Table of contents for August 2015 in Pets

I love my beautiful Chockito more than words could ever express! We first got Chocky when she was three months old. She was a cute little bundle of joy! She made us laugh from the second we got her, to even right now, every second of the day! I remember when we first locked eyes — I knew our family would have so many memories with her. Chockito is a Rottweiler x Australian Kelpie and we got her from Pet Rescue. She had been abandoned by her mother and was the youngest of the litter. I can also remember when we first got her, Mum threw a tennis ball, hoping that she would run after it, but instead Chockito just looked at us, confused! It’s really funny because these days…

PETS: What makes Cupcake Day such a special fundraiser for the RSPCA? JESSICA: Cupcake Day for the RSPCA is special and unique in its ability to fight animal cruelty with cupcakes! Who’d have thought tackling something so serious could taste so sweet? We also find Cupcake Day helps promote humanely sourced foods, like cage-free eggs, and encourages people to think more about where their ingredients come from and the animals that provide it. As a charity, the RSPCA relies on donations from the public to continue to give shelter, food, vet treatment and care to unwanted animals. The public’s support also keeps our inspectors on the road to investigate allegations of animal cruelty and protect Australia’s most vulnerable pets. Here’s an example of how as little as a dozen cupcakes…

CAUTIOUS KITTY Q: Hi Kate, I have a pet cat, Bliss, and sometimes she hides. Seriously, we can go hours without finding her. Is this normal behaviour, or should I be worried? Laura, via email A: Hi Laura. Cats usually hide because they are feeling afraid or anxious. Can you think of anything that may be upsetting Bliss? Other pets, renovations and changes to the normal routine can result in fear and anxiety and cause pet cats to hide away. Hiding helps them feel more safe and secure. You can help reduce the likelihood of Bliss hiding by providing her with lots of high spaces, such as cat towers and shelving. These spaces help cats feel safe and secure. Feeding Bliss lots of high value treats and her meals in…

The Airedale Terrier was developed around 100 years ago in Yorkshire, England, from the ancient Working Terrier. Originally known as the Waterside Terrier and used as a vermin hunter, the breed was later crossed with the Otterhound and Old English Black and Tan Terrier. This produced an intelligent, all-round working dog used as a small game hunter, as well as a big game hunter in Africa, India and Canada. Known as ‘The King of Terriers’, the Airedale was extensively used in World War II to carry messages to soldiers behind enemy lines. It was also one of the first breeds to be used for police duty in Germany and Great Britain. Today, the Airedale Terrier is primarily a companion dog and makes a wonderful family pet. CHILD-FRIENDLY DOG The Airedale…

Remy the rat ( Ratatouille’s main protagonist) was made famous for his sophisticated palate and culinary masterpieces, but if the Rex rat were to star in a film, we suspect hairdresser would be its occupation of choice. This sweet rodent has curly hair and whiskers that make it unique to any other rodent out there. A RAT LIKE NO OTHER All things considered, the Rex rat hasn’t been around all that long. This plush-haired breed has only been around since 1976 when geneticist Roy Robinson bred the new kind in England, and the National Fancy Rat Society in London standardised them in the same year. From then, the breed made its way around the world and has now become a popular choice for rodent lovers looking for…

NATIONWIDE August 1 Horse’s Birthday August 1 is the horse’s birthday for all Australian thoroughbreds. The reason for there being just one date for their “birthday” is to help standardise horse ages, particularly for use in competition. August 1 was initially chosen to tie in with traditional horse breeding seasons. Typically, a mare will commence its oestrus cycle at the start of September, thus making the start of the foal season around August 1. This is a good time for foals to be born due to the warmer weather as we head towards spring, but before the intense heat of the dry Australian summer. It’s also a time of growth, with foliage and food for horses to eat being plentiful as we head into spring. Did you know: In the…

Regardless of whether you’re the proud owner of a Chihuahua, a Great Dane or anything in between, every dog loves learning how to do tricks. First of all, there’s the performance aspect of it — what pooch doesn’t love showing off his or her skills for an adoring audience? Teach your canine companion a few advanced tricks and you’ll be able to amaze friends and family with your dynamic talents. But trick training can do a whole lot more for your dog than simply helping him impress new people. Every dog, no matter what their breed, thrives when given plenty of mental stimulation. Most dog owners are aware just how important it is for us to give our pooches’ bodies a workout, but sometimes we forget that their minds need…

