PetPals Directory

11/08/2021

Sadly, Australia is lagging behind other developed countries in phasing out cruel and outdated housing systems for animals. This includes ‘barren battery cages’ for laying hens. Battery cages have been banned in the UK and the European Union since 2012 so why are we so far behind?!

Did you know that right now, over 10 million Aussie hens are suffering in barren battery cages 😡 If you don’t know what a battery cage is, they are small, barren wire cages which are usually less than the size of an A4 piece of paper. There are sometimes thousands of cages stacked in sheds that may contain up to 100,000 birds. It makes us cry to think about the conditions that these hens are in let alone their welfare.

For a hen to have a good life (and don’t all animals deserve a good life?!), she needs the freedom to move around, stretch, flap her wings, perch, feel the breeze or the ground under her feet and access to a nesting area to lay her eggs.

𝘼 𝙝𝙚𝙣 𝙘𝙖𝙣’𝙩 𝙙𝙤 𝙖𝙣𝙮 𝙤𝙛 𝙩𝙝𝙚𝙨𝙚 𝙩𝙝𝙞𝙣𝙜𝙨 𝙞𝙣 𝙖 𝙗𝙖𝙧𝙧𝙚𝙣 𝙗𝙖𝙩𝙩𝙚𝙧𝙮 𝙘𝙖𝙜𝙚!

But there is something we all can do ….right now! For the first time in 20 years, state and territory governments will decide on the future of the use of barren battery cages this year - and the fate of the hens who are sadly confined in them.

have set up a ‘take action’ link where you can sign your name to oppose barren battery cages to help stand up to this cruel practice and let state, territory governments and all members of Parliament know that this is an issue that needs action!

We will put the link in the comments and you can also find it in the ‘s bio.

Join us to say 🐓

10/08/2021

🐶🐱Finding the ‘right’ pet🐭🐸

Owning a pet is a fabulous and rewarding experience. But every animal and their needs are different, so how can you make sure you’re ready for a new addition to your family and your home and that you choose the right one for you? Our tips on how to choose the right pet are here to help…

𝗦𝗮𝘆 𝗴𝗼𝗼𝗱𝗯𝘆𝗲 𝘁𝗼 𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗰𝗲𝗶𝘃𝗲𝗱 𝗶𝗱𝗲𝗮𝘀

You may like the look of a particular pet but that doesn’t mean they’re right for you. Every pet has its own personality so think about what you want from your pet and do some research before you take one on.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝗹𝗶𝗳𝗲𝘀𝘁𝘆𝗹𝗲

You may have an idea of what kind of pet you want, whether that’s a dog or cat, but think about what would be best suited to your home and lifestyle.

Do some research on the size, temperament, exercise requirements, lifespan and health predispositions of different pets and breeds to make sure they’re the right choice for you.

𝗗𝗼 𝘆𝗼𝘂𝗿 𝘀𝘂𝗺𝘀

From every day things like insurance, food and toys to unexpected vet bills, having a pet is a financial commitment.

Some pets may cost a few hundred dollars a year while others can cost thousands so make sure you factor in how much your new pet will cost before you choose them.

𝗨𝘀𝗲 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝗽𝘂𝘁𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗯𝗿𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗲𝗿

If you do want to buy a pedigree dog or cat, ask your vet or breed club to recommend a responsible breeder. Ask the breeder for all the relevant paperwork, like pedigree registration papers, health screening certificates and a written medical history, including vaccinations and worming.

Don’t purchase online or from dealers who offer multiple breeds or types of pets – these may well turn out to be puppy farmers or commercial dealers who have little interest in the welfare of the pets they sell.

𝗧𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗸 𝗮𝗯𝗼𝘂𝘁 𝗮 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗰𝘂𝗲 𝗽𝗲𝘁

Thousands of stray, abandoned and unwanted pets are desperate for a good home. Charities like can offer support and advice about individual pets and help you find the right rescue for you and your family.

