Latest news with #petcare
CNA
12 hours ago
- General
- CNA
To the rescue: These women save and rehome hamsters that have been abused, dumped or neglected by their owners
They are small, furry and cute, but like any other pet, hamsters need a lot of love and care. And sadly, they are often neglected or abandoned by owners who don't understand them. The volunteers of Hamster Society Singapore (HSS) know this too well. The non-profit society is led by a core team of five women: President Cheryl (who declined to give her full name and photo for this story), 32, vice-president Gladys Lam, 30, and board members Chen Soong Fee, 37, Kwa Li Ying, 29 and Sim Jia Yi, 27. The team, said Sim, comes from diverse professional backgrounds, from design to healthcare. Lam, for example, is a professional race car driver. 'This diversity strengthens our ability to approach animal welfare from multiple perspectives,' she added. All are passionate about hamsters and are involved in fostering. A VOICE FOR HAMSTERS Chen told CNA Women that, 'despite being one of the most common pets, hamsters are often misunderstood and overlooked in the broader animal welfare landscape'. HSS started in 2019, and currently has 35 volunteers, including the core team. It was founded as there was no dedicated rescue group for hamsters, and due to the glaring lack of education and proper standards for hamster husbandry in Singapore. 'Many people underestimate the level of care hamsters require, often leading to their poor welfare,' said Kwa. 'Through outreach and accessible resources, we aim to raise awareness about proper hamster husbandry and advocate for more informed, responsible pet ownership.' A common misconception is that hamsters make good starter pets for children. The truth is hamsters are fragile, nocturnal, easily stressed, and not ideal for young children who may mishandle them. While small, hamsters are very active and need large enclosures. Most cages people buy from pet shops are too small, leading to stress or behavioural issues in hamsters. Then there are owners who think that hamsters don't require veterinary care, assuming that the rodents are too small to treat and not worth the cost. In reality, vet care for hamsters can be just as expensive as treating cats or dogs. A consultation can cost hundreds of dollars and go into the thousands for hamsters with chronic illnesses. Surgeries such as tumour removals or spaying can cost about S$2,000. HSS noted that owners are often unprepared for these expenses, leading to delayed treatment or them surrendering their pet to HSS. EDUCATION ON HAMSTER CARE AND COMMUNITY OUTREACH 'As a volunteer-run non-profit, we rescue, foster, and rehome hamsters that are abandoned, neglected, or in need of medical care. Equally important is our mission to educate,' said Lam. On the HSS website are hamster care articles including information such as creating the ideal cage for these pets and recipes to make them delicious snacks. The team also has visited schools to give talks on proper care for hamsters. The team said many adopters and members of the public have found the articles useful in helping them better understand proper hamster care, especially as pet shops and online sources may provide outdated or inaccurate information. For example, the hamster's cage needs to be cleaned every one to two days, and while they may initially look docile and cute, hamsters can suddenly fight, leading to severe injuries. Another misconception is that hamsters stop growing their teeth in adulthood. The reality is, without proper items to chew on, their teeth can become overgrown, leading to dental issues and difficulty eating. 'We're extremely happy that our resources have helped raise the standard of care in Singapore, and we've seen more adopters coming in already equipped with suitable enclosures and proper knowledge – something that wasn't common just a few years ago,' said Cheryl. CASES OF NEGLECT AND ABANDONMENT STILL HIGH But more needs to be done. HSS said cases of neglect and abandonment remain common. In 2024, the society rescued 74 hamsters, including cases of abandonment, surrenders, and referrals from the Animal & Veterinary Service (AVS). 