Just like all of you pet owners out there, being a vet and a pet owner you will understand when I say that I want to be the type of owner that when I look into Ruff’s adoring eyes he is expecting me to be. Our dogs have no expectations of us at all and this is what drives us to be the best owners we possibly can – we will never reach our own high standards as our love for them transcends all our understanding.
Ruff is the first ‘person’ I speak to and greet in the morning (I always leave a sleeping household) to prioritise Ruff’s walk and breakfast before prioritising anything else in my day.
We go out regardless of the weather or darkness – although he always cuts our walk short when it is raining!!
So with all of this in mind, when it came time to planning our annual family holiday, we could not possibly organise it for ourselves – we planned it to take Ruff to the seaside. We visited the beautiful beaches and coastlines of Cornwall for our half term break. He just adored the freedom of running on the beach making friends with anyone he came across – dog or human, and everyone loved him. The joy you feel on holiday with your pets who are enjoying themselves is immense.
Cornwall seems more geared to the dog visitors than to the owners with certain beaches and restaurants catering more for pets than owners!
The Padstow museum is free to visit (donations only) and offers a wonderful insight into the early days of the town. One photo in particular caught my eye. It was a photo of families enjoying themselves on the same beaches we visited but in the 1890’s, and it was evident how even then, our dogs formed such a large part of our lives. The dogs were included in the photos and just like Ruff, they were also included in the family holiday!
Another display that caught my eye in the museum was that of a sign saying ‘Spratt’s Ovals’. These were in fact the very first processed dog biscuits ever made that started the dog food mania that we have today where we are brainwashed into believing (as vets and as pet owners) that only the large corporates know how to feed our pets correctly!

Breta the ‘Wonderdog’ who survived cancer
Breta the Labrador is now way past all predictions of healthy survival with her cancer and she is still going strong!
Cymro the Corgi is Cured!
“Honestly, the last month has been bliss for him and us with no tummy upset and I thank you so much for that”
Vegan Vets continue to INSPIRE
Meet inspiring vegan vets Dr Sarah Dodd from Vivus Pets and Dr Lucy McKinna from Noochy Poochy
Transitioning from Bella & Duke to a vegan diet
Princess the ShihTzu transitioned from raw to a homemade vegan diet with spectacular results for her skin and overall health!
Lilabelle has a fish allergy
Lilabelle is a tiny teacup Maltese who has suffered from ulcerated ear canals due to an allergy to fish!
Why we should NOT be eating chickens
From the bioaccumulation of heavy metals when chicken are fed fishmeal; to the continued devastation of Avian Flu to people and wild birds…we should not be eating chickens
Why Just be Kind?
“There’s no such things as a small act of kindness. Every act creates a ripple with no logical end”
An enormously inspiring live webinar
“Be brave enough to live the life of your dreams according to your vision and purpose, instead of the expectations and opinions of others”
Stranded dolphins’ brains show signs of Alzheimer’s
More proof as to why we should NOT be eating fish or feeding it to our pets! Yet again, even more reason to only eat plant-based natural pure foods.
Latest Vegan Dog Food Published Studies Are Positive
“There was no overwhelming evidence of adverse effects arising from use of vegan pet food and there was some evidence of benefits”
Vet Students Learn About Sustainable Pet Food!
What a privilege to speak to vet students at Nottingham Vet School this week and teach them all about a topic that they knew nothing about
Rufus has stopped chewing his feet
“Solo Vegetal seemed to be the only food that controls his constant chewing and licking of his feet”