Hi <<First Name>>, |
Biodiversity – Why on Earth Should We Care? |
Nature News
|
Biological diversity, shortened to biodiversity, refers to the variety of things that we have on earth. "Things" can refer to different DNA, different bacteria, different plants and animals, and even the variety of all of these things within a region or ecosystem.
|
In this issue:
1. Nature News
2. Animals Assisting Our Anxiety
3. Reducing Anxiety In Our Pets
4. Natural Businesses We Like
|
For many people living in towns and cities, wildlife is often something watched on television. But the reality is that the air we breathe, the water we drink and the food we eat all ultimately rely on biodiversity. Some examples are obvious: without plants there would be no oxygen and without bees and insects to pollinate there would be no fruit or nuts.
|
Illustration: Frances Marriott |
Others are less obvious – coral reefs and mangrove swamps provide invaluable protection from cyclones and tsunamis for those living on coasts, while trees can absorb air pollution in urban areas.
|
In a nutshell, Biodiversity is essential to all systems on earth, yet a third of plant diversity is expected to disappear by 2050.
|
When those of us who live in the United States think of biodiversity, we think more often of Amazonian Peru, Madagascar, or Indonesia than of our own country. However, more than 200,000 native species have been identified in the United States, roughly 13 percent of the 1.5 million species worldwide currently recognized by taxonomists, and about one-third of the native species in the United States are either vulnerable, imperilled, critically imperilled, or already extinct.
|
|
The figures are even more frightening in the UK, where The Natural History Museum has released analysis that details how only about 53% of the country's natural biodiversity is left. It means the UK is one of the world’s most nature-depleted countries, placing it in the bottom 10% of the world’s countries and last among the G7 nations.
|
The extinction crisis is not only a crisis of the tropics. It is a crisis in our own backyards.
|
But in spite of our egregious negligence – and often wanton, wilful destructiveness – many species have figured out ways to survive, and even sometimes to thrive, in novel environments that are the direct result of the very human industry that drove these species out of their original habitats in the first place. Check out these 5 amazing examples of industrial wastelands giving rise to biodiverse ecosystems.
|
|
Animals Assisting Our Anxiety
|
We've said it before and we’re sure we’ll say it again - the stresses that the world throws at us are enough to make you anxious… And that’s where animals can really help. In last month’s NaturalSpotlight newsletter we talked about the Pet Effect on people's mental health and the fact that the many, many benefits that having animals in our lives has upon our own health and wellness has become well recognized. But for many animals, this support is being taken to a whole different level as Therapy Animals work their magic and help more and more people to heal. And as the coronavirus pandemic makes travel more stressful than ever, therapy dogs are entering the realm of travel again, to help anyone who needs some emotional support. So if you're travelling through an airport this winter, keep an eye out for big, generous eyes and a waggy tail, as there might just be an airport therapy dog near you.
|
Back to top
|
And Us Assisting Theirs
|
A recent study of 13,715 pet dogs from Finland, belonging to 264 different breeds, shows that 3 out of 4 dogs suffer from some form of anxiety, and owners should be more aware of this.
|
|
An animal's behavior is the best indicator that they are suffering from anxiety or stress. They tell us a lot by their actions, their physiological responses, and sometimes by the "evidence" you may find around the house, or shreds of evidence if your pet has destructive manifestations of their anxiety!
|
Noise phobia in dogs is relatively common and can be a source of great distress. Of the total number of dogs in the Finnish study mentioned above, 32% had noise sensitivity, meaning that they were frightened of at least one noise. Among noise-sensitive dogs, the most common fear was that of sounds associated with fireworks, which had a prevalence of 26%. In a separate study presented at an AVMA conference in Texas on noise phobia in the canine, 50% of owners reported that thunderstorms and fireworks caused a change in behavior.
|
Sensitivity to noise is a major welfare concern and although it is one of the most common behavior concerns of owners, it is frequently inadequately or ineffectively treated. However, there are many things we can do to help to manage and reduce noise phobia in our pets.
|
Another extremely common cause of anxiety in animals is travel. Pet motion sickness and travel anxiety is an all too familiar story and in extreme cases it can severely limit the experiences that we can enjoy with our dogs, as we are restricted to our local area for fun and playtime! It can also make transporting an animal to the vet in times of need extremely stressful, or make transporting a horse to competition more than a little bit challenging.
|
|
The holidays can be quite a stressful time for many pets, with more noise, celebrations and often increased travel all potentially being sources of great distress. Fortunately, we have a number of natural medicines to help them to cope. Our top selling natural anxiety medicines are veterinary formulated to help behaviour, anxiety and stress-related problems in dogs, cats, birds, horses and other pets and domestic animals. So now is the time to plan ahead and make sure you have everything your customers may need to help them to reduce the anxiety and stress in their pet’s lives, and so enjoy a calm, comfortable and stress-free holiday period.
|
Back to top
|
Natural Businesses We Like
|
This month we love Petique, a company on a mission 'to provide non-toxic pet products including a line of sustainable products for your dogs, cats, and small animals to help them live a longer and healthier life, as well as helping our planet become a cleaner place to live in for us and our future generations.' Sounds good to us!
|
Back to top
|
HomeoPet – Natural Pet Care For 26 Years
|
Tom Farrington MRCVS., MVB., VetMFHom - recognized many years ago the increasing demand for alternative natural treatments for common conditions that, while not life-threatening, cause suffering in animals. Previous ways of treating such conditions were with expensive and often harmful drugs that had significant unwanted side effects. In 1990 Tom enrolled his brother Daniel to see if there might be a market for a safe, naturally based therapy for animals. After several years of research, in 1994 Tom's vast knowledge of animal health, veterinary medicine, homeopathy and natural pet care became available outside his clinic, when his brother Daniel founded HomeoPet and launched a range of natural medicines for animals. We have been helping pet owners and animal lovers around the world find a more natural route to pet health ever since.
|
|
Well, that's all from us for this month. If you have any questions, please do not hesitate to contact us. And if you have any topics that you would like us to explore, please do let us know! We're here to help you and your customers' pets live more natural, healthy and fun-filled lives.
We truly hope that you and yours remain safe and well, naturally.
Until next time.
Team HomeoPet
|
|
Safe, Gentle, Natural liquid dosing medicines for your best friend.
|
|
|
|
This email was sent to <<Email Address>>
You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list at any time.
Our mailing address is: HomeoPet LLC
PO Box 147
Westhampton Beach, NY 11978-0147
USA
|
|
|