'Unfortunately, we continue to receive a high number of surrender requests (85 surrender applications for 128 hamsters in 2024) citing reasons that reflect a deeper issue of underestimation and misunderstanding of the responsibilities involved in pet ownership,' said Sim. Reasons for owners surrendering their hamsters include relocating overseas, allergies, a lack of time, school or work commitments, and even cases of owners surrendering sick or aggressive hamsters they feel unequipped to care for. Sim noted that in some instances, hamsters are surrendered because the families' domestic helpers are returning home, or because the pet is 'no longer manageable' or 'not tame'. 'While some are genuinely unavoidable situations, many stem from impulse purchases or misconceptions that hamsters are easy, low-maintenance pets ideal for young children,' she added. Most of the rescue cases by HSS begin with tip-offs on Facebook Messenger or their website from concerned members of the public, and some are referred by the AVS. Recent cases of abuse include two hamsters abandoned in a stairwell, another hamster was found in a plastic bag, while a third was dumped in a park. The rescued hamsters are often found in poor health, such as bacterial infections, paralysis, broken legs, and even cancer. As with other cases of pet abandonment, HSS sees noticeable spikes during the year-end school holidays and festive season, particularly from December to January. Some realise only after the holidays that they aren't able to commit to the pet gifted or bought impulsively during the festive period. In addition, illegal backyard breeders and pet shops failing to educate buyers on proper care, also lead to increased cases of hamster neglect. 'The reality is that caring for these animals isn't just emotionally intensive – it's financially demanding. Many of these medical cases cost us hundreds to thousands of dollars in vet care, medication, and long-term housing. And yet, we continue to take them in, because every life matters,' said Sim. Despite their size, these hamsters feel pain and fear just like any other animal. Sim added: 'Our hope is that by sharing these stories, more people will come to understand the weight of pet ownership and the responsibility it entails.' GIVING RESCUED HAMSTERS A FOREVER HOME Sim, together with about 22 HSS fosterers, nurse the rescued hamsters back to health, before they are put up for adoption. Hamsters with known pre-existing medical conditions will always be declared. HSS has strict guidelines – such as a cage that is at least 90 cm by 90 cm by 50 cm and with a lid, a wheel that is at least 27 cm in diameter, and unscented bedding – to create the right environment for the hamsters before allowing anyone to adopt them. Adopters must also be committed to responsible pet care, which includes bringing the hamsters for medical treatments when necessary. Each month, about four to six hamsters find a loving forever home. The society cautions people from rushing to adopt a hamster if they're not ready. Instead, they can help by donating to HSS to fund veterinary care, rescue operations, and daily supplies. A big part of preventing neglect starts with awareness. Many hamsters suffer in silence due to a lack of understanding, such as how hamsters prefer to be housed individually rather than as a pair, and that not every hamster enjoys being handled. 'By learning and sharing correct hamster care information, you help dismantle harmful myths and promote responsible pet ownership,' said Sim. HSS recommends calling out poor husbandry when you see it, direct interested buyers to proper resources, such as its website, which includes a list of recommended vets that have knowledge caring for exotic pets, and share its articles and rescue stories. 'Advocacy doesn't always mean doing big things. It can start with one conversation that changes a pet's life,' said Sim. 'Together, these actions – no matter how small – create real, lasting impact for hamster welfare in Singapore.'
