Meet Billy, The Gentle Koala Who Burned All 4 Paws In Australian Wildfire And Stole His Rescuers’ Hearts

The koala population has been severely affected by the fires that are still raging in Australia; thousands of koalas have died as a result of incineration, burns and smoke inhalation.

It’s an unbelievably tragic situation, but people are refusing to give up and are fighting hard to save as many koalas as they can.

Lucy and Adam Francis are two of the people who have poured their heart and soul into saving the koalas.

The couple, who work with the koala rescue organisation 1300Koalaz, recently took in a severely burned koala called Billy.

Billy was rescued from a scorched tree in the fire-stricken Kenton Valley.

He had burns to all four of his paws and was in desperate need of medical attention.

1300Koalaz

Billy received bandages for his burned paws as well as daily treatments and was closely monitored.

As 1300Koalaz explained in their post, infections from burns are a serious hazard and can end up killing the afflicted koalas.

1300Koalaz

During this time, Billy was placed in the home of Lucy and Adam. They kept a close eye on him and tried to make him as comfortable as possible.

“We used a camping mattress for him to sit on, and placed a pillow behind him for him to lean back in as it was difficult for him to sit in a normal koala position. He was clearly in shock, frightened and covered in soot and ash from the fire” Lucy said in an interview with the Dodo.

1300Koalaz

Since Billy’s paws were burned and covered in bandages, he couldn’t climb and wasn’t suited to live in Lucy and Adam’s normal koala enclosure. Therefore, they built Billy his own little enclosure in the kitchen where they could keep a close eye on him.

After a while, Billys burns had healed enough for him to receive a new set of bandages that left his claws out in the open which would enable him to climb.

1300Koalaz

Lucy and Adam have taken extremely good care of Billy while they’ve nursed him back to health and have become completely smitten by the sweet little guy.

Lucy told the Dodo that Billy is one of the sweetest koalas she’s ever handled and marveled at his gentle nature. Even when they need to rub cream into his blisters and burns, Billy is never aggressive, but behaves more like a child who doesn’t want the medicine, trying to gently hold his human friends’ hands with his paws.

Now, Billy is growing stronger by the day and no longer has to keep all his paws bandaged.

Instead, he’s able to make do with just two paws wrapped up.

When Billy came to Lucy and Adam he was weak and in pain, but now he’s well on his way to recovery and is getting better with every passing day.

Though he still needs more time to rest and recover in the safety of Lucy and Adam’s loving home, he will eventually be able to return to the wild.

When this happens, it will be a happy day for the couple, but they already know they will be missing this little furball, who completely stole their hearts, so much.

It’s a glimmer of hope and happiness while the effort to save as many koalas as possible continues.

1300Koalaz

Billy is not only getting stronger but is also getting noticeably happier as time goes on, and it’s all down to the wonderful efforts of Lucy, Adam and 1300Koalaz.

Without them, Billy, and many other koalas like him, would not be alive today.

We are so happy that Billy is doing better and we’re very grateful that heroes like Lucy and Adam exist.

If you would like to support the important effort to save the koalas, you can contribute to 1300Koalaz via their site or gofundme.

Can you see in Viet nam : Petplaza,  Phụ kiện thú cưng, phụ kiện chó mèo, thú cưng, pet plaza

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Do cats care for us?

Cats are not only emotionally connected to us, they are invested in caring for us, and increasing our well-being.

How can I be so sure? I've been carefully cared-for these past several weeks, as I've been struggling with a long bout of illness.

Many people are not aware that a cat's purr is actually a potent healing force. It operates at a frequency known to increase cellular growth, reduce swelling and inflammation, along with many other healing properties. And cats are willing to share this magic with us.

As seen at left, my youngest cat, Tristan, continually shows me that he misses me when I'm gone... and always comes up with a new scheme to accompany me on my errands. I appreciate the thought, even though I don't let him out of the house.

Anyone who has been "owned by a cat" has a story to tell about how they tried to look after us when we are sick, or came up with a way of getting us to feel better.

As I explain in my blog post, The Paw of Compassion, our cats actually exhibit empathy with their human friends, and care if we are feeling down; whether that's physical, or emotional.

Listen to my podcast about the cat's Paw of Compassion, and hear some extraordinary stories about how cats made a difference in the lives of their humans.

