Adopting a puppy is one of the greatest joys that families can experience, but unfortunately COVID-19 lockdowns have led to a rise in scammers taking advantage of Australians looking for a new furry family member. Their standard scam is to draw in unsuspecting buyers with fake photos, request as many payments as they think they can get away with, then disappear.

Australians have lost nearly $300K to puppy scams in 2020, particularly those seeking a furry companion online during the loneliness of social isolation, according to ACCC Scamwatch.

In fact, compared to the year before, ScamWatch recorded a fivefold increase for corrupt schemes to extort money out of consumers for dogs that did not exist!

That is why Companion Animal Network Australia has partnered with Puppy Scam Awareness Australia (PSAA) to raise awareness about puppy scams that cause a lot of heartbreak and anger, and unwittingly involve legitimate businesses in Australia.

PSAA is dedicated to bringing awareness about the thousands of pet scamming syndicates who prey on pet shoppers by exposing scam sites, supporting scam victims and providing resources to help educate and empower puppy buyers to protect themselves.

It can be difficult to know what is real or a scam. Knowing the scammers’ tricks can help you avoid the heartbreak of not getting the puppy you wanted.

Tips to keep in mind if you are looking to get a family pet:

• Scammers set up fake websites or ads on online classifieds and social media pretending to sell sought-after dog breeds. Email is the only way to contact them.
• Scammers take advantage of travel restrictions that prevent you from traveling to meet the puppy in person. They normally ask for up-front payments via money transfer to pay for the pet and transport it to you.
• Once you pay the deposit, a scammer will find new ways to ask for more money, such as claiming higher transportation costs to get across interstate borders. Unfortunately, once you make the payments, the seller will cease all contact.
• Scam websites can look quite convincing – try not to fall for the adorable puppy pictures they post. To avoid being scammed, only buy or adopt a pet you can meet in person.
• If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is!
• Research the seller online using the exact wording in the ad and do a reverse image search for pictures of the specific puppy to see if you can find matching images or text on multiple websites.
• If you are in doubt, seek advice from a reputable dog breeders association, veterinarian or local animal shelter.
• For tips to avoid fake websites and a list of fraudulent websites, visit the Puppy Scam Awareness Australia website
• For a guaranteed real pet to welcome into your family, contact a CANA member in your state.

If you think you are scammed, contact your financial institution right away. For more information, www.scamwatch.gov.au

Identity Stolen by Scammers

“I’m a legitimate business and scammers used my name, ABN and even superimposed my name on someone else’s Tasmanian driver’s license to show buyers as evidence.  I also discovered 36 bank accounts with my name linked to it. Some people have lost money. I’ve reported it to the police, Cyber Crime, my bank and other authorities to try to track the scammers, but it’s hard to find them. Saddest part is getting innocent people and tugging at their hearts for a puppy, and I am unknowingly part of that.”

— Lesley, dog groomer, Tasmania

Devastated father, kids

“I was scammed $2,000 (trying to buy a puppy) and I feel sick. How they can do this to people, let alone my kids? I even checked and double checked everything, including the breeder number which was legit, plus video calls and emails, and still got scammed. Money is money comes and goes, but what they did with my boys’ emotions are hard to forget!”

— Diego, puppy buyer, NSW

Melbourne’s iconic organisation, Lort Smith Animal Hospital North Melbourne stands by their promise of never giving up on an animal capable of being rehomed.

On Nov 12th, this promise was proven right when, after 454 days waiting to be adopted, Tessa our five year-old Staffy cross Bull Mastiff has found her new forever home.

Tessa was the hero of a successful online social media campaign launched by Lort Smith back in July this year. The story of Tessa touched many hearts and she was in foster care with one of Lort Smith’s star volunteers – Kaye Cromie, who was also the finalist for Volunteer of the Year in the Pet Insurance Australia Companion Animal Rescue Awards.

The organisation’s ability to never give up on an animal is only possible due to the support of their many extraordinary and committed volunteers.