Yahoo
a day ago
- General
- Yahoo
Why Many Dogs Struggle to Learn Being Alone
Being left alone at home can be unfamiliar or even frightening for many dogs. Young or insecure dogs, in particular, quickly develop separation anxiety, which manifests through barking, whining, or even destructive behavior. This can become a burden, especially for single owners, as PETBOOK editor Dennis Agyemang knows from personal experience. A few weeks ago, I adopted my first dog, Paco. He comes from an international animal rescue and is still unfamiliar with many things: neither city life nor its noises, but he's coping bravely. However, he doesn't know how to be alone yet. So, I have to organize my daily life well at the moment. Someone always has to be there to watch him when I need to go shopping or to the doctor. Because being alone isn't an option yet. Taking out the trash has become a real challenge—and surely a sight for the neighbors—when I dash through the stairwell and communal garden with my trash bags at record speed before Paco barks down the whole house. He's quite loud, and my neighbors are noise-sensitive. In short, this can't go on in the long run. But the good news: With gradual training, patience, and the right preparation, any dog can learn to stay alone calmly and relaxed. That's what I hear from various dog trainers online. The key is for the dog to build trust in small steps and understand: 'Being alone doesn't mean anything bad—my human always comes back.' But why is being alone such a big deal for most dogs—at least initially? 'Dogs have a strong need for attachment. Once they have built trust, they want to stay with their social partner—and permanently,' explains dog psychologist Marc Ebersbach. Dogs perceive the absence of their owners not as temporary but as a loss of control. 'In nature, there's no situation where a pack member simply disappears, leaving the others behind. On the contrary, dogs follow when they need closeness.' As a dog psychologist, he often hears the comparison to earlier times when it was no big deal for dogs to be alone. 'The often-cited comparison with the farm falls short: There, the dog is sometimes alone, but never without stimuli. He hears cows, tractors, people. He's in the middle of life—that's calming.' In a city apartment, however, that's usually not the case, explains the dog psychologist. 'Doors and windows are closed, the dog is acoustically and visually isolated. No stimuli, no orientation—he perceives the absence not as temporary but as a loss of control.' For the dog, often a big shock. 'The result: The dog is stressed, often panicked—and in stress, he can't learn. When I come back after five minutes, he can't store the experience as a positive one. That's the core of the problem.' But simply playing sounds against the silence in the apartment is not a cure-all, explains dog trainer Katharina Marioth. 'Of course, it's sensible not to make the apartment completely 'dead'—so leave windows open, play a radio station with soft music or TV noise—the main thing is that there's some kind of stimulus. Because for dogs, being alone is inherently unnatural.' The concentration of scent drops particularly sharply within the first 30 minutes after the person leaves. 'That's the crucial moment. In this phase, it often decides whether the dog relaxes or panics,' says Marioth. Many make the mistake of directly training being alone, says Marc Ebersbach. 'But that doesn't work—the dog must first learn that spatial separation is not negative.' Therefore, he works with structured 'stay' training. 'The dog first learns to stay in a defined place while I move away—visibly. First spatially, then temporally. I work a lot with body language: hand forward, clear signals, repeated confirmation. This way, he learns step by step to endure distance and experiences the separation in a controlled and stress-free way.' Only then can the dog learn that being alone is not threatening, explains the dog psychologist. He managed to take away his dog's fear, who was traumatized by previous owners who often left her alone for hours, through stay training. 'With the stay training, she gradually learned to detach from me,' says Ebersbach. It was crucial that he worked through space, not prohibition. 'I didn't tell her: 'You must not follow me,' but: 'This space is now yours—please stay there.' That's a difference dogs understand.' It's important to proceed gently with training and not to overwhelm the dog, warns Katharina Marioth in the PETBOOK interview. 'The biggest mistake is believing that being alone is about control or 'pushing the dog away.' That's complete nonsense. It's about learning—and learning security in a completely unnatural situation.' Many dog owners make the mistake of quickly closing the door and leaving the dog alone without mentally preparing him first, says the dog trainer. Training based solely on commands or punishment doesn't work, Marioth knows. 'Because if the dog is in panic, no 'sit' or 'stay' helps. We have to train the first 30 minutes when the dog loses his orientation. Ignoring this condemns the dog to constant stress.' That's not a sign of 'bad obedience,' but of being overwhelmed, warns the trainer. 'You have to see being alone as a process that must be learned step by step—with a lot of patience and careful observation. And you must not treat it as a one-time command but as a real challenge for the dog, which you systematically build up with stimuli and short absences.' Stimulus Decoupling:Put on a jacket and shoes several times a day to erase expectations. Open/close the door without leaving—this removes the ritual's significance. Relaxation before training:Daily targeted body massage at the resting place with a drop of lavender oil for 5–10 minutes. This releases oxytocin—a hormone that promotes relaxation. Build 'Stay' training:Keep the dog in place with clear body language. Initially move away for only a few seconds, gradually increase—but always stay within the success range. Reinforcement through ritual:Begin and end each exercise with a long massage. In between, short touches as a reward. At the end, give a chew item to reduce stress. Observation with a camera:Leave the apartment only when your dog is relaxed—and return before he shows signs of stress. Only then can he store positive learning experiences. Start training in the evening:Begin exercises in the evening when the dog is tired—this lowers the arousal threshold and makes learning easier. It's always important to consider that being alone is not natural for dogs, emphasizes dog trainer Katharina Marioth. 'Being alone is a human invention. No dog is made to be alone for hours.' Therefore, the first half-hour after the person leaves is the most important training phase. 'During this time, the human's scent is strongest, and the dog still feels 'connected.'' Here, you must work positively, such as with special food toys or calming rituals. Additionally, regular massages, linked with scent anchors like lavender oil or even the administration of CBD oil, can help the dog relax, says dog psychologist Marc Ebersbach. It's important to discuss the latter with the treating veterinarian beforehand. 'Anyone who simply pushes their dog away without allowing this learning phase shouldn't be surprised if the dog goes crazy. That has nothing to do with a loss of control but with a completely missing learning opportunity,' Katharina Marioth concludes. The post Why Many Dogs Struggle to Learn Being Alone appeared first on PETBOOK.
