Companion Animal Network Australia’s Positive Ageing in the Care of Animals project continues to reap great results.

Diane Butler recently wrote to tell us how one of the companion animals assisted by our project, a 7-year-old Tonkinese cat called Gemma, brings real and continuing benefits to the life of her mum, Nancy Albon, who resides at the Ozcare Ozanam Villa aged care facility, Burleigh Heads, on Queensland’s Gold Coast.

Here’s what Diane had to say:

Gemma was always a very athletic outdoors cat, so we were always a bit worried about how she would adapt to living indoors. Gemma has now been at Ozanam for over two years and, fortunately, she loves all the attention she gets from the residents and staff. She really enjoys the concerts and bus trips, and she even goes to church with Mum. She is a very blessed little cat.

Gemma sits on Mum's walker and they often go and visit the residents in high care, who respond affectionately when Gemma gives them a little kiss on the hand. She is great therapy for the people who are bed-ridden. Mum is known as the Cat Lady -- but everyone knows who Gemma is.

Mum is very content now that she has Gemma for company and they even sit up and watch TV together. Sometimes Gemma likes to play games with Mum, and it’s amazing the places she finds to hide in Mum's room or the wardrobe, as she has worked out how to open and close the doors.

Although Gemma gets plenty of exercise walking on the lead outside, we sometimes send her on a little holiday to the Catarama boarding home where she can run around in an enclosure and climb trees. However this can only be for a couple of days at a time as Mum misses her too much and starts to fret.

The family is forever grateful to Ozanam for allowing Gemma to stay with Mum as she is a great companion and she brings a lot of joy to everyone.

For more information about Australia CAN’s Positive Ageing in the Care of Animals project, go to http://petfriendlyagedcare.com.au/

A large number of Australians describe themselves as ‘animal lovers’.

For many, the term helps to explain their close bond with companion animals such as dogs and cats.

For others, it is a way of expressing the joy and satisfaction that they feel when interacting with wildlife or animals in need of help.

Two South Australian researchers are investigating the perceptions and meanings that we humans attach to our relationships with animals.

Dr Nik Taylor and Dr Heather Fraser of Flinders University in Adelaide say they are keen to dig deeper than stereotypical terms such as ‘animal lover’. They want to know how such people truly feel about their animals and how they describe these relationships.

The study provides the opportunity for participants to represent their stories through photos, poems, videos, paintings, stories and writing.

To this end, the researchers have set up a website where animal lovers can post their accounts, with the emphasis on being creative and having fun.

There have been many amazing posts since the study was launched late last year. Some are sad and others funny, but all of the tales are uplifting.

For example, an animal lover with a psychiatric illness writes about her pet dog: ”When I'm unwell, he stands by me and does not judge. The importance of friendship, love and companionship that my dog provides is beyond words.’’

Typical of many stories is a post headed “I need him as much as he needs me’’, in which a dog owner writes tenderly of the ‘’companionship and therapy’’ that she derives from caring for her pet.

To contribute to this study on the meanings people make of their relationships with animals, you need to be over 15 years of age and respect the welfare and rights of animals.

Visit whatisitaboutanimals.com to find out more.

Introducing Saxon, a beautiful dog who once knew what it was to be homeless and afraid. Now living happily in Tasmania, Saxon is pictured below wearing a Canine Commendation for Service medal, awarded by the Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania in recognition of the hope and joy he brings to kids and staff at Childhood Foundation Tasmania.

Saxon’s award celebrates his gentleness and kindness, helping children and adults feel calm and loved in his presence. Saxon provides hope to all at the Childhood Foundation, teaching trust, tolerance and unconditional love. State Manager of the Childhood Foundation, Caroline Brown explains…

Saxon assists on the ‘counselling team’, helping people on a wide range of issues. In undertaking this work Saxon demonstrates unconditional love and kindness, teaching people about a wide range of emotions including patience, empathy and compassion. He also teaches people about safe relationships and helps them to manage anxiety in home and school settings.

Saxon is in demand by other counsellors who appreciate the way Saxon assists in counselling their own clients.  The humans that Saxon works with all love him and request to see him so often that he has his own diary of appointments!

 

When Saxon is working he comes into the office and he brings with him a calming influence that assists the counsellors and other staff to do what is often difficult and emotionally demanding work.  Saxon is a most well behaved and tolerant dog.  For example, when we have morning tea in the office he never tries to take food from the table even though it is well within his reach.

