NSW Vet Nurse’s 12th Mission: Leading the Charge for Papua New Guinea’s Pups

While most Australians spend their holidays relaxing, Inverell-based veterinary nurse Helen Spry is preparing for her 12th international deployment. 

This April, she’ll be part of a historic six-person Australian team heading to Papua New Guinea (PNG)—the first-ever mission to the region by the charity Vets Beyond Borders (VBB).

The mission marks a critical milestone in Pacific animal welfare, targeting a region where veterinary care is often a rare luxury rather than a standard service. For Helen, it is the culmination of years of "boots on the ground" dedication to animals in some of the world's most remote corners.

Expertise in action: Helen Spry during a 2025 deployment to Taveuni, Fiji. Her experience in remote surgical clinics is vital for the upcoming PNG mission.

A Passport of Compassion 

The upcoming PNG mission is just the latest stamp in a well-travelled passport. Helen has now completed 13 overseas volunteer trips—11 of those with VBB’s VetMatch program. 

Her journey has taken her from the sandy shores of the Cook Islands (three times) and the tropical heat of Fiji and Vanuatu, to the rugged landscapes of Sardinia, Nauru, and even the remote reaches of Thursday Island.

In recognition of this staggering 12th deployment with VBB, Helen was recently named the inaugural recipient of the Buddy Giving Program Volunteer Excellence Award.

“The work I do with VBB makes a difference; it’s a privilege to be part of it,” Helen says. 

“To be able to help animals in remote places and show communities how to care for them is incredibly rewarding.”

Breaking the Cycle of Suffering 

In many remote Pacific communities, the lack of veterinary services creates a heart-breaking cycle. Without humane population management, unmanaged dog populations lead to preventable disease and neglect.

“Regular desexing and animal health clinics are vital,” Helen explains. 

“Without them, female dogs can have litter after litter, leading to rapid population growth in communities with limited access. Many puppies won’t survive, and those that do often face disease and injury. It’s a terrible life.”

On-the-ground care: Beyond surgery, the team treats preventable diseases and injuries. Pictured: Helen Spry in Taveuni, Fiji (December 2025), ahead of her inaugural PNG mission.

The mission in PNG isn't just about the animals; it’s about the people. By working alongside the RSPCA of PNG for two weeks, the team will provide essential treatments and community education. 

As Helen notes, "healthier animals mean happier animals and happier communities." Managing these populations is the single most effective way to improve both animal welfare and public health in developing regions.

An "All-Aussie" Effort 

The expansion of the VetMatch program into PNG is a true nationwide collaboration, made possible through the Buddy Giving Program, supported by Buddy Pet Insurance. This partnership ensures that experienced professionals can deliver care exactly where it is most needed.

Joining Helen on this landmark mission is a powerhouse team of Australian volunteers:

• Veterinarians: Dr Helen Todd (Dee Why, NSW), Dr Helen Purdam (Canberra, ACT), and Dr Corinne Lendon (Ferny Grove, QLD).

• Vet Nurses: Nikki Hohmuth (Canberra, ACT) and Ruby Swanston (Erina, NSW).

“To be part of VBB’s inaugural PNG deployment is incredibly special,” Helen says. 

“Seeing animals and people learning together brings me enormous joy. I can’t stop smiling.”

Related Stories

Vets Beyond Borders Help Animals in the Torres Strait In 2021, VBB launched their VetMatch-AU program to bring much-needed veterinary care to remote communities closer to home. Read about their first missions to Thursday Island.

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About Vets Beyond Borders (VBB)

Established in 2003, Vets Beyond Borders is an Australian-based charity dedicated to improving the lives of animals and their communities across the Asia-Pacific. Through their VetMatch program, they deploy skilled volunteer veterinarians and nurses to regions with limited access to care, focusing on humane population management and life-saving medical treatments.

In Australia, their AVERT (Australian Veterinary Emergency Response Team) program provides critical veterinary support during natural disasters and biosecurity outbreaks.