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Teaching Our Cats

Everyone agrees that cats are lovely to look upon and captivating to cuddle. But then, "they" say, cats are difficult to train and don't care about us.

Not only are "they" wrong, they don't realize that proper training springs from love... and vice versa. What they are missing is just how easy it is to do both.

When we do it right.

(l to r) Olwyn, Reverend Jim, Tristan

In my tenth podcast, Training is Communication, I explain that Training is actually the wrong way to think about how we raise and civilize our cats.

Trading is probably a better concept. What it boils down to is friends, doing each other, favors.

In the podcast, you can hear me asking favors from Olwyn and RJ, who, at different times, interrupted the podcast. I requested that they settle down and be quiet while I was recording. And they did.

The success of my method depends upon good communication. How else will my cats understand that I love them? How else can I convey my requests based on friendship?

Likewise, my cats need a way to communicate their love for me, and their own requests to have their needs met in the best possible way.

We can develop this vital skill in no time. I explain how in How to subtitle ourselves.

Tags: Phụ kiện thú cưng , Phụ kiện chó mèo , thú cưng , bác sĩ thú y

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Picking the right kitten

While we can influence our kitten, we cannot mold them. They come with their own personalities!

This is why I urge people to give some thought to the kind of kitten they would like... and give them tips on how to choose that kind of kitten.

While we took on our most recent kitten, Tristan, as a 3 week old orphan, if he had been six weeks old, I would have been able to tell he was an Alpha. This means he has plenty of energy, plenty of curiosity, and plenty of affection... if we are able to meet those needs.

Our Maine Coon mix, Reverend Jim, was an easily identifiable Beta cat. Sure enough, he has been a friend to everyone, a mellow boy who is easy to make happy when his social needs are met.

James Bond always had Gamma tendencies, and his shyness turned into devotion, once I reached his big heart.

It is important to know what Cat Type would work best for our home, with our existing cats, dogs, and people. Then we know what to expect, and what to give them to make them happy.

Listen to my podcast, How to Pick the Right Kitten. Take my SelectSmart quiz, What Cat Personality Will Be a Good Match? to find the right kitten for you!

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Adopting a Not-a-Kitten

Yes, kittens are so cute and cuddly! And clueless. And cause trouble.

The cuteness helps when we are helping them understand their world... over and over again. But there's a great way to bypass this highly intense and demanding stage, and still wind up with a great cat.

We simply go to a shelter and choose a great cat.

And don't forget, cats don't really mature fully until at least three years of age. There can still be plenty of kitten left in the older kittens and teen cats. While adults and seniors have lots to give. They have a whole history we can pick up on as we get to know them.

In my podcast #13, The Used Cat, I explain my tips and tricks for choosing a teen, adult, or senior cat. Despite all our worries, this is actually the best way to get a cat who fits us.

We know who they are
From six months onward, our cats show much more of their body type and personality than they do as kittens. So picking older cats means knowing what we're getting.


Tristan, 11 months, clear as a bell
As seen here, my cat Tristan is 11 months old. The long body and legs, and the high energy, instantly lets us know he is an Alpha cat type. When we got him as a three week old foundling, and even as he moved into his kittenhood, this important clue to his personality and needs was not clear at all.

More developed cats show their traits right away. We know if they are a cuddler or a climber. We know if we "click."

They know what they are doing
It's great to have an expert around, especially if we are cat newbies. Our more developed cat will have their own skills in place much more than they did as kittens.

If we are uncertain of our cat skills, working with a cat who has more maturity means we won't feel frustrated by our training or doubtful of our influence.

Kittens have tiny attention spans and high distractibility. It can take a bit of learning to interpret their behavior, and know what to do about it.

We negotiate as equals
Growing and grown cats known how to communicate and control their emotions. This means we can let them know what places to stay away from. Kittens think everything is a toy. More mature cats can be told.

The all-important negotiation stage can't happen with tiny kittens very fast at all. But a six or seven month old kitten is a delight. They can be trained. They do show they care about us. All without the frustration of younger ages.

We develop our relationship much faster
They want to work with us and they want to be loved. Our instances of affection are actually more deep and lasting at this age. And it starts happening the moment we connect at the shelter.

A more mature cat shows outlines of planning and consideration that are the joy of cats. So don't deprive yourself of the Instant Gratification of getting a "pre-baked" cat.

My podcast tells you how!

