Boronia

Just out of interest this photo is on the FB Westminster's Canine Celebration 2025. See all 127 photos here: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1GfkDvX3Zr/

https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/picture/2025/feb/07/something-good-happened-the-rescue-of-reece-the-kelpie?fbclid=IwY2xjawISkWVleHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHfv4JXuJ2GHFGeTKGxW8jV2ON6wa1KHz8CiL5fszP6h_v1vEYUAYxne_xg_aem_-LpQAeIYK0j5aoOz0GFy4w

As I normally get (much) older Westies that have had a bit of a tough time the dog turnover here is more than a regular household, sooooo there are little graves around the garden, some have a tree on them and some have a big tree-stump or a giant terracotta pond. I dread to think what the new owners will do if we ever sell I'll need to draw a location map and include it with the contract! one tree stump and one terracotta pond...

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-01-27/lifeblood-donates-saline-iv-fluid-to-vets-amid-shortage/104840888?utm_source=sfmc&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=abc_regloc_sunshine-coast_sfmc_20250129&utm_term=&utm_id=2492641&sfmc_id=399532883 Newcastle vet inspires Lifeblood to donate IV fluid to animal clinics By Keely Johnson ABC Newcastle Topic:Veterinary Medicine Monday 27 January Lifeblood now donates leftover IV fluid to animal clinics across Australia. (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson) In short: There is a global shortage of saline intravenous (IV) fluids used to treat common medical conditions in humans and animals. A Newcastle vet noticed Lifeblood discarding small amounts of saline after each blood and plasma donation. What's next? Lifeblood now supplies saline to more than 100 animal clinics and is encouraging more to join the program. Newcastle veterinarian Felicity Cole has been donating blood for more than a decade. A regular at Newcastle Lifeblood, she has come to know the process well. "When you give plasma, they spin it in front of you in this amazing machine, and then the pump changes direction, and with saline, they give you your red cells back," Dr Cole said. "I knew the product [saline] was being used and a large amount of it was possibly spare or being discarded." Dr Felicity Cole has been donating blood since she was at university. (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson) After each blood or plasma donation, there is often intravenous (IV) fluid, or saline, left over in the bag. Until recently it would have been discarded. But Dr Cole saw new potential for the product, as the vet clinic she was working at was struggling with a global IV fluid shortage. What is saline used for? IV fluids are used to treat common medical conditions or mixed with other medications. They are particularly vital when treating sepsis and dehydration, and are used during resuscitation, post-anaesthesia care, and intensive care. Animals are also administered IV fluids, which help them maintain blood volume while under general anaesthesia and after traumas such as car accidents. Minerva "Minnie" the labrador being treated at Merewether Vet. (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson) Saving the saline In July last year, Dr Cole wrote to the team at Australia Red Cross Lifeblood, asking if they would consider saving the leftover IV fluids and donate them to her clinic in Merewether. "I knew they were heat sealing these sterile products straight away, and that there was an opportunity for them to still be usable in a time of crisis," she said. Dr Felicity Cole says saline IV is used almost every day at her clinic. (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson) The organisation was quick to respond and keen to help. "It was such a great idea," Australian Red Cross Lifeblood spokesperson Jemma Falkenmire said. "But there was certainly some work to do, from our end, to get approval to donate that saline." Jemma Falkenmire says Dr Cole's proposal was "such a great idea". (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson) If an IV bag is partially used, or expired, it is no longer deemed safe for human use, but with the right method of heat-sealing the bag, it can still be safely used for animals. Lifeblood developed a best-practice system to safely save the fluids and, by August, the first box of saline bags arrived at Merewether Veterinary Hospital's doorstep. "The nurses said, 'But it's half used, is it going to be enough?,'" Dr Cole said. "What they're forgetting is that a cat weighs 4kg, and so, 200 millilitres of fluid for a cat might be 10 or 20 hours of fluids, depending on what's wrong with that cat." National program Lifeblood has expanded the program nationally, donating about 5,000 bags of saline to more than 100 vets and animal clinics across the country each month. In addition to vets, Lifeblood has donated to rural animal clinics, the RSPCA's veterinary hospitals, and zoos. The program includes 42 clinics in New South Wales, 23 in Victoria, 12 in Queensland and South Australia, nine in Western Australia, and six in the Northern Territory. Donated saline IV fluid has become a staple at Merewether Vet. (ABC Newcastle: Keely Johnson) Australia Zoo veterinarian Ludovica Valenza said the donated saline from Lifeblood had allowed her team to continue lifesaving treatment. "We utilise those IV fluids for all sorts of species that come into the wildlife hospital, but koalas, an endangered species, rely on these lifesaving fluids," Dr Valenza said. "Where we would normally purchase large volumes of intravenous fluids, we have now had to rely solely on donations." While the IV fluid shortage continues in Australia, Lifeblood is encouraging more vets and animal clinics to join the program.

