We all love funny pictures of cute animals, so this month we have decided to give a prize to the person who comes up with the funniest caption for this photo.
Simply follow the link and post your funny caption in the comments section below the photo to go in the running to win a VetShopAustralia Pet Prize Pack to the value of $50.
Entries close on 13th February, 2011.
Click here to submit your entry.
Entries close on 13th February, 2011.
Click here to submit your entry.
The echidna has spiked the poll in our Australia Day survey to decide our cutest baby animal.
The miniature monotreme had the competition licked, snaring 26% of the vote to be judged the cutest native critter in our nation-wide poll.
Not to be left too far out on a limb, the koala was voted our second cutest baby animal with 22% of the vote while the possum was hanging strong in third place with 20%.
Animal lovers were less inclined to want to cuddle up to the tiny Tassie devil, who came fourth with 15% of the vote, followed by the emu (8%) and the kangaroo who leapt to last place with just 3%.
The same poll conducted in the USA produced different results with the koala sitting on top of the tree with 48%, the kangaroo bouncing back to tie with the possum in second place (16%) followed by the echidna (7%), the Tassie devil (6%) and the emu (3%).
“It just goes to show that beauty is in the eye of the beholder,’’ said Dr Mark Perissinotto, the head vet here at VetShopAustralia.com.au.
Thanks to everyone for voting on our poll and don't forget there is only three days left to make a purchase and receive your free Proud Aussie Pet Owner Sticker!
Click here to read about our sticker promotion
Not to be left too far out on a limb, the koala was voted our second cutest baby animal with 22% of the vote while the possum was hanging strong in third place with 20%.
Animal lovers were less inclined to want to cuddle up to the tiny Tassie devil, who came fourth with 15% of the vote, followed by the emu (8%) and the kangaroo who leapt to last place with just 3%.
The same poll conducted in the USA produced different results with the koala sitting on top of the tree with 48%, the kangaroo bouncing back to tie with the possum in second place (16%) followed by the echidna (7%), the Tassie devil (6%) and the emu (3%).
“It just goes to show that beauty is in the eye of the beholder,’’ said Dr Mark Perissinotto, the head vet here at VetShopAustralia.com.au.
Thanks to everyone for voting on our poll and don't forget there is only three days left to make a purchase and receive your free Proud Aussie Pet Owner Sticker!
Click here to read about our sticker promotion
Further Flood Support from VetShopAustralia
- January 24, 2011
- By VetShopAustralia.com.au
- 2 Comments
At VetShopAustralia we’re keen to do as much as possible in helping the efforts in rebuilding after the devastating floods. We’ve made a financial donation to the RSPCA Flood Appeal and we are proud of our staff who have put in many hours of volunteer work, but we also wanted to do something directly for those pet owners who now have to rebuild their lives after losing so much.
As part of our contribution, we’re offering a further 15% OFF our already discounted prices exclusively to home owners who have been directly affected by the devastating flooding in Queensland. Please click here for details.
For more information for people who have pets who have been flood affected, the Brisbane City Council has published this handy fact sheet.
For those not directly flood affected please consider donating to the RSPCA flood appeal.
As part of our contribution, we’re offering a further 15% OFF our already discounted prices exclusively to home owners who have been directly affected by the devastating flooding in Queensland. Please click here for details.
For more information for people who have pets who have been flood affected, the Brisbane City Council has published this handy fact sheet.
For those not directly flood affected please consider donating to the RSPCA flood appeal.
Qld Flood Update - Business Returning to Normal
- January 17, 2011
- By VetShopAustralia.com.au
- 0 Comments
Residents and friends help clear ruined homes in South East Queensland |
In terms of our business operations, we are now once again operating at full strength, although Australia Post is still advising that there are some postal delivery delays in some areas.
We are also in discussions with various disaster relief agencies to find more ways the company can support flood victims' pets directly and hopefully we will shortly be in a position to announce some specific initiatives to help pets and their owners in crisis.
Thanks once again for your patience in this difficult time.
Cristina gives street dogs a glimmer of hope
- January 14, 2011
- By VetShop
- 0 Comments
It’s very inspiring to hear about people who dedicate their lives to helping others that are less fortunate than themselves. Cristina Corales is one of these selfless individuals who has dedicated her life helping the worst of the worst street dogs in Puerto Maldonado in the Amazon.
It is here in Peru that Cristina works alone and self-funded to give these sick, starving, mange-covered street dogs a second chance at life. The photos of these animals are absolutely heartbreaking and thanks to Cristina a number of them have managed to regain their health once again. I had a chat with Cristina to find out about her work in Peru and the challenges she faces along the way.
How long have you been helping sick street dogs in Peru?
I first saw a dog in an extremely bad state when I was visiting Peru in May last year. She was so thin I wondered how she could still be alive. When I fed her she raised her head off the filthy ground and looked me straight in the eye, it was then that I promised her I would come back and find her again. So I returned in July last year and found Rosa as I had named her. I then noticed other dogs coming forward each day I fed Rosa. It just sort of grew from there; I can't turn away from a starving or sick dog and hope to be here for another year or more.
