Help Save the Black Rhino by going on this amazing educational travel tour

I met this amazing Lady , Dr Helen Jones at Australian AVA conference. It seems like she is doing great things for the Black Rhino. This a great educational travel trip she has organized, I know several people who are going this year. I would love to be going sometime.

See details below

AUSTRALIAN VETERINARY WILDLIFE STUDY TOUR OF ZIMBABWE AND BOTSWANA


Facilitated for Edutravel by the SAVE FOUNDATION of Australia

Sunday 5 September – Sunday 19 September

(with additional options in Botswana and South Africa until Sunday 26 September)

This educational study tour will be led by Dr Helen Jones and Dr Ian Fairnie, both of whom are former National Presidents of the Australian Veterinary Association. Participants will meet with veterinarians in Zimbabwe as well as officers from the Parks and Wildlife department, and staff working for not-for-profit organisations active in wildlife conservation.

The program in Zimbabwe will be facilitated by the President of the SAVE FOUNDATION of Australia, Mr Nicholas Duncan, who has dedicated his life to saving the Black Rhino in Zimbabwe. He has visited Zimbabwe 53 times. The SAVE FOUNDATION of Australia has raised over $3.2 million donating the amount to buy field equipment, including eleven 4-wheel drive vehicles, 15 motor bikes, 15 outboard motors, 10 reconditioned engines and gearboxes, numerous sets of radios and spare parts for all of the above, that greatly increase anti-poaching efforts, and in the process saving not only rhinoceros, but also lions, leopards, hyenas, the African Painted Dog and elephants. Unlike many other non-profit making organisations, it is a totally voluntary foundation, with all its expenses - secretarial, communications, and travel - sponsored by a private company. It is one of the NGO’s with the lowest overheads in the world (less than 3%). On 18 June 2009, the Zimbabwe Council for Tourism (ZCT) awarded the SAVE FOUNDATION of Australia its Green Globe 21 Trophy for contribution to or action on the environment.

HIGHLIGHTS: At each safari location, qualified guides and wildlife officers will take participants out to see and photograph giraffe, lion, elephants, baboon, buffalo, and possibly leopard, plus countless birds including carrion feeders.

During the 6 days in Hwange National Park, participants will meet staff involved in anti-poaching and other conservation activities such as the tracking of lion and the African Painted Dog, and perhaps participate in the implanting of tracking devices.

The final option sees the program finish in Cape Town for three nights and includes a visit to Robben Island where Nelson Mandela was held for 20 of the 27 years he spent as a prisoner.

At all locations, where possible, meetings are planned with local private and government veterinarians, as well as wildlife conservation officers.

ACCOMMODATIONS: After the first two nights in a Harare hotel, there will be two nights at Imire Safari Ranch and 5 nights in Hwange National Park in Zimbabwe with excellent accommodations with all meals and drinks provided. There will be two nights at the splendid and luxurious Victoria Falls Hotel where the program includes a helicopter ride above the falls, an elephant ride, and visits to lion and rhino conservation projects, as well as the morning markets. One night will be spent enjoying a Boma dinner – if you are “game”, after a sunset river cruise and open bar. The main program finishes with two nights at the Chobe Marina Lodge and for those continuing on the program in Botswana, there will be three nights at Xakanaxa Camp with all meals and drinks provided unless otherwise stated.

COSTS: The program in Zimbabwe and an overnight visit to Chobe (Botswana) is estimated to cost $6995 of which approximately $2000 is international airfares from Australia to South Africa. An additional week in Botswana at Chobe National Park and the Okavanga Delta, and a 4-night visit to Cape Town in South Africa is estimated to cost an additional $3995



Websites to visit:

http://www.imiresafariranch.com/

http://www.game-reserve.com/zimbabwe_hwange_np.html

http://www.thehide.com/

http://www.africansunhotels.com/Index.cfm?fuseaction=HOTELS.info&name=Hwange_Safari_Lodge

http://www.victoria-falls-hotels.com/Vicfallshotel_Zimbabwe.asp

http://www.africanimpact.com/news/2007-11/lion-rehab-release.php

http://www.thebomarestaurant.com/

http://www.chobemarinalodge.com/

http://www.chobe-national-park.com/

http://www.xakanaxa-camp.com/

http://www.robben-island.org.za/

A dog runs into a stick and loses an eye.

A man ran into the vet surgery with his dog this morning saying that his dog's eye had come out. We took him straight through to the consultation room and had a look at the eye. Apparently the dog had been running madly around the yard when he hit a stick that went straight into the dogs eye and he said all the white fluid came out. On examination all I could see was a Major defect in the cornea of the eye and blood filled chamber. I recommend they go straight to the eye specialist but he said they had very little money. Well the dog had probably already lost sight in the eye and we could do was to try and save the structure, we gave him pain relief and antibiotics drops. The owners where very upset and the young lad wanted to keep going outside to be sick. Our eyes are so precious and it is always very upsetting to lose an eye. The eye might fibrous or might become infected and have to be removed.

I Found a dog lying in the middle of the road just been hit by a car.

