Pets

When soldiers put their lives on the front line, long-term health challenges are almost inevitable, but assistance dogs are improving both the physical and mental wellbeing of those in need. Birchip resident Mr Jonathan (Jonny) Kemp has recently completed training with Integra Service Dogs Australia, becoming the custodian of an Integra-owned assistance dog named Capri.

One 11 year-old Jack Russell female named Elizabeth, for scaring her parents and causing trouble. Worming day...dogs line up for treats...

Maldon Golf Club wants the dog-owners of Maldon to know that they can enjoy the lush grassy golf course with their furry friend if they take out a ‘recreational membership.’ The scheme has been in place for about five years after the club realised that many options for off-leash pooch play were being removed in the region.

As the weather warms up the incidents of snake sightings being shared has increased. Hay Veterinary Clinic’s Wayne Gardam says snake "season" is shaping up to be a particularly bad one for domestic pets, with about twice as many patients as usual being presented to the Hay Veterinary Clinic for treatment for snake bite since September.

Catherine and Neil Tait are opening their gates to the public and all the proceeds will be donated to Regional Community Vet Clinic (RCVC). The gorgeous garden at ‘Stringy Bark Hill’ in McKenzie Hill (between Castlemaine and Muckleford) is offered as part of the Castlemaine and District Festival of Gardens ...

People love their pets, and although most will agree their furry, feathered or scaled companion is already a blessing in itself, the Donald Anglican church held a blessing of the animals service ... Rev Judi Bird conducted the service, demonstrating the Lord's love for “all creatures great and small” with many beloved little critters in attendance, including budgies, dogs and even a guinea pig.

The life of a country veterinarian is not an easy one and for Dr Lisa Clarke, the days can be long and the work can be dangerous. Lisa and her mobile vet service,The Roving Vet, can also clock up nearly 1000 km every week as zig zags across WA’s Great Southern from Albany to Walpole. And, with so much time spent in her vehicle, it’s a good thing Lisa has Plum, her “trusty secretary” with her wherever she goes.

Eric, the male Scottish Terrier, thinks the sun shines out of our son. No one else matters. I am just the housemaid. I am permitted to feed him and say nice things and open and shut doors for him, but if my son appears... I cease to exist.

Recently an episode of Radio National’s ‘The History Listen’ discussed the kangaroo dogs that were first bred about 1800 in Sydney by crossing Scottish deerhounds with greyhounds. Their ability to hunt and kill kangaroos provided early colonists with a plentiful supply of fresh meat.

Get ready for a paw-some day at the inaugural 2024 Pet Expo this weekend. The expo features 35 pet-related stalls, free kids’ activities, plus plenty of fun for dogs, and is held at the Robert Schwarten Outdoor Pavilion from 9am to 3pm...

The Directors of the Regional Community Vet Clinic (RCVC) are delighted to announce that after years of hard work to find a suitable location, they have finally secured a permanent home to build their clinic. The clinic, which will be wholly owned by RCVC, will be the first Not-for-Profit community veterinary clinic in regional Victoria.

As if celebrating 75 years of petal power was not enough this year the Toowoomba Carnival of Flowers features Petals and Pups – an official dog-friendly program, completely dedicated to hounds and their humans. The dog friendly program is a salute to Toowoomba’s first canine Ambassadog, ‘Puppy’ the Pomeranian, who led the very first grand parade all those years ago.

A hi-tech and eerily lifelike canine mannequin is giving aspiring veterinary nurses at TAFE NSW Yallah priceless hands-on experience. A state-of-the-art canine mannequin imported from the US recently arrived at the campus, allowing animal studies and vet nursing students to practice important clinical skills, such as intubating, CPR, bandaging, and even ear cleaning.

For seven years, Frontier Pets grew its pet food business from a warehouse in Evans Head. That expansion has been so successful, the business has moved to larger premises in Brisbane.

It wasn’t my best day. Revisiting your old neighbourhood can be a bittersweet experience. It's amazing how many memories come flooding back, and how different things can seem at the same time.

A huge collection of gorgeous Rosettes were handed out to the winners along with dozens of prizes and even dozens of Farm Fresh Eggs! Southern Downs Ark attended with some of their rescues for adoption ...

God was so unfair to pigs when he made them so tasty... they are as intelligent as any dog, make great companions, and if only roast crackling wasn’t so delicious, they might have a far happier life. Nigel did ... Nigel was a little black piglet that arrived in a little box, a gift from my father supposedly to be fattened up and dispatched for Christmas dinner.

People who think all dogs are the same really have no idea. Like humans, each is totally different, each has their own personality ... Eric is a gentleman ... Pink is sunshine ... Trudy a worrier ... Then there's Mary Queen of Scots ...

Michelle Daw. About 50 people showed their interest in helping to nurture the guide dogs of the future when they took part in a puppy raising seminar in Moonta this month. The event was held by Guide Dogs SA/ NT at the Vietnam Veterans Association of Australia Copper Coast sub branch ... It is the first time the puppy raising program has been extended beyond metropolitan Adelaide.

Sparrow the greyhound took all the fuss in her stride last Thursday when she was feted as the 600th greyhound to graduate from the Greyhound Adoption Program (GAP) at Tarrengower Prison ... The program works like this: four retired racing greyhounds are delivered to Tarrengower and four women are given the responsibility of training each dog over a four week period ... "You have to remember that these dogs have never been inside a house..."

People who love dogs often love gardens, and often, keeping mental peace while loving the two can be fraught. Many people have written stories about the perils of dogs and plants ... Doctor Seuss ... Banjo Paterson wrote a poem called “A dog’s mistake” ... Pam Ayres also struck trouble ... Enter Agnes…

Tennant Creek Women’s Refuge provides vital support for women escaping domestic violence; in many cases, these women and children have had to leave behind treasured possessions or much-loved pets. Recently the Refuge was gifted three baby rabbits, which were unfortunately orphaned when their mother died, and are looking to build a suitable enclosure ...