The Animal Rehoming Service Inc. (TARS) is a Melbourne based registered charity which has found loving, permanent homes for over 1000 animals of every description, since it was established in 2000 by Michaela Newell.

OUR CHARTER IS:

• To act as a contact and liaison point between people who want to rehome their animals and people who wish to adopt them.
• To facilitate the provision of care and accommodation to genuinely homeless animals, by providing enriching foster homes, when available, whilst finding them suitable permanent homes.
• To provide veterinary care for homeless animals, if required, prior to placement in a suitable permanent home. All animals are desexed prior to rehoming, to curb the exponential growth of unwanted animals in Victoria. When necessary, smaller vet expenses such as desexing and vaccinations are covered by the new owner, but larger vet fees are paid for via fundraising.
• To provide ongoing support and advice to those adopting, for the life of their new pet.

Michaela Newell (Founder): Owner of www.thebaysidedogwalkingcompany.com.au and co-founder of www.thebiggive.org.au. Her family includes Bella the West Highland Terrier and Mr. Magoo the Pomeranian. Both are mature aged rescue dogs.

Cocoa Mulch from Target PLEASE PASS IT ON ~ EVEN IF YOU DON ‘ T HAVE A  PET, YOU SURELY KNOW SOMEONE WHO DOES.

Please tell every dog or cat owner you know. Even if you don’t have a pet, please pass this to those who do.

Over the weekend the doting owner of two young lab mixes purchased Cocoa Mulch from Target to use in their garden. They loved the way it smelled and it was advertised to keep cats away from their garden. Their dog Calypso decided that the mulch smelled good enough to eat and devoured a large helping. She vomited a few times which was typical when she eats something new but wasn ‘ t acting lethargic in any way. The next day, Mom woke up and took Calypso out for her morning walk . Half way through the walk, she had a seizure and died instantly.

Although the mulch had NO warnings printed on the label, upon further investigation on the company ‘ s website, this product is HIGHLY toxic to dogs and cats.

Cocoa Mulch is manufactured by Hershey ‘ s, and they claim that ‘ It is true that studies have shown that 50% of the dogs that eat Cocoa Mulch can suffer physical harm to a variety of degrees (depending on each individual dog). However, 98% of all dogs won ‘ t eat it. ‘

This Snopes site gives the following information:http://www.snopes.com/critters/crusader/cocoamulch.asp

Cocoa Mulch, which is sold by Home Depot, Foreman ‘ s Garden Supply and other Garden supply stores, contains a lethal ingredient called ‘ Theobromine ‘ . It is lethal to dogs and cats. It smells like chocolate and it really attracts dogs. They will ingest this stuff and die. Several deaths already occurred in the last 2-3 weeks. Theobromine is in all chocolate, especially dark or baker ‘ s chocolate which is toxic to dogs. Cocoa bean shells contain potentially toxic quantities of theobromine, a xanthine compound similar in effects to caffeine and theophylline. A dog that ingested a lethal quantity of garden mulch made from cacao bean shells developed severe convulsions and died 17 hours later. Analysis of the stomach contents and the ingested cacao bean shells revealed the presence of lethal amounts of theobromine.

Published by AAHR Inc. on Jun 17, 2009

Category: Animal Rights

Region: Australia

Target: Minister for Primary Industries, Fisheries and Rural and Regional Queensland

Web site: http://www.aahr.org.au/campaigns/dog_poundsQLD.htm…

Background (Preamble):

The Petition of the following individuals points out their concern about the provision of animals from municipal pounds to research institutions.

The use of pound dogs creates a dependence on pet overpopulation and is therefore taking advantage of the human irresponsibility and cruelty necessitating pounds rather than addressing the problem.

