote for their favourite contestants before PETA chooses two winners – one male and one female – based on their popularity with voters, their commitment to the animal cause, and of course, how hot they are! Winners will be notified and their names announced on 24 September. Each will win a bundle of prizes from some of the UK's ethical companies, such as the Throw Company, Vintage Roots, The Redwood Wholefood Company, Bulldog and Bourgeois Bohème.

For details and to enter the contest, please visit:- PETA.org.uk.

Letters to the Editor:- "Charity Fun Day - Saturday 30 July 2011"

"My Name is Carla and along with my sister in law Kerri we are holding a Charity Fun Day to raise money for the Liverpool Women's Newborn Appeal, the Charity uses all money raised to help buy new equipment for the Liverpool Women's Neonatal Unit. Liverpool Women’s is a recognised centre of excellence for neonatal care. The Unit provids care for babies born prematurely, with low weight or who have a medical condition that requires specialist treatment it is also part of the Cheshire and Merseyside Neonatal Network. The Unit takes care of more than 1,000 babies and their families every year from the Isle of Man, North Wales and other areas of the country. My self and Kerri both have first hand experience of the Neonatal unit on 9 January 2009, where I gave birth to my son Connor. He was born at 26 weeks gestation and was extremely poorly. He had to be rushed to the Neonatal Incentive Unit, where he was stabilised and grew for 10 weeks. Sadly he tragically and unexpectedly sadly passed away on 19 March 2009. Everything seemed fine when I rang the hospital to check on him before bed at 10pm, but then I had a call at 12am asking me to come in as he didn't seem to well. By the time I had got to the hospital he had passed away, when 3 days later Kerri gave birth to her son Max. Max was 36 weeks gestation and had alot of unknown genetic problems and was also taken to the neonatal incentive care unit. If Connor would of been alive they would of been 2 cousins in incubators next to each other. Max lived for 5 weeks before he sadly passed away in his mothers arms. So in honour of our son's and to help the Newborn Appeal, we are both holding a Charity Fun Day on Saturady 30 July 2011. We have had some very generous donations for our auction and raffle prizes, to name a few:- Tracey Bell,Mococo, Azendi, Alton Towers, www.treatme.net, Liverpool Football Club, Everton Football Club and many more. We have been given a bouncy castle and the fire service is coming with a fire engine. We will also have a guide dog, live bands, face painting and much more. Please help us to raise cash for this Unit as is such a good cause by donating prizes." Carla O'Callaghan.