A STUDY from leading pet-care brand Bob Martin, Cumbria & The Lake District made the top 10 destinations for a pet-friendly staycation.
With the recent announcement that people travelling to Spain must quarantine for a fortnight upon return, 2020 has been dubbed ‘the year of the British staycation’.
With travel firms fearing that popular destinations like Greece and France could also be added to the quarantine list, UK beauty-spots like Cumbria & The Lake District are expected to experience a boom in tourism this summer.
And although tourists will be good news for some, the UK getaways could be bringing a less desirable boom for pets and pet owners, according to experts.
They are warning UK holidaymakers to prepare themselves against fleas and ticks following holiday boom to Cumbria & The Lake District.
With schools out for the summer and the holiday season underway, an ultra-high ‘itch-count’ has been forecast across the UK, as the combination of mid-summer heat and holidaymakers descending en-masse is creating ideal conditions for fleas, ticks and worms.
With our pets used to enjoying the outdoors more than normal with owners working from home over lockdown, leading pet care brand Bob Martin is warning holiday-makers to exercise caution as pesky parasites could be hitchhiking with us on our trips, causing aggravation on our long-anticipated holiday plans.
Research from Bob Martin[1] has identified a tenfold spike in demand for people looking to purchase a companion animal across the UK whilst in lockdown; with online search volumes for cat and dog adoptions and purchases at all-time highs.
Aurelie Gayraud, Senior Brand Manager at Bob Martin commented that the popularity for staycations with pets has resulted in a perfect storm for fleas and ticks coming into contact with us and our furry friends.
Aurelie said: “We’re all keen to get our getaways underway after the ease of lockdown. We know everyone wants to enjoy the beautiful British countryside and make the most of the summer, but the influx of holidaymakers could be bringing some less desirable tourists along with us so we want to educate pet owners about concentrations of flea and tick infestations.
“We’ve seen some really unusual weather patterns across the UK in recent months, which have proved ideal breeding grounds for fleas and ticks.
“It’s really important for all pet owners to keep on top of preventative and curative solutions to avoid the ‘itch count’, and to ensure they’re aware of the risks associated with flea, tick and worm infestations.”
How to prepare yourself for the ‘itch-count’:
- Give some instant relief with flea tablets or flea shampoo
- Follow up with a spot on treatment, this will continue to kill fleas and ticks for around a month
- In the meantime, wash the pets’ bedding over 40⁰c, vacuum wherever you can, paying attention to warm, dark, protected areas – a flea’s idea of a perfect home!
- Spray the soft furnishings with a suitableFlea Spray. Some of Bob Martin’s Clear sprays have a lasting effect so they keep working for longer, alternatively, ‘Pesticide Free’ products utilising the benefits of dimethicone as the active ingredient are available too
- Re-spray the home if you wish after a few days, try steaming hard floors and tiles, and don’t forget to move the furniture
The top ten pet-friendly locations in the UK are:
- Cornwall
- North Wales and Snowdonia
- Cumbria and the Lake District
- North York Moors & Coast
- Peak District
- Devon
- South Wales and Pembrokeshire
- Yorkshire Dales
- Northumberland
- Anglesey