I was on my way home tonight and came over the hill to find a dog lying in the middle of the road. It was still breathing, I pulled over to the side, the car behind me swerved quickly to miss the dog, the next car drove straight over the top of the dog. I ran out into the middle of the road and picked up the dog just before the next car came. I put the dog on the side of the road to have a look at him. He was still breathing and conscious, he had at least one fractured limb and I don't think he could feel his back legs. Two other people came running up to me. One guy had seen the dog being hit, it made the car swerve and he almost hit that car. The car that hit the dog did not stop. That guy knocked on the first door and people came out and they recognised the dog as belonging to a friend of theirs. They where not sure where the owner would be. They sent someone looking. Another person then said she probably would not have a car to take the dog to the emergency center or the money to fix it. So was there any point waiting for the owner, someone needed to take the dog to the emergency center. Their friends where just going off to work, I had to go and pick up my children from cubs. Someone rang RSPCA ambulance and they said they would come and pick up the dog. I asked one of the neighbours to get a blanket , I then wrapped the dog in the blanket and  left the dog with the neighbours. I went and picked up my children from cubs, on the way home we stopped by and the ambulance was just leaving with the dog. I was a bit frustrated with how little I could do for the dog, but really the best thing to do was have the RSPCA take the dog.First Aid for Dogs: What to do When Emergencies Happen

Scoff Stopper

We bought Rainbow, our Labrador a new dinner plate, the idea is to help our labrador eat slowly, and I think it is working very well. Normally she eats her food in about 10 seconds, now it takes her about 3 minutes. I think it only adds to her enjoyment of food. As a Labrador eating food is one of her greatest joys, and being able to extend it out makes a big difference. for more information http://www.scoffstopper.com.au/

Other products available that do the same

Home from holidays to find a depression in his dog's head.

This morning a man rang to say that he had come home from holidays to find that his dog had a large depression on one side of its head. The neighbours looking after the dog had noticed the depression but they where unsure if it was there before. I told him to bring it down to have a look. When I looked I could see that there was a large depression, it was all from muscle waste, I open the dogs mouth to find a putrid smell, and I could just see a necrotic area at the back of the jaw, the jaw itself was also quite swollen. It could either be a foreign body or a tumour. So we had to admit the dog for further investigation, Under a general anaesthetic I could open the mouth wide open a see a large necrotic area in the corner of the jaw, we took an xray a could see a large area of enlargement around the jaw bone, it confirmed what I suspected that it was a bony cancer. I told the owner and he was very upset, and decieded to have the dog euthanasied, but he did not want to stay, he went and gave the dog a last hug and left. The dog (that had been sitting quietly all day) began to howl after the owner left. We then had to euthanize the dog. A very sad story.
Michael O'Donoghue For People and pets

What would you do when your dog bites your friend?

On Friday I had a very distressed Man ring up to say that his dog has just bitten his neighbour and she had to go to hospital for treatment as there where several puncture marks. Apparently his wife was letting someone through the front gate and the dog got out and rushed forward and bite the neighbour. Now he was asking my advice did he have to euthanise the dog? Legally I do not think you have to, but you know you have dangerous dog on your hands and you could never be sure that it would never happen again. He decided to bring the dog down straight away for euthanasia. He was very upset and I can totally understand why, that would be the hardest things to do to let your beloved dog go because he bite someone. The dog was staffy cross and was happy and relaxed in the consultation room. The man could not decide whether to be present at the euthansia but eventually he decided to be with dog. First time we tried to hold the dog he went to bite me, which made everybody more nervous so we had to put a muzzle on the dog. We then euthanised the dog, checked the heart had stopped and then we helped him carry the dog out to the car, the owner was still very upset. I really felt for the guy but I think he did the right thing.

Ruff ruff bites another dog

Yesterday, I took the dogs for another walk down behind our houses. I normally walk them down to behind the houses on a lead, then when I check there is no one around I let them off for a run. I think it is the best thing to see them running free. Normally we never see anyone down there, but yesterday Ruff ruff ran ahead of me around the corner, then suddenly I heard a man yelling and our dogs running back towards me. The man yelled at me that Ruff ruff had bitten his dog ( a fluffy white dog) The evidence was clear Ruff ruff had fur in her mouth. I was very sorry for the guy and annoyed at Ruff ruff. It is awful to have your own dog attacked by another. Thankfully there was no damage and the guy calmed down. I am not sure why Ruff Ruff attacks other dogs, I think it is out of fear. I suppose I must be much more careful where I let them off the lead. Officially the only place you can do this is at a dog park, but Ruff ruff does not do well at all at Dog parks. I am unwilling to always have them on a lead as watching the dogs run, and knowing that they will always follow you is one of the great joys of owning a dog.

Death of a family pet.

Last Saturday my auntie to rang to tell me that their dog had been admitted to hospital, with a swollen painful abdomen. The Vet was now advising them to transfer to an after hours center for intensive care over the weekend, the bill could have been in thousands of dollars. What should they do? This is always a difficult question, but harder when it is about a family pet that I could not see.
I rang the vet hospital where the dog was staying and spoke at length with the vet on duty about the case. There was no way they where going to spend thousands of dollars at an after hours center, but there was the possibility the dog might get better by just staying on a fluid line. I suggest The dog stay at the hospital without supervision. It was against the policy of that vet hospital, but as long as the owners understood that it would be okay. On Sunday the dog seemed brighter and was able to go for a walk. They where very hopeful that he might go home the next day. But Monday came and the dog was a lot worse and they decided to euthanize. I felt sad for them and so much more involved as I knew that dog. It also made me wish I had my own vet hospital so that I could have helped treat the dog.

Value of pet loss sympathy card

I was looking at Parkridge Animal Hospital on the web, and I noticed they had a review

Park Ridge Animal Hospital is a fantastic...‎

By carpet - 22 Aug 2008

place to take your pets. I had to have my 12 year old cat put to sleep a few weeks ago. They were very caring and they sent us out a hand written card a few days later, with their sincere condolences for our beautiful cat. I would recommend anyone to take their ...‎

www.truelocal.com.au/business/...animal-hospital/park-ridge.

To me it shows that end of a pet life is so important, and people often remember vets for the smallest of gestures. This really encourages me to continue to promote pet loss cards