At some point in our lives we have probably all fantasised about what it would be like to travel the world or to have the perfect job/home/car etc. But would we really experience true happiness if these dreams became a reality?

It can be all too easy to become fixated on planning for the future that we forget to enjoy the present. External factors such as money and material items can bring us happiness, but often only temporary. If you want to experience true, lasting happiness, draw your focus away from these artificial elements.

Try not to focus on the bigger picture

Whilst focusing on the bigger picture can sometimes help us to not stress over the small things in life, it is important to get a balance. With social media consuming more and more of our time, it’s now easier than ever to find ourselves comparing our lives to that of celebrities. It only takes a matter of seconds to log onto Instagram and be bombarded with airbrushed celebrity lifestyles. Seeing these seemingly perfect images on a daily basis can be disheartening, but only if you let it. Focusing on what you have rather than what other people have can help you feel more content in your day-to-day life.

Could instant gratification be doing more harm than good?

Thanks to services such as Amazon Prime, anyone can now go online, make a purchase and expect to have it delivered to their door the next day. And it doesn’t end there – with Netflix releasing full TV series’ at a time, you can log on and binge watch an entire series without having to wait each week for a new episode.

Because of this instant gratification everywhere we go, it is easy to become impatient about the things you can’t rush. Your dream job and meaningful connections with the people around you can’t be delivered to your doorstep. These are things you have to work for, and they often take time to achieve. So make sure to appreciate the journey and enjoy the lessons along the way.

For more Health and Fitness Tips, check out last month’s blog post.

Want to pursue a career with animals but aren’t sure of the best way to get started? Volunteering could be the first step towards kick starting your new career!

How will volunteering with animals benefit me?

By volunteering you will:

• Learn new skills and gain experience
• Get the opportunity to meet new people
• Learn more about animal behaviour and the workplace environment
• Give something back by making a difference to the lives on animals

Work towards your dream career with animals…

Volunteer work can be very rewarding and make you feel as though you’re giving something back to your community. But it can also help you to progress your career.

By volunteering in the industry you dream of working in you’ll pick up essential skills and knowledge needed to succeed in the role. You’ll also gain lots of experience and get to know what day-to-day life in the profession is like. Having experience within the line of work can also put you in good stead when it comes to applying for a job.

Having volunteer work on your CV shows your employer you’re willing to go that extra step to secure your future career.

To find out more about how you can get involved with volunteering in your community, click here.

Sometimes when someone has done something to upset or hurt you, the best thing you can do is forgive them. Although this might be the last thing you want to do, it can be beneficial in the long run. Research has shown that forgiveness can reduce depression, anxiety and stress as well as leading to more fulfilling relationships.

Holding onto resentment can cause you to bring negativity into other elements of your life which can be harmful to your relationships with others as well as with yourself.

So what should you do if someone hurts you?

While forgiveness has shown to have health benefits, it can be difficult to achieve straight away. So here are a few tips to help you towards forgiveness:

Remember why you’re forgiving them

Carrying resentment around with you can be damaging to your health and can take up more energy than it’s worth. Reflecting on the fact that you’re forgiving for your own sake not theirs can help with the process of forgiveness.

Mistakes are what make us human

No one is perfect; we’re bound to make mistakes every once in a while. Sometimes mistakes are unavoidable and are what help us learn in the long run. Consider this when something has upset you, it may have been an honest mistake.

What if the roles were reversed?

Think back to a time when you’ve asked for forgiveness and consider how much it would have meant to you. Now that it’s their turn to make a mistake, they must be feeling the same way. After all, if you can’t forgive, how can you ever expect to be forgiven?

Express how you feel

When trying to forgive someone, built up feelings that you haven’t expressed to them might get in your way. If you haven’t expressed how they’ve made you feel and why you feel that way, they might fail to see what they’ve done wrong. You may also carry this built up anger around with you even after trying to forgive them, putting a strain on your relationship.

For more Health and Fitness Tips, take a look at last month’s blog post.

While we humans enjoy watching fireworks, they can be very stressful for unsuspecting pets. So, with bonfire night fast approaching, make sure to have fun responsibly by taking care of your pets to help them feel safe around fireworks.

Top tips for dogs and cats

• Keep cats and dogs inside when fireworks are let off. Walk your dog earlier rather than later – fireworks are less likely to be set off during daylight
• Think about preparing a safe space or den that they can hide in for when the fireworks start to feel more secure and comfortable. When it starts to get dark, close all the curtains, shut windows and doors and block off cat flaps. Consider putting the TV or some music on; all of these things will help to mask the loud noises.
• Before the fireworks start, make sure that your dog or cat’s surroundings are secure and that they won’t be able to escape if they become stressed.
• Try to stay calm and act normally. It’s ok to comfort your pet if it helps them, but others may prefer to hide and be left alone.

Top tips for small animals

• Where possible hutches/cages should be bought inside on bonfire night into a quiet room or garage; it is best to gradually accustom your pet to this ahead of the day.
• If you cannot bring your pet inside then covering aviaries or hutches with thick blankets can block out the sight and sounds of the fireworks, but make sure there is still enough ventilation.
• Ensure they have plenty of extra bedding which they can hide in if they need to.

Keeping pets calm with music

Classic FM’s Pet Sounds is returning for the firework season this year; presented by Charlotte Hawkins, Pet Sounds will feature on Classic FM radio station on Friday 5 November and Saturday 6 November, both from 6pm. The idea is to play calming music in order to keep pets relaxed during times when fireworks are likely. So, if your pet does become stressed by fireworks, make sure you tune in to Classic FM at 6pm this bonfire night!

