Thursday, August 19, 2010
Diagnosed a Heartworm postive dog today.
This afternoon I did a heartworm test on a 8 year old staffy. He had missed 3 years of heartworm treatment when his owners where battiling cancer. He was a healthy dog except for some tartar and plaque on his teeth. I do so many heartworm test and so many come back negative. Even when I was working at the pound, testing abandoned dogs, heartworm was rare. So I was quite suprised to come back to my heartworm test and find a positive reading. I also had a look at the blood under the microscope and found some microfliara, I have not seem any of those for a long time. The lady owner was quite upset but is keen to treat the dog, and she booked him on Monday for further tests.
Wednesday, July 28, 2010
Stupid Goverment Decision To Kill Amstaffs but set Pit bull Free!
Gold Coast City Council and the Hon Minister Desley Boyle set to Kill all American Staffordshire terriers and set Pit bull terriers free.
Are the American Staffordshire terrier and the American Pit Bull terrier one breed or are they two different breeds of dog?
It is generally accepted that the Amstaff and Pit bull came from a common blood line or stock, descending from the Staffordshire bull terrier originally.
The split happened when the UKC, United Kennel Club, preferred their Pit bull stock to be bred for gameness or performance and other dog groups wanted to move towards conformation and show qualities.
The American Staffordshire terrier was then line bred with the best of what was available within their registries to only other registered American Staffordshire terriers for the next 90 years, keeping this breed pure to the original blood line.
What I found out here in Australia, at least, because there is no national registry for the American Pit Bull terrier and as this breed is not recognised by the Australian National Kennel Club or groups like the CCCQ ect, owners and breeders had an open hand at what they were allowed to do in regards to improving or enhancing the look of their particular dogs.
When looking at individual breeders and their dogs, one will boast at how larger their blood lines head is or another will claim that theirs are the biggest most muscular Pit bulls in Australia, now looking nothing in anyway like the original American Pit Bull terrier from the USA, or in fact nothing like the original imported dogs to Australia.
With the introduction of the BITSA DNA dog breed identification test, many American Pit Bull terrier owners were horrified that their secret cross breeding program would come to light exposing how their dogs came to be so individual and distinct from the original imported blood stock to Australia.
After completing now over 30 DNA tests and working with the DNA lab in Victoria it had become indisputably clear that many of the once known American Pit Bull terriers are now showing to be nothing but lookalike cross breed dogs, holding any number of breeds unlike the original cross breed combination which was the American Pit Bull terrier.
The American Pit Bull terriers breeders are not totally to blame for altering their breed or dilution of their blood line, as the prohibition on importing blood stock and the banning and destruction of good breeding stock by the Qld Governments BSL law 17A forced many if not all dogs to go underground. What choice did dog owners have? The blame rests still with this Qld Government who must hold part of the blame for all the consequences of this badly thought-out law.
With the American Staffordshire terrier, the BITSA DNA identification test shows very clearly, scientifically and without any doubt that a suspected dog either is a pure breed American Staffordshire terrier or an American Staffordshire terrier cross breed dog, showing what it was cross bred with, or just a lookalike cross breed, showing what dogs made up the lookalike combination.
With the court case run on the 29th of March, 2010, BRISBANE SUPREME Court. CHIVERS Vs Gold Coast City Council. Ms Chivers went to trial to fulfil a magistrate order asking her to prove her dog was an American Staffordshire terrier so she may be allowed to return her dog to her home on the Gold Coast.
I was not only successful in proving this point uncontested, I also was able to prove that the method of identification used by councils in South East Qld in identification of suspected Pit bull terriers was knowingly false, and that the Qld Government staff, (Animal Control Officers for respective Councils) held no formal or academic qualifications clearly showing they could and would never be considered an expert, in any field in dog breed identification or experts in general under the rule of law.
However in a final twist, at the end of the trial, the GCCC Barrister entered a new submission, which was never presented to my Barrister until the very end of the trial, changing their whole point of view, stating they had admitted over the past 7 years they had got things wrong and now seen the light and found the truth.