Lort Smith’s Head of Hospital, Dr David Cunliffe said, “Kaye has been a volunteer with Lort Smith for the last eight years. She supports the operations of the Adoption Centre in the laundry and kennels, is a foster carer and sits on our Volunteer Advisory Committee.

“If you’ve followed Tessa’s story, you might already know Kaye – she was Tessa’s foster carer for more than a year while she was waiting for her new home. Kaye helped Tessa come out of her shell and gain confidence, ensuring she had the best possible chance to be adopted.”

“This story is one of hope and success due to the commitment of Lort Smith and our volunteers who believe in finding homes for every animal and never giving up!” he said.

As the largest and busiest not-for-profit animal hospital in Australia Lort Smith has been a Melbourne institution serving the community for 85 years. The organisation is reliant on donations from the community and the pay it forward approach of full fee paying clients of their animal hospital.

A dataset of more than 4,300 cats representing 26 breed groups revealed seven personality and behaviour traits, with significant differences observed between breeds.

Cats are our most common pets, and feline behaviour is increasingly being investigated due to a range of behavioural problems. Another topic of interest in addition to behaviour traits is personality since it can be connected to behavioural problems.

Doctoral researcher Salla Mikkola from the University of Helsinki and the Folkhälsan Research Center says, “Compared to dogs, less is known about the behaviour and personality of cats, and there is demand for identifying related problems and risk factors. We need more understanding and tools to weed out problematic behaviour and improve cat welfare. The most common behavioural challenges associated with cats relate to aggression and inappropriate elimination.”

Seven feline personality and behaviour traits

The questionnaire, designed by Professor Hannes Lohi’s research group at the University of Helsinki and the Folkhälsan Research Center, surveyed personality and behaviour through a total of 138 statements.

The questionnaire included comprehensive sections on background and health-related information. By employing, among other means, factor analysis to process the data, seven personality and behaviour traits in all were identified.

1. Activity/playfulness
2. Fearfulness
3. Aggression towards humans
4. Sociability towards humans
5. Sociability towards cats
6. Litterbox issues (relieving themselves in inappropriate places, precision in terms of litterbox cleanliness and substrate material)
7. Excessive grooming

“While the number of traits identified in prior research varies, activity/playfulness, fearfulness and aggression are the ones from among the traits identified in our study which occur the most often in prior studies. Litterbox issues and excessive grooming are not personality traits as such, but they can indicate something about the cat’s sensitivity to stress,” Mikkola adds.

Differences in the prevalence of traits seen between breeds

In addition to individuals, clear personality differences can be found between breeds. In other words, certain personality and behaviour traits are more common among certain cat breeds.

Professor Lohi said, “The most fearful breed was the Russian Blue, while the Abyssinian was the least fearful. The Bengal was the most active breed, while the Persian and Exotic were the most passive. The breeds exhibiting the most excessive grooming were the Siamese and Balinese, while the Turkish Van breed scored considerably higher in aggression towards humans and lower in sociability towards cats. We had already observed the same phenomenon in a prior study.”

The researchers wish to emphasise that no pairwise comparisons between breeds were carried out at this juncture.

“We wanted to obtain a rough idea of whether there are differences in personality traits between breeds. In further studies, we will utilise more complex models to examine factors that affect traits and problematic behaviour. In these models, we will take into consideration, in addition to its breed, the cat’s age, gender, health and a wide range of environmental factors,” Mikkola says.

Assessing reliability and validity

Feline behaviour and personality can be studied, for example, through questionnaires aimed at cat owners. Such questionnaires can measure feline behaviour in the long term and in everyday circumstances, which is impossible in behavioural tests.

Furthermore, cats do not necessarily behave in test settings in a way typical of themselves. Due to their subjective nature, the reliability of the questionnaires must be assessed before the data can be exploited further.

Professor Lohi says, “Internationally speaking, our study is the most extensive and significant survey so far, and it provides excellent opportunities for further research. The reliability of prior feline behavioural questionnaires has not been measured in such a versatile manner, nor are they as comprehensive as this one. Establishing reliability is key to making further analyses worthwhile and enabling the reliable identification of various risk factors.”