How to Support the Mission: To learn more about the inaugural PNG mission or to support VBB’s work across the Pacific, visit their website or follow the journey of volunteers like Helen on social media.

• Website: vetsbeyondborders.org

• Instagram: @vetsbeyondborders

• Facebook: Vets Beyond Borders

Forever, My Soul Pet: Melbourne Photographer Captures the Legacy of Our Constant Companions

For those who have ever shared their life with a "once-in-a-lifetime" dog, the bond often defies words. It is this profound connection that Melbourne pet photographer and former veterinary nurse Bree Colenso is seeking to document in her latest project, Forever, My Soul Pet.

"A soul pet is the one that changes you—the one who somehow understands you. And when they’re gone, they don’t just leave a space, they leave a presence that stays with you."

Following the success of her 2026 Senior Dog Calendar and her festive Christmas pampering sessions, Bree—who is Melbourne’s only specialist senior and end-of-life pet photographer—is expanding her tribute to the human-animal bond. 

This new project will culminate in a limited-edition coffee table book featuring just 30 pets, each captured through a lens of deep empathy and shared history.

A Perspective Shaped by the Clinic 

This isn’t Bree’s first time navigating the tender intersection of love and loss. As we profiled last year, Bree spent over a decade as a veterinary nurse, including a significant tenure in oncology. In that space, she witnessed the extraordinary lengths owners go to for their pets—from chemotherapy to interstate travel for radiation—driven by a devotion that many never get to see.

“You see a level of devotion that most people never witness,” Bree says. “What stayed with me wasn’t just the loss, it was the love behind it. The way people show up every single day changes how you see that bond.”

What defines a ‘Soul Pet’? 

While Bree is known for creating joyful, high-end experiences for Melbourne’s pampered pups—like her Paws & Prosecco events—this book dives deeper into the quiet, everyday moments of "soul pets." These are the companions who are there through every season of life, acting as a constant source of comfort and understanding.

Because these bonds are often formed in the quietest moments, the photography sessions for the book are intentionally unhurried. Whether it’s a favourite bed in the sun or a hand resting gently on a greying muzzle, Bree’s goal is to capture the "presence" of the pet rather than a perfect pose. 

“Sometimes we meet them exactly where they are—a quiet lounge room or a backyard they’ve spent years in,” she explains.

“Sometimes, the most powerful stories are told through the quietest connections.” — Bree Ruby Photography is seeking 30 Melbourne pets to feature in her ‘Forever, My Soul Pet’ legacy book.

 

“These sessions require presence. You’re not just taking photos; you’re holding space for people and their experience. That’s not something I ever want to rush.”

A Tangible Memory

For Bree, the final step of this unhurried process is creating something physical. With only 30 spots available, the book aims to be more than a collection of portraits; it is designed as a physical legacy for owners to hold onto.

"Grief doesn't go away," says Bree. "But having a physical book, filled with stories and memories, gives pet parents a way to honour that life forever."

Get Involved 

Melbourne pet owners who feel their companion is a true "soul pet" are invited to apply for inclusion. 

For more information on how to feature your pet in the book, visit Bree Ruby Photography or follow her journey on Instagram @bree_ruby_photography.

As we continue our International Puppy Day series, we know this time often brings excitement and new beginnings—but as we explored in [Part 1 with Sarah Rutten], it can also bring its fair share of overwhelm.

When people bring a puppy home, the first thing they usually think about is obedience—what should I teach first? 

However, Pat Wright and Molly Townsend, founders of Flying Paws Dog Training and winners of the 2025 Australian Small Business Champion Award, believe the better question is this: “How do I raise a dog who can actually cope with the world?”

While we have traditionally focused on cues like sit, stay, drop and heel, Pat and Molly argue that those are only one small piece of the picture. What really matters in the early stages is what sits underneath: play, engagement, emotional regulation, and everyday life skills.

