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BUSINESS
BUSINESS Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal aims to raise $1m
The Petbarn Foundation is calling for community support to help raise $1million through its ninth annual Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal, which will fund 20 Seeing Eye Dogs to provide vital support and independence to Australians who are blind or have low vision.
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Vision Australia estimates there are 453,000 people in Australia who are blind or have low vision with this figure expected to increase to 560,000 by 2030, with more Seeing Eye Dogs urgently needed.
Petbarn are proud long-term partners of Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs, supporting the organisation through raising $5Million through the annual Petbarn Foundation Appeal since 2014. Hitting this year’s $1million target would mean the Appeal has funded 122 Seeing Eye Dogs over the past nine years.
Australians are encouraged to ‘Train-upa-Pup’ by donating through Petbarn stores or online at www.petbarn.com.au/seda to support the training and expertise needed to turn puppies in to Seeing Eye Dogs.
It costs more than $50,000 and takes up to two years to train a Seeing Eye Dog. Training begins from eight weeks of age, where puppies begin to learn basic socialisation skills and obedience from volunteer carers and puppy development trainers. At approximately 12months, they progress to up to five months of expert training with a specialised instructor.
“Seeing Eye Dogs provide constant companionship, help overcome social isolation and contribute to an all-round better quality of life for people who are blind or have low vision,” Petbarn Foundation Manager, Janelle Bloxsom, said. “We are hoping to raise a milestone $1million at this this year’s Appeal and we are grateful to our generous communities who will support us to raise funds for this wonderful cause.”
“Seeing Eye Dogs are so invaluable to the people they are matched with, helping people to not only maintain autonomy, but are also vital to those who are blind or have low vision tosafely navigate the world. We truly hope we can make a difference to the lives of 20 Australians through the funds raised from this year’s appeal.”
“My Seeing Eye Dog, Noodle, is a four-yearold black Labrador and she means everything to me. She’s my guide, she’s my best friend and she keeps me safe,” Seeing Eye Dogs client Geraldine Lane, said. “Not only is Noodle great company but she gives me the confidence to travel safely and with dignity. Raising and training a Seeing Eye Dog like Noodle costs $50,000, so donations to the Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal are really important. They can make an immense difference to the lives of people who are blind or have low vision.”
“The Petbarn Foundation Seeing Eye Dogs Appeal is the biggest annual fundraiser for Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs and is vital in helping us train and provide Seeing Eye Dogs,” Vision Australia Seeing Eye Dogs General Manager Graeme Craig said. “Seeing Eye Dogs need specific training requiring alot of expertise, time, love, and patience to give the person they are matched with independence, confidence, and companionship. Each year,we are able to offer more Australians access to these Seeing Eye Dogs, due to this annual appeal and the generosity of donors.” Donations can be made at any Petbarn store, or online at www.petbarn.com.au/seda.
Runthe City2Surf for cats in need!
Ninth Life Foundation is excited to be teaming up with City2Surf 2022 to help raise funds for cats in need. As one of the partnering charities, participants will now be able to fundraise for Ninth Life while they run, jog, or stroll the iconic 14km course from Sydney CBD to Bondi Beach. “We’re veryexcited to joining City2Surf this year,” Foundation Chair Jules dos Santos said. “As the world’s largest fun run, it’s a significant event in Sydney's sporting and charity calendar. And a wonderful opportunity for runners and walkers to enjoy this community day while helping to support cats in their twilight years. “Whether going solo or part of a team, we’re very grateful for all the support. It makes a huge difference to us in our ability to provide the service we do.”Individuals who raise over $60 for Ninth Life will receive an official Ninth Life T-shirt. Those who create a team of nine will be given Foundation shirts, fluffy tails, and ears to wear on the day to celebrate their involvement.
The Foundation is unique as it rescues and re-homes cats who are high care and in need of specific, dedicated support. Aged, abandoned, on death row, or with ailing owners unable to care for them, Ninth Life is committed to finding new homes that really fit the cats’ needs to ensure they can enjoy their next stage in life.
To get on board and run this year’s City2Surf with the Ninth Life Foundation please visit the Foundation’s campaign page at city2surf22. grassrootz.com/ninth-life-foundation
Tasmanian devils’
From page 1 Population genetic theory indicates that populations that have undergone significant declines are more likely to be exposed to small population pressures such as further loss of genetic diversity and accumulation of inbreeding. This in turn can limit the species’ capacity to adapt to current and emerging threats, but the Tasmanian devil breeding strategy can be applied to other endangered species according to Hogg, and it will be a useful tool to address the global biodiversity crisis.
“We’ve already applied it to species which are part of different safe haven (fenced site) populations on the Australian mainland, such as bilbies, and the extremely rare woylies,” she said.
Monitoring the health and genetics of the devils will continue for at least four to six years. ■ ANNE LAYTON-BENNETT
Varroa mite situation worsens
From page 3 “Ibelieve if we all work together and work to this plan we can eradicate it, and we’re going to give it our best shot,” he said.
“We ask all beekeepers to report their location, and if people see beehives being moved it’s got to be reported.”
Fuller said the mood among the beekeeping community is hard to gauge at present.
“There are different feelings, and I know some people are saying ‘there’s no planning’, but there is planning, and because it’s a live operation it can take a turn at any stage,” he said.
