Reptiles proving to be popular pets

Some like their pets cute and cuddly, but it would appear that more and more people are choosing scales over fur.

A spokesperson from the Department of Environment and Climate Change (DECC) said the number of licences for keeping reptiles as domestic pets has risen by 30 percent since the 2004-05 financial year, increasing from 10,073 to 13,154 in 2006-2007. This means that more and more Aussies are choosing to own unconventional pets such as blue-tongue lizards, bearded dragons, carpet pythons and eastern snake-necked turtles as the years progress.

“You don’t have to feed reptiles daily like you do dogs and cats,” said John Mostyn, senior reptile keeper with Sydney Aquarium. He believes that reptiles like the eastern water dragon are far less demanding than the average pet.

“Every second day you can give, say, a water dragon some crickets or spiders, mince meat of vegetable mix, whereas with dogs and cats it’s pretty much daily, or twice a day," he said.

One state where some reptiles still aren’t allowed to be kept as pets is Tasmania, although the Piper family from Launceston is hoping that this will soon change. Their son, Griffin, is autistic, and snakes are one of the few things that help him focus and relate to other people.

Griffin’s mother, Katrina Piper, said she was unable to buy a python for her son because of the state’s restrictions.

"He'd love to have one of his own and because I home school him just being able to get him to sit and focus a lot longer on his school work with a snake that I could use with him in his education would be a great benefit," she said.

Source: Sarah Price, Sydney Morning Herald & ABC News March '08

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Responsible pet ownership reaches new generations

An innovative program teaching children how to responsibly care for pets has been well received in different communities around Australia.

 

The Australian Veterinary Association’s Pets & People Education Program (AVA PetPEP) first began in 1991 in response to an increase in animal mistreatment, dog attacks and irresponsible pet ownership. The intention of the program was to reduce the incidents of pet abuse and aggressive dogs by educating new generations of pet owners so as to create responsible pet owners for the future. 

AVA PetPEP involves veterinarians, vet nurses, local council members and guest speakers from the animal care industry, who volunteer to travel around communities  and talk to students, demonstrating dog training skills and safety when interacting with pets.

Brice, a third grade student at Mary Valley State College, was one of many children who have so-far benefited from the program. “The pictures Mr Potter showed us were gory but it’s good to see so we are careful around animals,” he said.

PetPEP provides other resources to assist with further educating the students once the guest speakers have left the school, including a Teachers Resource Book and interactive CD-ROM which covers topics such as:

• Behaving Safely Around Pets

• Choosing the Right Pet

• Being Responsible for a Pet

• Preparing for a Pet

• Caring for Your Pet’s Health

• Treating All Animals Well

The AVA PetPEP website contains further information relating to the program, and can be located at http://www.ava.com.au/petpep/

Source: Ayr Advocate & the AVA PetPEP website March 2008

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Biosecurity Australia Advice 2008/10 - Importation of Rodents into Australian Zoos – Draft Policy

The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF) has released a draft policy of the Biosecurity Australia Advice 2008/10 - Importation of Rodents into Australian Zoos.

 

The Australasian Association of Zoological Parks and Aquaria has advised Biosecurity Australia that Australian zoos place a high priority on the importation of capybaras (Hydrochoerus hydrochaeris), Brazilian agoutis (Dasyprocta leporina), Patagonian maras (Dolichotis patagonum) and Cape porcupines (Hystrix africaeaustralis). These are all large rodents (order Rodentia) of the Suborder Hystricomorpha.

To read more, click on the link below:

Biosecurity Australia Advice 2008/10 - Importation of Rodents into Australian Zoos.pdf

Information on risk assessments and policy reviews being conducted by Biosecurity Australia is available from their website www.biosecurityaustralia.gov.au.

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POSITIONS AVAILABLE:

 

RETAIL STORE MANAGER WANTED - SPRINGVALE STH VIC

We are looking for an energetic, self motivated person with initiative, fantastic customer service and retail sales skills, who has the ability to manage staff, communicate and work well within a team and maintain a high level of service.
 
Applicants must have previous managerial skills working within a busy pet shop environment, ideally the successful applicant must hold a cert 3 in Animal Care & Management (or be willing to obtain and further their skills) and have a good understanding of the Companion Animal Industry.
 
Your job will include customer service, product handling and merchandising, animal husbandry, plus some general admin duties. 
Full time position – 38hrs.   Hours will vary, including rotating weekends.

For more details call Andrew 03 9546 1711