Despite presenting expert evidence in some 15 to 20 trials, (Dino Da Fre Vs Logan City Council..ect) that the American Staffordshire terrier and the American Pit Bull terrier were two separate breeds and that with the training of their expert Debora Pomeroy and the 22 point checklist they could without any reservation prove that the dogs were two separate breeds, they now contend that they are the same breed of dog.
As this was submitted at the end of the trial, My Barrister without prior notification had 10 minutes to come up with a reply, thus leaving it to the judge to base his decision on what was before him, the court ruled that an American Staffordshire terrier and the American Pit Bull terrier were the same breed.
My Barrister was clearly blindsided, the rules or principles of natural justice, also known as procedural fairness, were developed to ensure that decision-making is fair and reasonable. Put simply, natural justice involves decision-makers informing people of the case against them or their interests, giving them a right to be heard (the ‘hearing’ rule), not having a personal interest in the outcome (the rule against ‘bias’), and acting only on the basis of logically probative evidence (the ‘no evidence’ rule).” And in a way the judge showed he knew this by his comments and not awarding any costs a clear indication that one side did not follow the rules.
How does this affect dog owners? As the Gold Coast City Council so cleverly tricked a Supreme Court Judge in giving a false ruling, by disobeying the rules or principles of natural justice, their win has given all Pit bull terrier owners a free get out of jail card. I will explain.
The GCCC’s win that American Staffordshire terriers and American Pit bull terriers are one and the same.
Here's the Kicker, there is a DNA test for the Amstaff, 100% accurate, the same test that all the American Staffordshire terrier clubs use to check the validity of a suspected members true breed, the same test the ANKC and the CCCQ use, that is the BITSA Dog Breed Identification DNA test.
Therefore there is a DNA test for Pit bulls...the Amstaff DNA test, so any other dog that does not conform to the Pit bull DNA test (Amstaff DNA test) must not be a Pit bull terrier.
With me so far....
Therefore there is a DNA test for Pit bulls...the Amstaff DNA test, so any other dog that does not conform to the Pit bull DNA test (Amstaff DNA test) must not be a Pit bull terrier.
With me so far....
Kill all the Amstaffs, a group of the dog community that have never caused any problems just so a dog called Tango could not be returned to the Gold Coast and win at all costs, has in effect made the GCCC set the Pit bulls free to breed/grow in number and really become a problem as the Pit bull terrier will never pass the Amstaff test.
Just think, when the Restricted dog owners (Gold Coast and South East Qld) find out that all they have to do is send a DNA test to the lab and should the results come back their dog is not an American Staffordshire terrier, they then, don’t have an American Pit bull terrier, no need to put the signs on their gates, no extra fees, compensation for the harassment /desexing their dogs, then the need for an explanation to why the GCCC falsely identified their pet wrongly in the first place?
Wow, Gold Coast City Council how smart do you feel now!
Wow, Gold Coast City Council how smart do you feel now!
The QLD Government’s Honourable Desley Boyle, Minister for Local Government and Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Partnerships who has had two terms as Minister for Local Government over the past 7 years, and Mr Logan Timms, Senior Policy Officer of the Department of Infrastructure and Planning, have been placed in this situation by the GCCC. They are in a stalemate situation; it’s finally up to the dog owners in QLD to write to the Minister demanding that she fix this problem immediately, sack the GCCC or resign enabling hopefully another Minister to come up with a competent solution to fix this problem.
There is currently a case on the GCCC "Whereo" and "Mo" who were both placed under a destruction order by the Gold Coast City Council, Animal Management (Cats and Dog) Act 2008, section 127, Destruction Order.2010/01, Both dogs have been tested for Breed identification, known as BITSA which you are familiar with, and the results are:
Mo: Boston Terrier/ Golden Retriever
Whereo: Staffordshire Bull terrier/ Boxer
Both do not hold the cross breeding to be American Pit bull terriers (or American Staffordshire terriers either, same thing) so how is it that they were identified as American Pit bull terriers or restricted dogs or how have they broken the law?
