BAWCS cannot stress how important it is to have your pet’s teeth checked regularly, especially when they start getting older.
The first sign of something amiss is often their breath. If you’re up close and personal to your dog or cat (and who isn’t) and they smell abit manky, time to book a vet visit.
At 14 years of age, Bella made it out of the Pound, we’re still not sure how given seniors with ‘health issues’ aren’t usually offered to rescue. Bella not only had bad teeth but other issues which BAWCS will be attending to.
There is a major concern about what happens in Pounds and Shelters with senior pets. Many not even offered to rescue groups, killed even though they have treatable/manageable health issues.
Bella is one lucky dog. Staying over the weekend at Bendigo Pet Vets – Mobile Veterinary Clinic for monitoring and once back in BAWCS Shelter care, will be listed for adoption. She is such a sweetheart and deserves to have a loving new home.
Duncan was adopted this time last year. He’d been returned to BAWCS Shelter under our ‘return at any time for any reason’ Policy and we welcomed him back with open arms, confident we can find his forever home.
Duncan’s forever family keep in touch regularly and here are just a few of the photos that have been sent through.
From continually besotted ‘mum’ – Hello, just a little Duncan update. He’s going well, continuing to charm every visitor to the house. We had a birthday party for XXXX last weekend and Duncan put himself in the middle of the action! Loves his cuddles. He was pretty exhausted at the end of the day but all of the kids adored him and he followed them around all day. He got a new (second) bed today because he’s been lying on the floor next to Stephen when he works from home so we thought he needed a more comfy spot!
BAWCS Shelter loves this ‘frosty’ senior so much! Living his best life EVER!
SHELTERS and rescue groups are overflowing with dogs.
BAWCS Community Pets Support Program offers a training option instead of surrendering a dog.
Often a reason for surrender is the dog is not doing what the owner wants. This can be from pulling on the lead when out walking to jumping up on people when they visit. Rather than surrender, our Program offers training support via our Shelter dog trainer Sahil from Elite Canines Training to give the dog an opportunity to learn and understand what is acceptable behaviour. The owner gets trained too of course!
Click here to see if you qualify for this support and how to apply.
This is BAWCS Shelter pro active approach to keeping dogs and their families together.
PLEASE NOTE: This offer is only available to Bendigo and close surrounds dog owners due to BAWCS partnering with Sahil, our dog trainer who residents in Bendigo. Pictured: Sahil from Elite Canines Training with Shelter dog Harrison (currently available for adoption)
BAWCS Community Pets Support Program is supported by the SavourLife Adopt-a-Dog website.
Here are some great tips for keeping your dogs warm.
The best one of course is to have them inside with you to enjoy the warmth your family is experiencing. They are family members after all.
Coats. If your dog is going to be spending the night outside, and in particular if they are a short coat breed, invest in a good quality and correct fitting coat. Make sure it is not too tight so your dog can still curl up.
Shelter. For dogs that have to spend time outside during the day (and night) it is important they have shelter preferably under a patio and with a kennel which is placed close to a main human entry/exit point of the house and 2. off the ground to avoid drafts.
Ensure there are plenty of clean blankets to snuggle into in their kennels.
If you regularly groom, allow coats to grow a little longer for added warmth but not too long that fur becomes matted or causes an issue with not being able to dry your dog properly if they become wet whilst out on a walk.
During the colder months pets need more energy to keep themselves warm so feed the main meal in the evening.
THIS is Dakota. She has quite the history with BAWCS Shelter.
This beautiful girl came into BAWCS care as part of a litter of puppies in 2012. You can see her ‘baby’ photo here. Camille was first adopted at 11 weeks of age to a young couple who called her Dakota.
In June 2017 Dakota was surrendered back to BAWCS Shelter due to a marriage breakdown. She ended up with the husband but he was unable to manage Dakota’s separation anxiety issues. BAWCS Shelter was glad to have Dakota back and our dog trainer Sahil from Elite Canines Training stepped in to work with Dakota and better understand her so we could make sure the next home would be hopefully a forever one.
It does take a toll on dogs to be adopted then returned so BAWCS takes a second rehoming with even more care, even holding the dog if needed.
In August 2018, we thought we had found the perfect home for Dakota. She went ‘on trial’ and Sahil worked with the family ensuring they knew she would need to be an indoor / crated dog when no one was home, otherwise she would escape if left in their backyard.
Unfortunately, circumstances changed and Dakota did end up escaping from a backyard and was hit by a car, which resulted in having her leg amputated.
Dakota’s family moved her in with another family member who was at home most of the time and she managed well, enjoying her time whilst there was someone around. However, the family member had to move and could not take Dakota with him so she was once again returned to the original family members. The home environment did not allow for her to be kept secure so Dakota ended up once again in a situation where she was not safe.
