Nor'West News: November 18, 2021

Thursday November 18 2021 5
SHOWTIME: Cotswold School pupils perform a dance number as part of
the school production last week.
Ranfurly Shield was big
part of Christchurch
Peter
Harper
• From page 1
The work draws on
Harper’s own memories as
a student in Christchurch
who enjoyed following
rugby.
“The
Ranfurly
Shield
was a big
part of
Christchurch.
I just
remember
the
big, huge
crowds.
“I was lucky to be a part
of it.”
However,
on
the day of
the game,
he was out
of town,
visiting
Saskia
Sandford
family in
Nelson.
His idea
of a story about a quest to
attend the game had been
• From page 1
In the most recent
report, 53 per cent (967) of
residents chose to report
concerns by phone, email
and walk-in, while 47 per
cent (851) did so online
through Snap Send Solve
and Hybris Online.
But, at the conclusion of
the report last month, 525
tickets were still open or
not completed.
The ticket report was
included in the agenda for
this week’s community
board meeting.
It comes as the city
council is seeking
residents views on a
flexible wheelie bin system
“bubbling away” for a
while, Harper said.
The production also
included songs, dancing
and pop culture from the
era.
Teacher
Ashleigh
Macdonald
coorganised
the play.
About a
Gary
Tibbotts
term-anda-half
of
rehearsal
time had gone into staging
the production, she said.
Although the show
had a cast of about 250
pupils – the entire senior
school – it came together
well.
“The kids were just great
. . . they were all so excited
to put on a show.”
For Gary Tibbotts, the
performance brought back
memories.
“I was a policeman in
those days and I was on
that would allow
people who choose to
down-size their bins to
pay less.
City council head of
three waters and waste
Helen Beaumont said
currently households get
standard size bins which
they pay for through their
rates.
“Under the new system
we are proposing, people
will be able to choose the
size of their red, green
and yellow wheelie bin,”
Beaumont said
“If they choose to go
small, they will pay less.”
More information
on the proposal will be
the sideline in uniform
that day, so I remember it
well,” he said.
A member of the
Canterbury Rugby Union
Historic
Trust,
Tibbotts
supplied
the school
with
photos,
videos and
memorabilia
of
the game.
“They used the film footage
on a big screen in the
background, and they used
some of the songs that
were played
at the time,” he said.
“I supplied them with an
Auckland rugby flag and a
Canterbury rugby flag and
they used [them] in the
production.”
He thoroughly enjoyed
the show, he said.
“It was nothing short of
brilliant.”
525 tickets still
open or not
completed
Ashleigh
Macdonald
provided next year when
the city council prepares
its 2022/23 Annual Plan.
Number of tickets
reported in the
Fendalton-Waimairi-
Harewood Community
Board area (September
20 to October 19):
1. Residential property
files: 147
2. Bin not collected: 142
3. Damaged bin: 140
4. Residential LIM: 139
5. Leak (water supply): 129
6. Tree (road) 70
7. Graffiti: 69
8. Litter (road) 67
9. Road asset: 52
10. Missing bin: 34
Gosh its fast approaching
that magical, happy, exciting
time of the year - the lead up
to Christmas and the summer
holiday season. I really love
December, although there is
never enough hours in the day
for all the things I need to get
done. While it’s a chaotic time
for us, it can also spell disaster
for our pets. Below are some
Christmas dangers to keep a
watch on.
Here is a list of FOODS to look
out for
1. Chocolate is poisonous
(tachycardia , seizures, vomiting, diarrhoea) so
make sure you don’t leave chocolate under the
tree or in easy to reach places as chances are, it
will be found. Chocolate contains the stimulant “
theobromine” which is lethal.
2. Christmas pudding and fruit cakes contain
raisins (grapes) which are toxic to your pets
kidneys leading to lethargy, vomiting and thirst.
3. Alcohol and caffeine are also toxic too. Alcohol
can be found also in Christmas cakes and as little
as one ounce of alcohol can kill a cat.
4. Avocados contain persin which causes
symptoms from vomiting and diarrhoea to
cardiac arrest.
5. Macadamia nuts cause vomiting, weakness
and tremors.
6. Onions and chives contain disulphides which
damage your pets RBCs.
7. Pits and seeds of plums, peaches and apples
have a substance that degrades to cyanide
which is toxic. Large stones can also cause
intestinal blockage.
