Dogs helped 80% of Australians stay paw-sitive during Covid restrictions

But new research from Guide Dogs finds we are failing to reward furry companions with enough walkies.

2020 hasn’t been a ‘good boy’ so far, and dogs have played a vital role in keeping Aussies smiling during a tough start to the year. But according to new Guide Dogs research, dog owners aren’t repaying the favour and giving man’s best friend the exercise they needed during COVID-19 restrictions.

The survey [1] of 1,000 dog owners found four out of five Aussies (81%) relied on ‘puppy-love’ for emotional support and a positive frame of mind during the height of the pandemic, however, this wasn’t reciprocated when it came to dog walking.

Before COVID-19 restrictions, over 70 per cent of owners weren’t walking their dog at least once a day.

During restrictions this hardly changed and owners admitted to walking their dogs for shorter distances over shorter periods than they usually would.

Ten per cent didn’t walk their beloved pooches at all.

The study was conducted as part of PAWGUST, a campaign in its third year that is inviting the public to give back to their dogs who have helped them through COVID-19 by committing to a 30-minute walk together for 30 days in August. That’s roughly 2km a day and 60km in total - no small feat in the middle of winter!

Guide Dogs NSW/ACT CEO, Dale Cleaver said: “The lockdown period highlighted an interesting change in dynamic for Aussies and their pets, with many people able to spend quality time with their dog, but also confined to their homes for large parts of their day – something that our pet dogs are all too familiar with.”

“To reward their furry friends’ companionship in the most valuable way, we’re encouraging dog owners to get out and enjoy a walk together every day in August.”

The research from Guide Dogs also revealed that if they weren’t man’s best friend before COVID-19 restrictions, they certainly are now, with 70 per cent of respondents reporting feeling closer to their dog as a result of restrictions, and half worried that returning to work might emotionally impact their dogs.

Dog ownership also spiked with 63 per cent of dog owners saying they know someone who got a new dog during restrictions, and 18 per cent knowing five or more.

More than half (53%) said they chatted more with other dog owners while walking during restrictions, and 40 per cent increased their dog-related social media activity.

Dog owners around the country can now give back by signing up to PAWGUST. 

By getting friends and family to sponsor them, they will also contribute to raising and training Guide Dogs, which costs roughly $50,000 per dog but provides years of independence and companionship to someone with blindness or low vision.

“At Guide Dogs we are always grateful to our dogs, and PAWGUST is about encouraging Australians to join us by getting the steps in with their four-legged friend while raising money to help us raise and train more Guide Dogs at the same time,” said Mr Cleaver.

Australians can sign up for PAWGUST or donate by visiting www.pawgust.com.au/pawsitive

[1] The research is based on a survey of 1,000 Australian dog owners, conducted via online survey method in June 2020.

About Pawgust

Back for its third year, PAWGUST is an initiative from Guide Dogs that is encouraging Australian dog owners to challenge themselves to walk their dogs for thirty minutes a day for thirty days in August to raise vital funds that help to support people living with vision loss and blindness. It costs more than $50,000 to breed, raise and train a Guide Dog or Assistance Dog.

Register at: https://www.pawgust.com.au/pawsitive

About Guide Dogs Australia

Guide Dogs Australia is the trading name of Royal Guide Dogs Australia which is the national organisation comprised of the state and territory-based Guide Dogs organisations across Australia. Together these organisations are the leading providers of both Guide Dogs and orientations and mobility services assisting Australians with blindness or low vision. Their services include mobility training with long canes, Guide Dogs and electronic travel device such as talking GPS technology, to enable people with blindness or low vision to get around their communities independently. 

Visit www.guidedogsaustralia.com or call 1800 804 805.

MEDIA RELEASE, 8th July 2020

Our dogs just like our cat are heat-seeking missiles who usually make a beeline for our bed at night and blankets, heaters or open fires on cold winter days.