Whereo: Staffordshire Bull terrier/ Boxer
Both do not hold the cross breeding to be American Pit bull terriers (or American Staffordshire terriers either, same thing) so how is it that they were identified as American Pit bull terriers or restricted dogs or how have they broken the law?
The first of many back cases to come forward.
The Gold Coast City Council's way of fixing a problem is to make the whole thing much, much, worse, just out of spite. The Gold Coast City Council, head of Animal Control Geoff Irwin, has over stepped his authority (Abuse of Power). (Putting out fires with petrol)
This Supreme Court decision has in effect, with the introduction of BITSA DNA testing, made the BSL section of the Animal Management (Cats and Dog) Act 2008, unworkable, therefore powerless and Ineffectual.
This Supreme Court decision has in effect, with the introduction of BITSA DNA testing, made the BSL section of the Animal Management (Cats and Dog) Act 2008, unworkable, therefore powerless and Ineffectual.
Just to show you, that not only do we know that the DNA test works here in Australia, but even in the USA their are other affected dog owners who have problems with councils trying to falsely identify their pets as Pit bulls.
Bad luck the whole world uses the internet and asked for help.
Open this and play from half way through, 3:25, Logan Timms, I think you will get the point.
Make sure the sound is on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Have fun watching
Bad luck the whole world uses the internet and asked for help.
Open this and play from half way through, 3:25, Logan Timms, I think you will get the point.
Make sure the sound is on.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?
Have fun watching
Mr Logan Timms, Senior Policy Officer of the Department of Infrastructure and Planning, has been made fully aware of this case for well over a month and has done???
Contact Mr Logan Timms on 3033 0594 or email logan.timms@dip.qld.gov.au , logan.timms@dlgsr.qld.gov.au .
Contact Minister Desley Boyle on (07) 3227 8819 or email LGATSIP@ministerial.qld.gov.au
Contact Mr Dale Dickson, Chief Executive Officer, Gold Coast City Council, PO Box 5042, Gold Coast MC 9729, gcccmail@goldcoast.qld.gov.au
Contact Colette McCool, Directory of Community Services, Gold Coast City Council
cmccool@goldcoast.qld.gov.au
Contact Colette McCool, Directory of Community Services, Gold Coast City Council
cmccool@goldcoast.qld.gov.au
Yours Sincerely,
Kylie Chivers co/owner of Tango
How is this going to effect your members, any ACO who has used the false syetem of identification of a suspected Pit bull terrier, by way of the 22 point checklist, may loose their house.
Saturday, July 10, 2010
I have just finished watching Hachi
I have just finished watching Hachi, the loyal dog, a beautiful story about a dog's love and loyalty for his master. It was a very moving story and certainly brought a tear to my eye. If you love dogs , you would love this movie. I have heard of stories where dog know when their owners are coming home, it certainly something you could not teach a dog. There was something special about this dog, The owner could not teach him to play fetch, but Hatchi knew when his owner was coming home and would always wait. I love dogs for their sense of loyalty, a sense of loyalty in dogs is often greater than it is in Humans and that is why we love them so much. This is definitely will be one of my favourite movies.
Friday, July 9, 2010
What kind of Dog household do you live in?
Below is an article from Dog diaries about the kind of house hold we live in.
My house hold is more like a B household, maybe a C, Our Labrador "Rainbow" sleeps outside, but "Ruff ruff" sleeps under our bed,Our dogs mostly eat Eukanuba Dog Food, but also get plenty of treats, such as liver treats and pig ears. If I was home for the day , like the weekend the dogs might get walked twice daily, usaully it is to the same spot, a big park where they are free to run. But some busy days they can also miss out.
Please read the article below and tell us about your dog household.
Leave a comment telling us how pampered your dog is to win a Chew Toy and Food Bowl! The most original comment will win! Be sure to include a valid email address so we can contact you about your prize. The promotion ends on the 19th of July and the winner will be announced on Friday the 30th of July 2010.
Obviously each of us love our pooch dearly, and want to create the most loving home environment, yet lately, what experts are calling ‘petocracies’ are becoming more and more prevalent in Australian households. A Petocracy is a pet-democracy…where your furry friend has equal (or sometimes more) say in the way the household is run than its human inhabitants. To find out if your home is a petocracy, take our fun, easy quiz and discover whether you’ve been usurped as ruler of your roost!