28/06/2021

Check out the extremely creative bandage artwork of Nurse Madeline from !! 🤩

Most bandages are handmade, as Madeline enjoys something special for the pets who need a cast and a pop of colour and cheer in their life after their surgery.

What an awesome way to brighten up not only the pets stay at the vets but also for their owners too 😊

Well done Madeline and we can’t wait to see what designs she comes up with next ✨🙌🏼👏🏼

27/06/2021

Do you sell dog / animal treats, toys, or any other type of pet related product then we have an exciting opportunity for you!!

We will be doing a crowdfunding campaign soon and will be sending out different “pet boxes” to the people who make a pledge to our business!! 👏🏼

So we are on the hunt for lots of different treats, small toys, and products to put in our boxes! 🐶🐱

If you are interested please send us your wholesale price list to [email protected] so we can have a look!

This is an exciting opportunity to also get exposure to thousands of potential new customers as we will also be featuring your company in our campaign and also on social media ads etc …free exposure and us buying your products; what’s not to love about that!! 😍✨

We prefer Aussie businesses as we are an Australian company 🇦🇺 and love supporting small businesses!

Feel free to tag anyone you know that sells pet products and let’s get the word out!! 🙌🏼

25/06/2021

It’s out!

The shortlisted images for the Nature Photographer of the Year competition have been released and there are some cracker images in there!

…..be prepared to get emotional if you look at the “Our Impact” images; we certainly did! A good conservation awareness push that’s for sure!

Here are some of the images we loved! Find the full gallery here: 📲 https://bit.ly/35NECq2

Which one is your favourite?

22/06/2021

‘Minty the frog was squished in a car door and unfortunately broke his right leg.

Lucky for Minty he was able to have the leg pinned by Dr Bec at the PAWS Darwin Community Vet Clinic.

Minty then spent 8 weeks with a frogtastic frog career Lana where he was fed a smorgasbord of insects and tasty treats and almost doubled his weight!

Repeat radiographs now show a complete healing of his fracture.

Minty is now ready for release and lives to hop another day.’

During Minty’s stay, PAWS Darwin Community Vet was lucky to be the recipient of a Community Benefit Grant which enabled them to upgrade their x-ray equipment. This means they are now able to give greater care and help many more animals in need; both big and tiny like little Minty 🐸

Every creature, big or small deserves a chance at a happy life and medical care when they get themselves into a bit of trouble 💕 Keep up your amazing work !!

04/06/2021

At PetPals Directory we have a mission. To put an end to the awful practice that is puppy farming which is growing at an alarming rate in Australia.

We are going to be doing this through education, awareness, partnering with other like-minded advocates and urging the federal and state governments to change the guidelines surrounding breeding.

So what is a puppy farm?

A puppy farm, also known as a puppy mill, is defined as an intensive dog breeding facility that is operated under inadequate conditions that fail to meet the dog’s behavioural, social and/or physical needs.

Puppy farming is a major animal welfare issue in Australia. The main welfare problems associated with puppy farms include but are not limited to:

• Extreme confinement – in some cases breeding animals may never be allowed out of their cage to exercise, play, socialise, have companionship or even to go to the toilet.
• Inadequate veterinary care and general care (grooming and parasite control).
• Unhygienic living conditions.
Inadequate and overcrowded housing conditions.
• Frequent long-term health and/or behavioural problems in breeding dogs and puppies born in puppy farms as a result of the poor conditions they are bred in and a lack of adequate socialisation.

Puppies from puppy farms may be sold via any avenue of sale including the internet, newspaper ads, markets, carboot sales, pet shops or sometimes at the puppy farm itself. Puppy farms may also use a house as a ‘shop front’ to sell their animals from, so you don’t get to see the appalling conditions they breed dogs in. We don’t know exactly how many puppy farms there are in Australia, as many puppy farms operate in highly remote areas and are not known to authorities, but with the advent of internet sales it is a growing national problem.

While the welfare conditions on a puppy farm may be illegal under animal cruelty standards set out in various Australian state and territory codes of practice, puppy farming itself has not been considered an illegal practice!! 😡

So the only way to combat this cruel practice is to raise as much consumer awareness as we can!

