Rosie had come into Sheila's life more than seven years ago as a rescue, a Mother's Day gift from her daughter. Sheila’s days had been filled with Rosie's playful energy and loyal companionship and losing her was heartbreaking. So, she decided to call SAFE Inc, Companion Animal Network Australia’s member in Western Australia, hoping to adopt a cat.

"Have you got a cat?" Sheila asked on the phone. SAFE Founder Sue Hedley OAM responded, "We have hundreds of them!" But fate had a different plan for Sheila. Just an hour before her call, SAFE had taken in a 10-year-old Jack Russell cross named Sookie. Sookie belonged to an elderly man who could no longer care for her.

When Sue shared Sookie’s story, Sheila felt a spark of hope thinking of the dog’s resemblance to Rosie. The adoption process moved swiftly, when Donna, a SAFE representative in Exmouth, visited Sheila to ensure the match was suitable. Reassured that Sookie would be in good hands with Sheila, Sookie embarked on the six-hour car ride from Karratha to Exmouth.

Sookie was a little nervous when she arrived, but as soon as she stepped paws into Sheila’s cozy home, the Jack Russell began to settle in, and her loving nature shined through.

“She is the perfect companion,” said Sheila, enjoying Sookie’s affectionate licks that fill her heart with warmth. “She likes her steak and chicken and enjoys cuddling and sleeping with me!”

Sookie's playful and loving personality has brought joy, comfort and companionship back into Sheila's life. They found each other at the perfect time, when they needed it most.

 

BUPA New Farm doesn’t house permanent pets, says Tara; however the facility is fortunate to have regular visits from Benson the cat, a therapy dog named Ruby and Tara’s own canine companion, Sunny.

“The positive impact of the animals on both the residents and the staff is profound. I love seeing the smiles and the resident and staff interaction with the animals,” she says.

One little Maltese in particular, Olly, has brought much joy to the community, especially Tara! When Olly’s owner Barry moved into the aged care home, he faced the heartbreaking realisation that he was unable to look after his dog full-time. He was also worried about Olly being alone during his doctors' appointments and hospital visits.

Barry’s son initially tried to take care of Olly, but his busy schedule made it difficult to provide Olly with the attention and care he needed. Barry was desperate to find a loving home for Olly, and that's when Tara met the little dog.

“As soon as I met Olly, I fell in love with him,” she says. “I could also feel how stressed Barry was about having to re-home Olly. So, I decided to adopt him!”

It has been over a year since Olly joined Tara’s family, becoming fast friends with Sunny, and comes to work with Tara three days a week.

“Barry is over the moon that he gets to see his little mate Olly regularly. All the residents and staff also love him,” says Tara. “Olly is so excited when he knows he is visiting Barry. I open the front door and he runs straight to Barry’s room. It makes me happy to know they can still see each other.”

Barry and Olly’s reunion is always heartwarming, a testament to the unbreakable bond they share. Other pets like Benson, Ruby and Sunny also bring a unique kind of magic into the lives of the residents and staff, reminding everyone of the simple pleasures of companionship and the healing power of unconditional love.

And for Tara, adopting Olly has been one of the best decisions she’s ever made. His story is a beautiful reminder that love knows no bounds.

BUPA Aged Care in New Farm

The presence of animals brings an extra layer of warmth and joy to the lives of aged care residents at Snug Village in Tasmania. A part of Christian Homes Tasmania (CHT), Snug Village offers permanent and respite residential care in a “comfortable, scenic and respectful” environment that welcomes all pets, as long as they are kept under control.

Snug Village Care Coordinator Kathy Coad says dogs need to be on a lead to prevent them running around and becoming a tripping hazard, while cats should be in a box or on a little harness.

“Renee, our leisure and lifestyle team member, brings in her cat on a harness, and it’s wonderful!” says Kathy.

Sadly, Snug Village’s resident cat passed away, leaving fish and pet birds living at the facility. There have also been visits from Guide Dogs, pet dogs and cats, alpacas, ponies and plenty of sheep!

In a staff spotlight, Kathy says, “I’m an animal lover and have a small farm. I like to bring in my animals. I brought a sheep, her name is Ruby, to Snug. She made it [on ABC TV]. She’s a hand-reared triplet - when they’re hand reared, they’re like dogs, you can lead them around. She was a little confused about the windows, but otherwise, she was fine visiting for three hours.