Nguồn : https://www.petliferadio.com/blog.html

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This Is The Money Dog.

Like and reblog this post to give me a surplus of notes, rooting myself into this site’s algorithm so that my blog gets recommended to more and more people, increasing my outreach all while manipulating your desire and possible desperation for money for my own personal gain, and immediately spreading this stress and these thoughts of potential regret onto your own followers

Tags: Phụ kiện thú cưng, Phụ kiện chó mèo, dogs, cats, blog thú cưng, Pet Plaza,

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Dog in a bowl

Dog in a bowl

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Tại sao bạn lại muốn nuôi một chú chó con?

Tại sao bạn lại muốn nuôi một chú chó con?

Trước khi nhận nuôi một chú chó con, hãy tự hỏi bản thân bạn một vài điều. Tại sao bạn muốn có một con chó con? Bạn sẽ có thời gian, không gian, và tiền bạc để chơi với chó con của bạn chứ? Bạn muốn nhận nuôi giống chó nào? Hãy chắc chắn rằng bạn đã trả lời hết các câu hỏi bởi một khi bạn đã quyết định tìm kiếm, khả năng cao là bạn sẽ không cưỡng lại được sự đáng yêu của chúng mà mang về nhà một chú chó con đấy!

Nơi bạn có thể nhận nuôi chó con

Bạn có rất nhiều sự lựa chọn khi nhận nuôi chó con. Vì có rất nhiều vật nuôi vô gia cư, sẽ là một ý kiến hay nếu bạn có thể nhận nuôi một trong số chúng từ nhà nuôi thú, nơi thông báo tìm chủ cho thú cưng, hay nơi giữ vật nuôi tịch biên. Nếu bạn đã quyết định sử dụng một dịch vụ lai tạo giống, Hiệp hội phòng chống ngược đãi thú nuôi của Mỹ (ASPCA) khuyến cáo bạn nên tìm một nơi lai tạo giống có quy mô nhỏ và không bao giờ bán thú cưng cho các đại lý hay cửa hàng vật nuôi. Hãy đến thăm nhà của người lai tạo giống để gặp mẹ hay họ hàng của chú chó bạn muốn nhận nuôi.

Chuẩn bị mọi thứ sẵn sàng

Bạn sẽ cần mua một vài thứ trước khi bạn có thể mang chó con về nhà:

- Thực phẩm dành cho chó con

- Dây xích chó và bảng tên bao gồm số điện thoại của bạn và của bác sĩ thú y

- Bát đựng nước và thực phẩm

- Giường của chó

- Lược chải lông

- Cửa gấp hoặc thùng để giữ chó con ở yên một chỗ

- Những đồ vật chó có thể nhai

Biến ngôi nhà của bạn thành nơi thích hợp cho việc nuôi chó

Như trẻ sơ sinh, chó con thích khám phá mọi thứ bằng miệng của chúng. Để có thể giữ cho những đồ vật trong nhà bạn được an toàn, bạn sẽ cần phải làm một vài thứ trước khi mang chó con về nhà:

- Di chuyển những đồ vật dễ vỡ và dây điện khỏi tầm với của chó

- Đóng chặt những cửa sổ ở dưới thấp

- Khóa cẩn thận tủ đựng đồ tẩy rửa, dầu mô-tơ, chất chống đông, và thuốc men.

- Mua một thùng cao để đựng rác

Tags: Phụ kiện cho mèo, dây dắt chó ,  thức ăn cho chó , thú cưng ,  

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IS GRAIN FREE DOG FOOD BAD?

Discussing diets with pet owners is one of the most hated aspects of my job. Not because I don’t like nutrition but because 90% of the time it ends up in an argument. 

The deal is this: grain free is no better than diets that contain grain. Read legitimate scientific sources about grain in dog diets and you will find that it is not only safe but beneficial. 

As a veterinarian, I do see more cases of GI issues and obesity on grain free diets (and just as many cases of allergies). The manufacturers basically replace grain with fat and this can cause problems. I am also constantly amazed at people who will spend upwards of $100 a month on grain free food and then tell me they can’t afford basic medical care for their dog, but that is another topic.

Currently there is some concern that grain free diets may lead to heart disease in some breeds of dogs. Many more studies need to be done but I do think it is something to pay attention to.