The researchers reached out to cat owners who responded to the questionnaire one to three months ago, requesting them to fill out the questionnaire again or ask another adult living in the same household to respond to the questionnaire regarding the same cat. The goal was to assess the questionnaire’s reliability both temporally and between respondents. Based on two additional datasets accumulated through this method, it was possible to evaluate the reliability of the questionnaire temporally and between respondents.

“By comparing the responses, we noted that the responses provided for the same cat were very similar, while the personality and behaviour traits were found to be reproducible and reliable. We also examined the validity of the questionnaire or whether it measures what it intended to measure. In these terms, too, the questionnaire functioned well,” says Mikkola.

The research conducted by Professor Lohi’s group will make it possible to identify genetic, environmental and personality factors relating to problematic feline behaviour.

The study is available here

Source: Press Release

The one-day family-friendly event held at the Launceston Silverdome promotes responsible pet ownership and the welfare of our native wildlife. All proceeds raised from the event will be donated to Tasmanian animal shelter.

The Dogs’ Home of Tasmania is calling all animal lovers to visit their stand, learn more about making their dogs’ lives more fulfilling through enrichment and find out about the wonderful pooches available for adoption at their Launceston shelter. Plus, shop for goodies to pamper their doggies at home!

“Our mission is simple – Adopt Don’t Shop. The most rewarding thing someone can do is adopt a dog. They aren’t damaged goods; some need a second chance, others need a first chance, and we are more than happy to help them find their loving home,” said DHoT CEO Michael Sertori.

“Also, we are heavily promoting enrichment because dogs are like kids; they get bored! They need entertainment and this can be achieved with toys and food or - even better – combining them! We will have dog treats, snuffle mats, licki mats and other enrichment items for purchase and can show people how to use it.”

DHOT will also have recipes for you to take home and try out!

“Kids can also guess how many dog biscuits are in our mystery jar and enter our competition to win a doggie goodie hamper!” said Mr Sertori.

DHOT is not government funded and do rely on the public for support.

“Donating to us helps us maintain our Homes and keep vital maintenance and improvements up to date,” he said. “Due to the harsh cleaning products we use, it starts to erode away at our kennels and equipment, and we are constantly doing upgrades so our dogs are happy, safe and comfortable.”

DHOT will have a donation box at their stand, but donations can be added to purchases or contributions made via the website www.dhot.com.au.

For more information about the expo, visit www.taspetexpo.com.au

 

 

WAScamNet urges pet lovers to be suspicious about:

• Great ‘deals’ served to you via an Internet search or pop-ups

Scammers hope to catch you out when you impulse-buy after seeing a bargain.

• Unfamiliar or new websites

Look for a copyright year on the website home page; although this date can also be faked.

• No address or business details

Websites that do not list a full physical address, telephone number or ABN, or if these details cannot be verified.

• Insecure payment methods

This includes direct bank transfer or wire transfer.

• Dodgy-looking website content

Pixelated photos, spelling errors and other clues that you may be looking at a copycat site of a real online business.

WAScamNet warns consumers not to purchase puppies from the following fraudulent websites – see list here

About WAScamNet

Developed by the Department of Mines, Industry Regulation and Safety, WA ScamNet profiles the most prevalent scams targeting Western Australians and provides information on different types of scams, how to recognise scams, and what to do if you have received a scam. It also provides links to other useful websites.

Photo credit TR Photography

Our four-legged friends can also get lost or poisoned by chocolates and candy, says Trish Ennis, Chief Executive of Companion Animal Network Australia (CANA).

“Black cats are particularly at risk around Halloween, some falling victim to sadistic people who think it cool to harm, torture or even kill cats,” she said.

