Latest news with #LaurenBennett
BBC News
21-06-2025
- Climate
- BBC News
RSPCA warns animal owners of 'huge risks' of heatwave
Animal welfare experts have reminded pet owners and farmers about the "huge risks" high temperatures pose to RSPCA said owners should learn how to keep their four-legged friends safe during the ongoing heatwave across Devon and charity reminded farmers pigs are susceptible to heat stress as they cannot easily cool down on their own, as are newly shorn sheep as they do not have fleeces to insulate them against the Bennett, RSPCA scientific and policy officer, said all animals needed shade and clean water in high temperatures and "taking the time now to identify how you can reduce your animal's risk, could just save their life". Ms Bennett said: "Sadly, while vets are seeing a surge in cases, some police forces have also reported an increase in officers attending calls about dogs in hot cars. "This can't continue."Ms Bennett said dog owners should check the "feels like" temperature forecast each day, add more water bowls around homes and walk their pets earlier and later in the day when temperatures were also reminded dog owners "if the ground is too hot to touch with your hand for five seconds, it's too hot for paws".She warned owners heatstroke could affect dogs which were older, larger, overweight, double-coated and those with potential breathing issues such as flat-faced breeds. The RSPCA reminded farmers livestock needed plenty of air in high temperatures, so ventilation was key and ideally they would reduce the number of animals in each charity suggested dairy farmers give their cows unlimited amounts of clean drinking water and milk them later in the day when it would be RSPCA said handling and transport put extra stress on animals which made it more difficult for them to cope with the charity advised farmers to avoid moving livestock in hot weather and at night if it was "absolutely necessary".Ms Bennett said owners who suspected their animals were suffering from heat stroke should get them cool as quickly as possible and contact their vet.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Automotive
- Yahoo
5 Mistakes Tesla Owners Make That Could Cost Them
The first quarter of 2025 was kind to most electric vehicle manufacturers, unless your name was Tesla. Some other brands faltered, but the EV industry's biggest player saw its stock dip 44% — according to CNBC — from the previous year prior to announcing its lower-than expected Q1 earnings on April 22. Check Out: For You: In Lauren Bennett's essay for Business Insider, the author talks of the ups and (mainly) downs that come with owning a car that is heavily tech-driven. While Bennett's misgivings are of the nagging tech variety, there are mistakes Tesla owners make that drive up irritating operating costs. Here are five things you need to avoid as a Tesla owner. The battery in your Tesla should last you over 200,000 miles, but it's the one vital part that will cost you almost as much to replace as you paid for the entire car. Taking precautions when charging will keep your battery fresher, longer. For most models, consistently charging to 100% can degrade the battery over time. Tesla recommends an 80% charge unless you're planning a long trip. Additionally, letting the car sit for long periods of time at under 20% and using DC fast charging/Supercharging, all the time will wear on the battery as well. Read Next: Thanks to the informative Vegas Tesla Family channel on YouTube, setting your trunk height could save you from costly mid-trunk scrapes. Why? 'Telsa trunks have a very large openings, which is great until you park in your garage and your trunk opens all the way and hits the top of your garage and leaves a small, little dent or scratch right on the back,' the video's host explained. Setting your trunk's height is simple, but having to get expensive bodywork done for such an annoying reason will be difficult to justify. Technology can be a great selling point in new cars, but many digital functions go underused. Tesla's Sentry Mode feature can drain your battery and cost you hundreds of dollars a year if kept on all the time. However, ignoring its use could cost you a great deal of stress and money, as it's designed to deter potential security threats and can provide evidence in cases of accidents, break-ins or theft. When Sentry Mode is activated, its cameras and sensors stay powered on and prepared to capture any suspicious behavior or danger around your car. In true Tesla style, Musk has predicted unrealistic due dates for Full Self-Driving (FSD) cars without the need for a human behind the wheel for years. Every Telsa comes equipped with the Autopilot safety feature, which includes Traffic-Aware Cruise Control and Autosteer, which is more than enough for the average American Tesla driver. Tesla's Full Self-Driving system isn't autonomous in any way and paying $8,000 for some helpful driving prompts is full self-delusional. According to ID Protection, here are concerns about Tesla using a thinner single-stage paint system and softer water-based paint, which can result in an exterior coat that can deteriorate easier due to tree sap or bird droppings, sun exposure or chips and scratches from everyday driving debris or improper washing techniques. Tesla recommends hand-washing or using a touchless car wash to minimize the chance of paint damage. If you can afford it, protecting your Tesla with paint protection film (PPF), vinyl wrap or ceramic coating will give you piece of mind. Always keep your car out of direct sunlight, clean and wax it regularly and park inside if possible. More From GOBankingRates 6 Hybrid Vehicles To Stay Away From in Retirement Clever Ways To Save Money That Actually Work in 2025 Sources CNBC (Q1 earnings), 'Tesla shares tumble ahead of first-quarter earnings report.' Business Insider, 'I have a love-hate relationship with my Tesla. It's both a brilliant and frustrating car.' Vegas Tesla Family, '10 Mistakes Every New Tesla Owner Makes.' This article originally appeared on 5 Mistakes Tesla Owners Make That Could Cost Them Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
The Guardian
29-04-2025
- Health
- The Guardian
Making a dog's dinner: vets and canine experts on the most eco and affordable ways to feed your pooch