What inspired you to begin your work?
I lived in Mexico on and off for about 5 years, the dogs there are in need of help but I was never in a position to do anything for them. So when I saw Rosa something in her eyes just told me that this time I'm not going to ignore the suffering any more. She was living in a truck parking area; a place I discovered was a favourite dumping area for sick or unwanted dogs. I have cleared the area of dogs, then I go back there once a month or so and find it has filled up again. My last rescue from there was Solita, a poor little girl with one broken leg, the other leg had a huge ulcer covered in insects, and as she was unable to move round quickly she was also starving. To be a successful street dog they must be quick on their feet, pushy and a bit aggressive. Solita has none of these attributes so she got no food.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced?
Oh, where to start? Probably the day I brought home a dog that started showing signs of Rabies! But apart from that, as Revolution and other parasite control products aren't available in the town where I live, getting rid of mange has been an ongoing struggle. Very antiquated methods are still in use, such as purging to get rid of worms, but with mange the dogs were re-infecting each other all the time. Some people here treat mange by bathing their dogs in petrol; others inject them with a cattle product which burns the dog as it's injected, so I wouldn't use that.
Cristina to the rescue |
How long have you been helping sick street dogs in Peru?
I first saw a dog in an extremely bad state when I was visiting Peru in May last year. She was so thin I wondered how she could still be alive. When I fed her she raised her head off the filthy ground and looked me straight in the eye, it was then that I promised her I would come back and find her again. So I returned in July last year and found Rosa as I had named her. I then noticed other dogs coming forward each day I fed Rosa. It just sort of grew from there; I can't turn away from a starving or sick dog and hope to be here for another year or more.
What inspired you to begin your work?
I lived in Mexico on and off for about 5 years, the dogs there are in need of help but I was never in a position to do anything for them. So when I saw Rosa something in her eyes just told me that this time I'm not going to ignore the suffering any more. She was living in a truck parking area; a place I discovered was a favourite dumping area for sick or unwanted dogs. I have cleared the area of dogs, then I go back there once a month or so and find it has filled up again. My last rescue from there was Solita, a poor little girl with one broken leg, the other leg had a huge ulcer covered in insects, and as she was unable to move round quickly she was also starving. To be a successful street dog they must be quick on their feet, pushy and a bit aggressive. Solita has none of these attributes so she got no food.
What has been the biggest challenge you have faced?
Oh, where to start? Probably the day I brought home a dog that started showing signs of Rabies! But apart from that, as Revolution and other parasite control products aren't available in the town where I live, getting rid of mange has been an ongoing struggle. Very antiquated methods are still in use, such as purging to get rid of worms, but with mange the dogs were re-infecting each other all the time. Some people here treat mange by bathing their dogs in petrol; others inject them with a cattle product which burns the dog as it's injected, so I wouldn't use that.
Rosa, before she was rescued. |
Rosa is now healthy and happy |
What do you believe needs to be done to help the future of these dogs?
If the municipality had their way all the street dogs would be fed poison. It is only after urgent meetings with the Ministry for the Environment that they have agreed not to kill the hundreds of dogs if I can come up with an alternative plan. This year, thanks to an animal welfare group in the USA, 24 vet students are coming to Puerto Maldonado to start a spay/neuter program. After that it will be up to me to do follow-ups on the health and feeding of the dogs and to try to get people to see that having a dog means more than just throwing him/her scraps once a day. I would also like to thank VetShop for the very generous donation of products, and for the discount they gave me towards my mission of saving these helpless dogs' lives.
We wish Cristina all the best in helping the homeless dogs of Peru and think the work she is doing is truly inspiring!
Click here to see more of Cristina on Facebook
We wish Cristina all the best in helping the homeless dogs of Peru and think the work she is doing is truly inspiring!
Click here to see more of Cristina on Facebook
After a lot of frantic preparations and a nervous night, thankfully it appears that the worst of the flooding is over at least for those of us here in South East Queensland and flood waters are now slowly starting to recede.
Of course, this means that the heartbreaking job of cleaning up must commence, hampered by the fact that there are still many houses and roads underwater.
Australia Post is advising that there will be delays for at least a few more days until flood cut roads become passible and the backlog of mail is cleared. We do therefore ask for continued patience and understanding for any delays.
Brisban Residents Help an Elderly Neighbour |
Of course, this means that the heartbreaking job of cleaning up must commence, hampered by the fact that there are still many houses and roads underwater.
Our hearts goes out to the families of the 15 dead and 70 missing and the tens of thousands of people left homeless.
Brisbane Houses Inundated By Rising Floodwaters |
We've already made a financial donation, but we are looking at what more we can do to assist the people who need it most. While we still have staff who cannot get to work due to flooding, we are thankful that it appears that all our staff and their families have escaped relatively undamaged. However we all know someone not as lucky and over the next few days and weeks we will be helping friends and relatives clean up and try and rebuild thier lives. We've also contacted rescue authorities to see the best way we can help the many pets and other animals left in need because of these terrible floods.