He always waits patiently for a little treat to be offered to him, which his numerous “aunties” are more than happy to provide!

Saxon is a valued member of our counselling team and he is a pleasure to have around the office.  We are all so proud of his Canine Commendation Award and our thanks go to the Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania for recognising Saxon’s achievements.

Supporting Aged Care Residents and Pets through the
2014 AWLA Pets in Aged Care Grants Program

The human-animal bond can make a powerful difference to the lives and well-being of people of all ages - and it can have a particularly positive and meaningful impact for older people transitioning into aged care accommodation and the next stage of their lives.

Breaking the human-animal bond apart when an older person is going into care can have a considerable impact for both resident and pet. Separating elderly residents from their animal companions when their pets cannot be accommodated in aged care facilities can lead to significant grief at a time already marked by a profound sense of loss and sadness, and lead to a range of health  problems, sleep and appetite disturbances and integration difficulties.

Some elderly people in the community who can no longer care for themselves are unwilling to leave their homes because they are not permitted to take their pets with them to supported accommodation. Outcomes for their animals vary, with some animals re-homed, others surrendered to shelters and some euthanased.

In recognition of the vital role companion animals can play in the lives of aged care residents and the ongoing costs associated with keeping companion animals in aged care facilities, Animal Welfare League Australia developed the AWLA Pets in Aged Care Grants Program - a small grants funding program designed specifically to support aged care residents and their pets.

The program aims to provide residents with the practical means to cover costs, such as vet bills, grooming, dog walking, feeding, carer support, infrastructure projects or making minor modifications and additions to living quarters and communal areas to enable live-in arrangements.

Earlier this month, we were thrilled to announce the successful recipients of the inaugural AWLA Pets in Aged Care Grants. The grants will go toward a range of innovative and essential pet projects and costs to support aged care residents and their pets in aged care facilities across Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.

Click here for the full list of 2014 AWLA Pets in Aged Care Grant recipients and projects. 

The AWLA Pets in Aged Care Program is part of our broader AWLA Positive Ageing in the Company of Animals Project, which is working to identify successful models for keeping aged care residents and their pets together. As part of our ongoing commitment to supporting the human-animal bond and advocating for the rights of aged care residents to have companion animals, we will be soon be launching an online resource bank for aged care providers and older pet owners.

You can find out more about the AWLA Positive Ageing in the Company Project here.

Speak Up About Animal Testing in Cosmetics

As committed pet owners and lovers, we work hard to make sure our companion animals receive the very best that humans have to offer: nutritious food, adequate shelter, comfortable bedding, thorough grooming, regular exercise and plenty of cuddles.

Sadly, not all animals receive the same loving treatment from their human counterparts. Every year thousands of animals in laboratories around the world experience the very worst that humans have to offer: invasive and painful procedures for the sake of the human beauty industry.

Testing cosmetic products and ingredients on animals is both ethically unacceptable and unnecessary, with a large number of existing ingredients already certified safe for human use, and approved tests available to the industry which do not require testing to be carried out on animals.

While legislation prevents cosmetic testing from taking place within Australian laboratories, many products and ingredients that have been tested on animals around the world still find their way on to Australian shores and into Australian stores, shopping trolleys and homes.

Public and political support to put an end to cosmetics and cosmetic ingredients tested on animals is strengthening across the globe. Bans on animal testing have already been enacted by the EU, and China and the United States are in the process of developing similar legislation.

Potential change is also afoot here at home. The Australian Greens introduced the End Cruel Cosmetics Bill 2014 to Federal Parliament earlier this year, while the Australian Labor Party has instigated a national consultation on phasing out the importation, manufacture, sale and advertising of cosmetics and cosmetic ingredients tested on animals. The consultation process is open to all Australian with written submissions due by 29 August 2014

Animal Welfare League Australia (AWLA) acknowledges political commitment to this critical animal welfare issue and strongly supports a ban on the importation, manufacture, sale and advertising of cosmetics and cosmetic ingredients tested on animals.

Animals can’t speak up for themselves – but we can stand up and speak on their behalf.

TAKE ACTION and make a contribution to the Cosmetics & Animal Testing Policy Consultation today. Hurry, you only have to 29 August to have your voice heard.