It’s bedtime. You:
a) Put your dog outside for the night
b) Send him to bed in his dog-bed in the laundry
c) Let him curl up at the foot of your bed…he’s a good foot warmer!
d) Plump up the pillow in your bed that he likes to sleep on and make sure he has most of the blankets.
Your dog’s diet consists of:
a) Dry food only
b) Mostly dry food, with chicken necks, bones and other morsels as occasional treats
c) A mixture of dry and wet food, with daily treats and a specially-designed eating plan to keep him interested and fit.
d) It depends on the day of the week. He likes steak on Mondays, liver on Tuesdays, and I bake him little foie gras biscuits on Wednesday….
How often do you walk your dog?
a) Two or three times a week
b) Once a day, with a bit of a run in the dog park.
c) Twice a day, being sure to change up the locations so he stays interested.
d) However often he feels like it. When he is too tired to walk I carry him in my doggy backpack so he can still experience the scenery.
The rules you have for your dog are:
a) Very strict—dogs need discipline otherwise they get carried away.
b) Fairly strict—he knows who is boss but sometimes gets away with things for being so cute!
c) Quite lax—he knows how to get what he wants by using his puppy charm.
d) No watching Law and Order (the theme song bothers him), no staying out past 9pm (he gets lonely) and no chocolate in the house (it’s dangerous for dogs)….Oh, you meant what rules do I have for the dog….
Now for the tally…
Mostly As:
You’re from the old school, and believe that dogs need to firmly know their place and respect their masters. You’re diligent in setting up boundaries for your pet and value obedience, loyalty and good behaviour. This is a perfectly acceptable attitude towards dog ownership, just remember to let your hair down and have some fun with your pooch…after all, it’s what they’re best at!
Mostly Bs:
While discipline is important to you, you recognise the importance of a pooch needing to fit in with the family’s lifestyle, not the other way around. You can’t help but indulge your furry friend every once in a while and you like to be organised in your approach to having a pet.
Mostly Cs:
Your dog is an important member of your family and you consider its needs as a high priority. You work hard to ensure your pooch’s happiness and probably sacrifice a lot of time to its care…which is worth it for you because of the love and affection you get back in return.
Mostly Ds:
Oh, Mostly Ds, what are we going to do with you? You’ve given complete control over to your canine commander–whoops, sorry—companion, but we’ll forgive you because, well, we love dogs too! Just make sure you try to set some boundaries, as dogs do respect leadership and need to know what behaviour is acceptable.
Don’t Forget!
Leave a comment telling us how pampered your dog is to win a Chew Toy and Food Bowl!
Images by sucka74, nawtydawg and Photography by Ruben
My house hold is more like a B household, maybe a C, Our Labrador "Rainbow" sleeps outside, but "Ruff ruff" sleeps under our bed,Our dogs mostly eat Eukanuba Dog Food, but also get plenty of treats, such as liver treats and pig ears. If I was home for the day , like the weekend the dogs might get walked twice daily, usaully it is to the same spot, a big park where they are free to run. But some busy days they can also miss out.
Please read the article below and tell us about your dog household.
Leave a comment telling us how pampered your dog is to win a Chew Toy and Food Bowl! The most original comment will win! Be sure to include a valid email address so we can contact you about your prize. The promotion ends on the 19th of July and the winner will be announced on Friday the 30th of July 2010.
Obviously each of us love our pooch dearly, and want to create the most loving home environment, yet lately, what experts are calling ‘petocracies’ are becoming more and more prevalent in Australian households. A Petocracy is a pet-democracy…where your furry friend has equal (or sometimes more) say in the way the household is run than its human inhabitants. To find out if your home is a petocracy, take our fun, easy quiz and discover whether you’ve been usurped as ruler of your roost!
It’s bedtime. You:
a) Put your dog outside for the night
b) Send him to bed in his dog-bed in the laundry
c) Let him curl up at the foot of your bed…he’s a good foot warmer!
d) Plump up the pillow in your bed that he likes to sleep on and make sure he has most of the blankets.
