Reviews

Introduction This review will likely impact the import of dogs and cats into Australia for the next decade. It is important that a constructive debate is had on the topic and that all stakeholders (Australian or otherwise) who may be affected by these changes now or at some time in the future, provide feedback to the Australian Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry (DAFF). Background In 2013 the DAFF implemented recommendations made in their own review to reduce quarantine times for pets arriving from overseas (other than New Zealand, Norfolk Island and Cocos Islands) from 30 days to 10 days. These changes were seen as progress by many veterinarians in Australia. However, many believed more could be done with the incorporation of current technologies to mitigate the necessity for animals to spend any time in quarantine.  Proposals in the 2022 review There are two key changes being recommended, Quarantine for pets coming from Group 3 Countries to be returned back to 30 da...

We’ve been travelling for a long time now, over 6 years, and much longer than we had planned when we left Australia. Probably the most pertinent factor in enabling this length of time is funding. Originally and for a long time it was purely on our savings from working in Australia. Most recently however, we have had to become more resourceful in funding our adventures in order to finish the trip. We are a very energetic and adaptable couple and we’ll give anything a go if we know about it. It turns out word-of-mouth or personal communication are just as effective in this era of high tech devices and intelligent algorithms as they ever have been because we seem to find out all the gems this way. We only discovered Trusted House Sitters We obviously signed up to be sitters so can only really comment on this side of the program (the other feature to the program is the owner/host who wants/needs to go away). It was straightforward to complete our profile, adding photos and references. O...

If you want your dog to be healthy and happy, choosing the right dog food is paramount. But its not a simple decision. We, as dog owners, have to consider availability, practicality and feasibility. Lets also not forget that your dog should enjoy their food. We've always been at a loss when it comes to deciding on a good brand to use, often falling for the misconception that the most expensive is the best. Fortunately, the team at Reviews.com has conducted a very straightforward study to determine the best available products on the market. You can read all about the study at http://www.reviews.com/dog-food/ The study identifies the advantages and disadvantages of different types of dog food; home made, dry food, wet food, dehydrated and raw. The study identifies a list of ingredients that should be used and what ingredients are harmful for dogs. Finally the expert team uses a process of elimination based on the ingredients to shortlist all the available brands and types of dog food ...

After adopting our second street dog in Colombia, Shadow the Miniature Pinscher, room in our custom made motorcycle dog seat (the big yellow tent-like structure) was tight. Negrita had been good to tolerate her new buddy but tension got high at times and poor little Shadow was often flattened by her much bigger sister who just loves riding and moving around a lot. Our new addition brought with her some unanticipated complications...she was pregnant!!! This was going to require some serious thought and rearranging. It wasn’t until we reached Ottawa, Canada, that Shadow gave birth to her two beautiful and rather large puppies. We were staying with Stu's brother Greg and his partner Diana. They made us and our complications very welcome and let us take the time we needed to adjust and investigate our options. Unfortunately Shadows first born, Cinnamon, died within a few hours of birth. What a blow, we felt this terrible despair for Shadow. But her much stronger sister, Maple, seeme...

Wind Noise! Speak to any rider and they will tell you about this deafening exposure to the elements that not only causes long term damage to hearing but also fatigue, turning long days which should be a thrilling experience into an endless drag.   There are a number of solutions on the market, including earplugs, sound cancelling speakers, moulded earphones or silicon sealing ear phones, each found in various qualities and levels of effectiveness. We had personally tried earplugs and silicon sealing earphones but neither suited our needs, in both cases they were uncomfortable and not well fitted and in the case of the earplugs, also blocked out the sound from our communications unit. The end result was that we carried them with us all the time but they where never used. Going to sound cancelling speakers or moulded earphones is costly but a choice that most people consider a good investment due to the savings in your hearing. However, there is another option. During our travels we h...