As Dog Diaries reported here, the recent floods in Queensland and Victoria, followed by the impact of Cyclone Yasi, haven’t only taken a toll on the human inhabitants. Pets and livestock have suffered, too.

So Dr Katrina Warren and the Wonderdogs would like you and your dog to pack a picnic and join them for a special community event to raise funds for the animals and their families affected by the recent disasters. Registration costs just $10 per adult (children are free), with all money raised going to the Animal Welfare League NSW. Alternatively, you can make a donation at www.awlnsw.com.au.

The event is taking place this Sunday, 27 February, 2011, at Callan Park, Rozelle, NSW, from 3pm onwards and features a great line-up, including…

•    Wonderdog trick shows, training and agility
•    Dog competitions, such as ‘musical sit’ and a trick competition
•    A colouring competition for kids
•    An opportunity to meet Dr Katrina, plus other celebrities and their dogs
•    Photo opportunities with the Wonderdogs, sponsored by The Advantage Family
•    Raffle
•    Pet photographer
•    Community choir

Just remember that all dogs must be kept on leads.

The culmination of the event takes place at 5pm with the creation of a Community Memory Tree. In a ceremony led by celebrant Victoria Spence, you’ll have the opportunity to celebrate your pets and what they bring to your life and honour all the animals who died in the floods and cyclone. Bring a photo of a pet you would like to remember to add to the Memory Tree, or you can make a memorial on the day (some materials will be available).

We hope to see you there!

•    Click here for more information, or call (02) 8899 3333. If you can’t make it to Callan Park on Sunday, you can still make a donation at www.awlnsw.com.au.

Image sourced from: awlnsw.com.au & blogs.citypages.com

Ever wondered what your dog gets up to while you’re not home? It’s always interesting to imagine him walking around the house, king of his castle at last, free to poke his nose into whatever he wants to. They say that a Beagle’s nose will always get him into trouble – well in this scenario, it’s the hound’s whole body that manages to get him into mischief. After puzzling over how their new puppy kept getting out of his enclosure while they weren’t home, this dog’s owners set up a spy-cam to catch him in the act!

Hilarious… and very clever!

Click here to view the embedded video.

Thumbnail image from macwallpapers.eu

Now you don’t have to leave your pooch at home when you head out for the evening…

Are you the type of dog owner who likes to take your pooch everywhere? Do you scour for dog-friendly beaches, holiday houses and cafes? If this sounds like you, then you’ll definitely be interested in Ford Fiesta’s Moonlight Cinema, an outdoor event that has a dedicated doggie night, so your four-legged friend can enjoy a trip to the movies as well!

Held in five capital cities around Australia, the Moonlight Cinema runs all summer and offers patrons the opportunity to experience movie-going in the great outdoors.

Once a season, the Moonlight Cinema opens its gates to our canine counterparts, and creates a special dog-friendly environment (no chocolate or macadamia nuts allowed on the premises!) for everyone to enjoy.

The Sydney dog-friendly night was held on Sunday 16 January – and it was certainly a sight to behold. Over 100 dogs were in attendance and they ranged from tiny teacup Chihuahuas to German Shepherds and Great Danes. The environment was friendly, hyper and at times hilarious, especially when a dog would bark on screen and send up a chorus of responses from the furry crowd.

If your dog looks pleadingly at you whenever you go into the kitchen, then Christmas time is probably going to be torture for the poor pooch! But if you want to let him in join this festive season, we’ve got just the recipe – a doggie Christmas cake that he can enjoy so he doesn’t feel left out!

Ingredients

• 2 cups plain flour
• ¼ cup wheat germ
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp ground cinnamon
• 1 cup molasses
• ½ cup canola oil
• 2 egg
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 apple, cored and chopped

Preparation

1.      Preheat the oven to 180C. Oil a 12-cup cake tin with vegetable oil and flour.

2.      In a bowl, mix the flour, wheat germ, baking powder and cinnamon and set to one side. In another large bowl, mix the molasses and oil, then add the eggs one by one, beating until blended. Add the vanilla with ½ cup water. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, mix until smooth then fold in the chopped apple.

3.      Add the batter to the tin and place in the oven. Bake for around 30 to 40 minutes, allowing to cool before serving.

NOTE: Store leftovers in an airtight container for no more than 3 days, or wrap in plastic wrap and store in the freezer for up to 60 days.