Your dog’s diet consists of:
a) Dry food only
b) Mostly dry food, with chicken necks, bones and other morsels as occasional treats
c) A mixture of dry and wet food, with daily treats and a specially-designed eating plan to keep him interested and fit.
d) It depends on the day of the week. He likes steak on Mondays, liver on Tuesdays, and I bake him little foie gras biscuits on Wednesday….
How often do you walk your dog?
a) Two or three times a week
b) Once a day, with a bit of a run in the dog park.
c) Twice a day, being sure to change up the locations so he stays interested.
d) However often he feels like it. When he is too tired to walk I carry him in my doggy backpack so he can still experience the scenery.
The rules you have for your dog are:
a) Very strict—dogs need discipline otherwise they get carried away.
b) Fairly strict—he knows who is boss but sometimes gets away with things for being so cute!
c) Quite lax—he knows how to get what he wants by using his puppy charm.
d) No watching Law and Order (the theme song bothers him), no staying out past 9pm (he gets lonely) and no chocolate in the house (it’s dangerous for dogs)….Oh, you meant what rules do I have for the dog….
Now for the tally…
Mostly As:
You’re from the old school, and believe that dogs need to firmly know their place and respect their masters. You’re diligent in setting up boundaries for your pet and value obedience, loyalty and good behaviour. This is a perfectly acceptable attitude towards dog ownership, just remember to let your hair down and have some fun with your pooch…after all, it’s what they’re best at!
Mostly Bs:
While discipline is important to you, you recognise the importance of a pooch needing to fit in with the family’s lifestyle, not the other way around. You can’t help but indulge your furry friend every once in a while and you like to be organised in your approach to having a pet.
Mostly Cs:
Your dog is an important member of your family and you consider its needs as a high priority. You work hard to ensure your pooch’s happiness and probably sacrifice a lot of time to its care…which is worth it for you because of the love and affection you get back in return.
Mostly Ds:
Oh, Mostly Ds, what are we going to do with you? You’ve given complete control over to your canine commander–whoops, sorry—companion, but we’ll forgive you because, well, we love dogs too! Just make sure you try to set some boundaries, as dogs do respect leadership and need to know what behaviour is acceptable.
Don’t Forget!
Leave a comment telling us how pampered your dog is to win a Chew Toy and Food Bowl!
Images by sucka74, nawtydawg and Photography by Ruben
What kind of Cat household do you live in? Best comment wins
This is a quiz from Bayer about what kind of pet house hold you live in. Read the article below and leave a comment on the Bayer website.
I would have to say that I would mostly be a B cat owner, my cat lives in the garage, as he does not like our Jack Russell. We love Aussie our cat, but he has to fit into our busy household with 3 children, and two dogs. Aussie now mostly lives in our front garden and comes in of a night time to the garage. The best thing about this is Aussie often greets me first when I drive home, I open the car door and he jumps in for a pat and a head rub.
Last night he actually came inside and sat on my lap as I watched TV. Ruff Ruff was hiding in my bedroom, so Aussie felt comfortable in the house, it was great to have a purring creature on my lap, for change than a panting one.
Leave a comment telling us how pampered your cat is to win a Cat Igloo! The most original comment will win! Be sure to include a valid email address so we can contact you about your prize. The promotion ends on the 19th of July and the winner will be announced on Friday the 30th of July 2010.
Obviously each of us loves our kitty dearly, and want to create the most loving home environment, yet lately, what experts are calling ‘petocracies’ are becoming more and more prevalent in Australian households. A Petocracy is a pet-run democracy…where your furry friend has equal (or sometimes more) say in the way the household is run than its human inhabitants. To find out if your home is a petocracy, take our fun, easy quiz and discover whether you’ve been usurped as ruler of your roost!
It’s bedtime. You:
a) Put your cat outside for the night
b) Send him to bed in his cat-bed in the laundry
c) Let him curl up at the foot of your bed…he’s a good foot warmer!
d) Plump up the pillow in your bed that he likes to sleep on and make sure he has most of the blankets.