I tell people that as long as their dog is at a healthy weight, has normal GI function, and is doing well on the current diet, I see no reason to change. If owners want to do grain free, fine. The choice to feed grain free has absolutely no medical basis, it is purely personal and likely due to advertising by the company.

Tags: THÚ CƯNG, PHỤ KIỆN THÚ CƯNG, PHỤ KIỆN CHÓ MÈO, BÁC SĨ THÚ Y, PETPLZA, PET PLAZA, 

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Losing Dax

My husband and I will be losing our old dog soon. Sometime this coming week, she will cross the Rainbow Bridge to be with our other dogs who have passed before her and she will then, finally, be free of the disease that has made her life uncomfortable for so long.

Dax is an Australian Shepherd. She has, in her 13 ½ years, earned obedience titles, herded sheep and geese, played in agility and was an awesome therapy dog. She was honored by the AKC's ACE program with an honorable mention for her therapy dog work.

Dax’s name comes from a Star Trek character, Jadzia Dax, who has a part of her that has lived many lives. When we first saw Dax as a baby puppy, we said she had wise eyes – she was an old soul who had been here many times before.

Dax is descended from the Australian Shepherd Club of America's first Supreme Versatility Champion and she took that to heart. She approached everything she did as a job and a job was always to be done as best it could be done. She worked hard and played hard. When she competed in obedience, she always gave 110 percent, usually won, and often won High in Trials. Dax felt that one didn’t just play ball or Frisbee, but you played it to win. Therefore she always got the ball or Frisbee first.

She also taught me a lot about dog training. She was easy to teach; she's very, very bright. But she was also easily bored - I couldn't repeat exercises for her as I had for some other dogs. So training had to new and fresh and interesting all the time so that I could keep her attention. If she got bored; I would pay for it! I like to say that smart dogs add ruffles and flourishes to their training; Dax is the one who taught me that!

With Dax, I also had to think more about my training; especially my timing. Dax’s mind was also going ninety miles an hour and if I reinforced a behavior late, she wasn’t learning what I wanted her to learn. And let me tell you, it only took one positive reinforcement for her to learn something new! Dax kept me on my toes. Dax also had a very strong sense of fairness. If she thought something was unfair, she would vocalize it – loudly!

Throughout her life, Dax challenged me. She was never an easy dog to live with; she made me think, she made me question myself, and often she made me angry. But, I love her, she loves me, and I learned a lot from her.

That said, I cannot write about Dax without mentioning her therapy dog work. I have had many certified therapy dogs and all have been wonderful in their own way. But Dax, the hard charging, difficult, intelligent dog that she is, was the best. She looked upon her therapy dog work as a job, as she looked upon everything, and as always, she gave 110 percent. She was amazingly emphathic and knew who needed her on any given day. She was calm and quiet with people who needed that from her and she was bouncing and playful from people who needed to laugh. I have written about Dax’s therapy dog experiences many times and they don’t need to be repeated here except to say, she gave her all to the people she visited and she meant it.

At the age of 6 years, Dax was diagnosed with liver disease (copper toxicosis). It is not common in Aussies but she had it. There is no cure and most Bedlington Terriers who have it die much too young. At that point, Dax's vet gave her six months to a year to live. With the co-operation of my vet and with second opinions from Dr Deb Eldredge, I changed Dax's food, reduced her stress, and began a supplement routine, including herbal remedies and anti-oxidants.

Now, seven years later at the age of 13, my husband, Paul, and I are losing Dax. Her liver has finally given up, she has severe arthritis, is incontinent, is deaf, and just plain doesn't feel good. Our warrior woman is tired of fighting - which I never thought I would say about her as she has fought so long to remain strong and healthy.

It's always hard to lose an old dog; they have been a part of our lives for a long time. But every year we had with Dax was a bonus; when she was originally diagnosed with liver disease, we knew we could lose her at any time. Although we sometimes felt bad for her because there were times during the last seven years when she didn't feel good, she wasn't ready to give up and fought long and hard to remain healthy enough to take the ball away from the younger dogs. And as long as she was still fighting, we would back her up. But now the battle has been won, she’s made her place in this world, and she's tired of fighting so it's time to let her go.

But she will leave a legacy behind her. She gave hundreds of people love and affection during her therapy dog work, especially during the time when she did hospice work. Although she never had a puppy, she has taught many puppies the rules of civilized canine life with people. In addition, she taught me much more. I’ve got to warn everyone who has crossed the Rainbow Bridge before her, though, Dax is coming! Things will never be the same!