And so begins our war against puppy farms! 👊🏼

05/02/2021

What a lovely sound 🐦

03/02/2021

As a cat parent, you have probably experienced your cat having hairballs occasionally. When a cat grooms, they will typically swallow hair. Some of the hair will pass thorough their digestive tract and into their f***s with no complications.

However in some cats, the hair will collect in their stomach and develop into a hairball. After hair has accumulated in the stomach and a hairball is formed, it will then be vomited as a long, tubular hair mass that may be covered in slimy mucus. YUCK!

This can be distressing for both you and your cat. If your cat is frequently coughing up hairballs, contact your veterinarian. Here are some cat hairball remedies and treatments that you could also try:

Laxatone: This is a palatable oral gel that can help bind hair in the stomach and make it easier for the hair to pass through your cat’s GI tract. These gels can help with hairballs in some cats.

Over-the-Counter (OTC) Hairball Diets: Certain cat food formulas are marketed to help prevent and/or control hairballs. These diets are usually high in fiber and help keep the GI motility normal. A few OTC diets include: Purina Pro Plan Focus Adult Hairball Management or Royal Canin Hairball Care for cats. These diets may be helpful for some cats.

Prescription Diets: If your cat has difficulty expelling hairballs, then you should talk to your cat’s regular veterinarian about options for prescription diets or food additives that may be helpful.

How To Prevent Your Cat From Having Hairballs
One of the best ways to prevent your cat from having hairballs is to groom your cat frequently. Combing and/or brushing your cat’s coat helps to remove the loose hair, which reduces the amount of hair your cat ingests.

Both short-haired and long-haired breeds can have hairballs. It is especially important for long-haired cats to be brushed daily.

Regular brushing will help to minimize the mats and tangles that your cat will try to resolve on their own. Spending some extra quality time each day to brush your cat will help reduce and/or prevent hairballs, and it helps promote bonding.

Article Source: https://zcu.io/uQWY

03/02/2021

A young girl from the Northern Territory was recently bitten by a mulga snake and luckily survived. The mulga is the heaviest venomous snake in Australia and has the largest-recorded venom output of any in the world – delivering 150mg in one bite.

You can never be too careful, being able to identify some of the most common dangerous snakes can be crucial if you come into contact with one. 👇

Australia is known for its dangerous snakes, and we have many – but in reality few people die from bites.

03/02/2021

Did you know that cats are what's called: digitigrade; that is, they walk on their toes.

Unlike the dog and horse, a cat walks or runs by moving first the front and back legs on one side, then the front and back legs on the other side.

The only other animals that move in a similar way are the camel and the giraffe.

02/02/2021

These Homemade Dog Treats are made with peanut butter and pumpkin and are sure to be a hit! This easy recipe is made in one bowl with just 5 ingredients – simple, delicious and nutritious!

RECIPE:

Ingredients

➜ 1 cup pumpkin puree
➜ 2 eggs
➜ 1/3 cup peanut butter natural, NO Xylitol or sugar substitutes
➜ 2 cups whole wheat flour all purpose can be used instead
➜ 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon (check your pumpkin pie spice or make your own - NO nutmeg, can be toxic to some dogs)

Method
⬖ Preheat oven to 350F. Line a large baking sheet with a silicone baking mat or parchment paper.
⬖ In a large bowl, combine pumpkin, eggs, and peanut butter. Stir until completely combined.
⬖ Add in flour and pumpkin pie spice (or cinnamon) - stirring just until combined.
⬖Lightly flour a flat surface and roll out dough to one quarter inch, using flour as needed to keep dough from sticking.
⬖ Cut shapes out of dough and place on prepared baking sheet.
⬖ Bake for 20 to 40 minutes - depending on desired level of crunchiness.
⬖ Remove treats from oven and let cool on a cooling rack. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 month in the refrigerator or 6 months in the freezer.

Enjoy!


