Everything you need to know about animal behavior!
Glamial recently joined us in the Blue Star Hall of Artis, where we were updated about everything four-legged by the experts from Purina during the PET Talk Live. From vegan food for Fikkie and cute outfits for your cat, to emotional stories about animals that were given a second chance and a unique reading book for dogs.
Purina PET Talk
It could hardly have escaped your attention: Purina, one of the leading brands in the field of pet food and animal care, has taught everyone a lot about their pets in recent months with their PET Talks via YouTube. From heat plan to fireworks training and from obesity to stray animals – the Glamial editors also seemed to have a lot to learn about their fluffy housemates.
When we received an invitation for a live edition of these PET Talks, we went to Artis with an editorial delegation for an atmospheric evening focusing on pets. Under the inspiring leadership of presenter Evelien de Bruijn (a great dog lover herself and ambassador of the Animal Diploma), all kinds of topics were discussed.
Like owner, like animal
Veterinarian and animal nutrition expert Esther Hagen-Plantinga sees that we are increasingly imposing our own standards and values on Max and Minoes. But is that actually possible? Following a vegetarian diet yourself is of course fine, but what about your pet? And be honest: how many pets with their own account and their own wardrobe do you follow on Instagram? Or perhaps you have created a social media account for your furry friends, just like Evelien did for her Aunt Cor?
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For Esther, the conclusion is clear: common sense should prevail when caring for your pet. For example, if you want to put your four-legged friend on a vegan diet, find out carefully which nutrients they may be missing. Just like with regular pet food, the motto applies: know what you are eating! She warns: “Cats often have a harder time with this than dogs. When metabolic deficiencies arise, there may be more acidic urine or bladder grit.” And of course we want to prevent that.
In short: match with your pet? Then it is better to match your own outfit to your cat than to sit together at the dining table.
Everyone deserves a second chance
Criminal tendencies or bad boy tendencies? As a human being you end up behind bars, and as a shelter dog you end up in a cage somewhere in the back. Marlies de Bats, from the organization Dutch Cell Dogs, saw a golden match in this: linking shelter animals and detainees with a difficult background.
This way, prisoners, who often feel like they can’t do anything right, and shelter dogs, who are classified as unadoptable, both get a second chance. And that works like a charm, she reveals. Over the course of eight weeks, they follow an intensive training program together, and afterwards 97% of the four-legged friends are completely ready to be adopted by a loving family.
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“It is often very emotional for the detainees,” Marlies reflects. “They think, ‘I’ve already fucked up everything, but this dog is just happy to see me.’” She remembers: “We arrived and were faced with a bunch of big guys – big muscles, completely covered in tattoos…but it The moment a dog jumped into the arms of one of them, he burst into tears.”
Paws to partners
Finally, veterinarian Piet Hellemans, who you know from Eigen Huis & Tuin and Samen voor Dieren, will speak. Over the centuries, we have come to understand better and better how our animals work. Just imagine how much we have learned about ourselves over the past centuries, decades, years! And a lot of human medicine trickles down to veterinary medicine, Piet reports.
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Experts in the field of animal behavior can now explain in detail why your cat always claws at the couch instead of its luxurious scratching post. Piet states: “Animals are real opportunists. If they are successful with their behavior once, they will continue with it. If not, they’ll stop doing it. And that can lead to behavioral problems.”
Piet looks ahead with optimism: he expects that within the coming decades, so much will change in the field of science that we will soon be able to understand our pets! The Glamial editorial team mainly anticipates endless requests for ‘more kibble’ and ‘owner, attention!’, but what else does this mean for animal rights? There is a lot of philosophizing on this Thursday evening!
Wagging reading
Finally, Hans Melissen will speak, who has a scoop with The First Dog Reading Book…come to the owner. After reading the newspaper to his four-legged friends, the idea arose to write a story that better reflects their experience. And so it happened!
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At the end of the evening, the Glamial editorial staff also returns home with a copy in the goodie bag. Although the cats of deputy Sandra and online coordinator Sandy have little appetite for a reading evening, they are big fans of the cat snacks that Purina allows us to bring with us.
This PET Talk Live was also a great success for our four-legged friends!