ABC News
2 days ago
- Business
- ABC News
Luxury hotels, dog walkers and wedding chaperones. Are we spending more than ever on our pets?
We don't need the data to tell us what we already know: we're spending more than ever on our pets. In fact Australians spend to the tune of about $33 billion a year on average — more than $3,000 for every dog and $2,000 per cat. That figure has almost tripled since 2019, according to Animal Medicines Australia. Feeding our pets takes up about half that amount alone but the spend on boarding, grooming, walking and healthcare have all increased. Experts say some of that increase can be attributed to the more tight-knit roles our pets play in our daily lives, especially after the COVID-19 pandemic. They also say with our lives being busier than ever, pet owners are more willing to spend extra money keeping their animals happy. The desire for a "premium" experience for pets extends to holidays and weekend getaways as well. Blake de Bruin and his family have been involved in the pet accommodation industry for 50 years. He said the industry has changed rapidly in the last five years. "Back in the day people were just looking for somewhere to look after the animal while they were away on holidays," Mr de Bruin said. "Today the business has changed significantly because we're humanising animals more than ever." Mr de Bruin's business offers a range of rooms but the premium options — the luxury, destination and royal suites — are usually the first to book out. A private luxury room for a dog at the resort costs $124 a night, bumping up to $144 over the Christmas period. A luxury cat room costs just under $60 a night. Bookings for peak holiday periods can fill up six months ahead and Mr de Bruin said customers would change their holiday plans if they couldn't book their pets into a preferred accommodation. He said the way families interact with their pets had "drastically changed". "From the animals living outdoors in the kennel outside to now sleeping on the ends of our beds and going everywhere with us," he said. "Gone are the days of what people typically knew of a kennel. They're definitely more pet resorts these days and that's what we're striving to achieve. "Premiumisation" is the word of the future when it comes to the pet industry, Mr De Bruin said. The pandemic saw a huge boom in puppy-buying as millions of workers and families were forced to work and study from home. A 2021 report from Animal Medicines Australia found one-fifth of all Australian dogs — more than one million — were acquired during the pandemic. Five years on many workers are now back in the office at least a few days a week, leaving dogs who were used to human company home alone. It's opened a lucrative and popular market that S.J Brooks was happy to step in to. What started as a side-hustle walking dogs during the pandemic has turned into a full-time business specifically catering to the immensely popular "oodle" breed of dogs. Each morning, she drives her van around Brisbane picking up eager dogs ready for a day out at a dog park or even pet resorts further afield on the Sunshine Coast. "I think they're becoming a part of the family — which they always have been — but I do truly see the difference in how people are treating their pets," Ms Brooks said. "They just want them to be happy." She also travels all over the state for another service that she offers as a dog chaperone at weddings. "It's a seasonal service so I do roughly 20 weddings a year," she said. "Most of them are little ring bearers." In the end, Ms Brooks said it came down to the fact that our relationship with our pets has changed considerably. "I think that sheer experience of having those dogs completely improves our own lives, our own mental and physical health and I think that's just a huge important part of life. And that brings you so much happiness," she said. Animal Medicines Australia executive director Ben Stapley said there was a substantial increase in spending across all "lifestyle" categories of the pet sector. "Walking services, boarding and minding services and alternative healthcare treatments," he said. "A range of products which really recognise the fact that pets are seen as members of the family." While small businesses are taking advantage of the boom, big business is getting in too. Woolworths Group snapped up major pet retailer PETstock in 2022 for more than half a billion dollars, Mr Stapley said similar trends towards more premium products and higher pet expenses were part of a global trend, but Australia remained among the highest. "Australia is generally a bit of an outlier in the rate of pet ownership so, per capita, our expenditure is pretty high globally," he said.