Dog Recipe sourced from: SeeFido

Image sourced from: Daily Mail

We recently reported on the power of pets to boost the national economy after a study conducted by the Australian Companion Animal Council (ACAC) found that last year alone, expenditure on domestic pets totalled $6.02 billion.

This Christmas, the economy looks set to receive another boost from the pet-care industry, with the study also revealing that many owners treat their pets as part of the family, spoiling them with Santa stockings and special treats at Christmas time.

In an interview with The Queensland Times, luxury online pet boutique owner, Clea Sandler, confirmed, ‘Christmas is by far our busiest time of year’. Her store, Snooty Paws, stocks a range of special-treat items to spoil your pet, and even has a Christmas – and Chanukah –line with costumes and themed products for your furry friend.

If you’re thinking of leaving something special under the tree for your four-legged family this Christmas, we’ve got a few tips to help you make the choice!

• Be careful when choosing edible treats. A lot of Christmas treats have ingredients that pets can’t easily digest, so make sure you confirm that your goodies are a pet product and that they have no nasty surprises that may harm your pet.

• If you’re buying a toy, why not buy one that is interactive? More than any toy, your pet desires and thrives on the attention of its family. So for a dog, you may want to consider a Christmas-themed toy that involves the kids – a springy ball on a string will keep both parties entertained and ensure your pet gets good use out of it.

• Practicality is a good thing to keep in mind when buying your pet a gift. If your dog needs a new bed, use Christmas as an excuse to splurge a little and satisfy your needs (and your furniture’s needs) as well as your pet’s!

• Never give your dog leftovers from dinner as a special treat at Christmas. Cooked turkey is always a no-no and could lead to digestive problems or a punctured oesophagus.

Image sourced from: Pretty Fluffy

Dogs are just like us in so many ways: they love, they sleep, they play and they get lonely. Apparently, they also dream! This adorable video of two British Bulldog puppies having a little nap shows the adorable sleep-talking antics of a couple of littermates. Awwwwww!

Here we explore some of the most unlikely, unusual and impossible pets you’ll ever come across…

Capybara

If you haven’t heard of a capybara before, don’t worry – you’ve definitely heard of one of its cousins, the common guinea pig.

‘But wait!’ we hear you cry. ‘A guinea pig isn’t an exotic pet at all!’ Well, it is if you multiply its size by about 200 per cent – which is exactly what you’ll get with a capybara.

The capybara is native to several South American countries and can usually be found in swamps, marshes and waterholes, as this water-loving creature enjoys nothing more than a damp home. The capybara is the largest rodent in the world, weighing up to 80kg and standing 120cm at the shoulder. Usually friendly and gentle, the capybara makes a placid, if slightly disturbing, pet.

Pot-bellied pig

George Clooney is rumoured to have one, and there’s a growing demand in Australia for these sweet little animals as pets. Substantially smaller than a full-sized pig, the pot-bellied is usually the size of a medium-sized dog and is reportedly one of the smartest animals in the world!

Due to its docile nature, the pot-bellied pig is easy to train – and if you have the space for one, it can make a charming addition to the family… preferably a family that doesn’t like bacon too much!

Crocodile

For those of you who like to live on the wild side (literally, in this case), this pet may just be for you! Chito, a 52-year-old fisherman from Cost Rica, has disproved the ‘never smile at a crocodile’ maxim, befriending a 445kg croc after saving the reptile’s life over 20 years ago.

Pocho (the crocodile) was close to death after suffering from a gunshot wound to the head, when Chito came along and nursed him back to health. Pocho now happily frolicks and ‘play-wrestles’ with Chito in the water in front of (understandably) shocked onlookers.

The Dog Diaries recommendation, however, is not to try this at home!

•   So what about you? What kind of weird and wonderful pet would you welcome into your home – and why? Use the Comment facility below to let us know.

Prize: The best suggestion will win a dog bowl and chew toy/training ball. The competition runs from 19-26 October, with the winner announced on shortly afterwards.

Read Terms and Conditions here

Images by: Wikimedia Commons, Gift Trap and David Au

Last year the MC’s at the Manly event were doggy superstar, Toby the wonder dog (who has sadly since passed away), and his owner, popular TV-vet, Katrina Warren. Dr Katrina, as she is known has starred in shows such as Channel Seven’s Harry’s Practice and more recently she hosted the 2010 series of Talk to the Animals on channel 9. Her participation in the Manly Dog Day Out event signals how high-profile these events are becoming.

