Are you pet ready?

New pets add a great deal to our lives and teach us so much about living in the present. They also help teach children about compassion, patience and responsibility. However, bringing a new pet home needs careful consideration – after all, the quality of life of our pets is vitally dependent on how well and compassionately we care for them. Before you commit to your new pet, here are some things to consider:

Is everyone eager to add a new member to the family? Dogs and cats can live for over a decade, and some birds or reptiles longer still – that’s a long time to live with an animal whose care and wellbeing is partly or wholly your responsibility.

Your pet does not need a pet A second pet can be a wonderful source of social interaction and comfort for your first pet, but equally can result in double the effort and resources for you. While the well-trained first pet can teach the new one the ropes, it is equally likely the opposite will occur.

What type of pet will suit you best? Investigate all options. Do your research on the care, mental and physical welfare requirements for a variety of pets (including different breeds/ species). Do you know how to cater for their health and behavioural needs? Do you have the time and resources? If you’re unsure, chat to a qualified trainer or vet. Ways to help your new pet acclimatise

Have consistent house rules What are the expectations around feeding from the table, access to bedrooms or furniture? What about when you are out? Who will walk, feed, clean up and train them? Your house rules need to suit you, your family and your pet. Social animals rarely thrive as outside or isolated pets – they will benefit greatly from (even restricted) access inside with you. All pets will learn most efficiently through consistency and routine, so making sure the family is on the same page.

Is the house or their area pet-friendly and safe? You’ll need to pet-proof your house and backyard, just like you would baby-proof it – invest in pens, baby gates or crates, petfriendly cleaning products and ensure all dangerous and valuable items are out of reach. Please ensure each of your pets have their own safe space to escape to if they need. Ensure your backyard, plants and fertilisers are pet-safe. Solid, high fences are most appropriate for ensuring dogs are safe in your backyard. Cats can also be kept safe (and very happy) with outdoor cat runs or oscillot-style fencing systems.

Do you know how to understand your pet? Being able to read, interpret and respond appropriately to their body language will help you ensure they feel safe and comfortable as they learn more about their new home and life.

Do you have everything ready? Different pets will need different home area set ups, equipment, food and enrichment products to ensure they thrive. Ensure the equipment you purchase for your pet is humane as recommended by the RSPCA SA ‘Lead By Example’ campaign. Your vet can provide you with recommendations on nutrition, exercise and preventative medical care. Have you booked in their first health check or for dogs, booked in for puppy pre school (for puppies under 16 weeks)? Many qualified trainers offer in home consultations. Legally, you will also need to register your new dog with council via dogsandcatsonline.com.au within 2 weeks of getting them, or by 3 months of age. Dogs and cats must also be microchipped, and must be desexed by 6 months of age if born after 1 July 2018.

Easing the transition Extra visits before you bring them home, or an old blanket/toy that smells of their original home will help you and your home feel more familiar and safe to them. Feliway for cats and Adaptil for dogs are species specific smells that help them feel safer and may also help with car travel and the transition.

How will you build your relationship with them? Training using positive reinforcement (using toys, treats or social interaction as rewards for nice behaviour) is one of the best ways to build a trusting and lasting relationship with your new pet. Do you know who to call for help? Just like all professions, some vets, trainers, groomers, pet-sitters or other animal care professionals are better than others. Have you chosen yours? Carefully considering the above will help your pet fit into your family as easily as possible. More information on pets and animal management in our City is available at charlessturt.sa.gov.au/ animalmanagement

Immunisation Council provides a dedicated immunisation service to local residents, delivered by experienced Registered Nurses that specialise in immunisations. The St Clair Immunisation Clinic is located within the St Clair Recreation Centre on Woodville Road, Woodville and situated just inside the entrance from the car park. It services babies, children and adults of all ages. Child and adolescent scheduled vaccines are available for free and other vaccines are available to the public at a cost. A price list and schedule of Immunisation Clinic days and times is available on our website at charlessturt.sa.gov.au/Immunisation Vaccines outside the free list are available for purchase but you will need to ring 84081111 to check for availability of stock and make an appointment (with the exception of flu during flu season). It is important that children are immunised at 4 years of age – before they start kindy. Diseases such as measles, mumps and rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough and polio are highly contagious, sometimes fatal, and can be easily prevented with immunisation. Food Safety Council’s Deliciously Safe Food Safety program recognises food businesses who comply with all aspects of food legislation. When you see this sticker, you can be confident that the food business has complied with all food laws at the time of their inspection. Information on safe food handling and preparation at home is available at charlessturt.sa.gov.au/foodsafety

Deliciously Safe

Excellence in Food Safety

This business achieved full compliance with the Food Act 2001 and the National Food Safety Standards on