“My daughter has horses. So, we came [to Snug Village] with a miniature pony once – it walked through the facility. I’ve bought all sorts of animals, ducks and chickens - the only thing I haven’t brought are pigs.”

Animal visitors aren’t just for fun, they provide important holistic care for residents, says Kathy in the staff spotlight.

“We’re always making improvements to our facilities and services for the residents. They can ask for anything and we’ll try and support that.  Because we're in Snug, we have a lot of people who have lived in the country. There are a lot of the residents who are ex-farmers and they haven’t seen farm animals in a long time. It’s nice for them to have some of the farm back and to chat about it.

One of the most cherished memories at Snug Village was a wedding ceremony for a pair of budgies! The residents had the idea and had great fun arranging the event, which their chaplain officiated.

“That wedding was really well accepted by everybody,” Kathy recalls. “The residents show a lot of interest in the budgies. They all want to feed them and talk to them, especially when they’re having a bit of a squawk.”

Kathy is a strong advocate for allowing pets in residential aged care facilities.

“It's especially beneficial for country people who have always had animals in their lives. When we had a cat, someone always looked after it. A cat can just curl up and go to sleep on anyone’s bed. That’s why I like bringing them so much. They bring so much pleasure to the residents’ lives.

“I think pets are great! I encourage it and I will bring animals (to Snug) when I can.”

Liz Small, Engagement Lead at Eastern Innovation said, “We recognised that workers and pets spent a lot more time together during the pandemic, meaning that coming back to the office was likely to be a challenge for many people and their employers. We wanted to remove this hurdle for people to get out of home and co-work.”

Accordingly, Eastern Innovation collaborated with CANA to produce a pet-friendly policy for the business owners and teams who tenant the region’s innovation centre.

“The goal was to get people back in the workspace with a robust policy, prepared by a team of pet experts, that created an environment few other flexible working spaces could offer,” she said.

“Pets primarily reside in the offices of their owners, and we have wonderful outdoor spaces where they can relax too. Pets make Eastern Innovation a happier workplace and we welcome more pets in the centre. The pets also love the attention and pats, and the owners enjoy the attention their pets get. Clients with pets seem to be in the office more regularly.”

The company initially had some people who were anti pets in the office, but showing the pet friendly policy and procedures that pets would be under made them feel more comfortable, said Liz.

“Having a pet friendly office is also a fabulous sales tool. Most people say that’s amazing. It’s a nice tool in our engagement with our new potential clients,” she said.

“Other staff that like pets but do not have any of their own get the opportunity to connect with an animal at work. It also aids with connection between our clients.

“We support our clients with pets by providing spaces for their animal and guidelines for the centre. Partnering with CANA provided us with the foundation (the policy) to ensure that we could invite pets into the centre knowing that their owners understood the requirements.  This also helped with the clients that did not want pets in the centre as they have not been affected by the pets.”

Her dog, Peanut – a six-month-old long-haired Miniature Dachshund - comes to work with her three days a week. On Thursdays and Fridays, Alexandra works from home with Peanut at her side.

“He’s a busy boy, and I don’t know how he would cope being alone all day,” says Alexandra.

“Peanut stays in our shared office most of the day, with a bed and various toys. I provide him with enrichment activities to keep him busy. We have a dog gate at the door, so he gets pats from people walking by. When we leave the office, he’s kept on a lead in case there are other dogs around. He’s fine with that.

“We have access to large, fully-fenced play yards, equipment and a Sniffari walk (dog enrichment walk) in the nearby bushland. I try to take him for a walk during my lunch break. If I can't, other staff members often step in. The surrounding bushland and gardens make toilet breaks convenient, just a few metres from the office.”

Being at the office has really helped Peanut with his socialisation, as he interacts with many people and is surrounded by typical dog noises and smells. Occasionally, he meets other dogs, usually other puppies, although this is kept to a minimum.

“I keep a treat pouch on me to reinforce positive behaviours, like calmly observing a dog walking past the office,” says Alexandra.

“As a shelter, the entire place is set up for dogs. We have access to everything we might need, including vets, behaviour trainers, enrichment equipment and a dog retail shop. The staff loves dogs and have built a relationship with Peanut. They enjoy seeing him on the days we’re in, and he often does a morning round to greet everyone and get pats. Peanut often comes along to meetings to soak up some cuddles. The staff get some lovely cuddles and so does he. Win win right?”

