RSPCA invites Hunter residents to take part in the pet census

BY JARROD MELMETH

Have you ever wondered if your pampered pooch or cool cat were the only ones getting extravagant birthday parties or professional photoshoots? 

The RSPCA is calling on all animal lovers to take part in the NSW Animal Lovers Census which will provide a snapshot of all the furry, feathered, scaly, wooly and even hairless animals in our lives.

RSPCA General Manager, Animal Operations Kristy Blake says this census will ask all the important questions the other census failed to address.

"Animals are important members of our households and community and the Animal Lovers Census will help us to better understand more about the animals across NSW," Ms Blake said.

The RSPCA is offering everyone who completes the Animal Lovers Census by the end of August to go in the draw to win a Penthouse Pup voucher.

The census can be completed here.

Keep your Furry Friend Safe this Christmas

While we can expect ourselves in indulge a little this Christmas, Hunter residents are being urged to ensure foods and other hazards harmful to cats and dogs are out of reach of their paws.

The Newcastle Animal Referral and Emergency Centre (NAREC) at Broadmeadow has recently discharged Max, a 1 year-old golden retriever after underwent surgery to remove to skewer sticks from his stomach after he got a hold of them in the chaos of a family get together.

NAREC CEO Wendy Fisher says chocolate is also rather toxic to dogs and "certainly the more pure the cocoa, dark chocolate is more toxic than milk chocolate".

"Another hazard is tinsel and particularly cats like to play with tinsel and swallow it and that can cause a nasty effect in the intestines and cause rupture of the intestines in severe cases".

Keep their paws off hazardous food and ornaments

"Grapes and raisins can cause kidney failure in dogs, we don't know the mechanism and the toxic dose is not known".

Pet owners are also urged to be wary of the dangers of leftover Christmas ham or turkey fat.

More details on other common hazards for pets over Christmas can be found on the NAREC website.