Beekeepers have been encouraged to conduct an alcohol wash test on their bees and report results to NSW DPI on 1800 084 881. Up to date information about eradication zones can be found at dpi.nsw.gov.au/ varroa
■ SAM WORRAD
Assistance with FMD and LSD for Indonesia
Frompage 5 Travellers and those ordering goods through the mail can check what is permitted entry to Australia via www.agriculture.gov.au/biosecuritytrade/travelling/bringing-mailinggoods. Travellers from countries affected by FMD also need to ensure all footwear, clothing and equipment is free of mud, animal manure and mucus before returning to Australia.
For veterinarians and others who have been in contact with FMD infected animals or infected areas overseas, it is recommended that they DO NOT visit Australian farms or handle livestock for at least seven days after returning to Australia.
Remember also, if veterinarians suspect signs of FMD, LSD or any other emergency animal disease, they must immediately contact the Emergency Animal Disease Watch Hotline on 1800 675 888. If signs are seen in feral pigs or water buffalo, immediate action also needs to be taken.
Support for livestock veterinarians undertaking disease investigations is also available through the National Significant Disease Investigation Program (animalhealth australia.com.au/collaborativedisease-investigations), and through NABSnet (nabsnet.com.au) for veterinarians in northern Australia. The Emergency Animal Field Guide for Veterinarians can be downloaded at www.outbreak.gov.au/for-vets-andscientists/emergency-animal-diseasesguide. This article was supplied by The Australian Government Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry.
Ants a mirror to ecosystem restoration
From page 5 like the soil, or even a termite bait, which has trace DNA left behind by the insects that move through or onto those substrates,” she said.
Through field trips and sample collections at Ranger Uranium Mine inside Kakadu National Park, she hopes to help develop a method for long-term monitoring of the mine for it to be incorporated into the national park.
She is also taking samples from Nabarlek Uranium Mine, Pine Creek Gold Mine and Jabiluka mine in the Northern Territory to analyse the recovery of these rehabilitated ecosystems.
With the data collected, Malpartida hopes to develop a reliable and cost-effective technique for assessing how well the ecosystem at mine sites has been restored.
“My goal is to develop a method for monitoring terrestrial invertebrate bioindicators long-term and make it more available for different companies and organisations to use the technology to assess land restoration,” she said.
“The data from DNA sequences can be stored and reanalysed years later. When more species are added to reference databases the analysis can be rerun and more can be picked up over time, which is great for regulatory monitoring.”
“The signs of invertebrates returning means some larger animals have afood source and can return to a disturbed site too. We need invertebrates to be back before everything else comes back to the land.”
This research project has begun sampling on the site of the former Nabarlek Uranium Mine in West Arnhem Land and involves ongoing collaboration with the traditional owners of that site.
Malpartida’s project also involves collaborations with CSIRO Land and Water and the Centre for Mined Land Rehabilitation at the University of Queensland.
From page 14 The necessary anaesthetic depth, from sedation to surgical anaesthesia, depends on the procedure type. Anaesthetic bath and injection are commonly used, besides inhalation, local anaesthesia, and intracardiac injection. Agents used for the anaesthetic bath include eugenol, isoeugenol, lidocaine, halothane, and essential oils of lemon balm, lemongrass, lemon verbena, and sandalwood. While alphaxalone, eugenol, ketaminexylazine, lidocaine, morphine, procaine, tiletamine-zolazepam, and xylazine can be used as injectable agents administered on the arthrodial membrane or intramuscular injection. Halothane can be used on inhalation anaesthesia. Local anaesthetics include lidocaine and benzocaine. Notwithstanding, many others are detrimental or ineffective to decapods, thus discouraged. They include but not limited to hypothermia, carbon dioxide, chlorpromazine, chloroform, ethanol, ether, magnesium salts, tricaine methanesulfonate (MS-222), mint and lavender essential oils, passionflower extract, and valerian. Decapods' welfare, protection, and veterinary attention should not be neglected, but they must receive ethical treatment, including the best of our knowledge and available tools to ensure they are free of pain and discomfort whenever we deal with them. Cecília de Souza Valente1 Vet Anim Sci. 2022 May 14;16:100252. doi: 10.1016/j.vas.2022.100252. 1Bio-Resources Unit, National University of Ireland Galway, University Road, Galway H91TK33, Ireland.
Free PMC article
Abstracts - Coxiella burnetii
From page 14 against Q fever and 90 per cent (35/39) were aware that both feral pigs and dogs could potentially be sources of C. burnetii. Our findings indicate that pig hunters should be aware of the risk of exposure to Q fever during hunts and the sentinel role their dogs may play in C. burnetii exposure. B Orr1,R Malik23,M E Westman14 , JMNorris15 Aust Vet J. 2022 Jun;100(6):230235.doi: 10.1111/avj.13151. 1Sydney School of Veterinary Science, The University of Sydney, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 2Centre for Veterinary Education, The University of Sydney,Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. 3School of Veterinaryand Animal Science, Charles Sturt University, Wagga Wagga, New South Wales, Australia. 4Elizabeth Macarthur Agricultural Institute (EMAI), Menangle, New South Wales, Australia. 5The Sydney Institute for Infectious Diseases, University of Sydney,Sydney,New South Wales, Australia.
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