Pet Sitting, Dog Walking, House Sitting – Gold Coast

Posts Tagged ‘animal safety’

You can love him or loathe him however the one thing we can all agree upon is:

…he is a public figure that the general public believe when he speaks about animal issues because he’s a vet, he has his own tv show etc and so in doing a story on puppy farms [ factories ] and talking to people like Debra Tranter it has brought it more to the general public’s attention, which is fantastic.

If you missed the original segment (like me) – here is the YouTube video of it:

A lot of people are now asking “HOW CAN I HELP ?”  - this has stirred something within them.  Whether it was because they honestly didn’t know they existed or they did however only NOW want to help… it is all welcome.

1. Sign the Petition started by the RSPCA + share it with as many people as you can

2. Act now to help make Oscar’s Law a reality !  (What is Oscar’s Law?)

3. Support the Pet Stores/Shops that are External Rehoming Centres (only “selling” shelter animals)

If you cannot do number 3, the alternative is to only shop at stores/shops that do not sell pets at all.  You hold a lot of power as a consumer, use your dollars wisely.

4. Write to the Pet Industry Association of Australia to tell them to stop allowing their Pet Store/Shop members to “sell” pets unless they’re from a REPUTABLE breeder or shelter (that’s it). Inform them that you (as a consumer) find it absolutely disgusting that such an organisation like theirs would even allow the selling of potential puppy factory pets (as they have stated that one of the sources they allow is “accidental births from the public” – it shouldn’t be tolerated!!)

5. Tell as many of your friends, family, etc to only buy from REPUTABLE registered breeders. The breeder has to have a good reputation not just be registered… if a person “must” have a “pure bred” dog.

6. Volunteer your time or foster with your local shelter or any animal welfare type organisation

How will you help ?

Are there any other ways we all can help minimise puppy factories ?

Do you support the ban of pets being sold within pet stores/shops (only shelter animals) ?

Beloved pet baited – a cruel and painful death

by RSPCA Qld Inc. on Monday, 13 September 2010 at 15:04

RSPCA Qld is appealing for help in finding the person who baited Bronx, a nine month old Dachshund, at Jodie Court in Mermaid Waters on August 14th.

The nine month old de-sexed male was seen in the backyard eating what appeared to be mince in the early hours of the morning. Knowing that she hadn’t given this to him, Bronx’s owner ran out and found what appeared to be white powder mixed in with the mince. Within ten minutes Bronx started to convulse and was rushed to the vet. Within 40 minutes of arriving he had a further six fits and died. Bronx didn’t stand a chance.

Last Friday pathology reports handed to the RSPCA indicated that he had been poisoned with an extremely high dose of strychnine. This would also have proved fatal to a child and possibly even an adult. Humans and other animals can be poisoned by inhalation, swallowing or absorption through the eyes or mouth.

“Strychnine produces some of the most dramatic and painful symptoms of any known toxic reaction,” said RSPCA Qld Inspector Sommer Heath Crilley. “The road to eventual death is excruciating.”

Anyone with any information can contact RSPCA Qld’s Cruelty Complaints hotline on 1300 852 188

{ link to original post is here – this is authentic }

It is wonderful to have pets in our homes; they help us relax on stressful days. For some of us, pets are our only reliable companions. Our pet dogs not only will help us relax and provide companionship that we need, they also guard our property. There are so many other benefits in owning a pet. However, there are number of complications as well in owning pets. Even though we may not be extensive travelers, there might be occasions in life that would force us to travel for a couple of days or we might like to take a vacation for a week to rejuvenate ourselves after a stressful year. In all these situations life can get bit complicated when we own a dog or other pets because travel and pets or vacation and pets are very bad combinations. Not all our friends may be that passionate about having to visit your home to help care for your pets. We cannot travel with our pets either in most situations. How do we handle such situations?