It’s not just pets we need to think of

• Piles of leaves and wood are the perfect nesting spot for a hedgehog. So if you’re planning on lighting a bonfire, collect the leaves and wood on the same day to avoid any hedgehogs taking shelter there. You should also check for any hiding animals before lighting the bonfire just to be sure.
• Litter and debris produced from fireworks can be harmful to animals, so make sure you clean up afterwards and dispose of the rubbish appropriately.

For even more information on how to keep your pets stress free this bonfire night, take a look at the Blue Cross website.

Like us, you’ve probably heard the rumours and superstitions around black cats. But did you know these things are actually affecting adoption rates of black cats in rehoming centres? According to Cats Protection, black cats are the hardest to rehome across the UK and USA, but what are the leading factors behind this?

Is it just because of their colour?

Typically, people tend to be drawn to the more colourful cats in the shelters, with the black cats blending into the background. It’s also common for people to believe that colourful cats are ‘prettier’ than black cats. These things can mean that some black cats spend months and even years waiting to be rehomed.

Superstition

Many of us have heard the superstitions surrounding black cats, such as that they bring bad luck, or that they’re the ‘witches incarnate’. These superstitions vary depending on the country and culture. But, in Britain it’s actually said that if a black cat crosses your path you will be brought good luck!

The ‘selfie generation’

A more recent reason as to why a black cat has to wait longer than other cats to be rehomed is because they are believed to be less photogenic. The trend of taking selfies with your pet and uploading them to Instagram is still going strong. But black cats are being left behind with the RSPCA saying that 70% of all cats in its care are either black or black and white.

Looking to adopt a cat?

Why not consider adopting a black cat this National Black Cat day? All cats have love to give and deserve to find their forever home, regardless of the colour of their coat. So if you’re thinking of adopting a cat, give a black cat a second chance at happiness. Take a look at local rehoming centres, or the many charities which have cats available for rehoming, such as RSPCA, Cats Protection and Wood Green to name a few.

Do you want to work with animals but are not sure how to get started? Or maybe you need some help finding an animal care apprenticeship or understanding what it is employers are looking for. If this sounds like you, then you’re in luck as The College of Animal Welfare are holding an Animal Care Apprenticeship Recruitment Day for those looking to work in the animal care industry. The event will be held at our Leeds centre on Thursday 22 November 2018 from 10am-3pm and is free for anyone aged 16 or over to attend!

We understand that many people may want to work with animals but just aren’t sure which path to go down or what the best qualification for them might be. Luckily this is where we come in!

Throughout the day you will:

• Start your job search: Take a look at where you can find animal care apprenticeship vacancies and look at the current apprenticeship vacancies advertised by The College of Animal Welfare. And what’s more, you will get the chance to apply for a job on the day if there are any vacancies that match your skillset and interests!
• Develop your interview skills: Look at the best ways to answer common interview questions, make a list of things that you should (and shouldn’t) ask at an interview, know how best to present yourself and put it all into action with a mock interview!
• Get a CV to take away with you: Get advice on what to include that will be sure to show off your strengths. You’ll also get to leave the day with your own CV typed up for you to ensure you’re application ready!
• Determine your levels of Maths and English: You’ll undertake basic skills assessments which will help to determine your current working levels and where you can find additional support if needed.
• Find out what employers really want: Since we work with employers every day, we’ve gained a good idea about what employers want and we want to share these with you in order to give you a head start!

So, whether you’ve just finished school and are looking into careers with animals, or are just looking for a change of career, an animal care apprenticeship could be the perfect move for you!

Book your place now!

Worrying levels of pet obesity in the UK are putting the health of our beloved pets at risk as we continue to feed our furry friends leftovers and treats. Whilst it can be hard to resist those puppy dog eyes, it’s important to remember that over feeding and giving our pets too many treats, could be bad for their health.

Watch what they eat

According to the PDSA, 5.7 million pets in the UK are fed treats every day, and 3.9 million are fed leftovers as their main meals. With 44% of owners saying that they give their pets treats because they believe it makes them happier.

Although it can be hard to say no when your pet is begging for a treat, excessive treats and unhealthy snacks can lead to pet obesity and a cocktail of health implications including:

• Diabetes
• Heart disease
• Respiratory distress
• High blood pressure
• Cancers

Are they getting enough exercise?

1.6 million UK dogs aren’t walked daily. This could be for a number of reasons such as owners believing that playing in the garden is enough exercise and misunderstanding how much exercise their dog needs. But in order to prevent obesity, it is vital for dogs to get enough exercise. Each dog will have different exercise requirements, but some basic guidance can be found here.

We all know that some cats are notoriously lazy; playing with them can really improve, not only their weight and fitness, but their happiness too. Some ideas on how to help your cat get some additional exercise can be found below:

• Encourage them to play outside where it is safe to do so.
• Play with your cat (especially if it is an indoor cat). Find out what your cat’s favourite toy is – it could be a commercially bought toy or simply a piece of paper crumpled up into a ball; but the key to play is to involve you in the game.
• Invest in a cat tower to encourage your cat to jump and climb.

Preventing pet obesity

Help your pets watch their waistline with these top tips:

• Exercise is vital; keeping your pet active will help reduce any weight gain.
• Don’t overfeed your pet – weighing their food instead of estimating can help with portion control.
• Don’t give your pet too many leftovers.
• Keep treats to a minimum; if you do wish to give treats (perhaps for training purposes) consider using some of your pet’s daily food as treats between meals.

If you think your pet might be overweight, contact your local vets for more advice and guidance. You can also check out PDSA’s Pet Fit Club, the ‘UK’s biggest and most successful pet slimming competition’.