Elysia had heard about Sydney Dogs & Cats Home 6 years ago from her mum who knew she had been wanting to adopt a rescue animal. When Elysia and her partner moved out, they started looking for a 3^rd member of the family and had seen Topdeck on the SDCH website. However, at that time weren’t quite ready for a pet. Fast forward 3 months and they were finally ready and by chance, Topdeck was still available, and it was meant to be! Elysia says “Topdeck is a serious joy to have around. From his cute beeps meow to his crab walk ritual in the morning he is the best and we love him so much.” Elysia and her partner adopted another cat, Cinnamon who Topdeck has a bit of sibling rivalry!

Topdeck very much made himself at home from the get-go and has become a huge part of their family. He even claimed a beanbag as his throne and is now one of his favourite spots to chillax! Elysia says “The impact Topdeck has had since coming into our lives is huge. He’s always there for us if we feel down or lonely. He is always there for a cuddle and a purr.’”

Apart from claiming his throne and being a snuggle bug, Topdeck loves any event involving food and lets Elysia and her partner know with his beeps that he is ready to eat! When he’s not eating, he loves anything that has a string attached and batting at their feet while in bed! Most of all, he loves being cuddled next to the window as he watches the trains go past.

Elysia’s advice for anyone looking to adopt is “Adopting a pet will change your life and you have to be prepared! You’re not just taking on another mouth to feed, you’re becoming their whole life and the supporter for theirs!”

If you are thinking about adopting a pet, check out all our pets available for adoption on our Adopt page here.

Published on 17 June 2022

Butter the cat came to the Home in March 2022 where he instantly won over the staff with his strong headbutts and extremely friendly personality. It was difficult to take any photos or videos of him as all he wanted was to rub himself on you and receive all the pats and cuddles he could get!

There may have been a reason why Butter has the sweetest personality, the vet team discovered that Butter has diabetes in a consultation. If managed correctly, animals with diabetes can live long and healthy lives, but it would take a special type of person to commit to the ongoing medical care that a diagnosis such as diabetes presents.

The search was on to find Butter’s special someone who would commit to daily medical care and showering Butter with the love he deserves. While Butter was featured on the SDCH social media pages quite frequently, encouraging anyone to inquire about Butter and learn more about his diabetes and how to manage it, there wasn’t anyone out there who was willing to give Butter the life he deserved. Until SDCH staff member, Campbell met Butter for the first time.

Campbell, who is the Maintenance & Logistics Officer at the Home, was transporting Butter to Sydney University Vet for additional vet care when Campbell discovered Butter was a diabetic cat. Butter turned on the charm, showing Campbell how friendly and smoochy he is. Campbell says his decision to adopt Butter after that was “A no brainer. This condition would have prolonged his stay with Sydney Dogs & Cats Home.”

Lucky for Butter, Campbell has had experience with diabetic animals having owned a cat who developed diabetes in the last 5 years of his 13 years with Campbell and his family. Campbell adapted quickly, educating himself about what was involved and seeking professional advice. Soon, he created a strict diet and a routine of 12 hourly intervals of insulin dosing and regular trips to the vets to monitor blood glucose levels and adjust insulin doses as required. It is safe to say that Butter is in the best hands possible!

Butter has settled quickly into his new home, including adjusting to life with new siblings; a cat brother named BeeGee and two dog brothers named Toby and Dudley who have all welcomed him into the home. Campbell says, “Butter is very happy exploring and has his comfort zones to chill whenever he wants.”

Campbell’s advice to anyone thinking of fostering or adopting an animal with special needs is; “Go for it! Once you receive your thorough instructions on how to manage your pet’s condition, they’re not too much different to an animal without a medical condition.”

Published 12 May 2022

Sara and her partner Chris had been looking to find an adventurous pet to fit into their lifestyle and be included in all their activities. Having previously had an adventurous dog and cat, they were hoping their new pet would be willing to walk on the lead and join in on all their journeys. They were so committed to welcoming a new pet into their lives, that they even moved house as their previous landlord didn’t allow pets.