This is where the role of Professional Pet Sitters comes into play. These days we can get professional pet sitters who will be interested in taking care of our pets ( for a fee ) while we are away. This service creates a win-win situation for both parties. You, as the pet owner, can have stress free travel with the thought that your pets are being taken care of and that they are safe and at the same time the professional pet carer too continue doing what they love to do.

Professional Pet Sitting is becoming one of the most popular services these days as the number of people who own pets is also increasing day by day. Soon we will need more pet carers than baby sitters. More and more people realize the benefits of having a pet at home. Though there are some discomforts and responsibilities that come with it, families are still interested in owning pets. Services like Professional Pet Sitting come as a very timely service for pet lovers.

As founder of the Network of Professional Pet Carers, I can attest to the fact that the number of pet sitters are also increasing !  Only because there is an increasing demand for this type of service. Professional Pet Sitters will take care of all your pets needs, they will provide your pet with food and water at regular intervals and ensure that they are fed in a healthy way. They will also spend time with your pet engaging them in playful activities and give them the exercise that they need so that when you are back you will not find a depressed and hungry pet but a happy and active pet.

With Professional Pet Sitting services, you don’t have to worry about putting your dog with other animals in the kennel boarding where they can contract infections or where they can be bullied by stronger dogs. (The same can be said about catteries.) It is important that you should find a reliable and experienced Professional Pet Sitter in your locality.

If Gold Coast Pet Sitting cannot be of service, as Founder of the Network of Professional Pet Carers Gold Coast, I can have a variety of other professional service providers contact you or you can easily find a Professional Pet Sitter in your suburb by using the Network’s website, which has a comprehensive database of Professional Pet Sitters in almost all the Gold Coast. Visit www.goldcoastpets.com.au/petwise to find your Professional Pet Sitter today.

Contact Vanessa at Gold Coast Pet Sitting for your free no obligation quote !

Danielle "Bella" Vasta

I just need for you to come by for 10 minutes to let my dog outside.

My cat only needs a visit every second day.

My cat is an outdoor cat, you only need to check the food and water.

I’ve got Guinea Pigs/Rats/Snakes that only require you to come by every other day.

How much will that be?

By Bella Vasta [ SOURCE ]

I have been getting this question frequently these days. More people are looking to cut costs, which is understandable if you are one of those people who believe everything that is written in the newspaper or heard on the TV. However – especially in these times, can one really cut short the care they give to their home and pets?

Being a professional pet sitting company it is our DUTY to our clients to take our job seriously. In my own mind taking it seriously means having enough time at a home to accurately deal, assess, and care for our clients homes and pets. Our home, is our sanctuary, place we can feel at ease, please where you are safe. Our pets, are members of our family! Cutting cost on the care of one’s home or pets while they are not there is one of the biggest risks one could take when they go away. They could come back to NO home!

Things that HAVE happened in the past 7 years while I have been a pet sitter:

Four legged client was peeing blood. A trip to the emergency vet proved initially that it was a bladder infection. Further investigation showed that it was a tumor inside the pet and it was cancer.

Children left the sugar cereal out leaving a 40 ft trail of ants leading all the way from a crack outside into the kitchen. Those creatures are amazing! We were able to get an exterminator over before they infested the whole home!

A client, while in their back yard WITH their pet has had a hawk swoop down and carry away their beloved pet! This ended tragically.

I have been on walks where we have encountered javalina. Throwing stones will scare them, unless you encounter a mama with her cubs.

I have pulled up to a home where there was a BOBCAT trotting around the front walk way. Imagine if the client had a doggy door and a small pet?

Another clients home was very warm in one area of the home. It was a wing that I wasn’t even doing overnights in. Although because I was able to notice the change in tempature and get a AC Repair Company, the SPARK that the shortage casued didn’t start a fire because we were there to stop it before it got worse.

So may things have happened over the years. Imagine if there was just a friend running in and out of your home? Or better yet – a neighborhood child who checks on your pets when they “happen” to remember to go over?