Here are some tips to keep your pets safe on Halloween:

• Keep your pets safely indoors on the days leading up to Halloween and especially on Halloween night! Pranksters love to tease dogs and can even be cruel to them. Also, cats roaming the street at this time is not only at risk of being abducted but also of being panicked by goblins and vampires on the hunt for candy.
• Keep your pets on a leash or in a safe area of the house, away from the front door area to prevent dashing out the door in fear. Be mindful that a dog’s behaviour, when confronted by children in masks, is unpredictable and can result in a bite.
• In case your dog or cat manages to escape, ensure they are wearing a collar with a proper identification tag and/or microchip, which can be a lifesaver and increase the chances that they will be returned to you.
• Keep your pets away from pumpkins with candles burning inside, as it’s easy for them to knock it over with fear or excitement.
• Keep wires and cords from electric lights and other decorations out of reach. If chewed, your pet might suffer cuts or burns, or receive a possibly life-threatening electrical shock.
• If you intend to dress up your animals, please take care that the costumes don’t pose any dangers.  Not only can costumes cause unnecessary stress and discomfort to pets, but ribbons and buttons can also be dangerous if swallowed or ingested.
• Keep lollies away from your dog. Chocolate is highly poisonous and even fatal for dogs. Also, remove tin foil, candy wrappers and artificial spider webs which can be hazardous if eaten.

For any concerns, call your nearest 24 hour veterinary clinic.

This year’s ScamWatch theme is Let’s talk scams, to encourage all Australians to talk about scams to increase awareness, educate and empower consumers to protect themselves.

“During Scams Awareness Week 2021, we encourage pet lovers to talk about puppy scams and learn how to avoid the heartbreak, loss of money and in some cases, potentially having to surrender their pet to the shelter,” said Trish Ennis, National Executive of CANA.

“It can be difficult to know what is real or a scam. Knowing the scammers’ tricks can help you avoid the heartbreak of not getting the puppy you wanted.”

According to ACCC Scamwatch, Australians have lost nearly $300K to puppy scams last year alone, particularly those seeking a furry companion online during the loneliness of social isolation. In fact, Scamwatch reported a spike in puppy scams almost five times higher than the average!

“Online scammers also prey on desperate and distressed people during the COVID-19 pandemic housing squeeze, also targeting families with pets desperately searching for pet friendly housing,” said Ms Ennis.

CANA is a registered charity representing the companion animal welfare work of member organisations across the country, including Animal Welfare League QLD, Animal Welfare League SA, Lort Smith (VIC), Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania and Saving Animals From Euthanasia Inc (WA).

CANA celebrates the human-animal bond and promotes responsible pet ownership through national campaigns, partnerships and initiatives, including the Rent with Pets program.

Tips to keep in mind if you are looking to get a family pet:

• Scammers set up fake websites or ads on online classifieds and social media pretending to sell sought-after dog breeds. Email is the only way to contact them.
• Scammers take advantage of travel restrictions that prevent you from traveling to meet the puppy in person. They normally ask for up-front payments via money transfer to pay for the pet and transport it to you.

 

• Once you pay the deposit, a scammer will find new ways to ask for more money, such as claiming higher transportation costs to get across interstate borders. Unfortunately, once you make the payments, the seller will cease all contact.
• Scam websites can look quite convincing – try not to fall for the adorable puppy pictures they post. To avoid being scammed, only buy or adopt a pet you can meet in person.
• If the price looks too good to be true, it probably is!
• Research the seller online using the exact wording in the ad and do a reverse image search for pictures of the specific puppy to see if you can find matching images or text on multiple websites.
• If you are in doubt, seek advice from a reputable dog breeders association, veterinarian or local animal shelter.
• For a guaranteed pet to welcome into your family, contact a CANA member in your state (except NT and ACT).

If you think you are scammed, contact your financial institution right away. For more information, visit www.scamwatch.gov.au

The ongoing Phase 2 trial for the drug monepantel (MPL) is finalising dose optimisation and is a prelude to a multi-institutional canine cancer Phase 3 trial to start early next year.

The trial’s principal investigator Dr Kim Agnew is leading a team of highly qualified veterinary oncologists in New South Wales, Queensland and Western Australia who are evaluating MPL in dogs that have been newly diagnosed with B-cell lymphoma and have not started any treatment.

PharmAust is currently setting up Agreements for additional trial centres in New Zealand and the United States in preparation for the broadened reach required for the Phase 3 trial.