Alexandra describes taking Peanut to the office as a ‘lifesaver’.

“I honestly don’t know what I’d do if I couldn’t bring him. Leaving him at home wouldn’t be much fun for him, and it would be too much time alone at his age. It would also be incredibly stressful for me, worrying about him being sad and waiting for me. He’s the type of dog that would be like that,” she says.

“It makes me sad to think about dogs left alone at home every day. They're with us for such a short time, and I wish more workplaces were dog-friendly.”

Not every dog enjoys an office environment, but for those that do, “it’s incredibly rewarding to have your best friend with you each day,” says Alexandra. “Sometimes it’s hard to fit in a walk before or after work. Having them at the office means you might manage it during your lunch break or on the way to or from work.”

What do Alexandra’s colleagues think of having Peanut around?

“Peanut is an absolute clown, as Dachshunds are known to be. He’s often dancing around, throwing his toys or trying to steal things (he’s a puppy), which keeps my colleagues and me laughing at his silly antics,” she says.

“Having him around truly makes for a happier and more enjoyable day. We have the pleasure of being surrounded by dogs every day, so we are quite blessed, but even though we have this pleasure, we still get some extra joy when staff dogs come in.”

Alexandra believes in having more pet friendly offices.

“I’ve worked in dog-friendly offices before, even in a corporate setting, and it was such a pleasure!” she says.

“Dogs are so good at reminding us to love life and be joyful. They lift the mood of everyone around them and increase the positive vibe in an office. Sure, you might spend a few minutes in the morning greeting them, but then everyone is in a much better headspace for the rest of the day! I have no doubt that the increased morale makes more happier, more fulfilled and subsequently more efficient/productive staff.”

Well, fear not! There is a better way – and many offices have adopted this method to keep workers and pets happy!

“Now more than ever, pets are an integral part of our lives,” says Trish Ennis, CEO of Australia CAN. “With many companies continuing to have employees split their working week between home and the office, it’s no surprise people want to bring their pets to the workplace too.”

Research has shown that having pets in the workplace improves productivity and collaboration and alleviates stress. One study shows 90% of employees in pet friendly workplaces feel highly connected to their company’s mission; fully engaged with their work and willing to recommend their employer to others*.

Tips on how to make your office pet-friendly

Education, clear guidelines and fair ground rules can help make pets in the office work well for everyone.

You need to make sure everyone feels safe (including the pets), that you can avoid any chaos by providing strict rules and boundaries, and that there is always supervision for the pets.

Here are 8 tips for creating a harmonious, pet-friendly work environment.

Provide a safe and secure space

Firstly, it is worth providing gated or inaccessible areas to control a pet’s movement and give them a safe and secure place to roam. This will also suit those workers who are either allergic or don’t like pets to have a safe and comfortable animal-free space away from them to work.

Make sure your pet meets the rules of the office

Your pet needs to have all its vaccinations up to date, be house-trained, have good behaviour, and be able to tolerate other pets. It also needs to be free of fleas or ticks and generally clean and not smelly!

Think about the clean-up

Pets should be house-trained before entering the office; however, accidents happen! Create pet-friendly areas with easy-to-clean floors and have cleaning products on hand, such as urine removers, in case there’s a spill. Ensure all employees bringing a pet into the office agree to clean up after their own pet.

Provide a grassy patch outside for toilet breaks or litter boxes for cats

If you don’t have an easily accessible grassy area available for dogs to ‘do their business’, think about investing in a few portable fake grass ‘pet loos’ that collect pet waste and can be emptied. Also, make sure to have eco-friendly poo bags available.

For cats, remember that each cat needs at least one kitty litter tray. These will need to be regularly cleaned, so consider having a roster system between the pet owners for who will clean and replace them!

Consider buddying up with another employee pet parent to supervise your pets

Pets will need to be always supervised for their safety, the safety of the workers and the pets’ well-being. Find another worker with a similar pet to watch your pet when you need a bathroom break or have a meeting, and you can do the same for theirs.

