Latest news with #pettransport
ABC News
3 days ago
- ABC News
Why I quit my 30-year career as a flight attendant and became a chauffeur for pets
Sandy Robson was a flight attendant for three decades before COVID presented her with the chance to switch careers. After taking a redundancy from the job that "defined her", Sandy came across a Facebook ad looking for drivers — for pets. The 58-year-old now works for a pet-sitting service, transporting animals between their homes and their sitters around Sydney/Gadigal Country. "I just potter around in my boss's car, talking nonsense to dogs and cats all day … Everyone is much more envious of that than when I was a flight attendant." We spoke to Sandy about her career switch, which also included a stint in retail and bartending on a vintage train. These are her words. I started [as a flight attendant] in 1992 when Qantas was recruiting for Japanese speakers. That's something I did at high school and in university. It was the peak of Japanese tourism in Australia. I started off as a flight attendant and made my way through the ranks to supervisor and eventually cabin manager. The best thing was we had lots of long trips and long time in various ports. But once Qantas was sold and they started to cut costs, they started making trips shorter. We called them slam-clickers — where you get off the flight, go to your hotel room, and only leave to come out for work. What kept me there was the fun and the great people I worked with. We had a laugh every single day. And the cheap travel. I was working in short-haul domestic flights for three years of COVID. It was all about the handwashing and the masks and people getting edgy on flights. They offered a redundancy, and I thought "the writing's on the wall now — get out while they're offering money to do so". I wasn't one of those people who were very upset to leave, or felt forced out. It was time. One of the first things I did was get a pet, then the second was book subscriptions, because I knew I was going to be home for shows, the theatre, birthdays. That was the first Christmas I knew I would be home in 30 years, and I got to spend it with my sister and her husband, and my beautiful 19-year-old niece. I had a good payout from Qantas, so had the financial stability to experiment with work a bit. I own my home. I don't have dependants, just the cats. I decided I needed to do something to get out of my house because it was [during] COVID, and a lot of retail was considered essential work. I worked in a homewares store, which was considered a vital industry. I don't know why, I guess people need sheets and towels! I found that very different to the airline. People really didn't treat you well in retail, even though it was a lovely shop. People were quite respectful to flight attendants. You had the odd drongo, but [most passengers] knew you were there doing a hard job, looking after their safety. Do you have a unique job you often get questions about? We'd love to hear about it lifestyle@ After a couple of years in retail, I was offered work on a vintage train. It was the old Southern Aurora, a stainless-steel diesel from 1962. The owners knew someone from Qantas and he recruited his friends to work on it — it was taken over by Qantas people. The owners of the train were delighted because they had this pre-trained … workforce. We all knew the way each other worked, and how to move around each other in confined spaces. I was the bartender. I absolutely loved it and would be doing it now if it didn't change hands. For the pet-sitting company, I pick up the pets from the owners and take them to the pet sitter's home with their belongings. And reverse when the owners get back from holiday. After 30 years of working with people, it's really nice to have customers that can't talk. I've lived in Sydney all my life, so I'm not daunted by traffic or parking. You have some hysterical moments. I have this golden retriever who gets car sick ... Throws up, tries to eat it, and then sits in it. Then I have a Maine coon [cat] who lives in the poshest house imaginable and gets sent to quite a small apartment. He yells at me the whole way. People comment about how wonderful it must be. I say, 'It's not well paid, but it's hugely emotionally rewarding'. I just love animals. I get so much out of it when I see the dogs reunited with their owners.
Daily Mail
23-05-2025
- Daily Mail
Paw Patrol: Motorbike rider issued eye-watering fine after cops pulled her over for travelling with her pet dog
A dog harness a Queensland woman bought off a discount website so she could take her pet pooch for a ride has earned her a huge fine. The woman who was fitted with full safety gear and the dog - who had none - were stopped on the Sunshine Coast last weekend. Bodycam video of the interaction showed the officer appeared to be amused and chuckled at the unusual passenger, but that didn't stop him from applying to full force of the law. 'Officers from the Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol were conducting routine patrols along Alexandra Parade in Alexandra Headland around 2pm on May 17, when they intercepted the rider,' Queensland Police said. 'What caught their attention wasn't just the bike, but the furry companion perched in front of the handlebars.' The rider, a 35-year-old woman from Maroochydore, was issued a $376 traffic infringement notice for 'riding with an animal between the arms'. Senior Sergeant Shane Panoho from Sunshine Coast Highway Patrol said while officers understand the strong bond people share with their pets, safety is paramount. 'We know how attached some people are to their pets, but it's best to apply a paws-off approach when it comes to our roads,' he said. According to police, the woman had purchased a special harness online designed to secure small pets to the chest. In the video, the woman can heard saying she bought it from Temu. Authorities warned that such setups, while seemingly convenient, could have dangerous consequences. 'The rider had purchased the harness online and did not think through the safety implications, particularly if the dog was to react to other road users, pedestrians or animals,' Senior Sergeant Panoho explained. 'This could place the rider and her pooch in harm's way or put other motorists at risk,' he added. 'Although the dog seemed to be comfortable on the bike, we urge riders to practice safe and responsible behaviour on our roads.' Queensland Police have warned all motorists to ensure any animals are restrained in a way that does not interfere with the rider's control of the vehicle or obstruct their view of the road. Queensland road rules require drivers and riders to have proper control at all times, something that is difficult with a pet in close proximity to the handlebars. Police say while the sight may have amused some bystanders, it could have ended in tragedy if the dog had become startled or caused a distraction. Last year, a Sydney driver was slammed on social media for driving on a 110 kilometre an hour road, with their pet dog in the back of the truck. 'Can somebody driving at 110km/h on a highway keep the dog in an open boot?' a driver who spotted the pooch asked Reddit. Hundreds of commenters were divided on the issue, noting the potential danger if the dog jumped out or the car had to stop suddenly or swerve. Motorists in NSW must ensure pets are safely restrained if travelling in the back of a ute. Drivers can be hit with fines and a possible jail sentence if they do not take measures to ensure the pet is safe. 'Consider safely restraining your dog in the cabin of your ute or open vehicle with a safety-belt restraint as this is generally safer, especially in the case of an accident,' the RSPCA advises.