Sara and Chris saw Lily the kitten on the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home website and were hopeful they had found their match, especially as Lily’s profile stated she was ‘adventurous, playful, curious and friendly.’ When they met Lily at the shelter, they fell in love immediately and every plan to “sleep on it” flew out the window. “We were so smitten with Lily that we took her home then and there,” says Sara.

Lily became accustomed to her family being home during the pandemic and taking every opportunity to snuggle up and play with her new family, but her favourite activity is going on her daily walk. Sara says, “if I do not take Lily for a daily walk, she howls at the door and looks at me incredulously.” Apart from her walks and snuggling with her humans, Lily enjoys playing fetch, chasing the laser pointer and becoming a ‘doona monster’, running under the sheets and quilt when Sara and Chris attempt to make the bed.

Lily embarked on her biggest adventure yet when her family relocated from Australia to America earlier this year. Travelling through several countries and states on planes, trains, buses, shuttles and finally a car to get to her final destination of Connecticut. Lily has settled into her new life in America well, enjoying her daily walks even more now as she has gotten to know the local animals well, chasing the squirrels and bumblebees and chatting to the new birds. Sara hopes next winter when there’s snow on the ground, Lily will join in on sledding adventures.

Sara encourages anybody thinking of adopting to do so, “there are so many animals without loving homes and just remember that a pet is a big commitment but one you will not regret. The staff at SDCH clearly love all the animals in their care.”

If you are thinking about adopting a pet, check out all our pets available for adoption on our Adopt page here.

Published 11 May 2022

Sydney Dogs & Cats Home were excited to host the Companion Animal Rescue Awards launch event. The awards, now in its 5^th year, aim to inspire rescue groups and animal shelters to continue their efforts in saving lives during challenging times, such as during the pandemic and the recent flooding in parts of Australia.

A small celebration was held at the Home’s Strathfield shelter with Rescue Awards Founder, Cathy Beer, awards judge Dr Anne Quain, Sydney Dogs & Cats Home General Manager and previous Award finalist, Melissa Penn, and the award sponsors, Josh Wheeler from Ivory Coat and Alisha Saliba from PetRescue.

The award categories include Outstanding Rescue Group, Volunteer of the Year, Outstanding Animal Shelter and new categories including Ivory Coat People’s Rescue Story and Ivory Coat Foster Care Story.

This year, the awards have 21 judges from a variety of different backgrounds of expertise, including companion animal welfare, rescue and sheltering, veterinary, animal behaviour, and rehabilitation. Lara Shannon, animal welfare advocate and Host of Channel 10’s Pooches at Play returns as an ambassador for the Rescue Awards.

Nominations are open now until the 31^st of July 2022 with the finalist to be announced 14^th of September and the awards set to take place at the end of the year in November.

Pet adopters can share their story and enter here. Foster Carers can share their story and enter here. Find out more at rescueawards.com.au 

Published on 6th May 2022

We have all seen cat owners carrying around their furry friend in cute bubble backpacks, especially in online videos and photos. The pets look cute to humans, but are these bags safe and comfortable for the cat?

Benji the cat would attest that NO! these bags are not safe and are rather scary. Benji was abandoned on the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home doorstep in one of these cat bags. While these bags may look handy and convenient and makes cats look like little space travellers, these bags are uncomfortable, stuffy and makes cats like Benji become scared and frightened of people, making it difficult for them to trust.

When Benji was finally released from the confides of these bags, he spent the next 3-weeks frozen in the corner of his enclosure and refused to interact with any of the Sydney Dogs & Cats Home staff. He finally felt comfortable and safe enough to accept pats, and he is now the sweetest, smoochy and cuddliest cat who is now looking for a forever home he can feel safe and comfortable and never has to be confided to one of those cat bags again!

Let’s have a closer look as to why these on trend carriers are not ideal for your pets.

Leaves no place to hide

Cats love having small spaces to hide and to make them feel calm and secure. Cats have extremely strong senses, so some environments can be overwhelming. Cat backpacks don’t allow for your pet to seek refuge away from an overstimulating environment. Having your cat exposed in these bubbles, can lead to unnecessary stress and trauma.

Not enough room

Cats need to lie down or curl up to completely relax. Cat backpacks only allow enough room for cats to sit up and doesn’t allow for adequate room for food or water.