Thanks for everything, Dax.

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Therapy Dogs and Service Dogs

At Kindred Spirits Canine Education Center in Vista, CA, along with family pet training, we also provide training for both therapy dogs and for service dogs. When we get calls from dog owners seeking assitance with their dog's training, we find that many people are confused as to which is which.

An easy to remember definition is: a therapy dog is a privately owned pet who, with his owner, provides warmth and affection to other people. A service dog provides assitance to his owner.

Therapy dogs and their owners may visit nursing homes, senior centers, assisted living facilities, day care centers for seniors or for children, schools, and even libraries. On these visits, the dog's owner will be a part of the visit, initiating conversations and introducing the dog, while the dog may solicit petting, may perform tricks, or may just snuggle close to provide some affection.

Therapy dogs must be well trained, with a good understanding of the basic obedience commands. They also need to be well socialized to people of all ages, sizes, and ethnic backgrounds, as well to and of the sights, sounds and smells that they may encounter on a visit. Therapy dogs cannot jump on people, paw or scratch, or put their mouth on people. They should also be introduced to wheelchairs, walkers, and canes.

Therapy dogs should be provided access to any buildings or public transportation while going to, from and during a therapy dog visit. Therapy dogs do not, however, have unlimited access as do service dogs.

Service dogs provide assistance to their owners, but that service can vary tremendously according to the owner's individual needs. Dogs can now notify their owners of immending seizures, or of low or high blood sugar. Dogs can pick up dropped items, can provide balance assistance, can open or close doors, cupboards and drawers, and can even turn levers on the faucet. Dogs also provide assistance to those people suffering from emotional or mental disabilities, including Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome.

Service dogs can be thought of a medical tool that must accompany the user at all times. These dogs may go anywhere their owner goes and the dog and owner may not be discriminated against because of the dog's presence.

For more on service dogs and therapy dogs. check out our podcast on the subject!

Liz

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The Dog Van

All the dogs like my van. Or, to be more specific, all of my dogs and my friends' dogs like my van.

My van is a custom Ford E-150, about eight years old now, and she was built to be comfortable for road trips. And we've taken a number of road trips in her. (Ships are panes are refered to as female so I figured my van deserves the same respect.)

On one camping trip to Big Sur in north/central California, the van carried four people and I think six dogs along with all our camping gear and food for nine days. The dogs didn't care that the van was crowded; they just loved going camping in the big woods.

On a trip to Arizona, we started at the Grand Canyon and made a big circle through the moutains of Arizona, staying in Williams, Flagstaff, Seona, Payson, and more. Dogs and people had a wonderful time.

I think the dogs like the van because she's comfortable traveling, even for them, and it only takes one road trip for a dog to learn that riding in the van equals excitement. "Ah ha! We get to go somewhere!"

When the back door of my van is open at the Kindred Spirits' dog training yard, I'm never surprised to find a dog in the back who doesn't belong to me. Kind of like, "Well, the van is here? Where are we going?" Petra's seven year old Aussie, Kona, is completely blind but he's been on roadtrips in the van and more than once he's found his way to the van and inside - all by himself. And once there, he just lies down to wait. Kona is very patient.

I have to admit, though, I like the van, too. She is eight years old now although she still looks great. There's something about an older vehicle that's comfortable and soothing - kind of like an old dog. Old dogs have been through life with you and know you, your habits, your strengths and your flaws. The van knows me, too, but in different ways. The leather cover on the steering wheel is worn and smooth in the places where my hands normally rest. The seat is molded well to me. I know where all the gadgets and buttons and switches are and can reach them without even looking. I know the sound of the engine and can instantly tell when something is wrong, or even just off a little.

I keep the van well tuned, put the best tires on her that I can, and in return, I think she shows me loyalty, too. She's never let me down and at times, I've worked her hard. My friends who travel with my laugh but when she's heavily loaded and we're going up a mountain, I don't hesitate to pat the van on her dashboard and tell her what a good van she is. After all, we all - people, dogs, and old vans - work better with praise, right?

By the way, her name is Fancy Van.

Tags: thú cưng, Pet Plaza, Phụ kiện chó mèo, phụ kiện thú cưng,

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