Blogs

The love we feel for our pets can be overwhelming, and for many of us, they truly are part of the family. But, no matter how much aff ection we shower on our animals, the fact is that sometimes, love ISN’T enough.

The statistics are slowly improving - but they remain sobering. In the year from 2022-2023, around 18,000 dogs, 33,000 cats and 34,000 other animals were surrendered to shelters – and that’s the RSPCA alone. That adds up to more than 87,000 animals. And the saddest part: out of all those animals, more than 8,000 were euthanised.

On 19 April 2024, a global cohort of leading scientists presented strong new evidence that non-human animals are capable of suffering. These findings are encapsulated in the New York Declaration of Animal Consciousness, which has been signed by scientists from universities around the world, across various relevant disciplines including neuroscience, environmental science, biology, psychology, and philosophy.

On 11 May 2024, the Australian federal government announce that Australia will stop exporting live sheep from 1 May 2028 – a move that has been welcomed by animal rights organisations.

Hitting the road with the company of our canine friends is something many Australians enjoy. But did you know that there are actually specific laws around how dogs need to be restrained? While the details vary between states and territories, you can get in big trouble for letting rover roam free in the car. And the laws are in place for good reason: a well as potentially distracting drivers, dogs can be at higher risk of injury of they’re not secure within the vehicle. So what are your need to knows? We’ve broken it down below (information accurate on 15 June 2024), and provided some tips for ensuring your dog’s safety and comfort in transit.