The glamorous kitty of the feline world, the Persian is also sweet natured and playful. Persians have an old worldly charm and grace, which probably has something to do with their early history — they originated in Persia (now Iran) in the 17th century, so unlike some breeds, they’ve been around for centuries. Loren Jones from Mshindi Persians and Exotics says with their happy disposition and gentle nature, they make wonderful pets for kids and families. But, Loren is also quick to add, owning a Persian does mean being prepared to put in the time to care for them properly. “They are not a low maintenance breed, with their long hair and double coat, they need to be regularly groomed” she says. A LAIDBACK BREED The Persian is a very…

Ask twins Paula and Bridgette Powers what they love about pelicans and they’ll tell you in unison, “because they are big, beaky and beautiful.” Pelicans are just one of the feathered family of assorted birds the Twinnies (as they are affectionately known) rescue and rehabilitate. They also help other injured seabirds, water birds, native birds and other aquatic birds on their rambling Sunshine Coast hinterland acreage property, where they operate a 24-hour, seven-day-a-week service. Paula and Bridgette are identical twins so in tune with each other they dress identically, and finish each other’s sentences. But the thing the girls have most in common is their love of animals — especially those of the feathered variety. A VERY SPECIAL HOSPITAL The girls’ rescue centre is set up like a well-run hospital,…

Write to PETS! Do you have an amazing pet story or a hilarious animal joke to share? How about some feedback on one of our articles? Or did you recently get a new pet? PETS would love to hear from each and every one of you (and your furry buddies). Drop us a line at Paws for thought/PETS, Locked Bag 154, North Ryde NSW 1670 or email pets@universalmagazines.com.au with “Paws for thought” as the subject heading. Letters, poems, photos, collages and drawings are also welcome. Be as creative as you like! DOG LOVER DELIGHT Hey PETS, On the 7th of November last year I went to the Dog Lover’s Show! It was really fun and I got to pat lots of dogs, even a Husky and a cute Labrador puppy!…

CHOOSING THE RIGHT TOY With so many pet toys available on the market today, how do you know which one is right for your pet? Every toy has been designed with a different purpose in mind, so when choosing for your four-legged friend, think about what it is they need. Distraction toys or boredom-relief toys are designed to entertain your pet, keeping them busy so that they are less destructive and/or naughty. Treat toys and chew toys are great as they help keep your pet from getting into too much mischief and destroying your house, yard or furniture. Active and interactive toys are toys that you use to play with your pet like balls, fetch toys and tug toys. These toys are great for bonding between owner and pet, provide…

Originally bred in Devonshire, England, in the late 1800s as a foxhunter and ratter, the Jack Russell Terrier takes his name from the Reverend John (Jack) Russell, a founding member of England’s Kennel Club in 1873. Reverend Russell was a passionate foxhunter and it was this interest that led to the breeding of the JRT. These days, this cute-as-a-button breed still retains his ratting instincts but has also become a very popular companion animal. Meghan Boole of the Jack Russell Terrier Club of Queensland loves the breed and couldn’t imagine life without a JRT by her side. She says these pooches are active, loyal and always on the lookout for mischief. “Life with a Jack is never boring” she says. “They love to be with you, adore their owners, and…

With a jet-black coat, a long flowing mane, and a full tail, the Friesian is a powerful beauty that will bring joy to any horse lover’s life. A HOLLYWOOD HISTORY Developed in the province of Friesland in the northern Netherlands, the Friesian is said to have descended from the primitive forest horse. Since those very early days, the breed has been responsible for carrying knights to battle, worked as an urban carriage horse, almost became extinct on more than one occasion, and has even served as a circus horse at various points throughout history. Today, this powerful-yet-graceful breed has become more and more popular thanks in part to its many Hollywood appearances. Because of its tall, dark and handsome good looks, the breed was selected to appear in films like…

1 THEY’RE SNOOZERS, NOT FIGHTERS The Giant Panda isn’t an aggressive animal, as Monika Lapka, panda keeper at Adelaide Zoo, is quick to point out. “They’re very docile; they’d rather sleep than fight,” Monika says. In fact, the only time this giant creature does show signs of aggression is during breeding season, when they make a lot of noise and show their teeth to ensure they get the female they’re after. 2 THEY REALLY DO EAT BAMBOO Yes, just like you see in all the pictures, Giant Pandas really do eat bamboo. However, as bamboo is quite low on nutritional quality, they have to devour a whopping 12.5kg of the stuff per day! “In the wild, bamboo makes up 99 per cent of a panda’s diet,” Monika says, adding that…