Abandoned animals in pounds and shelters have already suffered the fear and distress of losing their carers and familiar territory. Their use in research and teaching is the ultimate betrayal and one that cannot be condoned in a caring society.

http://www.gopetition.com.au/petitions/ban-the-provision-of-pound-dogs-for-research-and-teaching.html

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Stand with Chinese Activists Against Cruel Dog Culls

https://community.hsus.org/campaign/china_dog_culls09

Welcome to The PuppyMillTruck.com

Looks crazy doesn’t it?  Well, it works.  Frustrated to teach people what puppy mills do, I guess I was desperate to get the word out.  As I drive my truck from town to town, people stop me, in total shock, and admit they simply didn’t know.

What they didn’t know is that puppies and kittens in pet stores, pet shops, and yes, flea markets, are born from the puppy mill trade.  Puppy mills sell their pups for $5 or $10 a piece, while the pet stores sell them for hundreds.  What many do not know is most of the puppies die on the way to be sold.  The sick ones die as other puppies smother them in a hot truck.  The Pet Store will say that the pups are registered pure breeds, but registered where?  AKC?  Doubt it!  Phony agencies are created, papers are provided, but the papers are worthless.  But, that’s not the point.

Puppy mill animals are usually sick with a host of issues.  Puppy millers can’t afford veterinary care for the parents or the puppies.  No need to worry though, because once you purchase one of these puppies, you’ll be footing the bill for kennel cough, respiratory infections, possibly parvo, and serious genetic disorders that won’t even be diagnosed for several years.  Let’s face it, you’ll be buying a sick dog.  Why should you care?

http://www.puppymilltruck.com/

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PET LOO: Pet Owners Living in Apartments

Until now, owning a pet in an apartment has presented many problems. The lack of a back yard has often meant accidents inside and frequent walks to toilet at the most inconvenient of times. Now you can be both a pet owner and an apartment owner at the same time with no problem.

You can place The Pet Loo on your balcony, bring it inside on rainy days or keep it in your laundry – the possibilities are endless!

Simone is a qualified social worker with a difference!

Whilst her profession has an emphasis on working with people, it is her passion for animals which drives her. From an early age, Simone recognised the importance the presence of an animal can have on a person’s life and the multiplicity of benefits pet ownership brings.

As a result, Simone began her pet career employed at a local pet store which allowed her the opportunity to develop a wealth of knowledge about the pet industry. A move into animal health saw Simone work as a vet nurse before a practical assignment in her social work course lead her to develop a program whereby she recruited and trained volunteers to assist the elderly to care for their pets. She did so with an aim to decrease the number of pets being surrendered by elderly owners and to promote the healthy benefits of pet ownership.

The satisfaction she gained from establishing the program lead her to seek qualifications in “Animal Assisted Therapy”. Simone’s career in social work then saw her working in a large hospital in the field of aged care which allowed her to further gain an overall perspective in the field of animal assistance for the elderly.

Quite clearly Simone’s belief in the importance of animal companionship and her experience in the animal industry has lead her to develop “The Pet Loo” which aims to assist people of all calibres in their role of pet ownership.

Simone was driven towards social work as it is in her nature to want to help – both people and animals.

http://www.thepetloo.com/global/founder.html

Doggles :

cares about your dog’s comfort. Doggles straps are made of comfortable, plush elastic. The inside of the frames are lined with foam padding and the frames are completely flexible to wrap around your dog’s face, regardless of the shape of the face.

• Research has shown that long hours in the sun without adequate eye protection increase the chances of developing eye disease. UV-absorbant sunglasses and Doggles can help protect your eyes and the eyes of your pet from sun damage.
• Check the label! The ideal Doggles should block 99 to 100 percent of UVA and UVB radiation. Our labels read “UV absorption up to 400 nm,” which is the equivalent of 100 percent UV absorption.
• For dogs with the increasingly common eye disease, Pannus, Doggles are proving themselves very useful. It is well known that dogs with Pannus should stay out of direct sun and get protection from UV light. Doggles are a great alternative for those dogs that can’t stay inside during the day.
• Doggles are also shatterproof and provide protection from wind and debris. Whether your dog rides in a sidecar, on a motorcycle, or in the back of a pickup, he/she needs eye protection.

