Desexing Awareness and Companion Animal Education Australia

01/12/2025

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-12-01/last-dog-on-christmas-island-shiloh/105722366?utm_campaign=abc_news_web&utm_content=link&utm_medium=content_shared&utm_source=abc_news_web

Dogs were banned some years ago to protect the unique wildlife of Christmas Island, but one very special chocolate labrador remains, and she is shared by the whole community.

29/11/2025

https://www.newscientist.com/article/2506054-origin-story-of-domestic-cats-rewritten-by-genetic-analysis/?fbclid=IwY2xjawOXUMNleHRuA2FlbQIxMABicmlkETFMdHRpWFp0d2pHQlVicElwc3J0YwZhcHBfaWQQMjIyMDM5MTc4ODIwMDg5MgABHimtafb4bM5MNszDoRu2YBzQha1hSPV02Q52prlCNldb1KegQ3CI0ZrITG7r_aem_BhiUuAdewKL_hgvfcOb0gA

Domestic cats originated in North Africa and spread to Europe in the past 2000 years, according to DNA evidence, while in China a different species of cat lived alongside people much earlier

13/11/2025

What's there to be seen, and what goes on behind the scenes too.

13/11/2025

13/11/2025

While shopping at Walmart one afternoon, I noticed a woman quietly following me and my dog, Juno. He’s a ten-year-old GS wearing his service vest—just a regular grocery trip for us. But she kept her distance, watching us from aisle to aisle. It didn’t feel threatening, just deeply sad.
When we reached the parking lot, she finally came over.
Her voice trembled as she asked, “I’m sorry to bother you… but is his name Juno?”
Instantly, my guard went up. “How do you know that?” I asked.
And then, right there by the shopping carts, she started crying.
“I was his puppy raiser,” she said through tears. “I took care of him from eight weeks old until eighteen months, then sent him off for guide dog training. That was nine years ago. I’ve thought about him every single day.”
She showed me photos on her phone—baby Juno with the same curious eyes, and a final picture of her holding him, both of them crying the day she had to let him go.
“They told me he didn’t finish guide dog training,” she continued, smiling softly through tears. “Said he was too friendly. I always wondered where he ended up.” Her gaze fell on his vest. “What does he do now?”
“Diabetic alert,” I told her. “He’s saved my life sixteen times.”
I hadn’t planned to say the number, but it came out naturally.
She covered her mouth, sobbing again. “That makes sense,” she said. “Even as a puppy, he knew when something was wrong. He’d bring me my phone if my medication alarm went off. No one taught him—he just knew.”
We talked for twenty minutes. She told me stories only someone who truly loved him could remember—how he used to steal socks, run from the vacuum, and sleep upside down with his paws in the air.
Before leaving, she knelt down. Juno walked right over, wagging his tail, and rested his head on her shoulder as if no time had passed at all.
“Thank you for keeping him safe,” she whispered to him. Then she looked at me. “And thank you for letting me see that he’s exactly where he was meant to be.”
Now, I send her a photo of Juno every week.
And yes, he still sleeps on his back with his legs in the air.
For everyone who’s ever fostered, raised, or loved a dog they couldn’t keep—know this: they never forget you. You live in their hearts forever. ❤️

13/11/2025

Last night, while I was serving dinner to my dogs, my boyfriend gave me an ultimatum: “It’s either me or them. I can’t live like this anymore.”

I just froze there, holding Rex’s food bowl, watching my three rescue dogs waiting quietly for their meal, and I swear I felt my heart split in two.

He said, “They’re just dogs. You love them more than you love me.”
Maybe he’s not entirely wrong. I did spend three weekends building custom bunk beds for them—took countless trips to Home Depot too. I did turn the spare bedroom into their safe space. And yes, my day runs around their feeding times and medication schedules.

But what he’ll never understand is why. Max was rescued from a dumpster, covered in cigarette burns. Daisy spent years chained outside in the freezing cold until her paws were permanently scarred. And Rex? He still trembles around men because of what he survived. I made a promise to each of them: they’d never be abandoned again.

My sister calls me crazy. “You’re really choosing dogs over a relationship? You’ll end up alone with nothing but fur and chew toys.” Even my mom told me to consider rehoming them. But when I was at my lowest—after my divorce, when I couldn’t get out of bed—those dogs were the only ones who stayed by my side.

I know what the “logical” choice would be. But how can I look into Rex’s scared eyes, pull away his blanket, and tell him he’s not worth keeping after everything he’s endured? That wouldn’t just be a choice — it would be a betrayal. 💔

13/11/2025

Despite assistance dog Max wearing a vest and Garth Murray carrying his accreditation, they still faced illegal discrimination on a round-Australia charity walk, with one publican even calling the police on them.

07/11/2025

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-07/queensland-biosecurity-changes-would-allow-dingoes-as-pets/105936892

People could be allowed to keep dingoes as pets in Queensland under proposed changes to biosecurity regulations, but experts say the native animal is fundamentally different to domestic dogs.

07/11/2025

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-11-07/readers-share-grief-pet-death-euthanasia/105950642

This is what you had to say about the heartbreak that comes with the death of a pet.

07/11/2025

30/10/2025

In the cramped economy cabin of a long-haul flight, a man sat with his emotional support dog, a gentle black and white spaniel mix named Gus, nestled comfortably on his lap. 🐶 Gus was not a mere pet; he was a trained companion whose presence offered calm and stability to his owner, who suffered from severe anxiety in enclosed spaces. The other passengers, initially surprised by the dog's size, quickly softened, recognizing the quiet importance of his presence in the stressful environment. Gus lay perfectly still, his body warmth and rhythmic breathing a silent comfort.
The dog's presence had an unexpectedly soothing effect on the entire section of the cabin, lowering the collective stress level. People around them smiled, momentarily forgetting their own travel weariness as they watched the gentle, well-behaved animal. One woman, engrossed in her phone, unconsciously rested her hand on Gus’s soft fur, drawing comfort from the momentary, unspoken connection. This simple interaction highlighted how animals can often break down human barriers better than we can ourselves.
Gus was a silent testament to the fact that not all wounds are visible, and not all support comes in human form. ✨ His calm, unwavering presence was a lifeline for his owner, ensuring he could endure the journey home. The picture captured a beautiful, non-judgmental moment of reliance and love, proving that true compassion often involves making space—both physically and emotionally—for the unique needs of others. The gentle dog was a small, furry angel, making a daunting trip bearable for everyone around him.

30/10/2025

Thank you to all who offered to help, we have a foster carer

Foster carer needed for Dave and Steve 11 and 10 yo maltese cross , currently Hornsby area.

Request:
Dave and Steve have been with us before. the owner has reached out again for help as she is struggling with personal issues that means she is unable to care for her beloved dogs. Previous carers spoke highly of what good dogs they are, but are not in a position to take them in. care requested about 4 weeks

About Dave and Steve
Gentle, loving playful ( tho older slower pace)
Prefer to be with humans
Are toilet trained

To help:
Please email [email protected] with Dave and Steve in the subject line, Please include your suburb and phone number.