As TT fortnight approaches there is no need to remind responsible pet owners to be extra careful by keeping dogs on a lead at all times, and by moving animals that might be scared by the noise of bikes away from the periphery of the course. This could mean moving a rabbit hutch and run to a different part of the garden, or relocating larger livestock to a different field. Horse owners should avoid hacking on public roads; and cat owners should consider keeping their cats indoors (with a litter tray) during the day when the roads will be at their busiest, and leave a radio switched on to detract from the noise outside.

If you routinely put your pet dog or rabbit out in your garden or back yard for a run around, now is the time to check that these areas are secure, with no newly dug holes in the ground or gaps in the fencing. And if you have an athletic dog, are you sure he or she hasn’t developed the ability to jump over your fence or wall? There have been several prosecutions of dog owners in the TT Summary Court over the years, with loose or stray dogs delaying the start of races and, sadly, sometimes causing motorbike accidents.

A timely reminder, then, that the Government’s Dog Warden Service operates 9.00am to 5.00pm every week-day, and can be contacted on 686688. Outside of these times please call the Police, or us, if you have any concerns about stray dogs. There are financial penalties for owners who allow their dogs to be ‘at large’ on a public highway, because the risk of them causing a road traffic accident is so high.

This year’s TT is set to be a very busy one, after a two year absence. This gap means that we have young animals, dogs in particular, who have never encountered large numbers of bikes before and who may be more scared of them than their owners anticipate. A scared dog may slip its collar, or suddenly jump out of a car when a door is opened, and so owners need to be extra vigilant.

To help dog owners keep their animals safe, we are renting out one of our large, secure dog exercise fields at Ard Jerkyll during the TT fortnight, for half hour slots between 5.30pm and 8.30pm, for a £5.00 fee. Please e-mail info@manxspca.com to make a booking.

Road closures, followed by hordes of motorbikes on the roads, mean that we generally have fewer visitors to Ard Jerkyll, and therefore our Tearooms will be closed during race week, but we will be providing a ‘pit stop’ at Ard Jerkyll for passers-by who simply want a hot or cold drink and a snack, in return for a small donation. We will also have our new TT-themed merchandise on sale. We are sure that the ‘No Tails Club’ line of t-shirts and hoodies, featuring a very special Manx cat riding a motor bike, will prove popular with both visitors and locals alike.