All Doggles feature:

• Flexible snug-fitting frames
• Foam padding for comfort
• Shatterproof & anti-fog lenses
• Deeper eye-cup to ensure your dogs eyes are safe whilst wearing Doggles
• Adjustable elastic head and chin straps to keep Doggles secure

http://www.doggles.com.au/doggles.php

1.) Prepare. Don’t make it a last minute “pack-and-let’s-go.” Your dog will sense your anxiety and tension. Be ready days in advance, so that your dog has a normal experience before he has to get in the car or on the plane.

2.) Don’t feed your dog for at least 6 hours before plane travel. Some people recommend 8 or even a full 24 hours. However, make sure your dog has access to water – enough to keep hydrated but not full.

3.) Bring your dog’s blankie. Or his favorite stuffed animal, toy, bone–any item which is familiar to your dog and will comfort and relax him.

4.) Use a soothing scent. Instead of using drugs, try reaching your dog through his nose! Lavender is a great scent that can relax the brain. Drugs can make a dog drowsy and may leave him feeling disoriented and uncertain how to establish himself in a new environment.

5.) Go on a long walk. A recently exercised dog will be in a more relaxed state during any long trip.

6.) Take a break. On a long car ride, stop every four hours during the day for your dogs to relieve themselves, move their organs, and learn that they’re going to another environment. It is important for a dog to experience the different temperatures, smells, and feelings that come with a new environment. This will help make them feel that they are part of the process of moving to a new area. Once the sun goes down, you can go eight hours non-stop.

7.) Don’t leave your dog in the car. Summer temperatures can make a car heat up fast. Add an over-excited dog, and dehydration could be the result.

http://www.cesarmillaninc.com/tips/quick_travel.php

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Yappy ending for puppy flushed down toilet

June 15, 2009

A London puppy had a lucky escape after a four-year-old boy accidentally flushed it down the toilet when he was trying to wash it, the Daily Mirror newspaper reported on Monday.

The week-old cocker spaniel’s young owner, Daniel Blair, thought the puppy needed a wash after it got muddy playing in the garden, so he put it in the toilet and flushed it.

But his plan went disastrously wrong when the animal was swept away and became trapped in a waste pipe for nearly four hours.

Firefighters and animal welfare officers could not reach it, so Daniel’s mother eventually called a plumber, who found the dog lying upside down in a pipe about 20 metres away from their house in Northolt, west London.

The dog — which has been named Dyno after the plumbing firm which rescued it — is now safe and well and back with the family.

Daniel has apologised, blaming his twin brother for getting the dog dirty and saying: “I had to give him a wash. I’m so, so sorry. I won’t do it again.”

http://news.smh.com.au/breaking-news-world/yappy-ending-for-puppy-flushed-down-toilet-20090615-cc2f.html

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Moscow’s stray dogs

By Susanne Sternthal

Published: January 16 2010 00:04 | Last updated: January 16 2010 00:04

WANT a happy holiday, but there’s no stopover for Rover?

Your precious pooch could have just as much fun with a professional pet minder.

Cheryl Hill, of Glen Iris, answered a small job ad in the paper for pet minders.

An animal lover, Ms Hill also thought occasional dog care would give her dog, Bailey, a companion.

“I love animals, and the company (Don’t Fret Pet) was quite happy to have minders with their own dog,” she says.

Dogs are matched to minders on criteria including breed, size and length of stay.

“It might be for a weekend, or a few weeks or months,” she says.

The owner will check out the minder’s house and yard and have a short visit to familiarise the dog.

Then they “drop them off with food and bedding (and) you look after them in your own home as part of the family, the way they’d be looked after at home”.

Her top tips for a successful stay are:

>> have a short stay first, to get the dog used to your home;

>> stick to the dog’s routine as much as possible, such as feeding times and foods; and

>> walk them and vary the route, but always keep them on a leash.

Don’t Fret Pet support Pets in the Park this Saturday in Central Park, Malvern East, 11am-4pm.