At Flying Paws, this is referred to as real-world readiness. It’s about raising a dog who doesn't just respond when asked, but a dog who feels safe, confident, and able to move through the world without falling apart. When you get that right, you don’t just end up with an obedient dog—you end up with a resilient one.

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The Foundations: Play and Engagement

Play is often treated as something separate from training—a break, a reward, or a way to burn energy. But for puppies, play is where most of the learning actually happens. Through play, they test boundaries, make mistakes, and figure out how their behaviour affects the world around them.

More importantly, it builds the relationship. When a puppy learns that being with you is fun, safe, and worth paying attention to, you become important to them. Not because you have food, but because you matter.

That connection is what carries through into real life. It is what helps with recall, focus, and staying connected when things get busy. Before worrying about longer stays or perfect recalls, it is worth asking:

• Does my puppy actually enjoy interacting with me?

• Can they settle near me without needing constant input?

• Do they recover quickly if something startles or excites them?

• Do they choose to come back to me on their own?

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Building Life Skills for the Real World

Most challenges that show up later in a dog's life aren't because they "forgot" how to sit; they come from gaps in everyday emotional skills. Real-world readiness is built through:

• Settling: The ability to relax in different environments and "switch off" after excitement. This is a skill that must be taught and practised.

• Handling and Cooperative Care: Getting your puppy comfortable being touched or examined. Giving the puppy a "say" in the process makes vet and groomer visits much easier later on. [Read our full guide on training your pup for grooming here].

• Recall Foundations: Recall isn't built at the beach; it starts in low-pressure environments where coming back is always the best option.

• Emotional Regulation: Can your puppy notice something exciting without reacting immediately? Dogs who learn to process frustration early cope much better as life becomes more complex.

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The Power of Choice and Consent

One of the biggest shifts in modern training is understanding that giving dogs a level of choice actually improves outcomes. This doesn’t mean letting them do whatever they want; it means allowing them to be part of the process.

It can be as simple as:

• Letting them approach a new person instead of being passed around.

• Giving them the option to move away during handling.

• Noticing when they are unsure and adjusting instead of pushing through.

Dogs who feel heard tend to become more confident. They learn the world is predictable and that they can take in information without being overwhelmed.

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Thoughtful Exposure Over "Socialisation"

The early months matter, but "more" exposure is not always better. Rushing a puppy into every situation can actually cause anxiety. What helps is thoughtful exposure:

• Letting them watch from a distance before they join in.

• Giving them space when they need it.

• Building things up gradually instead of all at once.

A puppy sitting at a distance, calmly taking in a busy environment, is learning far more than one who is overwhelmed in the middle of it. Real-world readiness develops through experiences the puppy can actually process.

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Practical Habits to Start at Home

Building resilience doesn't need to be complicated. It comes down to small, consistent habits:

✔️ Reward Engagement: Notice and reward when your puppy checks in with you voluntarily.

✔️ Use the Environment: Scatter food in the grass. Sniffing helps puppies slow down and feel more settled.

✔️ Pause Before Excitement: Wait for a moment of calm before throwing a toy or opening a door. This teaches regulation over reaction.

✔️ Prioritise Rest: After something exciting, help your puppy switch off. This is the piece that most often gets missed.

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The Bigger Picture: Cooperation Over Compliance

A lot of new puppy owners feel like they are "behind," especially with social media showing very young puppies performing polished behaviours. But development is not a race.

The real test is not how a puppy looks at sixteen weeks—it is how they handle life at sixteen months. Adolescence tends to highlight whatever was built early on. Dogs with real-world readiness cope better, recover faster, and stay more connected to their humans.

Raising a puppy is not about creating a dog who listens perfectly; it is about raising a dog who can live in the world comfortably. When we focus on play, engagement, and life skills, we aren’t lowering the standard—we are raising it. Because the goal isn’t just compliance; it is cooperation.