If you have a hairless dog, a puppy, a senior dog suffering from canine arthritis or another medical condition, it's even more essential to keep them warm and comfortable throughout winter.

A great option is to provide them with their own heated pad like the Original Pet-Mat™ which is using the latest in Positive Temperature Coefficient Technology.

The Pet-Mat™ is designed to reach a maximum temperature of 40 degrees Celsius whether it is covered or not. In reality, a more practical heat rise of 20-30 degrees Celsius is usually maintained above ambient conditions. 

Since the Pet-Mat™ works on dynamic heat transfer, it should maintain a temperature slightly warm to the touch until body contact is made. It is simply impossible for it to ever overheat ensuring a consistently comfortable use for your pet, even if left on 24/7.

To clean your Pet-Mat™ you can wash it under running water or just wipe it off with a damp washer.

*** Win 1 of 3 Pet-Mat™ Heated Animal Pads ***

(1 Small, 1 Medium, 1 Large; Prize Pool: $333.50)

HOW TO ENTER:

1) Like our post (04/07/20) AND our Facebook page

2) Like the Pet-Mat Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PetMatAu/ or Instagram page @petmat_au

3) Comment "how does your dog keep warm in winter?" (photos/videos welcome) via the Australian Dog Lover Facebook page or on Instagram (simply tag us in your post).

TERMS & CONDITIONS

1. This Competition will open on Saturday 4th July 2020 (8am) and will close on Sunday 12th July, 2020 (midnight A.E.S.T.). Open to Australian residents only.
Please allow 2-3 weeks for your prize to be delivered directly from the company.
2. To Enter, Like our post (04/07/20) + Tell us "how does your dog keep warm in winter?" (photos/videos welcome) via our Australian Dog Lover Facebook page 
or Instagram @australiandoglover.
3. This Promotion is a game of skill and chance plays no part in determining the winner.
The entries will be judged by the Australian Dog Lover team. The winning entries will be selected based on the most creative, informative or useful statement.
4. Please note you MUST LIKE BOTH our Facebook page and the Pet-Mat:Heated Animal Pads pages to be eligible for a prize.

5. Entrants in the competition can only enter once.

6. Prizes not claimed within 48 hours will be redrawn.

* Entry into the competition is deemed acceptance of all terms and conditions.

The Geebung BWS is not only a favourite destination for locals, but also their furry friends after the team started serving dog treats and fresh bowls of water - with some naughty pooches refusing to leave until they’ve been served!

“Customers love coming here and so do their dogs. I reckon it’s the dogs who bring their owners, not the other way around,” said Geebung BWS store manager Kristy Edwards.

Animal loving Kristy - who has two rescue dogs and fosters a third - decided to buy dog treats as part of a marketing campaign 12 months ago and has kept it up long since the campaign wrapped up.

The orange water bowl by the store entry is always freshly replenished, and a packet of dog treats is readily available - which has created a very local furry following, with a Bulldog named Sass and a Cocker Spaniel called Evie leading the pack.

“We have video footage of Evie’s owner having to pull her away from the store entry when we were closed because she was refusing to leave without her treat. Sass just plonks himself down on the ground when he walks past. He patiently waits for me to finish serving customers, so I can give him his treat,” she said. 

Local dogs Ozzie, Myf, Charlie, Richie, Rosie and Evie (lead shot) enjoy socialising at BWS Geebung - Photo: Kristy Edwards

Kristy estimates that the store has on average at least six furry friends visiting every day.

“What simply started off as a passion for animals has really turned into quite a following here at Geebung. Our customers and their furry friends really brighten me and my team’s day,” she added.

Kristy has also rallied the store team and customers to help animals in need by supporting local charities.

“We are all huge animal lovers and collect blankets, food and towels for those who are less fortunate and struggle to provide for their dogs, as well as for animal rescue and sanctuary Deathrow Unchained. We have customers coming in every week to contribute with pet food, second hand jumpers and blankets. It’s really incredible,” she said.