Hot & stuffy

Cat backpacks tend to be made from plastic which traps heat. They also radiate your pet’s own heat whilst sitting inside. The ventilation holes don’t allow for adequate air circulation and can create an uncomfortable environment of heat and stuffiness.

Although these carriers allow for pet owners to have their hands free and look trendy and cute to others, they are not suitable transportation devices as they pose a health risk to your cat. Traditional cat carriers allow for proper ventilation, an area to hide and adequate space for food and water.

If you own one of these bags, or know someone who does, we encourage you to use traditional carriers for your cat’s health and safety.

If you would like to give Benji the comfortable and safe home he deserves, you can view his adoption profile here: https://sydneydogsandcatshome.org/animal/benji/

We spend a lot of time ensuring our pets eat the right nutritious food, drink enough water and get adequate exercise to ensure they have optimal health. But are you ensuring that your furry one’s fangs are in tip top shape? Proper oral hygiene is a key piece to great overall health for your furry friend and makes for a more pleasant lap companion. We discuss 4 tips to ensure that your pet’s teeth are healthy, strong and odourless.

Brush Weekly

Like humans, it is important to brush your pet’s teeth at least three times a week. By utlising a proper toothbrush with special pet friendly toothpaste, we ensure that our furry friend’s gums are not overlooked. Your pet might get agitated with this exercise however doing it regular will lead to them becoming more comfortable with the process. The best way to get your pet familiar with tooth cleaning, is to follow Sydney Pet Dentistry’s Slow and Sneaky Method.

Book Regular Cleans at Your Vet

The most important piece to keeping your pet’s teeth healthy, is to book in regular deep cleans at your local vet. Your vet will be apple to pick up dental problems and stop them leading to infections or serious health issues. Your vet can ensure your pet gets a proper deep clean by removing plaque, adding gum protectant, and most importantly ensuring a fresh breath.

Serve Your Pet the Right Foods

It all starts with what you put into your pet’s mouth. Raw kibble, carrots and apples are great for both cats and dogs, as their texture create a brushing motion against their teeth.

Chew Toys

Treat your furry one to specially designed chew toys that promote oral hygiene. Having your pet play with non-abrasive toys, help remove food particles and plaque build up.

To find out more, about what you can do to ensure optimal dental health, speak to your local vet.

After raising a collective $2500 for Sydney Dogs & Cats Home in 2020 and 2021 through the Return & Earn container recycling scheme, 13-year-old Vaughn Arambatzis was named a ‘local legend’ by local media and public figures for his outstanding fundraising efforts. But now that title has come true with Vaughn being awarded the Keep Australia Beautiful Young Legend’s Award.

Vaughn’s family, friends, the local South Sydney community and local businesses have helped spread awareness of the fundraiser, collected bottles, donated bins, and helped transport containers to Reverse Vending Machines. Vaughn was able to recycle 15,000 containers over the last two years with 12,000 containers collected in 2021 alone.

Covid lockdowns didn’t slow Vaughn’s collection efforts down at all. While Return & Earn Vending Machines and depots remained closed during Sydney’s 2021 lockdown, Vaughn extended his collection deadline and bottles and cans continued to accumulate in his family’s front yard, allowing him to smash his original goal of $1000 and instead, impressively raising a total of $2000.10 for Sydney Dogs & Cats Home.

When asked what winning the award meant to him, Vaughn said; “It means a lot because it’s a big award. Winning the award gives Sydney Dogs & Cats Home recognition and that might encourage people to donate more money. I hope it also encourages more people to use Return and Earn and to recycle.”

Vaughn’s win of the Young Legend Award has motivated him to set his sights on expanding his recycling and fundraising efforts with the hopes of working with the Georges River Council. Vaughn also has plans to expand his container collection efforts and hopes the local community and local businesses will sponsor him so he can utilise the Return & Earn purple bin service. Vaughn says his other goal for 2022 is “to try and raise as much as I can.”

If you are interested in donating your Return & Earn refund to Sydney Dogs & Cats Home, you can do so through the MyTOMRA app before returning your containers at a Reverse Vending Machine. 100% of the refund will be transferred to Sydney Dogs & Cats Home and will assist in the continued efforts to rehabilitate and reunite Sydney’s lost and abandoned pets. You can also keep up with Vaughn’s recycling and fundraising efforts by visiting www.instagram.com/vaughnsfundraiser.