This year the event featured special guest appearances from the NSW Police Dog Squad and the Norwest Thunderdog Flyball team that gave some impressive displays of doggy skill and training. There were also obedience contests for a range of dog breeds and even racing events for the little Jack Russell. The Manly Dog Day Out events are big and very well organised.

Now, not all the Dog Day Out events that have been run around Australia this year have been as high level as this one. But the Canberra Dogs Day Out in ACT in March this year was reported by the Department of Territory ( who ran the event)  as receiving  “hundreds of families and their four legged friends (who) came in droves to the first Dogs’ Day Out for 2010”.

Their popularity is shown by how far flung these events are. Take the one at Mole Creek back in March this year, for example – Mole Creek is poised at the edge of Tasmania’s Western Wilderness, halfway between Launceston and Cradle Mountain. Or the one held at Roma in July by the Maranoa Regional Council and which had a “massive community get-together”. Roma is about 700km north-west of Brisbane!

The trend is clear to see – dog owners everywhere are interested in group events designed around their pet. And these events are not limited to dog training, fancy dress or other competitions.

They include doggy restaurants, for example, Chew Chew , and Café Bones even dog music shows – as the following video of the dog concert held in June at the Sydney Opera House shows.

Click here to view the embedded video.

Image source: Jack Russel Terrier Club – NSW

Held this year on Monday, August 16th, Cupcake Day is the biggest bakeoff in the Southern Hemisphere and involves aspiring Masterchefs putting on their aprons, baking up a storm and hosting a cupcake party to raise vital funds for the RSPCA.

If you are interested in hosting a cupcake party, simply head to the Cupcake Day website, register your party and then invite your friends to donate online. It’s free to register, and proceeds go towards assisting the care and protection of Australia’s animals.

If the 16th of August doesn’t work for you, there’s the option of holding your cupcake party at any time during the month of August. And while you won’t need any more persuading (if you’re anything like us) to get onboard the cupcake train, how’s this for a bonus: for every $100 you fundraise online, you get an entry into the draw to win 2 Kymco scooters.

Last year, Cupcake Day helped raise $1.1 million to assist in the care and protection of Australia’s animals. This year they aim to top that total and reach the target of $2.5 million! It’s a fun way to help a great organization do their good works, and there is the added bonus of winning a great prize – what’s not to love?  So Cat Diaries are betting that the RSPCA will reach their target!

Everyone loves a cupcake, so get involved and unleash your inner sweet tooth. We’re loosening our belts in anticipation…

Image sources: tonibduguid and clevercupcakes

The last time I wrote, I’d just discovered the name of our next foster dog. That afternoon I travelled an hour out of town to the pound where he was being kept, and was greeted by a tiny, scared and incredibly cute-looking dog.

According to the pound he is four years old, but in his shrunken and frightened state he scarcely looked older than a pup. We had him micro-chipped and temporarily signed over to us and started the journey back into town. Apparently, Archie doesn’t much care for car rides. He was carsick for the first time all over the back seat, and the second time (very skilfully) in a strategically-placed plastic bag. The poor little mutt could hardly stop shaking and was so happy when we arrived and his feet finally touched solid ground that he promptly peed all over the floor.

After a few hours of getting used to our place and a nice meal in his belly, Archie started to show a bit of his personality, jumping from couch to couch and sneaking in little cuddles here and there. Like Jasper, that night Archie managed to wriggle his way between us as we slept, his bum in the air and his head under the pillow.

Great progress
It’s been a week now and the scared little pup is all but gone, replaced with a playful, cheeky and affectionate dog who thinks he is a person. Archie’s favourite pastime is jumping onto the seat of the couch the millisecond before you’re about to sit down, and attempting to burrow himself underneath you. He has a cheeky grin and the unique habit of putting his front paws around your neck and cuddling you like a chimp.

He’s still getting the knack of toilet training, as he seems never to have been taught. It breaks our hearts every time we have to reprimand him, because past experience has obviously taught him that stern words are often accompanied by a blow. Because of this, we’re just trying to establish a regular toileting routine for him and he’s responding well… fewer and fewer accidents each day!

Today was the first day I let him off-leash in the dog park and though I held my breath as he encountered his first doggy pal (which, of course, as luck would have it, turned out to be a giant, barrel-chested Boxer), I needn’t have worried. Archie got on famously with the huge pooch, who for his part was as gentle as could be.

The pleasure Archie takes in learning new things each day and running in the park with other dogs is incredible. To watch him grow in confidence makes me simultaneously happy that life’s good for him now, and furious that another human once made it otherwise for him.

Images by foxypar4 and kretyen