“We have also helped raise money for Bikers Against Animal Cruelty and Deathrow Unchained” she added.

Burbank-based animal rescue Deathrow Unchained Animal Rescue and Sanctuary said they were moved by the support they had received from Kristy and the Geebung community.

“As an Animal Rescue that relies purely on contributions from the community to keep us going, we were so incredibly touched by the generosity of Kristy from BWS. Kristy often visits our sanctuary and drops off food, vouchers and even blankets for our animals. We are so grateful for her incredible support,” a spokesperson for Deathrow Unchained said.

Happy furry visitor at BWS -
Photo: Kristy Edwards

“She recently kindly provided our Sanctuary with gift vouchers for various stores like Woolworths. This helped us survive through COVID-19 lockdowns while our main source of income completely stopped. We are home to over 14 rescued animals, some from hoarding situations, many from animal abuse,” the spokesperson added.

Area manager Kelly Kyle from BWS added: “With stores in all major cities, and strong presence in regional and remote locations, BWS is a part of almost every Australian community, and we encourage our store teams to get involved in their local communities and their furry friends.”

The Geebung store is located on 9/8 Railway Parade, Geebung, 4034, QLD.



Deathrow Unchained

Deathrow Unchained Animal Rescue and Sanctuary is based in Burbank, Brisbane. Having saved and incredible 3350 animals in the 4 years they have been operating, they focus on animals with no options and are in desperate need of help. They are currently running small group tours around their Sanctuary to help them recover from the finical toll COVID-19 lockdown took on their organisation. 

To find out how you can help this great cause visit www.deathrowunchained.org

About BWS

Since 2001, BWS have made it their mission to become the most convenient bottle shop in the country. With over 1,300 stores across Australia and a new app (BWS on tAPP), locals can now order ahead for free pick up in store or get drinks delivered ASAP (check BWS’ online store locator for delivery areas). The BWS team is passionate about local and goes to great lengths to curate a range that's tailored to the tastes of the locals, so their customers don't have to – how convenient.

MEDIA RELEASE, 2nd July 2020

We only recently discovered Good Scruff, an environmentally responsible company that loves pets and our planet. We usually take a look at all the new eco-friendly pet products once a year but we felt this range deserved a particular mention!

Designed from the ground up, the Good Scruff range of green cleaning solutions to everyday pet stain and odour problems are easy to use and also a healthier and safer choice for the whole family. 

We love that Good Scruff is an Australian company manufacturing in Melbourne. The entire range is eco-friendly with all ingredients carefully selected and sourced ethically (never tested on animals) from the best Australian suppliers. To make sure their products meet the highest standards, they are independently tested. 

The Good Scruff Range of Eco-Friendly Cleaning & Odour Solutions

Our first question was what makes the Good Scruff products "green"? 

Both our dogs and the cat decided to investigate - Porthos was looking for treats!

All harsh chemicals are left out so what you won't find here are any dyes, masking agents, synthetic perfumes, chlorine, bleach, sodium laurel sulphates or phosphates! 

Reading all the labels, the contents are very similar with a mix of plant-derived base ingredients (for cleaning) and natural scents from botanical extracts (for odour removal).

✔️ Base Ingredients: Australian filtered water (Aqua), Plant-derived surfactant, Plant-based biodegradable deodoriser, Citric acid. 

✔️ Natural Fragrance: Cinnamomum Camphora Leaf Oil, Grapefruit Oil, Geranium Oil, Bergamot Oil, Cedarwood Oil and Basil Oil. 

1) Stain & Odour Remover 

This product is designed to attack the worst stains and completely eliminate odour at the source… for good! 

It will be great not just for pet owners as it not only tackles pee, solid waste, dirty paws on carpets, couches, car seats and other washable fabrics but also human messes (vomit, blood, grease and even wine)! 

The plant powered formula works fast to dissolve and remove stains and eliminating all odours will discourage repeat accidents. 