Also ask them if they can do an ultrasound to check for any baddies in the stomach

My friend has a wheaten Scottish terrier, he has the best of personalities and much less of a varminty feral than the black Scotties

@Ted H it may be a plan to report it on here: Puppy SCAM Awareness Australia (PSAA) https://www.facebook.com/share/g/1K1vJ4EqS8/ A good group with helpful suggestions

@reece86 this video below may help, also I use Wahl KM2 clippers on my Westies so have a search on-line for a good 2nd hand set (if they are 2nd hand you may need to get the blades sharpened) and if you type 'how to get poo dags off dog's bum' into your search engine you'll get some helpful results

Also a no-no if your dog is prone to struvite crystals

@Loving my Oldies it's quite beneficial health-wise as it contains the powdered Ascophyllum Nodosum seaweed, have a search on-line for the most economical option here's a option https://greenpet.com.au/product/simply-seaweed-dental-powder/

Copy of Pets In The Park post on their FB page: https://www.facebook.com/share/p/14Vj95BSud/ Pets In The Park Pets In The Park strongly condemns the recent policy decision made earlier this week by the City of Moreton Bay to ban homeless individuals from owning a pet. Australia is not a country that kicks the little people; rather, we are a society that lends a hand to help people when they are downtrodden. This does not appear to be the case in the City of Moreton Bay, however, where Council is now targeting some of the most marginalised members of its own community. People suffering the devastating effects of homelessness live a very difficult, exclusionary existence. In many cases, their pets are their entire world. It's a reason for them to get up in the morning. A reason to feel loved. Companionship during lonely days. Security on dark unsafe nights. Homelessness can and does happen to ordinary people in Australia with frightening ease. Whether it’s sudden job loss, relationship breakdown, family violence, faulty financial products, medical episodes, natural disasters – there are myriad ways in which a person can suddenly and very unexpectedly find themselves without stable housing. This decision carries dangerous implications for all Moreton Bay residents. If any resident were to face the unimaginable – losing their home – they too would fall victim to a Council policy that is designed to persecute, rather than assist. Government policies have real-world consequences, and the decision by the City of Moreton Bay to outlaw pet ownership for people experiencing homelessness will simply deepen their hardship. At Pets In The Park’s free veterinary clinics, including our Caboolture clinic within the City of Moreton Bay area, we witness firsthand the lifesaving bond between vulnerable individuals and their pets – companions who provide emotional support, unconditional love, and a sense of hope and purpose during a person’s hardest times. Our dedicated volunteers work tirelessly to offer compassionate care to both people and their animals, ensuring their wellbeing. A more caring approach from the council, recognising and valuing this important bond, would not only support those in need, but also honour the hard work of volunteer-led charity organisations like ours that are committed to serving the Moreton Bay community. We urge the residents of Moreton Bay, and the broader Australian community, to voice their compassion and concern for these vulnerable people and pets. Demand a reversal of this cruel, short-sighted policy decision. Demand real solutions that address the complex problem of homelessness with dignity and genuine care. www.petsinthepark.org.au

Go Lucky! https://www.facebook.com/reel/1064210435479651

This is on the Ask Leo! - Confident Computing, Not All News Is Bad site (https://newsletter.askleo.com/) https://medicalxpress.com/news/2015-10-scientists-leukemia-cells.html

I have Ubuntu with Firefox as my browser: no ads or pop-ups...Bliss

He looks as if he has some NZ Huntaway (without the sticky-up ears) in him https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Huntaway

https://www.facebook.com/reel/844865077808417 or here https://www.facebook.com/lisamillarTV

That looks like an excellent charity SG, there is also the dog cancer research labs at University of Qld a couple of linkies here and here