Dog food products labelled 'complete' are legally defined as providing all the nutrients your pets need, in the right proportions. Whereas a product labelled 'complementary' should not be a dog's only source of nutrition, says Lauren Bennett, RSPCA scientific and policy officer, as these 'do not contain all of the required nutrients, may lead to poor nutrition and can cause dietary deficiencies and associated disease, such as metabolic bone disease'. This sounds straightforward – but the price of 'complete' foods varies considerably, and can't be compared simply by cost per kilo, as different brands recommend different portion sizes. Comparing the daily cost of feeding a 5kg adult toy poodle, a clearer picture emerges. Wet dog food is usually the most expensive 'complete' option. Buying six meaty 400g tins of Pedigree Chum worked out at £1.05 a day, while a Butternut Box subscription of 'gently cooked, never ultra-processed' pouches of meaty dog food 'taste-tested by humans' came to a whopping £2.02 a day. Comparing the daily cost of feeding the same poodle from 2kg bags of dry food, we found vegan options were a little cheaper, with Wilsons Vegan Premium Cold Pressed Dog Food at 82p a day, followed by Hownd Plant Powered Superfood at 69p. Wainwright's Insects With Superfoods came in at 67p a day, but the standard non-vegan kibble was the most affordable, with Wagg Meaty Goodness dry food at 21p, and Pets at Home Complete Nutrition dry food with chicken 22p. More expensive dog food may have additional ingredients, such as fatty acids which can help with skin and coat health. However, 'premium' brands may also seek to use less grains and cereals, unsustainably increasing the total meat content – with no evidence, according to the British Veterinary Association (BVA), that this benefits animal health and welfare. Using fresh ingredients in wet food can also increase the carbon footprint, if it needs to be transported and kept frozen. 'There may be very good reasons why you choose a higher-cost food, but that doesn't mean it's necessarily healthier than another dog food,' says BVA senior vice president, Dr Anna Judson, a practising vet. 'Nobody should feel guilty about choosing cheaper 'complete' options. Buy what you can afford.' If you want individual advice for your dog, she recommends speaking to your vet or veterinary nurse. We associate ultra-processed foods with having a lower nutritional value, but this isn't the case for processed dog foods that are labelled 'complete'. Despite this, unprocessed, organic and raw dog foods are becoming increasingly popular. Caroline Griffith, canine nutrition consultant, thinks cooking 'fresh whole foods' in recipes tailored for dogs is the healthiest way to feed them – and, she says, it costs less money and reduces packaging waste compared to buying dog food from retailers. 'If you can be savvy and make homemade, lightly cooked dog food, that's going to be a very economical way to feed your dog.' Dogs have stronger stomach acid than humans, she says, so the meat you cook for dogs needs to be 'just browned off' to the point where it has lost its 'original raw colouring. Think rare or medium rare steak'. She also recommends feeding dogs with raw meaty bones from specialist pet food suppliers, as long as they are 'safely sold' and have been frozen for several weeks to mitigate the bacteria and parasitic risks of these products: 'Then you defrost it in the [dog's] bowl so you don't have to touch it,' she says. Again, these products will need to be transported while frozen, raising their carbon footprint. The BVA also has concerns about the potential disease risks that raw dog food poses to both dogs and humans. 'We would always say: talk to your vet first,' says Judson. Creating a homemade, nutritionally balanced diet for your dog can be 'really tricky' and 'time consuming'. She recommends getting advice from a certified veterinary nutritionist from the European College of Veterinary and Comparative Nutrition or the American College of Veterinary Internal Medicine before you start. 'It needs to be done with a lot of research and very carefully to get it right – and for many pet owners, that will be more complex than time permits,' says Judson. 'Weighing portions accurately reduces waste,' says Judson. 'This makes any product more sustainable, and it also helps to keep your dog at a healthy weight,' she says. A 2018 study found up to 65% of UK dogs are overweight or obese. It is particularly important to consider your dog's weight if you feed your dog leftovers. Bennett points out that human foods are often high in fat and salt, and so may not be suitable for dogs. 'Additionally, the digestive tract of a dog differs from people, meaning that leftovers can cause digestive problems such as vomiting, diarrhoea, pancreatitis and in some cases, can be highly toxic and fatal,' she says. 'Foods to avoid include anything from the onion family, chocolate, macadamia nuts, avocado, xylitol, grapes and raisins.' Judson advises against giving a dog more than 10% of their overall calorific intake in leftovers and treats. Avoiding meat and dairy products is one of the best ways to reduce your environmental impact, and there is an ever-growing range of vegan dog food options. Dogs do not have to be carnivores and it is possible to feed them an eco-friendly, plant-based diet. But because these products haven't been around long, Judson offers a word of caution: 'The lack of robust long-term data about their safety means owners should definitely monitor their dog's health for long-term impact.' Research also suggests insect production at a large scale for animal feed is more environmentally friendly than conventional livestock production. Dog food made with insects as an alternative protein launched in the UK in 2019. There is promising evidence that dogs fed this diet suffer no adverse short-term health effects, but more long-term studies are needed and, Judson says: 'We've got to think about the welfare of insects that have been farmed.' Meanwhile, last summer, the UK became the first country in Europe to back cultivated meat for use in pet food and in February, a limited release of Chick Bites – a dog treat made from lab-grown meat – went on sale at Pets at Home in Brentford. Among meat-based dog foods, research suggests kibble is more sustainable than wet dog food. In 2022, researchers found wet pet food results in eight times more climate-heating emissions than dry pet food.