News24
2 days ago
- Business
- News24
Quick treats: Petshop Science partners with Sixty60
From 25kg bags of dog food to top up treats, Petshop Science is enlisting Sixty60 to handle the heavy lifting, providing fast, reliable deliveries of everything that busy pet parents need to keep their dogs, cats, fish, budgies and more, well-fed and cared for. Customers will have access to 3 500 products across 80+ trusted brands on the Sixty60 platform for same-day delivery, fulfilled directly from the closest Petshop Science stores. For added convenience, Petshop Science customers can order on any device – either through the Sixty60 app or e-commerce site. Petshop Science was launched in 2021, tapping into South Africa's multi-billion Rand pet market and has quickly become the fastest growing player in the industry, with 143 stores across eight provinces. 'Our unwavering commitment to provide value on premium pet food and veterinary-approved essentials has won the hearts and minds of our customers. Now it's time to ramp up our efforts by partnering with Sixty60 to offer customers unrivalled convenience - delivering quality right to their doorstep,' said Trevor Paxton, General Manager for Petshop Science. The pet retailer's new on-demand delivery service - available for orders placed exclusively through the Sixty60 mobile app - is available in select areas in Cape Town, Gauteng and the Eastern Cape, with national roll out by the end of July 2025. Delivery costs range from R35-R50, depending on order size, while Xtra Savings Plus subscribers enjoy free delivery for orders over R350. As a special launch offer, customers will also receive R50 back on their first five orders, paid into their Sixty60 wallet.
The Independent
2 days ago
- Health
- The Independent
Doggy gut health and kitty longevity diets: How wellness came for our pets
I'll be the first to admit I've lost the plot when it comes to my dog. She's on a posh raw food diet for optimal gut health, takes her steps and supplements daily, and gets brushed and massaged more often than I do. I've fed her doggy electrolytes, taken her to pup spas and splashed out on behavioural therapy sessions. Her wellbeing is as important to me as my own, but is all this really good for her health, or have I been sold an expensive fantasy? Wellness products have become increasingly more expensive and good health now appears to be a modern-day status symbol. Against the bizarre backdrop of optimisation culture, pet wellness has emerged as the latest iteration. It begs the question: do our dogs and cats need this, or is the wellness industrial complex simply going after the one thing we'll spend money on without question: our pets. If a dog has regular walks and a vet-recommended meal plan, surely that's enough? Veterinarian Guy Sandelowsky, also known as The Dog Doctor, doesn't think so. He believes pet nutrition needs an overhaul and believes that we owe it to our four-legged friends to take better care of them, given the overwhelmingly positive impact they have on our wellbeing. 'As a vet, I've witnessed firsthand the transformative power of dogs in people's lives. They are more than pets. They are our therapists, our companions, and sometimes, our lifeline,' he says. 'The simple act of stroking a dog can lower cortisol levels, ease stress, and increase feelings of happiness. Their unwavering presence offers a sense of security and routine, crucial for those struggling with mental health challenges.' Many studies show that dogs do something positive to our brains. They make us better, so don't we owe it to them to deliver the best possible care and ensure their health is looked after? A leading voice in the human optimisation space, neuroscientist Andrew Huberman, recently spoke with Karolina Westlund, an ethologist and professor at the University of Stockholm, about this very subject on his podcast. Westlund specialises in animal emotion and behaviour, and uses science-based methods to improve the lives of animals in human care. The pair discussed the often overlooked needs of domesticated animals, primarily dogs and cats, and the things we can do to improve their wellbeing and our relationship with them. In essence, Westlund believes that we have a responsibility to act as a conduit to deliver the best care to domesticated creatures who didn't choose to be in our homes. My dog has been with me for years and is part of my family. I understand her expressions, I know what she's saying without words. So why wouldn't I cater to her emotional and physical needs? Of course, I want her to be happy and to live for as long as possible. Enter Loyal, a pet biotech company founded by California-based entrepreneur Celine Halioua. Her mission is to develop drugs that will extend the lifespan of dogs by delaying or preventing age-related disease. Halioua asks, 'What if we could develop a preventive medicine for seemingly unrelated age-associated diseases like cancer, arthritis and cognitive decline, which all share the same root cause? It all sounds very much like modern wellness and the biohacking movement to me.' 