Tales from Australia CAN
Our latest Tales
Meet Kate, the foster carer (and cat doula!) giving Adelaide’s rescue cats a second chance
Posted: November 2025
Kate O’Leary has fostered countless felines through Ginger Ninja Rescue, including Potato, a disabled kitten who became her beloved foster fail. Today, he helps welcome every new foster while Kate and her daughters continue giving vulnerable cats a safe place to heal.
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The Man Behind 138 Wagging Tails: Andrew’s Foster Story
Posted: November 2025
Through Scruffer Lovers, Adelaide carer Andrew Hutton has fostered more than a hundred dogs, guiding them from fear to confidence. With the help of his ‘foster failure’ Kelpie cross, Kiani, Andrew says fostering has been life-changing for both the dogs he supports and for himself.
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Tales, the official blog of Australia CAN, is full of news from our network, updates on our advocacy efforts and heartwarming stories that celebrate the human-animal bond. Please enter your email address above so we can let you know when a new Tale has been published, and also occasionally send out other important announcements. Thanks for staying in touch!
Please note: Some images used in Tales and on our social media may be stock images and not the individuals named in the article. Names may be changed to protect privacy of individuals. Generative AI may be used to modify image backgrounds for aesthetic purposes.
Glenview aged care residents reap the benefits of regular visits by therapy pets
Posted: July 2023
Glenview Community Services in Tasmania helps residents live a rewarding life with a range of services and activities from music therapy, gardening and cooking club to regular visits from therapy pets.
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In home pet support is more than walking dogs
Posted: July 2023
Animal Care for Seniors at Home Cairns Inc. (ACSAH) is a 100% volunteer run organisation that operates in Cairns in Far North Queensland, providing free in-home pet support to older and infirm people who are unable to provide the care they would like for their pets at home.”
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Pets help make residential aged care facilities like home
Posted: June 2023
St Vincent’s Care Services (SVCS) is the aged care division of St Vincent’s Health Australia with facilities around Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria, and is one of the only aged care providers that are a part of a hospital network.
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Greenway Views a leader in pet friendly seniors living and aged care in ACT
Posted: June 2023
“Greenway Views ® is a retirement and aged care community located in Tuggeranong, ACT and is operated by LDK (Love, Decency and Kindness) Seniors’ Living, which provides for all levels of care from independent right up to dementia, palliative and end-of-life care in ACT and NSW.”
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Odyssey Lifestyle Care Communities encourages pet friendly living
Posted: May 2023
Pets can provide older adults with a sense of purpose and responsibility, not to mention a reason to stay active and engaged in their communities.”
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Australia CAN aims to change the world with pet friendly aged care
Posted: April 2023
Pets provide mental and physical health benefits, such as exercise and socialisation, particularly for older adults in residential care. Yet, only 18% of aged care facilities permit residents to keep pets.
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Australia CAN grateful for outdoor media support
Posted: October 2022
Companion Animal Network Australia (Australia CAN) wholeheartedly thanks outdoor media companies Stream Outdoor, Total Outdoor Media and QMS for generously donating outdoor advertising space across the country to our organisation for the past few months.
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Pooches at Play takes a trip to pet friendly Lifeview Residential Care
Posted: October 2022
When moving into aged care, often people are forced to give up their pets which can end up being surrendered to shelters or euthanised, leaving their owners grief stricken. Fortunately, some homes are recognising the importance of this human animal bond.
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Collins Food team raises vital funds for Australia CAN in charity run
Posted: September 2022
Restaurant operator Collins Foods Limited raises over $3,500 for Companion Animal Network Australia (Australia CAN) in Queensland’s popular Bridge to Brisbane event on August 28.
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People should never have to choose between their pet or a home
Posted: August 2022
Limited housing availability and sky rocketing rental costs are causing families to give up their companion animals and leading to a crisis in animal shelters across the country, with many already at capacity.
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Australia CAN Board members in the pet industry’s top 30 Game Changers
Posted: July 2022
Congratulations to Companion Animal Network Australia (Australia CAN) President Dr Megan Alessandrini and Australia CAN Board Director Sue Hedley OAM for being recognised in Pet Industry News magazine’s 30 Game Changers list featured in the May-July 2022 issue.
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Positive ageing at pet friendly Lifeview
Posted: June 2022
Older people moving into aged-care accommodation are often unable to take their pets with them and are forced to say goodbye to their four-legged friends.
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Companion Animal Network Australia urges dog owners to watch out for symptoms for deadly bacterial disease
Posted: April 2022
Following recent veterinary reports of exposure to a deadly bacterial disease in NSW and NT, leading animal welfare charity Companion Animal Network Australia (Australia CAN) is urging pet owners to be cautious when out and about with their dog and watch for signs of leptospirosis infection.
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Companion Animal Network Australia appoints first CEO in its mission to support the human-animal bond and over 30 million Aussie pets and their families
Posted: January 2022
Leading animal welfare charity Companion Animal Network Australia – Australia CAN (formerly Animal Welfare League Australia) appoints its first Chief Executive Officer, Trish Ennis, in its mission to support the human-animal bond and an estimated 30.4 million* pets and their owners across Australia.
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Watch out for Puppy Scams
Posted: December 2021
Puppy scams cause a lot of heartbreak and anger, and unwittingly impact legitimate businesses in Australia
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Lort Smith celebrates never giving up on any animal with an extraordinary volunteer
Posted: November 2021
CANA member Lort Smith celebrates the adoption of Tessa and her foster carer Kaye Cromie who was a finalist for Volunteer of the Year in the 2021 Pet Insurance Australia Companion Animal Rescue Awards.
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Seven personality and behaviour traits identified in cats
Posted: November 2021
Researchers at the University of Helsinki have identified seven personality and behaviour traits in cats in a new comprehensive questionnaire for surveying feline personality and behaviour.
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Visit Dogs’ Home of Tasmania at Tassie’s first pet expo!
Posted: November 2021
Tasmania’s first Pet Expo is coming to Launceston on Saturday, November 20 to celebrate all creatures great and small with many wonderful exhibitors from across the state, including Companion Animal Network’s member Dogs’ Home of Tasmania!
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WAScamNet shares tips to avoid fake websites
Posted: November 2021
As scams, ripoffs and frauds are becoming more and more commonplace, WAScamNet warns consumers not to let puppy or kitten scammers get their claws into your money by watching out for fake websites.
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What you need to know about keeping your pets safe on Halloween
Posted: October 2021
Halloween (October 31) can be great fun for families, but also a spooky time of year for pets frightened by the loud noises and people in strange costumes walking by or coming to the door.
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