Tidy any electrical cords and check for any other safety issues

Keep your desk tidy, with no cords dangling and no available food sitting out (waiting to be stolen by a hungry hound!). Crawl around the space on your hands and knees to check for anything that may attract or hurt pets at that level.

Supply your pet’s own bedding, food, treats, crates, leads etc

Not only will this provide comfort for the pet, knowing they have their own creature comforts available, but it will also ease pressure on the office, as they will not have to provide anything new for your pet.

Be respectful

Be mindful and respectful of each pet’s feelings and health needs. Some pets may not want to be cuddled during their first meet-and-greet, and others may have dietary restrictions that prevent them from having treats.

Also, be aware and respectful of colleagues who aren’t as comfortable around animals. It is a workplace, after all – not everyone will share in the joy of their new animal inhabitants. Make sure to stick to your workplace’s pet policies, rules of engagement and any prohibited areas.

Making your workplace pet-friendly has multiple benefits for employees. It’s been proven to reduce stress levels, enhance coping skills and lower blood pressure. It even allows non-pet owners to bond with animals they don’t have access to at home!

“As some companies struggle to persuade employees to spend more time working on site, implementing a pet-friendly policy might be the perfect solution for creating happier and more productive workplaces!” says Ms Ennis.

For more information on creating a pet-friendly workplace, download the Companion Animal Network’s Pets in Business Resources or contact us to receive your own personalised pet-friendly workplace kit!

“At JB Hi-Fi, we love animals and celebrate our own pets by sharing photos of them in the office and on a dedicated workplace app. We also welcome pets into the store. It’s always a great day when you’re able to have a pat or cuddle!”

Nicola and her partner Jordan have two rescue pets, Aria and Ted, who bring their life great fun and joy!

“When we met Aria at the rescue, there was no way we were going home without her! She was so happy and just wanted to be loved. She was 10 months old and had a rough start to life. We took her in knowing she would need leg surgery, which ended up being multiple due to mistreatment from her previous owner. Aria has recovered and is loving life! She loves destroying her squeaky toys, going for walks and playing with her doggo friends. Despite everything she has been through, she has the most beautiful nature, crazy eyes and one flopped ear. She loves everyone she comes across no matter what.”

Ted was a Christmas present to Nicola from Jordan in 2020.

“Ted was the craziest kitten, zooming around the room while all his siblings slept, and we felt he matched Aria’s energy. Today, he is the snuggliest, most well-behaved little man and he and Aria are best friends. He goes on adventures through the garden, loves chasing the laser light and doing sneak attacks when you walk down the hallway. Aria and Ted play together all the time, sleep beside each other and are always down for a treat.”

Nicola has always believed in ‘adopt not shop’, so seeing CANA on the Helping Hands donation form made it impossible for her not to contribute.

“I will always adopt animals and encourage others to do so. My house would not be a home without my crazy pair.”

Karri and John began fostering for SAFE (Saving Animals from Euthanasia) Inc in September 2021 when they took in a mother cat with three eight-day old kittens. Less than a week later, they took in the cutest little foster dog!

“We loved pet sitting while we were renting and when we bought our house, it came with a cat named Puss and she just let us live in it!” laughed Karri. “That’s when we decided to foster! I have no idea how many animals we’ve fostered to date! Our pets and the temporary dogs and cats we care for have no boundaries; they are part of our family.”

Karri found fostering to be a great way to create community connections and make a difference in animals’ and people’s lives.

“Fostering has made a positive impact on our lives, being responsible and dedicated to animals that are often unwell and unloved,” she said.

“It’s so rewarding to see that confidence slowly return in the safe, quiet space that we can offer them. They leave us bright and happy after SAFE have seriously considered a suitable adoptive family. I still get photos of some of the pets that I have loved and let go to their new families who give them the best life. It’s these that make my heart sing.”

Karri and John’s door is open to puppies, dogs, cats and kittens; however, they tend to be placed by SAFE with smaller dogs due to Karri’s disability. Karri has hemiplegia, paralysis or weakness that affects only one side of her body, from a brain infection that happened when she was 15 years old.

She spent almost a year in recovery / rehabilitation learning to walk and talk again. Having the hospital resident cat, Smokey, sit on her lap and receive visits from other pets in hospital made a world of difference for Karri’s morale.