Sounds like a good idea link has photos https://www.wpr.org/news/wisconsin-veterinary-clinic-co-op-uw-center-cooperatives?fbclid=IwY2xjawFqmw5leHRuA2FlbQIxMQABHY0j80QFaKxyPNRr-24KLbuzf5DPpp2KbF9MDx082VfO9OCdGfHIsTDnCw_aem_vsx1q3CA0fDmnWjCEvcXcA A Pair of clinics in southern Wisconsin might be the first employee-owned veterinary co-op in the US By Mackenzie Krumme September 24, 2024 Dr. Eric Howlett is one of 14 employee owners at Cooperative Veterinary Care. The clinic is thought to be the first employee-owned, vet clinic in the country. Mackenzie Krumme/WPR Whenever Dr. John Dally opens the email inbox of his veterinary clinic in Spring Green, he often sees a request from a corporation asking to buy his practice. “We get solicitations constantly,” he told WPR’s “Wisconsin Today” “At least a couple times a week.” That’s because veterinary clinics are becoming big business for corporations and private equity firms around the country. Today, at least 25 percent of general practice vet clinics are owned by corporations. Some estimates show that number could increase to 60 percent over the next decade. But Dally is uninterested in selling his 20-year-old clinic to a corporation. Instead, Dally’s Spring Green clinic and his fellow colleagues at Mazomanie Animal Hospital last year opened Cooperative Veterinary Care, a co-op that might be the first employee-owned veterinary cooperative in the country, according to the University of Wisconsin Center for Cooperatives. The 14 employee owners include veterinarians, vet technicians, vet assistants and a receptionist. Each owner is on the board of directors. They get equal voting power on decisions and a share in the end-of-year profits based on the number of hours worked. Together, the group makes decisions on health care, pricing structure, wage tiers and employee benefits. “I like to think of it as an analogy to the Continental Congress in the formation of this country,” said Dr. Eric Howlett, an employee owner at Cooperative Veterinary Care and former board president. “We’re coming together, forming our bylaws and asking: What are our shared values?” And the group casts votes by animal noises instead of saying “yea” or “nay.” “I mean, ‘yea’ and ‘nay’ are so boring,” Howlett said. “So, sometimes it’s a ‘woof’ or ‘meow.’ Sometimes, it’s a ‘moo’ or a ‘neigh.’” Abe, Dr. Eric Howlett’s 6-year-old dog, hangs out at the Mazomanie Animal Hospital during the day. Mackenzie Krumme/WPR The changing ownership of veterinary clinics has local effects Dally graduated from the UW-Madison School of Veterinary Medicine in 1992 and has practiced in southern Wisconsin ever since. He said over the last 10 years, ownership of veterinary clinics has changed dramatically. Corporations are interested in veterinary practices, he said, because the business was relatively recession-proof during the 2008 financial crisis. Pet owners today consider their “fur babies” members of the family. As a result, people spend more money for their pets’ care. For instance, the veterinary care and products market is expected to increase from $38.3 billion in 2023 to $39.1 billion in 2024, according to the American Pet Product Association. Sometimes, patrons might be unaware of who owns their pet clinic. Mars Inc. —the owner of Snickers, Dove and Poptarts — also owns 3,000 vet clinics worldwide. Fortune called the company the biggest veterinary care provider in the country. Howlett previously worked for a corporate veterinary clinic in Wisconsin. He said staff still had autonomy over the veterinary care, including decisions such as what drugs to prescribe or tests to recommend. But employees felt pressure from ownership to see an unsustainable amount of patients. “There were quotas put on staff members to try to sell things (like) fecal tests,” he said. “Making staff feel more like they were salespeople as opposed to health care professionals.” Maddie Hansen is an employee owner of Cooperative Veterinary Care with locations in Mazomanie and Spring Green. She recently served on the co-ops business operations committee. Mackenzie Krumme/WPR Dally and Howlett agree that employees working at corporate-owned veterinary clinics can have a limiting or difficult working environment, but still aim to give the best quality care. The co-op model is a better fit for them, however. Dally worked closely with the UW Center for Cooperatives to establish the clinic. Although there are matters the employee-owners are still working out, things seem to be going well. “I just am super excited to watch young people getting to be leaders of a group and decision makers and share with each other their ideas and ways of working out disagreements and having to compromise,” Dally said. “I’ve just seen the process works so well in so many ways.” Wisconsin Public Radio, © Copyright 2024, Board of Regents of the University of Wisconsin System and Wisconsin Educational Communications Board.

How about a dog door that activates with an electronic collar? Link to heaps here

sometimes your home and contents insurer has extra pet cover as an add-on, usually it is just for accidents (NRMA) and there is an age cut-off, the cover pay-out is usually below $1000 and that additional policy is usually under $100 annually. it's worth checking with your insurer

They had to find foster homes for hundreds of sick and traumatised labradoodles. We took one Linkie here First Dog on the Moon

email them here---> https://www.police.wa.gov.au/Contact-Us/Traffic

Firstly Contact Qld Dept Fair Trading https://www.qld.gov.au/law/fair-trading and your local Legal Aid office https://www.legalaid.qld.gov.au/About-us/Contact-us Have a chat to your local MP (usually the office staff can help) https://www.ecq.qld.gov.au/electoral-boundaries/where-is-my-electorate/location

Excellent news! https://www.facebook.com/share/p/ZeQ63qMrdR9iK7ni/ Animals will no longer be forced to stay separate to their owners, with the Spirit of Tasmania set to change their policies when the new ships launch in 2025. The two new ships will each have 18 cabins dedicated to accommodating furry friends and their owners, with a designated outdoor area available for dogs to stretch their legs and enjoy some fresh sea air on a lead. In addition to the cabins, the ferries will also have a secure climate-controlled pet housing area with kennels for dogs of all breeds and sizes.

go to Google (or whatever search engine you are using) and search for 'gst explained in simple terms' There is a very old topic here that may be helpful