I can readily think of some very real and recent cases myself of neglect by friends and/or neighbours:

I was hired to do the morning visits and the client was relying upon his neighbour to do the afternoon visits.  All the food had already been ‘made’ for each morning and afternoon visit (for which I was thankful).  On my last morning visit the neighbour walks through the gate and is surprised to see me (and vice versa).  He was a bit confused.  It seems he had not done ANY of the afternoon visits and got his wires crossed in regards to key access to the property (didn’t remember the instructions properly).  I’m lucky the dog was otherwise healthy (as I do a snout to tail assessment), had plenty of water and was fed by me routinely each morning.

Another where the neighbour had been asked to check in on the puppy. I was only hired to do the afternoon visits.  This was obviously not enough or else the puppy had not be adequately exercised !  The puppy was trying to dig his way out under (and thus through) the front gate/door.  I noticed this and took steps to at least try to make it a lot harder for the puppy to continue digging in this particular spot.  The neighbour obviously had only really thrown him some food and left it at that to the detriment of the puppy.  If the puppy had been properly exercised (a good long run/walk), it wouldn’t have been as destructive between visits.

Another client hired me as a dog walker even though they had someone being a house sitter because they didn’t trust the house sitter was adequately exercising their dogs.

This is a very serious matter. Our small fee can really help give you the peace of mind that you can come home to your home in once peace and your fur baby healthy.

The following quote from Bella in her blog post is especially true for Gold Coast Pet Sitting even though we charge based on time – it is not unheard of for us to spend extra time with the animals in our care whenever possible.  Our first priority is the animals + if we need to spend a little extra time at a booking for whatever reason we will.  We all work together as a team.

We are a professional pet sitting company and I take this very seriously. … We are there for however long it takes to ensure that the routine for your pet has been preformed, they are happy and your home is safe. If they decide to take a longer walk, make a mess that we need to clean up, plants need to be watered, this is all included in our fee. We are a professional company, providing a professional service.

by Dr Michael Woodcock

Throughout the year in this Hinterland region of the Gold Coast we will find paralysis ticks on our animals. We can also find other ticks – commonly known as cattle ticks, scrub ticks and brown dog ticks.  It is very important to identify the type of tick you find because the paralysis tick can kill your pet within 3 – 4 days !

….

In our area the most common time to find ticks about is from July through to January. The tick prefers this Spring into Summer period and is often predominant after a period of rainy weather. The tick does not seem to be able to handle the extreme heat of Summer in the January/February period and after March numbers reduce as we head into Autumn.  In some areas like Tamborine Mountain [and West Gold Coast - Bonogin, Cangura, Advancetown] they can be found year round due to the cooler, more wet rainforest areas.

The above is an excerpt from the first few pages within Dr Michael’s “Tick” 10 page eBook ! If you want to be prepared this tick season (they are active!), download this eBook (click here) !

Please note: If you are accessing this blog via an iPhone or iPad, as the eBook is in “flash” (.swf) format you will need to use an alternative device (iMac or Macbook or Macbook Pro etc) to read it.  For everyone else, you may need to download Adobe Flash Player to view this ebook. Most computers should however, already have this free program.

Author: Dr Michael Woodcock

The Vet Lounge promise to offer services based on what’s best for your pet. They’re family owned thus able to offer personalised care to all animals: Dogs, cats, birds, snakes, guinea pigs, mice, rats, lizards, turtles, horses, goats, ducks!

WEBSITE: http://www.vetlounge.com.au/

Gold Coast! While we are experiencing strong, windy conditions, make sure your animals have  their collars and tags on, or even better – keep them inside for the night. This will ensure there are no escapees due to fear or stress.

FROM the Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology

A deepening low over the south-west Tasman Sea will continue to produce a tight pressure gradient over the south-east corner of Queensland.

Expect west to southwest winds with gusts to near 90 kph especially about the higher ground.

The State Emergency Service advises that people in the affected area should:

· secure loose outdoor items

· beware of fallen trees and powerlines