Whether you are toilet training a puppy, a newly adopted dog, or just dealing with your pet’s bad habits – this product will be a real life saver! It works well on carpets, rugs, upholstery, clothing and other washable fabrics or water-safe surfaces. 

Sadly our senior dog Conner occasionally forgets his house training (either he’s physically unable to hold despite being provided multiple opportunities daily or he gets confused and forgets to ask to go out in time). 

We picked up most of the solid waste with a paper towel and then sprayed the Stain & Odour Remover directly onto our soiled carpet and rug. There wasn't too much of a stain to start with as we caught him in the act but still blotted the carpet and rug to be sure. 

There's an immediate smell of freshness, instantly covering any previous bad smells and there was no discolouration of our hard-wearing carpet (always test on a small hidden area first!). We rinsed with water using a clean cloth and avoided hard scrubbing then just let our carpet and rug to air dry which takes a bit longer in winter!

It was a long-lasting result so there was no need to go over a second time but you may need to if you have a stubborn older stain. So far, our dog hasn't been used that spot again, he's now moved his efforts to the poop deck!

We’ve only a handful of accidents to date but knowing we can get on top of these incidents quickly with minimum fuss and no lingering smells is a huge relief. 

RRP: $24.95 at goodscruff.com.au

2) Urine & Odour Destroyer

This is a super strength, non-toxic, eco-friendly solution for your everyday pet messes. 

This plant powered formula works fast to breaks downs urine stains and completely neutralises odours at the source to help prevent re-soiling.

If you have a puppy, a newly adopted pet settling in, an incontinent older dog or a cheeky pussycat like Arya, this would be a life saver!

I can't recall the last time one of our dogs peed in the house (maybe our latest rescue dog 5 years ago) but our Urine & Odour Destroyer is used when our junior cat Arya occasionally urinates outside her PetSafe ScoopFree self-cleaning litter box. It's usually our fault for not replacing her tray on time...

It is fairly rare (we normally protect our laminate flooring with both cardboard and a bathmat) but we all know that cat pee is particularly stinky - you can't miss that ammonia scent! - so you really need to get on top of it quickly by spraying straight away, rinsing using fresh water and letting the area dry off completely before allowing your pet back in.

We've only used it on laminate flooring and tiles but it works equally well on hard wood, vinyl, concrete and other hard surfaces which are unaffected by water.

RRP: $24.95 from goodscruff.com.au

3) Toy & Bowl Sanitiser

When it comes to cleaning our dog / cat bowls and some of their toys, we normally wash them along with our dishes and occasionally pop some in the dishwasher to kill germs (especially when feeding raw or wet food) so we must admit we did not really think about any toxic residue that could be left behind because it would affect us too...

Arya: "I'm offended Mum, I am not the dirty one in this house!"

The Good Scruff Toy & Bowl Sanitiser is of course a safer way to kill germs and will remove slime and grime from pet’s dishes and their favourite toys with a quick spray directly on the surface.

Simply wipe with a clean cloth and allow to air dry before use.

It will work to safely clean and sanitise not only plush toys but also rubber, neoprene, ceramic, stainless steel and other items that may come in contact with your dog’s or cat's mouth. 

All products are packaged in environmentally responsible packaging. The cleaner bottles are all 500ml and are 100% recyclable and refillable to help reduce your carbon footprint.

RRP: $24.95 at goodscruff.com.au

4) Patio Cleaner & Deodoriser

If you have a puppy or dog (or even a cat) that toilets on a balcony, deck or in a courtyard, I'm sure you're not a fan of those lingering stains and smells when you want to use your outdoor space with guests?

As with all Good Scruff products, the Patio Cleaner & Deodoriser will break down the stains and eliminate odours living your outdoor living areas smelling great so you can get back to enjoying the day! 

Porthos: "I hope you're not expecting me to do all the scrubbing?"

The Patio Cleaner & Deodoriser can be used on most outdoor surfaces, e.g. concrete, stone, artificial turf, hardwood, and other floor surfaces unaffected by water. 