'The goal of the company from day one has always been to get the first drug FDA approved for healthy lifespan extension,' Halioua told Slate magazine in April. And she claims she's close. But Loyal aims to offer more than just drugs. Its purpose is to teach pet owners the breed-specific biohacks that will help their beloved pets live healthy lives beyond their average projected lifespan. Halioua calls it 'compensating for the genetic mistakes' that dog breeding has caused. How much a subscription to Loyal's daily longevity supplement might cost pet owners is unknown, as it's not yet available to buy. However, given how much a quality supplement for humans can cost on repeat subscription, it's safe to say this service is likely to be one that the privileged few can afford. Another parallel with the world of human health optimisation is expensive organic food, and fancy raw pet food is really having a moment. For animals, eating raw meat arguably makes more sense than it does for the influencers suffering through slabs of raw liver and guzzling offal. I feed my pomeranians, Bella and Duke, a RAWsaf-accredited brand (meaning that all meats used in the food are tested for E coli and other bacteria to ensure they're safe to eat raw). Incidentally, humans on the carnivore diet do not go by such accreditations. But I still find myself asking, 'Does my dog really need probiotic supplements, pre-prepared raw food, calming bedtime biscuits with human-grade organic ingredients and chicken-flavoured electrolytes?' Wild animals seem to manage just fine without all this. 'I think what we are probably seeing with pet wellness is an extension of the wider wellness perfectionism that's been increasing in recent years,' says psychologist Dr Lara Zibarras. 'We've gone from obsessing about our own health to obsessing about our pets ' health.' Zibarras says we're likely witnessing and partaking in a phenomenon called 'psychological displacement': 'This is when people feel out of control in one area of life (let's say work, study or relationships), so they end up hyper-focusing on other areas. So projecting wellness onto their pets could be one way to stay feeling in control, especially if other areas feel out of control.' Are the pampered kittens I see having coconut oil rubbed into their toes while wearing under-eye patches needing a full spa day to be happy? But, then again, if the animals are enjoying it and it brings us joy, is there any harm in it? Zibarras explains that though videos showing pet spa days might be cute, we're now exposed to intense and unwavering levels of perfectionism presented by staged videos on social media. 'In wellness culture, there's this idea that if we just do everything right, then we will be happy, healthy, safe and successful. It's possible that this is extending to our pets, [who] are now becoming a reflection of how 'together' we are.' Just like clean eating or fitness obsessions, pet wellness can become a status symbol. 'We believe that doing pet wellness says something about who we are – caring for our pets and doing life 'right',' She says. If we're not mindful about all this, pet wellness stands to become yet another metric by which to measure whether we're winning at life. Whether our dog's gut health is optimal. Whether we've cracked their communication style, do our pets need wellness? The honest answer is probably not, at least not in the way that humans, with all our anxieties and foibles, need healing. The very idea that we want to protect our beloved pets is admirable and natural, however, the idea that they need any of this special attention plays into wider anxieties about modern life, the rise of perfectionism, and the constant push to be more, do more, and live forever. When we use our pets to signal some kind of human success, we may have drifted from the true meaning of the word and into very bizarre and distorted territory indeed.
