Latest news with #Ruyter
The Citizen
24-06-2025
- The Citizen
Dogs poisoned in Faerie Glen, CPF urges pet safety protocols
The Garsfontein CPF is calling on residents in the east of Pretoria to keep their pets safe. The policing forum also urged pet owners to enrol their furry friends in obedience training to help prevent them from accepting food from strangers. The call comes after a dog was recently killed, while another is in critical condition. The two Yorkies had allegedly been poisoned in an incident on Panbult Street in Faerie Glen on Monday night. Garsfontein CPF chairperson Aris Ruyter said two small dogs were poisoned. 'One of the dogs unfortunately died, the other is being treated at the vet,' Ruyter said. He said after the CPF spoke to the owner, at this stage, no definitive modus operandi or time of when the poison/bait was placed in the front garden can be determined. Ruyter said the thieves normally poison dogs at yards or properties that have motorbikes to gain entry and steal. 'They usually put the poison on steak or other bits of meat they know the dogs will eat.' He said residents need to familiarise themselves with life-saving measures they can take to protect their pets if poisoned. What to do if you suspect your dog has been poisoned: – Act immediately, time is critical. – Do not wait for symptoms to worsen (vomiting, excessive drooling, trembling, diarrhoea, weakness or seizures). – Rush your dog to the nearest vet or emergency animal clinic as fast as possible. – If safe to do so, take a sample or photo of any suspicious food or bait found on your property, but do not handle it with your bare hands. – Inform your vet of what was possibly ingested and provide context. – Report the incident to your local CPF, SAPS, and security provider, ASAP. Safety advice for residents: – Inspect your property daily, especially gardens, entrances, and gates, for anything unusual. – Install or check street-facing security cameras and motion lights, which deter criminals. – Share footage if you notice suspicious behaviour, people loitering, bending near gates, throwing objects over fences, etc. – Don't leave food or treats outside, it can mask or attract poison bait. – Talk to your neighbours, especially if you have had disagreements. Many past cases in Pretoria east have been traced back to neighbours' disputes or retaliatory actions, not necessarily recurring threats. -While most perpetrators do not return, do not let your guard down. Maintain vigilance and report anything suspicious immediately. Do you have more information about the story? Please send us an email to bennittb@ or phone us on 083 625 4114. For free breaking and community news, visit Rekord's websites: Rekord East For more news and interesting articles, like Rekord on Facebook, follow us on Twitter or Instagram or TikTok. At Caxton, we employ humans to generate daily fresh news, not AI intervention. Happy reading! Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App Stay in the know. Download the Caxton Local News Network App here
BBC News
27-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Kent Wildlife Trust vaccinates cows amid bluetongue risk
Warmer winters could cause a rise in bluetongue cases and potentially devastating losses of cattle and sheep without preventative measures, a wildlife group has Wildlife Trust said it would be vaccinating its livestock to combat the disease over fears high mortality rates could harm animals and threaten grazing and conservation Ruyter, who leads the trust's grazing programme, said vaccinations were a "necessary step to protect our animals".Kent and the South Coast remains in a bluetongue restricted zone set by the Department for the Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra) with more than a dozen cases in the county since August 2024. Ms Ruyter added: "Sadly, the warmer winters have created a route into the UK for this disease, and vaccinating against bluetongue is a necessary step to protect our animals and continue our mission of preserving biodiversity across Kent."By taking this proactive approach, Kent Wildlife Trust aims to ensure the long-term sustainability of its conservation grazing projects."Protecting livestock from bluetongue will not only safeguard the trust's financial stability, but also maintain its ability to manage important habitats effectively."A trust spokesperson said vaccinations would cost "several thousand pounds".Bluetongue is carried by midges and is spread by the insects biting cattle and sheep, as well as goats, deer and other animals such as llamas and include fever, mouth ulcers and lameness, but does not affect humans or food trust uses a range of breeds of cattle and sheep across Kent to help maintain biodiversity in some of the county's Sites of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI).
Yahoo
30-03-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Sheep replace cows at site to boost biodiversity
A scheme has been announced to try to restore a meadow in Kent by replacing cattle with sheep. Kent Wildlife Trust said the biodiversity of the four hectare site on the outskirts of West Malling would be "improved" by introducing a grazing programme. The charity said the site would be monitored and the Dexter cows might "return to help the sheep if conditions allow". Alison Ruyter, who manages the wilder grazing programme for the charity, said the site had "immense potential to be an oasis for wildlife with the right management". She said: "We are looking forward to working with the residents in the area who have been taking an active interest in the welfare of the animals previously on site." Local residents are invited to apply for volunteer roles as livestock checkers. They will receive training on conducting welfare screenings for the animals. Ms Ruyter added: "By taking a careful approach and managing the site for nature, we can boost biodiversity while ensuring that grazing animals continue to be a part of the landscape, which the locals enjoy." Follow BBC Kent on Facebook, on X, and on Instagram. Send your story ideas to southeasttoday@ or WhatsApp us on 08081 002250. Road improvements could harm wildlife - charity Stop removing ivy from our sites, pleads charity Kent Wildlife Trust
BBC News
30-03-2025
- General
- BBC News
Sheep replace cows at Kent site to boost biodiversity
A scheme has been announced to try to restore a meadow in Kent by replacing cattle with Wildlife Trust said the biodiversity of the four hectare site on the outskirts of West Malling would be "improved" by introducing a grazing charity said the site would be monitored and the Dexter cows might "return to help the sheep if conditions allow".Alison Ruyter, who manages the wilder grazing programme for the charity, said the site had "immense potential to be an oasis for wildlife with the right management". She said: "We are looking forward to working with the residents in the area who have been taking an active interest in the welfare of the animals previously on site."Local residents are invited to apply for volunteer roles as livestock will receive training on conducting welfare screenings for the animals. Ms Ruyter added: "By taking a careful approach and managing the site for nature, we can boost biodiversity while ensuring that grazing animals continue to be a part of the landscape, which the locals enjoy."
