Parasailing donkeys and Lily

| July 28, 2010

Many of you will have read the article and seen the video on Russia’s parasailing donkey. Having 2 donkeys as part of our family, Lily and Charlie, it’s hard not to be particularly appalled that any human could possibly think such a stunt was acceptable. While the veterinarian cleared the donkey of any physical injury, [...]

Pubs, pots of beer and firepots

| July 23, 2010

(Given the title of this site, and my previous posts, some of you may feel pubs are a strange thing to write about.  But gentleness, in its multitude of forms, is often found in unexpected places …) I was never particularly partial to pubs. I associated them with sad and sorry men, loose inebriated women [...]

Special lives – treated so

| July 18, 2010

This post is an addendum to the previous one, Parenthod, pets and adoption, and needs few words other than to ask the following of you: Please watch the video clip and see the joy in these animals that most (yes, I believe most) people would euthanise. Would euthanasia have been the best choice for these [...]

Parenthood, pets and adoption

| July 15, 2010

Parenthood hits most people as a surprise.  Even with the most meticulously planned pregnancy, the parenthood that follows is filled with unknowns, unexpecteds and uncertainties.  While some may fill their nursery bookshelves with “How to … ” books, most will rely on the cornucopia of parenting advice gained from friends and family as ‘lil Jimmy [...]

Tobi, the not so feral cat …

| July 11, 2010

A gloved little finger inserted up a feral cat’s rear end is not the recommended way to tame a feral cat but that’s how Tobi – currently curled up on the bed between my legs – and I became mates. Tobi’s the daughter of Tabatha,  Avondale’s original feral cat. The cat that taught Sue and [...]

See, smell, hear, believe

| July 5, 2010

A tweet alerted me to an imminent rescue of 1500 battery hens in New South Wales. That may seem a lot but more than that would have died in the egg and meat industry in the time it took your browser to open this page.  (And I’m assuming you’re on broadband and not dial-up.)  Having [...]