Photo Credits:

• Kerry Martin – Puppy Tales Pet Photography (Zani, Pat, Murphy, Molly and Fox, below)

• Deb Sulzberger – Furbabies and Friends Photography (Puppy Fox photos)

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About the Authors

Pat Wright and Molly Townsend are the founders of Flying Paws Dog Training in Tasmania and winners of the 2025 Australian Small Business Champion Award (Pet Training Services).

With a combined 30 years of experience, they are Tasmania's first certified Family Dog Mediators®, specialising in positive, force-free, and fear-free training. Pat founded Flying Paws in 2014, while Molly joined the team in 2018; together, they focus on "real-world readiness" to help dogs and families build resilient, emotionally stable relationships.

They are also the voices behind the podcast The Paws Perspective, sharing modern insights into canine behaviour.

• Website: www.flyingpaws.com.au

• Socials: Facebook | Instagram | TikTok

• Listen: The Paws Perspective on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and YouTube.

Related Stories

• Service Dogs: Changing Australian Lives – A special feature by Flying Paws on the power of assistance and therapy dogs.

• The First 14 Days with Your Puppy: The Do’s and Don’ts – By Sarah Rutten.

• Training Your Pup to Enjoy Grooming Sessions – Essential advice on desensitisation and cooperative care at home. By the igroomhub team.

On the eve of International Puppy Day (March 23), it is worth reflecting on the reality behind the "perfect" puppy photos filling our social media feeds. 

Bringing home a puppy is often pictured as a joyful milestone, full of cuddles and the excitement of welcoming a new family member, yet the early weeks of adopting a new furry friend can often bring exhaustion, uncertainty and feelings of doubt.

Sharing a unique look at these challenges from The Canine Perspective, accredited canine behaviourist, expert force-free trainer and bestselling author Sarah Rutten says many new dog guardians experience what is known as “puppy remorse”—a feeling far more common than people realise.

“Puppy remorse isn’t a sign you chose the wrong dog. It’s usually a sign that real life has just collided with unrealistic expectations,” Sarah says.

While Sarah has previously shared the essential do’s and don’ts for the first 14 days with a new puppy, she notes that even with the best preparation, the transition to life with a puppy is a major adjustment. Routines change overnight, sleep is interrupted, and young dogs need almost constant supervision.

“It’s very normal for people to have moments where they think they’ve made a mistake,” she says. “That doesn’t mean they don’t love their dog. 

It simply means they are adjusting to a very real change in their day to day life.”

The Gap Between Expectation and Reality

Sarah explains that the biggest contributor to puppy remorse is the gap between expectation and reality.

“Puppies are often imagined as small, well behaved companions,” she says. “The truth is that puppies are babies. They chew, they toilet in the wrong place, they wake up during the night and they can have bursts of energy that feel chaotic.”

She adds that social media often presents a polished version of puppy life that leaves many new dog guardians feeling unprepared.

“We see photos of calm puppies sitting beautifully or looking cute,” she says. “What we don’t see are the shredded tissues, the midnight toilet trips or the enthusiastic play biting. Those moments are a completely normal part of raising a young dog.”

Conflicting advice can also increase anxiety for new dog guardians.

“People often come to me saying they’ve read ten different things and every source says something different,” Sarah says. “When someone is new to raising a puppy, that kind of contradiction can quickly make them feel like they’re doing everything wrong.”

In Sarah’s experience, many people struggling with puppy remorse don’t need more streams of advice. They need clear guidance on where to start.

“When people understand what is developmentally normal for puppies and what to focus on first, everything begins to feel much more manageable,” she says.

Practical Steps for Managing Puppy Remorse

Sarah says there are several simple steps that can help new guardians feel more confident in the early weeks:

• Prioritise sleep for your puppy: Young puppies need far more sleep than people realise. When puppies are overtired they often become bitey, restless or unable to settle. Ensuring puppies have regular quiet rest periods can make behaviour far easier to manage.

• Set realistic expectations: Toilet accidents, chewing and night waking are normal parts of development. Understanding that these behaviours are temporary helps reduce frustration and anxiety in new dog guardians.

