ROBERT DALY Politicians should read the Blue Cross Manifesto
Amid the rancour, animal welfare would appear to be a forgotten issue on the hustings, but every prospective candidate would do well knowing the power of animal lovers' votes.
Almost half of UK households, 46 per cent of homes, own at least one of the nation's 10.5 million dogs, 10.3 million cats and 988,000 horses.
The huge national menagerie of budgies, bunnies, guinea pigs and fish bolster the number of pets to 65 million.
Yet despite our proud assertion that we are a country of animal lovers, many welfare issues abound, ranging from the illegal importation of poorly bred puppies to the way too many pet owners still neglect their responsibilities in an age when, in particular, dog control legislation is such a hotchpotch.
Against this background, Blue Cross, the charity that has been caring for sick, injured and homeless animals since 1897, has produced its Manifesto for Pets.
It is a document that candidates of all political persuasions standing on May 7 should read and heed.
The 12-page document indicates that for all the progress made over the past decade, particularly the Animal Welfare Act 2006, there is still plenty for the next government to do to ensure our pets get the care they deserve in a modern society.
As Steve Goody, deputy chief executive at Blue Cross, told me: "We hope that politicians will take action on the issues we raise in our Manifesto for Pets.
"Demand for our services continues to increase and more and more pets face an uncertain future.
"We will need the elected government to do more to make sure the nation's pets are happy and healthy."
Among key issues highlighted by the Blue Cross are:
With an increasing number of poorly bred puppies being imported from Europe, many crammed into cages in vans without proper access to food or water, there are serious health fears. Many under-age dogs cannot be properly vaccinated from diseases such as rabies.
Blue Cross wants enforcement improved, particularly at ports, with every "passported" animal being properly checked.
Dog breeding laws are outdated and non-existent for other animals, leaving charities to home an increasing number of strays and abandoned pets.
Blue Cross wants a full and proper review of pet breeding legislation to ensure health and welfare are prioritised over profit.
As many people now turn to the internet to find pets, a whole new range of welfare issues have come to light.
Blue Cross and other organisations have worked hard through the Pet Advertising Advisory Group with government support to set standards for online advertisers but more effort is needed to see others follow suit.
Blue Cross would like to see a UK-wide ban on the use of electronic shock collars and other aversive training methods.
Charities are vital to rehome and rehabilitate unwanted animals but there are problems with well-meaning individuals becoming overwhelmed and left struggling.
Blue Cross wants regulation of sanctuaries and rehoming organisations.
Blue Cross invests considerable resources teaching young people about animal welfare and staying safe around dogs.
It feels these lessons are life skills and should be taught in schools as part of the national curriculum.
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DEADLINE day is fast approaching for the Petplan Animal Charity Awards.
The closing date for nominations is February 13.
Last year Ann Knowles was the Animal Charity Volunteer winner and declared the Florence Nightingale for felines through her unstinting work providing shelter for cats over the past six decades.
Her passion is so infectious her grown-up children now help to run the Katz Castle shelter and Ann is encouraging the nation to nominate hardworking animal charity volunteers for the 2015 awards at petplan.co.uk/charityawards.
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WITH A fiery breast yet a thin-on-top head more in keeping with a coot, Baldy the Robin certainly lives up to his nickname.
He is the much-loved garden favourite of Dee and Peter Sims, bringing a dash of colour in a season of winter greyness.
Baldy is such a character that he willingly alights on the hand to take his fill of juicy mealworms, perfect food to provide energy for birds when temperatures plunge and creepy-crawlies are thin on the ground.
When Dee sent me a photograph of Baldy feeding from the hand at her garden in Ruislip, Middlesex, it left one question open and another hoary chestnut, answered.
Dee wanted to know how Baldy had lost his head feathers.
As she explained: "During the breeding season, as we open the patio door blinds, he appears and usually sits on the door handle awaiting his breakfast.
"My husband made a mesh-covered box in which he puts a saucer of mealworms for the garden birds to access, but Baldy only uses it if we are out as he knows if we hand feed him he is at the front of the queue.
"Baldy's feather loss was not quite as bad last year. We noticed he was losing his head feathers when he returned to our garden after he and his mate had raised two broods of baby robins during the spring.
"By August, he looked as though his feathers on his head had started to grow and he had a light feathery down and then he went off for the winter.
"We certainly recognised him when he arrived back at the patio door last week but now he has lost all his head feathers."
So what is the reason for Baldy's missing feathers? Birds can lose feathers through stress but the extent of his lost plumage means that tiny parasites are the likeliest culprits.
It seems as if they have damaged the skin so badly that Baldy is not growing new feathers when he goes through his annual body moult.
Reading Dee's account of Baldy's antics helped put me right on a long-held thought.
I am always dubious when people say the same robin keeps returning to a garden year-after-year.
Robins are short-lived creatures with little more than two-year life spans.
Referring to the British Trust for Ornithology's excellent BirdFacts online resource (bto.org/birdfacts) I discovered the longest-lived robin made it to eight years, four months and 30 days.
Let's wish Baldy many happy returns.
For details of how to care for wild birds visit the CJ WildBird Foods website at birdfood.co.uk/SE or you can call 0800 731 2820 for a free Catalogue Of Garden Wildlife.
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