Australia Post is advising that there will be delays for at least a few more days until flood cut roads become passible and the backlog of mail is cleared. We do therefore ask for continued patience and understanding for any delays.
Due to the extreme weather conditions currently occurring in SEQ, we've had to send many staff home so that they can secure their properties and ensure their pets are safe and help friends and families prepare for flooding .
Given this and the extensive road closures in much of Qld, it's likely that there may also be delays in receiving some orders and we do ask our customers to be patient. The positive thing is that all our team are safe and at this stage no team members looks like suffering serious flood damage at home, so we will be back up operating at full strength as soon as we can.
We appreciate your patience.
I recently became the lucky owner of ‘Taj’ a beautiful chocolate and white Border Collie.
Meet Taj |
I have always considered the Border Collie as one of my favourites when it comes to different dog breeds (although admittedly I have a soft spot for all pets), the high level of intelligence, energy and strong work ethic that these canines possess makes them an extremely fascinating breed, and I recently came across some unbelievable stories that give evidence on just how smart these dogs really are.
Rico the Border Collie first made headlines when German researchers discovered the clever dog was actually able to grasp over 200 words. This great achievement has now been surpassed by another fellow Border Collie in the US who goes by the name of Chaser.
No shortage of brains for Chaser (Source: Metro.co.uk) |
Chaser is an extremely intelligent female who has learned the names of 1,022 toys, can identify toys versus non-toys and has the ability to discern commands from nouns.
Chaser is owned by master animal trainer John Pilley who was initially inspired to intensely train his pup after the incredible reports of Rico were exposed.
Over the course of three years, in sessions of four to five hours per day, Pilley and other trainers found that Chaser could identify every stuffed animal, Frisbee and ball that was placed in her growing collection of toys.
It is incredible to hear of such amazing abilities that these particular Border Collies have developed. I wonder how long it will take before another puppy is able to outsmart the incredible skills of Chaser. Who knows with a bit of training it may even be my very own Taj!
Click here to check out Chaser's skills for yourself on her YouTube channel.
Australia Day Poll - Cutest Aussie Baby Animal
- January 07, 2011
- By VetShopAustralia.com.au
- 2 Comments
In last year's Australia day poll, we asked you who you thought was the most Iconic Aussie Animal.
On a hot evening last week, sitting on our back deck waiting for the storm to break, our neighbourhood possum strolled past on the railing, with her beautiful new baby on her back. This led us in to a conversation about which is the cutest baby Australian animal - my wife says possum joeys, I say baby echidna but have a soft spot for baby emus, the kids mentioned baby kangaroos (joeys), baby Tasmanian devils and little koala joeys so we thought it would be fun this Australia Day to put it to the vote.
We want to know what baby Aussie animal you think is the cutest. Do baby possums warm your heart? Can't see a baby Tassie Devil with out saying "oooh"? Baby Echidnas give you that tingling feeling? Cast your vote on the poll on the right, and we'll announce the winners for Australia day!
If you think we've missed your favourite, don't worry, just tell us in the comment section below.
On a hot evening last week, sitting on our back deck waiting for the storm to break, our neighbourhood possum strolled past on the railing, with her beautiful new baby on her back. This led us in to a conversation about which is the cutest baby Australian animal - my wife says possum joeys, I say baby echidna but have a soft spot for baby emus, the kids mentioned baby kangaroos (joeys), baby Tasmanian devils and little koala joeys so we thought it would be fun this Australia Day to put it to the vote.
We want to know what baby Aussie animal you think is the cutest. Do baby possums warm your heart? Can't see a baby Tassie Devil with out saying "oooh"? Baby Echidnas give you that tingling feeling? Cast your vote on the poll on the right, and we'll announce the winners for Australia day!
If you think we've missed your favourite, don't worry, just tell us in the comment section below.
(Photos: Peter Firminger)
Happy New Year! In Eastern Zodiac Calendars, 2011 is the Year of the Rabbit so a special shout out to all our bunny owners!
According to some predictions, in this 2011 Rabbit Year, good taste and refinement will shine on everything and people will acknowledge that persuasion is better than force. Sounds good! However, it's also a year to watch out that we do not become too indulgent as the influence of the Rabbit is said to spoil those who like too much comfort and impair their effectiveness and sense of duty.
Regardless of whether your a rabbit, dog, cat, horse or any other pet or just a plain old human, big or small, furry or not, four legged or finned, we wish you all a safe and prosperous 2011.
The VetShop Team
According to some predictions, in this 2011 Rabbit Year, good taste and refinement will shine on everything and people will acknowledge that persuasion is better than force. Sounds good! However, it's also a year to watch out that we do not become too indulgent as the influence of the Rabbit is said to spoil those who like too much comfort and impair their effectiveness and sense of duty.
Regardless of whether your a rabbit, dog, cat, horse or any other pet or just a plain old human, big or small, furry or not, four legged or finned, we wish you all a safe and prosperous 2011.
The VetShop Team