• Focus on a simple training plan: Rather than trying to follow multiple pieces of advice, Sarah recommends focusing on a few key foundations such as toilet training, calm settling and positive social experiences.

• Manage the environment: Using puppy pens, baby gates or safe chew options can prevent many common problems while a puppy is still learning.

• Seek clear guidance early: Working with a qualified trainer or behaviour professional can provide structure and reassurance during the early stages.

The Path to Connection

Sarah also encourages new guardians to remember that the most intense stage of puppyhood does not last forever.

“The early weeks can feel all consuming, but puppies grow and change quickly,” she says. “With the right support and structure, many of the behaviours that feel overwhelming at the beginning start improving within weeks.”

Sarah emphasises that at the centre of the process is not perfection, but connection.

“Raising a puppy is not about creating a flawless dog,” she says. “It’s about building a relationship.”

“That relationship often starts with sleepless nights, chewed shoes and a lot of learning on both sides. And for many people, it becomes one of the most rewarding relationships of their lives.”

What’s Next?

Sarah is currently working on her next book, which continues the conversation from her first, The Canine Perspective: Using Force-Free Methods to Unleash Your Dog’s Paw-tential. The upcoming release will further explore dog behaviour and how meeting their physical, emotional and behavioural needs can lead to calmer, more harmonious lives together.

“For now, the title will have to remain under wraps,” Sarah says. “But it continues the conversation from my first book, helping guardians better understand their dogs and build relationships that work for both human and dog. I’m very excited about what’s coming next.”

More Information:

For more expert advice on dog behaviour and force-free training, visit Sarah’s website. Her bestselling book, The Canine Perspective: Using Force-Free Methods to Unleash Your Dog’s Paw-tential, is an essential guide for any new puppy guardian and is available now from Booktopia and Amazon Australia.

🐾 Part 2: Building the Future Now that you’ve navigated the "Puppy Blues," how do you raise a dog that can truly cope with the world? 

Read Raising Resilient Puppies: Why Real-World Readiness Matters by award-winning trainers Pat Wright and Molly Townsend.

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Related Stories

The First 14 Days with Your Puppy: The Do’s and Don’ts – Expert advice from Sarah Rutten on surviving the first fortnight.

The Realities of Rescue Dogs – Preparing for the unique emotional journey of adoption.

Is My Dog Normal (or Just Plain Weird)? – Sarah Rutten explores common (and quirky) canine behaviours.

Puppy Biting: A Fun Guide to a Happy Pup – How to navigate the "land shark" phase safely.

Building Healthy Puppy Toilet Habits – The definitive guide to stress-free house training.

Beyond Plastic: The Sniff’s Sustainable Take on Dog Enrichment

With environmental sustainability front of mind, we’re looking at a new local brand helping us swap 'plastic-heavy' for more considered choices.

Discover The Sniff’s Foundational Edit: a curated collection of food-grade silicone slow feeders, lick mats, and eco-friendly coffee wood chews for dogs.

When Sunshine Coast mum of two Yvette Page was preparing to bring home her Labradoodle puppy, Rumi, she assumed finding a few high-quality dog essentials would be a simple task. It wasn't.

Like so many new puppy owners, she found herself scrolling through endless options: chew toys, feeders, bowls, and enrichment tools—the vast majority of which were made from generic plastics. Some were labelled "natural," some looked stylish, and others made grand promises, but very little felt genuinely reassuring to a parent looking for safety and longevity.

“I wanted one place I could go where the research had already been done,” says Yvette. “Somewhere I could feel confident about what I was buying for my dog. I couldn’t find it, so I decided to build it.”

As she looked more closely into the category, Yvette uncovered peer-reviewed research showing that the concern was not limited to plastic alone. 

Across different product types, the literature pointed to a mix of chemical and physical risks, confirming that more caution is needed when choosing the items dogs chew, lick, and use daily. 