Your cat’s diet consists of:
a) Dry food only
b) Mostly dry food, with other morsels as occasional treats
c) A mixture of dry and wet food, with daily treats and a specially-designed eating plan to keep him interested and fit.
d) It depends on the day of the week. He likes steak on Mondays, liver on Tuesdays, and I bake him little foie gras biscuits on Wednesday….
Regarding drinking water for your cat:
a) He knows where his bowl is, and it is always full
b) You change his water regularly to keep it fresh
c) After each drink you tip out the bowl, clean it, and refill it with purified water
d) He doesn’t like his bowl so you strategically place cups around the house and leave the bathroom tap dripping…that’s his favourite.
The rules you have for your cat are:
a) Very strict—animals need discipline otherwise they get carried away.
b) Fairly strict—he knows who is boss but sometimes gets away with things for being so cute!
c) Quite lax—he knows how to get what he wants by using his kitten charm.
d) No watching Law and Order (the theme song bothers him), no staying out past 9pm (he gets lonely) and no dogs in the house (naturally)….Oh, you meant what rules do I have for the cat….
Now for the tally…
Mostly As:
You’re from the old school, and believe that cats need to firmly know their place and respect their masters. You’re diligent in setting up boundaries for your pet and value obedience, loyalty and good behaviour. This is a perfectly acceptable attitude towards cat ownership, just remember to let your hair down and have some fun with your moggie…after all, it’s what they’re best at!
Mostly Bs:
While discipline is important to you, you recognise the importance of a pet needing to fit in with the family’s lifestyle, not the other way around. You can’t help but indulge your furry friend every once in a while and you like to be organised in your approach to having a pet.
Mostly Cs:
Your cat is an important member of your family and you consider its needs as a high priority. You work hard to ensure your pet’s happiness and probably sacrifice a lot of time to its care…which is worth it for you because of the love and affection you get back in return.
Mostly Ds:
Oh, Mostly Ds, what are we going to do with you? You’ve given complete control over to your kitty commander–whoops, sorry—companion, but we’ll forgive you because, well, we love cats too! Just make sure you try to set some boundaries, as pets do respect leadership and need to know what behaviour is acceptable.
Don’t forget to leave a comment telling us how pampered your cat is to win a Cat Igloo! The most original comment will win!
To leave a comment for this competition Click HERE
Images by polandeze, Matthew Yaktine and jen-the-librarian
I would have to say that I would mostly be a B cat owner, my cat lives in the garage, as he does not like our Jack Russell. We love Aussie our cat, but he has to fit into our busy household with 3 children, and two dogs. Aussie now mostly lives in our front garden and comes in of a night time to the garage. The best thing about this is Aussie often greets me first when I drive home, I open the car door and he jumps in for a pat and a head rub.
Last night he actually came inside and sat on my lap as I watched TV. Ruff Ruff was hiding in my bedroom, so Aussie felt comfortable in the house, it was great to have a purring creature on my lap, for change than a panting one.
Leave a comment telling us how pampered your cat is to win a Cat Igloo! The most original comment will win! Be sure to include a valid email address so we can contact you about your prize. The promotion ends on the 19th of July and the winner will be announced on Friday the 30th of July 2010.
Obviously each of us loves our kitty dearly, and want to create the most loving home environment, yet lately, what experts are calling ‘petocracies’ are becoming more and more prevalent in Australian households. A Petocracy is a pet-run democracy…where your furry friend has equal (or sometimes more) say in the way the household is run than its human inhabitants. To find out if your home is a petocracy, take our fun, easy quiz and discover whether you’ve been usurped as ruler of your roost!
It’s bedtime. You:
a) Put your cat outside for the night
b) Send him to bed in his cat-bed in the laundry
c) Let him curl up at the foot of your bed…he’s a good foot warmer!
d) Plump up the pillow in your bed that he likes to sleep on and make sure he has most of the blankets.