 

It’s no secret that Australians love their companion animals. Research from the Animal Health Alliance shows that more than 63 percent of Australian households own an estimated 33 million pets, and that they spend a collective $8 million looking after them each week – a sure sign of the strong human-animal bond Aussies share with their pets.

Unfortunately, this loving bond doesn’t always stretch to having their pet desexed, or spayed as it sometimes known. Despite wanting the best for their furry friends and being aware of the many health benefits for pets that can result from the procedure, some pet owners still hesitate to have their pets desexed.

There are a number of reasons why pet owners avoid having their pets desexed. Many pet owners believe desexing is important but don’t think they need to get their own cat or dog desexed because they are always kept indoors or on a leash.  While this decision makes sense on the surface, desexing can still bring many benefits for indoor pets and their owners. Desexing indoor felines eliminates the unpleasant spraying that male cats will do indoors and reduces the crying sounds that female cats make when they are in heat.

Desexing also plays an important role for indoor dogs and their owners. We all know male dogs will do just about anything to get to a prospective mate. A male dog confined indoors is likely to try and escape to follow his natural instincts, increasing the risks he will roam the streets and get hit by a car, get lost or end up in the wrong hands, while having a female dog on heat in a confined space can bring behavioural changes and bleeding in the house. Desexing can eliminate and reduce these issues, making life much less stressful (and messy) for inside dogs and their human companions and also reduce the risk of indoor dogs developing prostate diseases, testicular cancer, uterus infections and mammary tumours.

Many pet owners want to have their pet desexed but worry the procedure will change their pet’s personality. This widespread myth is just that – a myth. Desexing will not change your pet’s basic personality, although it may lead to improvements in behaviour, playfulness, happiness and focus.

Some pet owners don’t have their pets desexed because they believe their pets are too young for the procedure, whereas early age desexing is readily available and the surgical procedure is actually less stressful on a younger pet. If the surgery can be carried out by the time a pet is four months old, it reduces many health risks and prevents the animal from contributing to pet overpopulation.

Perhaps one of the most common reasons cited by owners for skipping the desexing procedure is the cost of the surgery itself and the impact vets bill will have on their hip pocket. Desexing surgery does come with a cost attached, but popular discount desexing programs, like National Desexing Month which kicks off in July, can help bring the cost of desexing within reach and make surgery more affordable for pet owners. For more information about National Desexing Month, visit www.ndn.org.au

 

Companion Animal Network Australia is a proud supporter of National Desexing Month and strongly advocates for the desexing of companion animals. Find out more about our policies on desexing.

The Companion Animal Network Australia (formerly Animal Welfare League Australia, AWLA)  is proud to be supporting Workplace Giving Month in June and part of the national campaign to see 1 million workplace giving donors by 2020. An initiative of the Australian Charities Fund, the aim of Workplace Giving Month is to increase awareness of workplace giving and to recognise and celebrate the impact these donations make to the Australian community.

What is Workplace Giving?

Workplace giving allows employees to make regular charitable donations from their pre-tax pay through their employers payroll system.  The employee receives an immediate tax refund and is not required to keep a receipt. Employees each give small pre-tax amounts and collectively make a big difference. Australia CAN gains valuable donations, receiving 100% of donated funds.

Why participate in Workplace Giving?

Workplace giving is unique in its ability to bring together employees, employers and the charities they choose to support. When employees and employers combine their donations, workplace giving is living proof that small change can make a big difference and deliver significant benefits to the community. Research by the Australian Charities Fund highlights this collaboration enhances employee morale, loyalty and pride in their employer.

Workplace giving is convenient for employers, as it eliminates the need for employees to collect receipts or wait until the end of the year to claim a tax refund. Workplace giving is cost effective for employees and charities - giving from pre-tax income means donations cost employees less, while charities and organisations like us receive the full benefit of their donation.

What are the benefits of Workplace Giving?

Workplace giving is transparent and trustworthy for employees and employers, and avoids high fundraising costs for charities. The benefits participating employees say the enjoy the most include:

• • Employees have the chance to make a difference by connecting with their employer and fellow workmates through the collective impact of their donations
  • Donations are easy, convenient and tax effective
  • Donations are affordable - you can give as much or as little as you like

How Australia CAN makes Workplace Giving Count

Workplace giving is one of the most cost effective and impactful ways to donate and Australia CAN wants to see it reach its full potential in Australia. Australia CAN is proud to be involved in workplace giving. To date, our workplace giving program has enabled us to share knowledge and work together with our member shelters to develop and promote programs which deliver high welfare standards for animals, and lay the groundwork and survey research for our Positive Ageing in the Company of Animals Campaign.