It is very economical with each litre making up to ten litres of ready-to-use cleaner! Thoroughly apply your diluted mix (using a watering can or sprayer) onto the surface and you can scrub with a bristle brush to loosen particles if needed. For the best results, you could spray the stained areas first with the Urine & Odour Destroyer.

After 10 minutes, simply wash away with a water hose and use a squeegee (or sponge) to direct excess liquid to drain. Allow the area to dry naturally and completely before letting anyone back in the area. 

However if your pet does not have any other options for toileting, you will have to use this product regularly!

RRP: $34.95 at goodscruff.com.au

Our Experience with the Good Scruff Range 

Where were these products when we welcomed our puppy Conner home back in early 2007? We were clueless about puppy toilet training and the first few weeks we gave him an all-access pass to all areas of the house, whilst we went off to work for the whole day!

We are lucky now that all the dogs have full access to a grass backyard and we're usually around to let them in and out (and back in again!) so we haven’t had many accidents in the house after our two rescue dogs settled in 5-6 years ago.

But our senior dog now forgetting his house training and a contrary junior cat have shown us that life with pets can be very messy!

Thanks to Good Scruff, we feel we no longer have to compromise: we can have a clean(er!) house whilst not having to expose our pets (and ourselves) to harsh chemicals.

Where can you find the Good Scruff range?

Trade enquiries / wholesale orders are welcome so why not contact the team here?

You can order online at goodscruff.com.au and follow Good Scruff on Facebook at www.facebook.com/thegoodscruff/  or on Instagram at www.instagram.com/goodscruff/

Nothing beats curling up in front of the fire with a great book and your pets on a cold winter's day! Time to grab that cuppa and enjoy the upcoming school holidays with this July 2020 selection of our Dog Lovers Book Club.

LOST COMPANIONS
Reflections on the Death of Pets
by Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson

A heartfelt exploration of human grief after the loss of a pet by the New York Times bestselling author of Dogs Never Lie About Love.

Our society is still learning how to dignify the relationship between a pet and their human with proper mourning rituals. We have only recently allowed the conversation of how to grieve for our non-human family members to come front and centre. 

In examining the special bond between pets and their people, Jeffrey Moussaieff Masson validates the grief that we feel when a special pet dies. Lost Companions is full of poignant stories about dogs, cats, horses, birds, wombats and other animals that beautifully illustrate the strong bond humans form with them. 

A heartfelt exploration of human grief after the loss of a pet, Lost Companions is a thought-provoking book on pet loss. Masson takes a personal approach, allowing readers to explore their own responses, suggesting ways through and out of grief, as well as meaningful ways to memorialise our best friends.

Paperback: 272 pages
Publisher: Murdoch Books, 2nd July 2020

RRP: $29.99 from all good book stores and online.

SALO
Canine Outlaw
by Nik Forster

This is the story of Salo, a dingo pup near to death, rescued by David Wiringales, an elderly Aboriginal man who lives a solitary life in the outback. He raises the pup with young ones from his own dog, Tessa. A violent storm from the south disrupts his life and forces his dogs to fend for themselves and commit the unforgivable crime; killing sheep. In no time they have a bounty on their heads.

The native Aboriginal population welcomed the dingo to their fires, not only did they have them as companions but as a food source and means of warmth at night, at the same time incorporating them into their spiritual lives.

The large dog, ignorant of his ancestry, made his way through the tangled heath and up onto a small rocky embankment that sloped upward from the dense vegetation. He coughed, as near as a dingo gets to bark, and greeted his mate.

Book sales help the Bargo Dingo Sanctuary's conservation and breeding programs.

Paperback, 160 pages
Publisher: Dandiprawn Productions, 7th April 2020

Price: $19.95 (special offer) from Forster Books

WAR DOGS
by Tony Park (with Shane Bryant)

In Afghanistan, sometimes all that stands between coalition troops and death or serious injury is a dog.