Your cat’s diet consists of:
a) Dry food only
b) Mostly dry food, with other morsels as occasional treats
c) A mixture of dry and wet food, with daily treats and a specially-designed eating plan to keep him interested and fit.
d) It depends on the day of the week. He likes steak on Mondays, liver on Tuesdays, and I bake him little foie gras biscuits on Wednesday….
Regarding drinking water for your cat:
a) He knows where his bowl is, and it is always full
b) You change his water regularly to keep it fresh
c) After each drink you tip out the bowl, clean it, and refill it with purified water
d) He doesn’t like his bowl so you strategically place cups around the house and leave the bathroom tap dripping…that’s his favourite.
The rules you have for your cat are:
a) Very strict—animals need discipline otherwise they get carried away.
b) Fairly strict—he knows who is boss but sometimes gets away with things for being so cute!
c) Quite lax—he knows how to get what he wants by using his kitten charm.
d) No watching Law and Order (the theme song bothers him), no staying out past 9pm (he gets lonely) and no dogs in the house (naturally)….Oh, you meant what rules do I have for the cat….
Now for the tally…
Mostly As:
You’re from the old school, and believe that cats need to firmly know their place and respect their masters. You’re diligent in setting up boundaries for your pet and value obedience, loyalty and good behaviour. This is a perfectly acceptable attitude towards cat ownership, just remember to let your hair down and have some fun with your moggie…after all, it’s what they’re best at!
Mostly Bs:
While discipline is important to you, you recognise the importance of a pet needing to fit in with the family’s lifestyle, not the other way around. You can’t help but indulge your furry friend every once in a while and you like to be organised in your approach to having a pet.
Mostly Cs:
Your cat is an important member of your family and you consider its needs as a high priority. You work hard to ensure your pet’s happiness and probably sacrifice a lot of time to its care…which is worth it for you because of the love and affection you get back in return.
Mostly Ds:
Oh, Mostly Ds, what are we going to do with you? You’ve given complete control over to your kitty commander–whoops, sorry—companion, but we’ll forgive you because, well, we love cats too! Just make sure you try to set some boundaries, as pets do respect leadership and need to know what behaviour is acceptable.
Don’t forget to leave a comment telling us how pampered your cat is to win a Cat Igloo! The most original comment will win!
To leave a comment for this competition Click HERE
Images by polandeze, Matthew Yaktine and jen-the-librarian
Sunday, July 4, 2010
Memory Flowers, Pet loss books for children.
Last night I attended a launch for a new pet loss book for children, called Memory Flowers written by Donna Ellis. It is beautiful story about a family losing their pet dog "Charlie" and how as a family they dealt with the issues and the memory of a beloved family pet. The book is beautifully illustrated by Philippa Morton. The launch was a significant gathering of people who are concerned about pet loss. I met Dr David Foote, who is a vet that also does pet loss counselling, and I met Dr Tim Vivian another vet concerned about pet loss. He recalled a story where a upon the euthanasia of the pet, the child asked whether he would see the dog in heaven and before he could think of an answer the mother spoke up to say that they where Catholic and we don't believe that dogs go to heaven. I think this was a terrible thing for the mother to say to the child, the child's one comforting thought was denied by the mother. As a catholic I certainly believe there is room for belief in a heaven that contains our pets. There is a great book written by Jack Wintz " Will I see my dog in heaven" that outlines these beliefs. There was also a small speech by Dr Paula Barrett, A professor of educational Psychology, who explained that pet loss can be a very significant part of child's life and if handled correctly it provides transformational experience. I think Memory flowers would help children and parents do this.
The launch was a great celebration of two women working together to produce a great resource. The location was the Raw Gallery a great little inner city spot to have a few nibbles with a glass of wine. I wish the book great success. For more information on the book see Memory Flowers .
The launch was a great celebration of two women working together to produce a great resource. The location was the Raw Gallery a great little inner city spot to have a few nibbles with a glass of wine. I wish the book great success. For more information on the book see Memory Flowers .
Friday, June 25, 2010
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/
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/
Tuesday, June 8, 2010
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.
Monday, May 31, 2010
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
Monday, May 10, 2010
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
Other products available that do the same
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