Published 2 February 2022

Gentle giant Six came into the shelter as a lost dog with his Rottweiler buddy Rocco last October. While Rocco found a new home, Six remained at the shelter and won over the hearts of the staff and volunteers with his slobbery smile and friendly and loving personality.

Six presented to the Home with several issues including mild dental disease and bilateral entropion, an abnormality causing the eyelid to roll inwards causing pain and discomfort, and when not treated can cause corneal damage and interfere with vision. Six also experiences issues that are consistent with his large breed. Being a Boerboel, a mastiff-type dog from South Africa, Six weighed in at 72kgs.  He had a mild case of happy tail, an issue where the tail will repeatedly hit a solid object resulting in the skin splitting open and he also had a severe generalised joint disease related to arthritis and degeneration of his joints, a consequence of his large breed.

The Animal Care Team performed surgery on Six to correct his entropion and happy tail as well as a clean and scale of his dental disease. Six recovered nicely from surgery with some rest at the Home and receiving pats and hugs from the staff and volunteers. Six has also been placed on lifelong medication to manage his joint disease. While Six is only 4 years old, his joint issues mean he presents more closely to a senior dog and requires the right person to take on a special dog such as Six.

After 104 days in the Home, Six finally found his forever home with a family that will spend the rest of his days spoiling him and showering him with love, all the while being showered in Six’s slobbery kisses. We captured the sweet moment Six finally left the Home, click here and share it with your friends and family.

Published 1 February 2022

When Trifle came to the Home last year after a life on the streets our Animal Care Team ensured that Trifle was his best self to find a new home. Trifle had tested positive for Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV), had a nasty scar on his left eye and had a number of dental concerns. After much-needed surgery to extract his canine teeth and receive treatment for FIV, Trifle was a new man and was now able to groom himself properly and enjoy his food.

Trifle was known around the Home for his strong headbutts, his love for food and his impressive growth from a fearful street cat to a friendly cat full of personality and a face you could never forget. This was also true for Ailin and Dom who adopted Trifle and gave him the loving and safe home he deserved. Ailin says the deciding factor to adopting Trifle was “he looked like he had a ton of character and we loved that about him!”

It took Trifle some time to settle into his new home, but now Ailin says Trifle has become confident enough to explore around the house but prefers to remain in his oasis upstairs where he spends most of his day sleeping. “He likes the humans to visit him from the afternoon onwards for headbutts and pats but prefers to keep his mornings free for eating and sleeping.”

Trifle is definitely living the life he deserves and is being spoilt on the occasion with his favourite food, chicken! Ailin says that adopting Trifle has been an extremely rewarding experience, especially now that he has grown to love his new family and life.

Published 1 February 2022

In mid-December, a young cat of Sydney named Clementine had found herself in a life-threatening situation. She had been through a trauma and broken her front right leg, causing immeasurable pain when she moved.

Brave Clementine managed to make her way next door to the home of a good Samaritan, who took her to a local vet clinic for emergency treatment. There Clementine received x-rays and surgery to save her leg and ensure her smooth recovery.

When Clementine was brought into our Home after her surgery, she was still in a great deal of discomfort, and was understandably very agitated. She wouldn’t let anybody touch her.

Our animal care team continued Clementine’s pain medication and organised physical rehabilitation to assist with the healing process. Clementine spent lots of quality time with our team, enjoying tasty food while they gently exercised her joints. Throughout her rehab sessions, you could tell she was starting to feel better as she was dishing out smooches and cuddles!

Not only did Clementine have her broken leg repaired, she even received the best Christmas gift – a forever home! Clementine was adopted less than three weeks after her accident and is making great progress in her new home. She is even walking on her front right leg with no signs of discomfort! Clementine is enjoying being a lap cat and is on strict orders to rest her leg so it will continue to get even stronger.

Clementine will soon return to the Home for her desexing procedure and follow up x-rays to ensure everything is healing as planned. It won’t be long before Clementine will be back to jumping onto laps and distracting everyone from getting anything done with her big, adorable eyes!

Published 1 February 2022