It also reinforced that labels like “natural” weren't always enough to guarantee a product was clear or trustworthy.

A Better Filter for Dog Owners

That search became The Sniff, a Sunshine Coast-based dog enrichment brand built on a simple premise: if something goes in a dog’s mouth regularly, it should meet a higher standard. 

For Yvette, this was never about creating more products for the sake of it; it was about creating a "better filter"—a calmer, more reliable option for owners who want essentials made from materials they feel good about bringing into their homes.

“The deeper I looked, the more I realised how hard it was to get clear information,” she says. 

“I didn’t want a cart full of random products. I wanted fewer things, chosen properly.”

The Foundational Edit: A Simpler Way to Choose Well

The Sniff launches with its debut release, The Foundational Edit—a tightly curated collection of dog essentials selected for both function and material integrity. Rather than overwhelming owners with dozens of choices, this edit is designed to take the guesswork out of "choosing well," whether for new puppy owners or those looking to replace everyday items with better-considered options.

At its core, The Foundational Edit focuses on the routines dogs return to again and again: feeding, licking, chewing, and play. 

It speaks to a growing number of dog owners who are tired of plastic-heavy pet products and want a reliable alternative without spending hours conducting their own research.

What’s Inside the Collection?

• Food-Grade Silicone Slow Feeder: Designed with deep grooves and a suction base, this feeder is a practical solution for dogs that tend to 'inhale' their food. As we recently covered in our look at tackling Australia’s pet obesity crisis, extending mealtimes is a key step in supporting better digestion and making daily feeding a more engaging, healthy routine.

• Matching Lick Mat: Made from the same food-grade silicone, this mat can be used alone or paired with the bowl. It’s ideal for spreadable treats or meal toppers, tapping into a dog’s natural repetitive licking behaviour to promote a calmer routine.

• Coffee Wood Chew: Sourced from retired coffee trees that have reached the end of their productive life as plantation crops, these are upcycled into durable chews. Unlike garden sticks, this dense wood is designed to fray gradually into soft fibres rather than breaking into sharp splinters.

• FSC-Certified Natural Rubber Ring: A solid, natural rubber option for fetch and interactive play. Sourced from responsibly managed forests, it was selected because the available evidence on natural rubber is significantly more favourable than many conventional plastic toys.

Giving Back Locally

Alongside its launch, The Sniff is supporting rescue dogs closer to home. For every Foundational Edit sold, $1 is donated to the Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge (SCARS), helping support the rescue and rehoming of dogs and cats across the region. It’s a small but meaningful part of the business that reflects the values behind the brand: thoughtful choices, local connection, and a genuine love of dogs.

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Price & Where to Buy

Special Launch Offer: For early supporters, The Foundational Edit is available at the special launch price of $99 AUD until midnight 27 March 2026 at thesniff.com.au. From 28 March, the RRP is $129 AUD.

Shipping is included Australia-wide. Orders will ship from 30 March 2026.

Connect with The Sniff on Facebook or on Instagram: @thesniff.au

Safety Disclaimer: While The Sniff focuses on safer material choices, no chew toy is indestructible. Australian Dog Lover recommends that all enrichment activities—particularly involving wood or rubber chews—be conducted under supervision to ensure your dog’s specific chewing style remains safe. 

Related Stories

• 5 Enriching Activities You Should Do With Your Dog Every Day From mental focus to the power of a good sniff, discover the five pillars of a happy, well-adjusted dog according to expert animal behaviourists.

• How to Help Your Dog Sleep Better (and why their bed might be toxic) For Sleep Awareness Month, we look at the link between mental rest and a safe, non-toxic sleeping environment.

• Creating an Enriching Environment for Dogs – Our comprehensive '101' guide to transforming your home into a canine paradise.

• Does your Dog need a Sniffari or a Vet Visit? Is your dog restless or truly unwell? Learn how to distinguish between a need for more mental stimulation and a trip to the clinic.