These donations have been made possible by our employer partner JB Hi-Fi. During Workplace Giving Month, Australia CAN will be working to highlight the benefits of workplace giving and showcase the positive contribution workplace giving has made to our work to care for companion animals across Australia.

Get involved

If your organisation currently has a workplace giving program, think about signing up or increasing your donation during Workplace Giving Month .

If your organisation does not currently have a workplace giving program in place, Workplace Giving Month is the perfect time to suggest this as an addition to your existing community program.Visit our Workplace Giving for Employers information page to find out how you can get involved.

If you are an employee who would like to make your donation work harder through workplace giving,  you might like to suggest your organisation get involved with workplace giving -  head to our Workplace Giving for Individuals page to learn more.

To find out more about Workplace Giving Month and the ACF, visit www.australiancharitiesfund.org.au.

Companion animals are bought and sold online every day. Take a quick internet search and you’ll come across an endless stream of web store and classified ads for kittens and puppies of all shapes, sizes and breeds.

Heartbreakingly, many of these seemingly innocent ‘for sale’ ads can be traced back to irresponsible breeders and directly support the unscrupulous actions of the puppy factory trade.

A recent investigation by Animals Australia has confirmed this damning link, exposing the secret ties between one of the largest puppy factories in Australia, pet stores and web stores like the Trading Post.

Join us in support of Animals Australia’s call to the Trading Post to stop puppy factories from advertising on their site and only accept ads from legitimate animal shelters – stand up against this appalling practice today by adding your voice to the Animals Australia action here.

You can also make a stand by supporting the adoption of unwanted and relinquished animals instead of the purchase of animals from pet shops, online stores and backyard breeders. Animal adoption is a powerful way to make a real difference to an animal’s life, and put a stop to the puppy factory cycle.

Australia CAN continues to advocate for animal adoption and the introduction of a national consistent breeder permit system. Find out more about our policies and position statements.

Welcoming an unwanted animal into your family is a decent and rewarding decision. If you have the time, resources and lifestyle to give an animal a loving and permanent home, adopt from a shelter or rescue organisation. Adopted pets can make the best companions and our affiliated shelters receive thousands of letters, emails and photos from happy families enjoying life with their adopted pets – here’s just one of them.

Shelters have mixed and pure bred animals in need of permanent and loving homes and can provide useful information about their health and personality. Adopted pets are already vaccinated, de-sexed, micro-chipped and vet checked - a real saving. Animals in need of new homes are not 'bad or naughty', just unlucky in the lottery of life.

Animal adoption is a powerful and practical way to improve animal’s lives. To find out more about Animal Welfare League Australia's position on animal adoption, visit www.awla.org.au/aboutawla/policies.

The death of a much loved family pet can be a tough time for children and parents. Children around two or three years of age have little concept of death and may simply view it as a form of permanent sleep. Children aged between four and six years often have more difficulty in accepting death as being permanent and tend to ask lots of questions about death.

How children handle the grief can depend on the child’s age, the circumstances of the pet’s passing and the way in which the family communicates on the event. An honest but gentle account of the pet’s passing is recommended. Sometimes, little white lies designed to protect children from the harsh realities end up creating greater confusion and sadness in the long run.

Recommended for children is a picture book titled Lifetimes by Bryan Mellonie, reprinted by Bantam books in 2005. Very simply, with few words, this book explains that there is a beginning and an end. In the middle is life. Beginnings and endings are going on around us all the time, for plants, animals and humans too. The book explains death in a way that is honest and easily understood by children.

In coping with the loss of a pet, it is important as a parent to be open, honest and accepting of sadness and grief. Encourage children to show their feelings by talking, drawing and writing freely about their departed pet. Organise a ‘service’ or memorial to assist with the process of saying goodbye. Pet loss can be confusing and emotional for both children and adults. Society in general does not give bereaved pet owners "permission" to mourn openly however the associated grief is normal and necessary. Go with it.