Cancer is the number one cause of death in dogs over the age of 2*. Lymphoma is one of the more common cancers in dogs and occurs in the white blood cells of the immune system. Symptoms can include tumours, lethargy, weight loss and loss of appetite.

National Canine Lymphoma Awareness Month is a reminder to pet owners to regularly inspect your pet for any lumps or bumps and pay attention to sudden changes in appearance and behaviour.

“The key to a good prognosis with canine lymphoma is early diagnosis and this particular form of cancer is very rapidly progressive, so it’s important to act quickly,” said Dr Agnew.

MPL shown to be a safe and effective cancer treatment

MPL is already approved for veterinary use for a different indication and species.  PharmAust is aiming to repurpose MPL as a safe and effective cancer treatment.

“During the trials to date, over 25 pet dogs have been treated with MPL for lymphoma and the results are very promising,” said Dr Agnew.

“So far, we have shown that the new MPL tablet is very palatable and easy for pet owners to administer at home. Furthermore, at the recently identified optimal drug blood levels, side effects seem to be very minimal and all pet dogs that have maintained these levels over the course of treatment, have been assessed as at least stable disease by the administering veterinarians.

“Some pet dogs have continued after the trial on a combination of this optimum level of MPL and prednisolone, and all have exceeded the life expectancy of dogs that might be administered only prednisolone at diagnosis.”

Veterinary trial testimonies can be found here.

PharmAust inviting more dogs to help complete trial

PharmAust was pleased to successfully meet its predetermined interim goals demonstrating both significant objective clinical benefit and significant overall response rate. It is now inviting more dogs with treatment naïve lymphoma to help complete the final optimisation of the Phase 2 trial in a bridging program before moving into the Phase 3 trial.

“PharmAust’s long term strategy is to develop MPL to treat cancer in both dogs and humans,” said Dr Richard Mollard, CSO of PharmAust and CEO of PharmAust’s wholly owned subsidiary Pitney Pharmaceuticals Pty Ltd.

“In pet dogs with treatment naïve B-cell lymphoma and in humans with treatment refractory cancer, Monepantel displays strong evidence of anti-cancer activity.  However – and perhaps more interestingly following our retrospective analysis of trial data in combination with prednisolone – Monepantel could be capable of doubling the life expectancy of pet dogs with B-cell lymphoma compared to if treated with just prednisolone alone. We now plan to do some more analysis and formally test this hypothesis in the Phase 3 clinical trial.

“Most importantly, all dogs also appear to enjoy a high quality of life while taking Monepantel, with reports of trial participants enjoying camping and playing at the park and at the beach with their owners.”

Program entry criteria

The canine entry criteria for MPL Clinical Trials can be found here and include:

• Any stage lymphoma (based upon physical exam, abdominal ultrasound and thoracic Xray)
• Substage a (feeling well)
• Immunophenotype can be pending, but needs to be B-cell based on clinical characteristics
• No previous treatment, including corticosteroids (prednisolone)
• No other significant concurrent medical problems
• Good quality of life.

The MPL program currently involves three consultations at the clinical trial sites (admission, at two weeks and at four weeks). These clinical trial sites are also listed here.

Owners need to transport their dogs to and from the trial sites for these three consultations.  PharmAust will cover all trial costs, including for pet owners located at some distance to the trial sites, travel expenses as well as overnight hotel stay if needed.

For more information or to enrol, please contact Dr Richard Mollard on rmollard@pharmaust.com

 

Source: Press Release

Photo: Freepik

Minister for Communities and Housing Leeanne Enoch said the new laws would end ‘without grounds’ evictions and make it easier for Queensland renters to keep a pet.

The new laws will also ensure all Queensland rental properties meet minimum quality standards and extend protections for renters who have experienced domestic and family violence.

“Queenslanders rely on safe, secure and affordable housing and we’re delivering on our election commitments to modernise Queensland’s rental laws and improve confidence in the rental market,” Ms Enoch said.

“About 34 per cent of Queensland households rent and these new laws provide a strong, balanced approach that protects the rights of renters and rental property owners, while improving stability in the rental market.”