Recipe Source: https://www.momontimeout.com/homemade-dog-treats

01/02/2021

What a clever snail! 🐌

The violet snail is an ocean wanderer. 💜

It excretes mucous from a gland in its foot, which binds to a string of air bubbles that are either released from inside its shell or created by the snail agitating the water with its foot.

This mucous-bubble mixture hardens to form a floating raft, which the violet snail attaches itself to for an effortless journey across the open ocean. If the raft ever breaks, the violet snail will sink into the ocean below and die.

Oh, and they snack on bluebottles. 📲 Read more about these incredible marine creatures: https://bit.ly/2L6H58r

📷 Nature Photographers Ltd

01/02/2021

A study published in the journal Frontiers in Zoology has found that dogs use the Earth’s magnetic field when they’re relieving themselves.
Not only that, but canines choose to do so in a north-south axis.

The study suggests that dogs are sensitive to small variations in Earth’s magnetic field. After examining 70 dogs — made up of 37 breeds — over two years, 1,893 defecations and 5,582 urinations, researchers found that under “calm magnetic field conditions,” dogs preferred to “excrete with the body being aligned along the north-south axis,” avoiding east-west altogether. Dogs were observed in a free-roaming environment, meaning they were not leashed and not influenced by walls or roads that would influence linear movement.

Why do the dogs prefer the north-south axis and avoid east-west? That was unclear, according to the study.

There you have it ...now we are going to be looking at our dog when she relieved herself 😂 not weird at all!! 🤣

Source: pbs.org/newshour/science

29/01/2021

What an amazing initiative! the RSPCA AWARE education program will be rolling out in other states in the coming months so keep an eye out for it!

Introducing a WA first! The new RSPCA AWARE education program: ✏️

Our Animal Wellbeing: Awareness, Responsibility and Education program fully integrates with the Australian curriculum and provides engaging resources that help students develop a real understanding of animal care and welfare issues. 🐾

And the best part: the program is completely FREE to all students and teachers across Western Australia!

Check our AWARE page for more details and how to get involved! 🐶🐈 https://www.rspcawa.asn.au/aware-program/

29/01/2021

The reason a cat’s tongue is so rough is due to all the backwards facing spines (or papillae) that run along it. These papillae have all sorts of fantastic uses. They are great for stripping meat from bones, allowing them to extract the maximum nutrition from their prey in the most quick and efficient way. They are also responsible for the ingenious way that cats drink. Rather than putting their whole mouth into water, cats put their tongue in the water and lift it up and down very quickly. The papillae on their tongues pull water up from the surface, creating a column that the cat then closes their mouth around.

The slightly less obvious use for a rough tongue is that it makes for the perfect hairbrush. When a cat uses their tongue to lick their fur they are, in effect, brushing themselves. The backwards facing positioning of the spines on the tongue act like a comb as they pass through the fur, detangling and cleaning away loose fur and dirt as they go. A very effective way of self-cleansing!

So the next time your cat yawns or starts to groom in front of you, take a close look at their tongue and marvel at this most ingenious and useful tool which nature has designed.

Article from: cats.org.uk

28/01/2021

This question might cross your mind when you're lying on the couch and suddenly a wet nose touches your leg, or you are cleaning the forever nose marks off of your windows... so why are dog's noses always wet?

An article from PetMD explains that the wetness of a dog’s nose comes from a mixture of saliva and mucus. The details may be a little icky, but having a wet nose serves a few vital functions for dogs. These include:

> Keeping their noses moist helps dogs regulate their body temperature
> Dogs’ wet noses also contribute to their incredible sense of smell. When dogs inhale, tiny scent particles floating in the air get trapped in their nose mucus. This “helps them to break down and interpret odors”
> Licking their noses helps dogs “smell” even more deeply.

If you would like to delve deeper into why your dog's nose is wet, here is the PetMD article:
https://www.petmd.com/dog/general-health/why-do-dogs-have-wet-noses

28/01/2021

If there is a will, there's a way.... unless mum says no 😆