“I knew from that moment that animals were crucial for people’s recovery and mental health,” said Karri, who today works with young people with mental health difficulties in a career inspired by the amazing team of medical professionals involved in her recovery.

Karri and John’s own pets Rufus ‘White-Socks Harvey’, Brin ‘Scruff-Tail Harvey’ and Biscuit ‘Kitty Kit Harvey’ are ‘foster fusions’ (foster pets that are adopted by their carer) that are integral members of their family.

Originally born to a backyard breeder, “Rufus was socialised from day one and takes great care of the foster puppies and dogs. It’s like he has an innate sense of protection and love,” said Karri. “He plays tug-o-war with the puppies and always lets them win and I’ve caught them on countless occasions snuggled up sleeping.”

Brin was one of three siblings Karri and John fostered over Christmas 2021 – part of a litter of 11 that were split into different foster homes.  Brin was one of the last to get adopted and was Rufus’s little shadow, so they decided to keep her.

“Brin is our ‘tester dog’ with foster cats and kittens; she lies down and waits patiently for them to come investigate. When the kittens are more confident, Brin has lots of fun with them. We know that she has Cattle Dog in her because she tries to round the kittens up!” laughed Karri.

Biscuit, from foster to family

The latest recruit to the family is a 1-year-old Chihuahua x Terrier named Biscuit, featured in the premier episode of Channel 9’s TV series Take Me Home Season 2 in April 2024.

Karri and John brought Biscuit home from SAFE Inc as a foster pet.

“She slept for the first two days in recovery and was such a good puppy!” said Karri. “SAFE eventually received a beautiful application for Biscuit and it was all set for adoption when filming Take Me Home – Season 2 concluded. But the longer I spent with Biscuit I knew that it was going to be impossible to let her go. When I received news that the family could no longer adopt her, I jumped!

“I fell more and more in love with her little mannerisms, how she talks to us, is super snuggly like a cat – and let’s face it, the size of a cat, also! Biscuit is the boss of Brin and Rufus. She also favours John; they have snuggles every night!

“I call the dogs “the motley crew”. They love the beach and the river.  Our life feels complete with the dogs which we love and could not imagine life without.”

With three dogs at home, Karri and John can’t take in any more foster dogs (unless it’s emergency care), but they can still foster cats and kittens.

What’s Karri’s advice for people thinking of fostering a pet?

“Fostering is like pet sitting and when your foster animal goes, it’s making room for a new one,” she said.

“Don’t let a disability hold you back from making the decision to foster. You will be supported by the agency who saves the lives of animals. It brings immense joy to be part of the animals journey.”

View more episodes of Take Me Home – Season 2 here

To learn more about fostering pets, contact a CANA member near you. https://australiacan.org.au/who-we-are/

Home care package provider Coastal Home Care’s CEO Kylie Magrath has been working in Aged Care for more than seven years, witnessing firsthand the profound impact of in-home care on older individuals.

Ms Magrath is also Managing Director of two other government-approved in-home aged care providers, Hazel Home Care, and Dulcie Home Care, and finds one aspect that stands out is the significance of maintaining companionship with pets, which often becomes increasingly vital as people get older.

“Loneliness is one of the biggest issues in older Australians and pets become the friend/partner/companion that gives them purpose and brings joy to their lives,” she says.

Often Aged Care Homes don’t allow pets and so the beautiful thing about Home Care Packages is that the funding allows them to stay at home where they can enjoy the company of their pets.

“Older people want to remain at home in familiar surroundings with their personal belongings that have memories and history, where they can happily keep their pets and where neighbours and local community are close at hand, and in-home care allows them to do this,” she says.

Home Care Packages are a generous government subsidy that allow older Australians to access up to $60K per year to use on services and supports that allow them to remain safely and happily at home. The funding can be used for cleaning, gardening, social activities, personal care, helping to take your dog for a walk and much more, she adds.

Hazel Home Care is a fully managed Home Care provider, which means that the Care Manager arranges all the supports and services and most of the workers who service the customer will be employed by Hazel Home Care.  It services Victoria, Queensland and South Australia.

“It is a high touch model where the Care Manager checks in with their clients every two weeks,” says Magrath.

Dulcie Home Care, on the other hand, is a Self-Managed Home Care Provider that is available to clients anywhere in Australia.