8. Xylitol (an ingredient in chewing gum) causes
HYPOglycaemia in dogs and can lead to seizures
and liver failure in severe cases.
9. Corn cobs should never be allowed to be
chewed on as they will obstruct in the small
intestine requiring surgery.
10. Turkey, crackling, salmon skins, fatty meats,
sausages can all cause vomiting and diarrhoea
and may lead to pancreatitis.
11. Blue cheese contains
Roquefortine C, which is very
sensitive to dogs.
Other potential hazards
include
- Christmas decorations that
can be swallowed.
- SNOW Globes as they contain
“Anti Freeze”. 1 tsp is lethal to
a cat.
- Cover up cords used to light
the tree to avoid an electric
shock or any tongue/ gum
lacerationsl
- Secure the tree so if scaled by
your cat, it wont fall over and crush
the cat.
- Keep tree lights and candles away
from pets to avoid shocks and burns.
- Pine needles are toxic if ingested
and can cause internal puncture
wounds.
- Sparkley tinsel is attractive to cats,
but if ingested will require surgical
intervention as it gets bound up in the
gastrointestinal tract.
- Wrapping paper - if enough is ingested it will
obstruct the bowel.
Heading into this festive season, make sure you
have their vaccinations, flea and worming up
to date, so if a vacation stay is likely, their health
McMaster & Heap
Veterinary practice
The lead up to CHRISTMAS….
Open 7 days
Cnr Hoon Hay & Coppell place
phone 338 2534, Fax 339 8624
e. mcmasterandheap@yahoo.co.nz
www.mcmasterheap.co.nz
won’t be compromised. We
have a warm, well ventilated,
very clean and quiet upstairs
CATTERY if you fury friend
needs a place to be cared
for while you take a summer
holiday. Do thorough research
before selecting a a boarding
facility to make sure its the
right fit for your pet.
Avoid HEATSTROKE by never
leaving your dog in a car with
inadequate ventilation. Four
windows opened a fraction
doesn’t qualify. Dogs can also
suffer heatstroke left in a yard
with no water or shade, if exercising heavily in
the heat, dogs being muzzled for long periods in
the heat or being exposed to a hairdryer for too
long. Dogs with a restricted airway (such as the
brachycephalic breeds, pugs, boxers, bulldogs)
are at an increased risk again.
A dogs body temperature can elevate quickly
in a car getting up over 41 degrees. A dog in
heat stroke is agitated, breathing rapidly, has dry
dark red gums, can be disorientated and can
seizure. Animals have only a small amount of
sweat glands located in their footpads making
sweating minimal, so their primary way of
regulating body temperature is by panting. Safe,
controlled reduction in body temperature is
achieved by pouring cool water completely over
the dog, and then draping wet towels over and
taking regular temperatures.
Holiday house plants decorate a room but can
be lethal to pets. Most cause intestinal upsets
or renal disease. Some common plants to watch
for are lillies, Azaleas, Ivy, Mistletoe, Holly and
Chrysanthrmums.
Toys and batteries are a no go too. Ingested
they can cause renal damage and pancreatitis
if they contain Zinc. Intestinal blockage is also
a real possibility - not an expense you want on
Christmas morning at the After Hours.
There are more folks out and about enjoying
their dogs, so please keep social distancing, and
keep a close eye on doggie interactions. Dog
fight wounds can be real nasty
and require an anaesthetic to
debride and close.
Also make sure your pet is
MICROCHIPPED and registered
on the NZL database in case of
misadventure or wandering off.
On an aside, Macy (our 18
month old Lab) and Maximus
(our 7.5kg Ginger cat) both
underwent surgical operations
recently, successfully I
might add. Macy had
her big girl operation
- Ovariohysterectomy”
and Maximus got into
a nasty altercation with
a newcomer to the
neighbourhood, which
resulted in a corneal
laceration. Very lucky
his dad is the EYE vet.
Steve operated after work
one night by suturing a
conjunctival graft over the
lacerated cornea. Max now
has full sight back in both
eyes and no more “heats”
for Miss Macy.
Merry Christmas to you all and THANKYOU for
supporting McMaster & Heap during a trying and
difficult year living with Covid and trusting Steve,
Michele and our brilliant team with your special
furry friends, who we adore I might add.
Dr Michele McMaster
McMaster & Heap