Rescue a Pet Australia on National Pet Adoption Day 9th February 2019

Caeleigh Smales with her rescue dog Dusty at Ballam Park, Frankston. Picture: Eugene Hyland

This Saturday, 9 February 2019, is the fifth annual National Pet Adoption Day (NPAD), an initiative of PETstock’s charity arm PETstock Assist and leading adoption site PetRescue. This year, organisers are hoping to double the number of pets adopted during 2018 to 1,000.

In an Australian first, all breed labels will be removed from pets listed on petrescue.com.au in the week leading up to NPAD 2019, to ensure as many loving pets of all types find the homes they deserve.

PETstock Assist Charity and Events Coordinator, Jess Guilfoyle, says she hopes the move will help Aussies forget any preconceptions they have about rescue pets or breed characteristics and get to know the animals for who they are.

“Every pet is unique and individual, and I encourage people considering a new pet to keep an open mind – you may just be surprised by who you fall for,” she says. “Love really does know no breed.”

Caeleigh and Dusty

At the start of 2018, Caeleigh was diagnosed with an anxiety and panic disorder and was looking for a dog to train as an assistant dog.

“While looking on PetRescue, I saw so many dogs that I fell in love with, but from the moment I saw Dusty’s picture, I knew he was the one,” said Caeleigh.

“We drove all the way from the Mornington Peninsula to the NSW border to meet him. Dusty had never had any training or leash work but, within a day, he had learned sit, within a month he learned drop. We both worked extremely hard, and he is now such a calm dog who loves to just be inside with his family.”

“Dusty has reduced my anxiety considerably, and he knows how to bring me out of a panic attack. He has brought a tremendous amount of joy to our family and unified it as well, we are more active, and the first thing that we see in the morning, and the last thing at night is that smiling, knowing face.”

“Even in the small amount of time we have had him, he has grown from a dog who rarely got out and had no concept of routine or control; to one who snuggles up on my pillow at night, excels in obedience classes, is a favourite at doggy day care and is living a much gentler life.”

Adam and Billy

Billy was adopted as a kitten with Feline HIV in 2009 from the Lort Smith Animal Hospital, and has been living healthy and happily ever since.

Adam runs his own design studio, adamcornish design, from home which Billy closely ‘supervises’.

Like his owner, Billy is design curious with a particular interest in furniture and household innovations around the studio, regularly testing out Adam’s design prototypes with a preference for ‘cat comfort’ before they go into production.

“Billy has become an integral part of the design studio and if you ask him he’s the boss. When he’s not working Billy loves to play with his favourite toy mouse and is always up for an adventure.

“So much so that once firefighters were called to rescue him from a tree, and he has been known to occasionally adventure off to hang out at building sites with his tradie friends.”

Carolyn and Rabbits Pepper and Cinnabun

Carolyn Sugden with her rescue bunnies at her home in Cockatoo. Picture: Eugene Hyland

Carolyn has always loved animals and since having pet rabbits of her own, decided to do even more to support rescue pets.

After visiting Rabbit Runaway Orphanage Carolyn saw just how difficult it was for unwanted bunnies to find new homes. Since then, she has become not only an advocate for adopt don’t shop, but started her own rabbit refuge – the Bluey and Alice Bunny Refuge – and adopted numerous other bunnies and cats.

Carolyn says she thinks there is no better companion than a pet.

“Be it a dog, a cat, a rabbit, chickens, or a horse, they are all amazing. They all have individual personalities and many people are surprised to see my diverse range of creatures all getting along. I cannot imagine my life without the love and trust of all of them.”