What the new renting laws will do for pet owners:

• If a renter requests to keep a pet, a rental property owner must have reasonable grounds to refuse and respond in writing to this request within 14 days.
• Reasonable grounds include if the property is unsuitable, and if keeping the pet would breach laws or by-laws.
• Rental property owners can also place reasonable conditions on pet ownership, including that the pet is to be kept outside or that carpets are cleaned, and the property is fumigated at the end of a lease.
• Rent increase is not a reasonable condition. The laws also clarify that fair wear and tear does not include pet damage.

CANA response to new QLD rental laws

Companion Animal Network CEO Trish Ennis has welcomed Queensland's new legislation making renting fairer for pet owners, however raised concerns about conditions placed on the lease for pet owners, such as pets needing to be kept outdoors.

“I worry that people that are making the laws have never rented,” she said. “We believe in the human-animal bond. It is unreasonable to add these requirements to the law. People should be able to keep a dog and cat inside provided they do so responsibly to prevent damage.”

For instance, cats should be kept inside for many reasons - especially in curfew areas – to prevent injuries and catching diseases such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), and protecting wildlife.

“Also, instead of allowing landlords to have a condition of fumigation at end of tenancy if the pet is capable of carrying parasites (i.e. that means all cats and dogs), it would be fairer to allow the condition that if there was flea infestation at the end of the tenancy, fumigation could be required, as many tenants will use effective flea protection or may have 100% indoor cats,” said Ms Ennis.

“Queensland’s new law should reflect those set in Victoria, ACT and NT. In Victoria for example, the landlord has the right to submit their objections to VCAT should they wish to reject an application including pets.”

For more information on the rental reform process, visit https://www.chde.qld.gov.au/about/initiatives/rental-law-reform

 

To ensure pets of all ages, from young puppies to elderly cats, are receiving proper training that is required to support good behaviour, PETstock dog trainer Tina Button has compiled some helpful tips.

Uncover motivation

Test their skills with common verbal cues and hand signals to see if or what they respond to. Find out what motivates them most and use it as their reward, such as food, a toy, pats or praises.

Teaching basic commands

There has never been a better time to train your pet or teach them a new trick such as to roll over, fetch, shake a paw, find an object or person, or any basic exercises such as sit, drop, stay. Food and clickers or marker words can be used to train your dog.

A short session is a good session

Keep training sessions short and sharp to maintain engagement and improve results, any longer than five minutes and your pet may lose interest. It’s important to have a regular training schedule to promote good behaviour as well as provide bonding and enrichment for your pet. Many short sessions and finishing on a win. Always be clear, consistent and concise with your commands to avoid confusing them.

Use enrichment toys

When you’re not actively training your pet, an easy and effective way of keeping them active and mentally stimulated is through enrichment toys. Lick mats, Kong wobblers, puzzle toys and cat wands, are a great way to keep your pet mentally stimulated and entertained for hours.

Create an agility course

Whether your pet is a dog, cat, rabbit or guinea pig, a home-made agility course is a fun way to challenge their mind and body. This could include using an ottoman as a step, shoes as hurdles or socks to create a maze for smaller pets. Use basics commands such as “jump”, “stay” or “go” during the course to reinforce commands needed out of the home. Before doing intense physical exercise, ensure your pet is fit and healthy. Have your vet check them out if you are unsure.

Be patient

When training your pet, try not to lose your temper, raise your voice or punish your pet for bad behaviour as this can exacerbate the problem even more or cause fear and anxiety, which could lead to further issues. If you are having a bad day, give your pet enrichment toys to entertain themselves and train them when you are relaxed.

Socialisation

For puppies currently unable to attend puppy school, it’s critical that they receive exposure to the environment. Socialisation with other animals is only a small part of the process. It’s important that your pet is exposed to different sounds, smells and sights. Take some treats with you when you have your pet with you, if they exhibit calm behaviour reinforce this with yummy soft treats that are high in value

 

Source: Press release from PETstock

Photo credit: PETstock