Highly trained dogs and their handlers search for improvised explosive devices or hidden weapons out on patrol with combat troops.

It’s a perilous job, often putting them right in the firing line, and making them high priority targets for the Taliban insurgents they’re fighting.

Shane Bryant, a former Australian Army dog handler, spent 10 years in Afghanistan working with elite American special forces and training other handlers and dogs. War Dogs is his story – a riveting true account of the hidden war in the mountains and cities of the world’s most dangerous conflict, and the comradeship between man and dog that has saved numerous lives.

This re-released updated edition of War Dogs looks at the effects a decade of service as a contractor had on Shane, his personal life and his mental health as he faced new enemy, post-traumatic stress disorder.

Paperback, 304 pages
Publisher: AJP, 15 July 2020

RRP: $29.99 (paperback) from Amazon, Dymocks, Booktopia; $10.99 (Kindle edition) at www.tonypark.net

REALITY BARKS

by Kit James

On a hot and dusty day a country mutt is rescued from Barranyup Dog Pound. It’s way out west of Sydney. What happens next is no ordinary tale, and this mutt turns out to be no ordinary dog. Previously a one-man companion dog, he discovers that he’ll now be shared between two slick up-market Sydney couples. A Time Share dog? Oh, really? 

What’s this all about he wonders? 

First there’s his new name – Elliott, named after T.S.Eliot, who wrote Cats! Then, because Elliott can read auras and understand every word of human talk, and not just body language, he discovers that none of them really wanted a full-time dog. So why is he here? What’s going on? And who is he supposed to love? He knows who he wants to love, and that’s Adriana. He fell in love with her scent, even before he saw her. That’s the way of dogs.

But it’s Ad Man Jamie, the human Alpha Male of the other couple, who has secret designs on him. Soon Elliott finds he’s a busy working dog with an action-packed starring role in a TV ad campaign for a yucky dog food brand that he detests.
Reality Barks.

He’ll do anything not to be sent back to Barranyup. Elliott knows the fate of ‘boomerang’ dogs. So this clever rescue dog embraces his new life and becomes a celebrity, or as he says, from mutt to megastar.

What’s a dog like this doing wearing a hat like that? You may well ask. Find out in Reality Barks (Book #1), An Elliott C. Cool Caper series, a collection of amusing heart-warming stories for every dog lover.

eBook, 287 pages
Publisher: Kit James Publishing, May 2020

RRP: $6.99 from www.booktopia.com.au

BOOK CLUB - KIDS' CORNER

CAMPING CHAOS! 

Dog Diaries

by Steven Butler, James Patterson

The fifth book in the hilarious Dog Diaries series featuring Rafe Khatchadorian's pet pooch, Junior.

I can't wait to get to the most magical place in the world – The Woods! Just imagine all the adventures...

Doggy-paddling in the lake
Barking at raccoons
And my quest to find the greatest stick in the universe!

But all my best plans are ruined when Iona Stricker -the most miserable, cruel, and obedience-loving human you could ever hope not to meet - shows up, making any fun impossible.

Until... a canine criminal, escaped from Pooch Prison, sneaks into the camp and changes everything!
This vacation might be fun after all!

Paperback, 208 pages
Publisher: Cornerstone, 19th May 2020
For Ages: 7 - 9 years old

Price: $13.50 at www.booktopia.com.au

MR. DOG AND THE RABBIT HABBIT
by Ben Fogle, Steve Cole, Nikolas Ilic (Illustrator)

A brand new young fiction series by TV broadcaster and intrepid explorer Ben Fogle, inspired by his real-life animal experiences... 

Co-written with best-selling children's author Steve Cole and illustrated throughout with beautiful black and white illustrations by Nikolas Ilic.

You can always count on Mr. Dog to help an animal in trouble...

When a mother rabbit is captured in a trap, he ends up playing bunnysitter...

But someone wants to get rid of All the rabbits, not just this one, and time is running out for Mr. Dog to save them...

