Dr Jo's blog

What do you do to help animals:

·         Do you take care of your pets at home?

·         Did you rescue an unwanted animal?

·         Do you work with animals to help society understand them better or save lives?

·         Do you donate money occasionally to help an animal charitable cause?

These are all great and noble activities that help animals. What else could you do to help animals?

I help animals

I asked myself this question. I have so many pets at home, many of them rescues. They are cared for and loved by my whole family. I work with pets to help their people understand them. I help them solved any behavioural issues they may have with their pets. This is my work and my passion and I am lucky to be able to indulge myself everyday.

This is not enough. I need to reach out and help more. I cannot donate unlimited dollars, I cannot save any more rescues. What I can do is lend some of my precious time and some of my knowledge to help others who need help.

Delta Therapy Dogs

I am Chairperson of Delta Society Australia. Delta is a national not-for-profit organisation that helps animals help people. We do this through educating people on motivational method of dog training, children on dog bite prevention and we coordinate people and their pets to visit nursing homes and hospitals, our Delta Therapy Dogs.

These therapy dogs and their owners are special. Everyday they brighten up the lives of people in aged care facilities, in hospitals, in prisons and in schools. They do it with a paw, a wag of a tail and perhaps the promise of a treat. They ask for nothing more. Their people accompany them, ensure they are well behaved and get so much joy from the reaction of people greeting their dogs. They ask for nothing more.

Delta is run by so many dedicated people who love what we do and want to let the world know the good work that our dogs do. We also want to expand our therapy in hospitals. Our dogs have helped children learn to walk again. Our dogs have helped people reach out their hand after a stroke. To the families that care for their loved ones in hospital, our dogs perform miracles.

Delta therapy dog Chausette

Delta need help

To train our dogs and to coordinate visits between patients, therapists and our dogs, we need help. We need cash, of course (doesn’t every non-profit group?).We also need help in marketing, advertising and public relations. We need help in volunteer management and in fundraising and sponsorship.

In return for help we can offer exposure to organisations and companies to promote their brand and be seen to be helping such a good cause. To individuals who choose to volunteer their help or their money, no matter how little, we can offer an experience you will never forget. You can accompany your chosen dog on one of his visits, you can learn how much he is appreciated by the people she meets.  You will be rewarded by knowing that you are helping people and pets in our community. We thank you.

You can read more about Delta Therapy Dogs here and about volunteering, donating or sponsoring.

You can find out more about Delta Society Australia here.

You can visit Dr Jo’s website here.

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Are you proud to be a pet owner living in your country? My guess is that there are things your country does well in supporting your life with pets. Perhaps your:

·         Government supports you with off leash parks

·         local shelter helps with subsidised desexing (neutering, spaying)

·         Universities with research facilities and budget to explore the human-animal bond

·         individuals with their entrepreneurial attitude or inventiveness.

There may also be pet-related activities that are lacking or annoying within your country and you wish you could change them or live in a more-enlightened society.

Why not share these here and let everyone know what is good and what is bad about your country and their attitude towards pets? Here’s some from my adopted country Australia.

What we do well: 

·         We have some great products and inventors – pet loo, litter kwitter, dog mobile washes and these are now exported elsewhere.

·         We have some great dog bite prevention and other education programs for children. This hopefully means a future of children who can interact and understand animals well. We also have some great pet therapy programs.

·         In my State (NSW) and some others there is a requirement for local councils to provide off leash areas. Although dog parks are not ideal for every dog, they are a bonus for many pet owners.

What we could improve:

·         Variations in laws from State to State make it difficult to have uniform practices. Some pets are banned in some States, some dog breeds are restricted in certain States but not in others and different rules and regulations are in place in every State and Territory.

·         Cats in Australia have a very bad press and are declining in numbers, even though in the rest of the world they are the most popular pets. Yes, they are not native and they are very efficient hunters but it is possible to be a responsible pet owners and keep your cat indoors and really cats are just finishing off the environmental destruction that humans have created.

·         Dogs tend to be outdoors. Nothing wrong with that if they get enough interactions with humans but many do not. And we can’t take dogs many places- not on public transport, into shops, onto beaches, in hotels.

What does your country do well and what could they do better?

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