Assistance Dogs – When a dog is more than a dog
How Man’s best friend can change a life In this month’s Bark 'n' Purr we highlight the wonderful work being done by Assistance Dogs Australia, a non-profit organisation that trains Labradors and Golden retrievers to help enhance the quality of life and improve the...
Keep pets cool and safe in summer
Summer is the time to relax and soak up the sea and sun on our stunning beaches around Australia. It's also the time of year when our pets can suffer from heat stroke, snake bite or lose their lives in a bushfire. RSPCA NSW Chief Veterinarian Dr Magdoline Awad says...
A pet for Christmas beware of online shopping
A pet for Christmas can be wonderful! The holidays are a good time of the year for families to settle in your new furry friend. But, don't be hasty and fall for images of cute puppies and kittens for sale on the Internet. Take a 'paws' and do your homework first. We...
Kitty adoption 10 things to consider
As we head into summer, warmer weather brings on the heat; and with heat comes... unwanted litters of kittens. Tragically, many healthy cats and kittens are euthanased in Australia because homes cannot be found for them. If you’re thinking of adding a furry friend to...
What do Sri Lankan street dogs and fashion have in common?
The answer is 'Embark', a groundbreaking Sri Lankan street dogs rescue organisation founded by fashion icon, entrepreneur, designer, philanthropist and animal lover, Otara Gunewardene. Despite aspirations of being a veterinary surgeon, Otara ultimately studied Biology...
10 ingredients for good pet wellbeing
Our pets have such short lives and yet they give us so much. The benefits of pet ownership have been well researched and documented. As pet parents, we take on the commitment to look after our pet for their entire life. We share our top 10 ingredients for good pet...
What makes a cat cranky?
Pain or feeling trapped in a situation they can't control usually makes a cat cranky according to Dr Kim Kendall Cat Vet. Dr Kim has been treating cats since her first clinic opened in 1994 in Sydney. She would never have imagined way back then that cats in pain are...
Pet mental health, is your pet happy?
Just like humans, our furry friends can suffer from a range of pet mental health disorders. The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) is running a month-long campaign in March - Polite Pets Month - to help owners address behaviour issues in pets. The theme...
Dog training in Switzerland
The Swiss are known for their well-behaved pets and pet owners are allowed to take their doggies almost anywhere unlike Australia. In 2008, mandatory dog training in Switzerland was introduced by the Swiss Federal Veterinary Office as part of the national animal...
10 Tips to avoid dog theft
Thousands of dogs of all breeds, gender and ages are stolen every year in Australia. They are stolen for many reasons such as - theft for resale, breeding, keeping as pets and for use in illegal fighting rings. We share a traumatic story with a happy ending about a...
Tis the season for animal surrender
At this time of the year, I receive pleas from animal shelters for a donation or to foster an animal over the festive season. Christmas is not a time of joy but a time of crisis for animal shelters around Australia who are inundated with animal surrender. Typically...
Battersea Dogs and Cats Home behind the scenes
My passion for animal welfare has taken me on journeys to some unusual places including a sun bear sanctuary in Cambodia. During a visit to the United Kingdom, I took the opportunity to do a ‘behind the scenes’ tour of the Battersea Dogs and Cats Home in South West...