Format: Paperback, 144 pages
Publisher: HarperCollins Publishers, 5th May 2020
For Ages: 7 - 8 years old

RRP: $10.61 at www.booktopia.com.au 

THAT DOG! 
by Emma Lazell 

This brilliant second picture book from Emma Lazell - a rising star of the picture-book world - is a hilarious dognapping caper.

There's a team of dognappers on the loose! They've stolen lots of pooches, but this time they're up against a very clever dog.The cunning Penelope Dognapper is very keen to get her hands on the latest rare breed, the lesser-spotted woofer. Her big mistake is sending Patrick, her accomplice, to do the job. 

He has great difficulty identifying the right dog-that dog-and in a house that also contains a snake, a tortoise, and a characterful cat, you can imagine the chaos that ensues as he tries to steal the dog.

And that dog is a very smart woofer. He's a bit of a detective in his spare time, and he might just have worked out who's behind the dastardly crimes. 

Will he avoid getting caught himself and rescue his fellow creatures? 

Format: Paperback, 32 pages
Publisher: Pavilion Books, 20th April 2020
For Ages: 3+ years old

RRP: $14.99 from www.booktopia.com.au 

TOBY THE DOG
My Furry Foster Family
by Debbi Michiko Florence, illustrated by Melanie Demmer

"T" is for Toby, tricks and TROUBLE! 

Toby the black Labrador might be an older rescue dog, but he's still got enough mischief beneath his collar to keep eight-year-old Kaita Takano and her animal-fostering family on their toes from morning till night. 

This playfully illustrated, Kaita-narrated chapter book promises plenty of canine fun.

Paperback, 72 pages
Publisher: Capstone Global Library Ltd, 28th May 2020

Price: $17.90 at www.booktopia.com.au

Ooshie almost cost Coco her life ...

Coco is feeling very sorry for herself following emergency life-saving surgery at Lort Smith Animal Hospital.

The two-year-old Pinscher cross Doberman had a lion Ooshie and another plastic object removed from her bowel during emergency surgery.

Coco’s carer Troy Collins had noticed something was not right after his beloved pet began vomiting a lot of plant matter. However it was her loss of appetite that really caught his attention.

“She refused to eat, which is not like her,” said Mr Collins adding she then “went down really quickly”.

The family rushed her to a local vet, where x-rays suggested a foreign object was blocking her bowel. She was referred to Lort Smith for emergency enterotomy surgery.

Mr Collins was surprised to hear it was two pieces of plastic including a lion Ooshie that was causing Coco’s internal damage, suspecting it might have otherwise been Lego.

“Coco is lucky she made it to us in time. If she had been left in this state much longer the situation could have been dire,” said Lort Smith Head of Hospital Dr David Cunliffe.

Foreign body surgeries increased by 75% in comparison to last year over the April-May period.


Lort Smith understands pets are curious, and can easily ingest things while we are not looking. However, it is important to minimise potential hazards by keeping keep enticing objects out of reach.

Creating physical boundaries around certain activities can help to minimise these unfortunate but increasingly common instances.

“Most importantly always keep an eye on you dog; and if you are concerned about your pet, please see your vet,” added Dr Cunliffe.

Coco spent a total of four days at Lort Smith, and is now back at home with her beloved family, feeling rather sorry for herself.

Lort Smith continues to offer emergency, urgent and essential care to animals. 
At present, Lort Smith’s opening hours are 8:30am-10pm every day of the year.

About Lort Smith

Lort Smith is the largest not-for-profit animal hospital in Australia, delivering essential and life-saving services to sick, injured and vulnerable animals. Each year our team of more than 60 vets and 90 nurses provide quality care for around 25,000 animals. Lort Smith rehomes approximately 800 animals each year and operates a number of community outreach programs which have a significant social impact on the community. Lort Smith receives no ongoing government funding.

For more information, please visit www.lortsmith.com/donate

MEDIA RELEASE, 30th June 2020