“Many customers want more control over their Home Care Package funding and self-managing allows them to select the workers, choose when they come and also negotiate the rate that is paid,” she says.

“The client still has a dedicated person to support them called a Support Partner, but all communication is via phone and all the coordination of services is done by the client.”

Positive outcomes in providing pet care services

Pet care services are also offered by Dulcie and Hazel, assisting clients with tasks such as accompanied walking of their pet, transporting them and their pet to the vet, cleaning that may be required due to pet ownership (ie pet hair).

“More than 50 percent of our clients have pets. As long as they can safely care for the pet, we would support them in any way we can!” says Magrath.

There are many positive outcomes in providing pet care services for older people.

Magrath says, "One of our customers has raised over 20 guide dogs over her lifetime and is an avid lover of dogs.  She is now 92, lives alone and in a very large house and was quite lonely until her family gave her a Cavoodle, a smaller dog than she is used to but one that is easy for her to look after and is loyal and great company.

“She has a personal carer who helps out with a number of tasks around the house and while she is there, they take Ricki (her Cavoodle) around the block together.  The client is unable to walk Ricki independently so being able to walk with the carer allows her to give Ricki some exercise but also gets her out of the house.

Through tailored services that support the care of pets and compassion, in-home care providers like Hazel and Dulcie Home Care empower older people to age gracefully in the comfort of their homes alongside their beloved animal companions.

Pets often serve as beloved companions for older adults, particularly those living alone or experiencing social isolation, and caring for a pet gives them purpose and responsibility.

“By assisting with pet care, in-home aged care providers ensure that older people maintain this vital source of companionship, which can positively impact their mental and emotional well-being, and enhance their clients' quality of life in meaningful ways,” said Kyra Bae Snell, co-founder of CareAbout, Australia’s leading home care placement service.

In operation since 2016, CareAbout has helped to support more than 100,000 families across all states in their search for a quality home care provider or aged care provider. The service is free to people looking for providers.

“The inspiration behind CareAbout came from my personal experience in navigating the aged care system and finding it overwhelming, confusing and frustrating when I was looking for clear information on the best supports for her loved one,” she said.

“It was heart-breaking and the more I talked to others, the more I realised how common my experience was and I wanted to change it for the better for when other families were inevitably faced with the realities of getting older.”

Especially since the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety, Snell has witnessed many positive changes aimed at improving the aged care system, such as increased funding, person-centered care and support for in-home care.

“Wellbeing and quality of life doesn’t come down to just quality of care. There are other things that can contribute to a joyous life, such as pets,” she said. “We hear so many stories about the importance of pets in people’s lives and how their pets bring them joy!”

For CareAbout, it’s important to support older pet owners in their homes the way they want to live, and ensure the home is safe for in-home care providers to support the client. Home Care providers offer a variety of care services within the home, so people don’t have to travel anywhere or even get dressed to leave the house!

“Home care is about the whole individual and understanding their needs and preferences, and part of that is to understand their need for a pet,” said Snell.

“With more awareness about the benefits of pets for older people, including the great work Companion Animal Network Australia is doing to support pets in aged care, it’s becoming increasingly common for older people to ask about in-home care providers that cater to their pets.”

CareAbout also helps people find nursing homes that allow live-in pets, with recommendations based on people’s needs and preferences.

“If we can’t recommend a quality aged care facility from our handpicked panel, we won’t make one. But if there are other homes better suited for them that we don’t work with, we suggest they contact, for instance in regional areas,” said Snell.

For more information about CareAbout finding a nursing home that will accept your live-in pet, visit here.

Most older people want to age at home with their pets

Due to increasing demand from older people who wish to age at home with their pets, CareAbout focuses more on searching for in-home care providers people can trust.

In fact, a survey conducted by the Royal Commission into Aged Care Quality and Safety of more than 10,000 Australians reveals that 80% of older people want to remain in their current home and 62% want to receive care services in their own home.

“One of the big reasons to remain living at home is their pets! You can keep your dogs, cats, birds and pet lizards surrounded by your books, photos and all your comforts!” said Snell.

“We work with providers across Australia and overwhelmingly the providers have the needs and heart of the customer in everything they do. They are required to create personalised care plans that recognise their unique preferences and goals and how people live with their pets.”

To learn how CareAbout can help you with your in-home care, visit www.careabout.com.au/home-care