BAWCS Shelter was contacted and we immediately said we would take her back.
Since being back, she’s been health checked which determined she needed a dental (now done) and she has been started on medication to address anxiety. Photos are of her recovering at Bendigo Pet Vets – Mobile Veterinary Clinic and the teeth that were removed.
She’s bunking in with Harrison and doing well. Tonight we are listing her for adoption but we are wanting her to be on the medication for at least 6 weeks (for it to kick in) and two weeks have passed so far.
Our beautiful girl is now 10 years old and she has ‘frosting’ on her eyebrows and muzzle. We are determined to make sure her third home is her ‘forever’ one.
Check out Dakota’s profile here. Microchip #956000008838988 Source # BR101543
BAWCS operates a “no kill” animal shelter, which means animals that come into our care remain safe regardless of whether they are adoptable or not. Reasons for not being available to adopt can vary but generally it is due to age / health related issues.
For April, it is due to her unpredictable behaviour around other dogs.
Her story here : April came into BAWCS Shelter care back in 2014. She was originally known as Marley and ended up on a ‘kill list’ after being transferred from a Council who contracted the ‘high kill’ Shelter for their Pound services.
Offered to ‘rescue’ (by Council) BAWCS Shelter took Marley on and started our own assessment / training to get a better idea of what she was like and to determine suitability for rehoming. Over the course of this training, and a name change to April, we discovered April was unpredictable with her behaviour with other dogs. This would make it challenging to safely rehome her so our Committee decided she would be best to stay as a permanent resident with our Shelter where she would not be put in situations that could bring out a negative reaction leading to her life being put in danger.
April’s home is with our Shelter Caretaker area and she enjoys all the amenities our other dogs enjoy including the large outdoor exercise areas. Whilst she sees other dogs and can interact safely through fence lines, she doesn’t have direct access to other dogs.
If you’d like to sponsor April, your sponsorship will support ongoing care for her including environmental enrichment (she loves toys!), tasty food, treats and veterinary care as required. To date she has remained very healthy despite her now advancing years!
Sponsorship also entitles you to join BAWCS private Facebook Page BAWCS Shelter and Sanctuary sponsors where we post exclusive updates on how your sponsee is going. Like to sponsor April? For only $50 a year (and can be just a one off) you’ll receive a great fridge magnet and be invited to join BAWCS Shelter and Sanctuary private FB group where we post exclusive updates on our sponsees.
1. NEVER leave your pets in the car on a warm day. The reality is pets die in hot cars! Please don’t take the risk, as it may cost them their life. If you can’t take them with you where you are going, leave your pets at home. Don’t leave pets confined in rooms or garages that have no ventilation or air conditioning. With no airflow, confined spaces can heat up quickly.
2. CHILL OUT! On hot days, limit outside activity or play to avoid heat exhaustion and keep them calm. If you’re going to walk your pooch, make sure it’s early in the morning or in the evening after sun set. If it’s too hot to walk bare feet, then it will be too hot for the pads of their paws.
3. BE PREPARED. If you do have to take your pet with you on a hot day, keep them in the shade, take a water bottle/bowl with you and a misting spray to keep them cool.
4. WATER, WATER, WATER! Avoid dehydration by providing extra water bowls with a heavy base to avoid spilling, and place them out of direct sunlight. Pop in some ice cubes to keep the water cool. Feed your rabbits small pieces of water rich fruit/veg like apple which will keep them hydrated (avoid the seeds).
5. BRING THEM INSIDE! Take extra care with small pets such as rabbits, guinea pigs & birds, specific breeds (short noses) that are susceptible to heat, elderly or young, overweight or unwell pets. If possible, keep them out of the heat and in air-conditioned rooms. Many pets will choose to lay on naturally cool surfaces such as your tiled kitchen floor.
6. FROZEN WATER BOTTLES! It’s free and easy to freeze water in used soft drink bottles which can be placed in different spots for your pets to lean against.
7. GROOMING your pets to ensure there is no loose or matted fur will help prevent overheating.
8. WET TOWELS can be placed over outdoor pet enclosures, used to wipe down cats and placed for pets to lay on.
9. CLAM SHELL POOLS for your pooch. The BAWCS doggies love them!
10. CHANGE THEIR BEDDING. When you pack away your winter doona, don’t forget to do the same for your pets. Use elevated beds for dogs to allow airflow. Your kitty might love her fluffy blanket in winter but when the heat hits, making a change to a cotton sheet will keep her cooler.
11. DON’T FORGET your larger pets such as horses, will need access to shade and extra water too. You may be surprised how much they can drink on a hot day.
