The many and varied pets – cute and otherwise – which are loved by our Region Illawarra team. Photos: Supplied.
It probably isn’t a surprise to our readers that the Region Illawarra team loves animals – they do feature in our stories quite a bit.
Apart from one team member, we all have one or more pets which are loved members of our families.
To make sure the one pet-less staff member doesn’t feel left out, the rest of us have agreed that a pet rock is an acceptable substitute – for now, until the children in the family can convince Dad to enter the world of real, living pets.
Between our immediate team of seven we have 12 animals (and two pet rocks).
Zoe Cartwright tips the animal-loving scales with three dogs, a ferret and a lizard. I try not to send her out on any animal stories ’cause last time she went to the RSPCA she came home with the ferret.
Keeli Royle threw a human baby into the mix with her two canine companions last year and all have survived and thrived, although she will have to get the baby out of the habit of crawling around carrying toys in his mouth.
An exhausted Kellie O’Brien wrote a column earlier this week about how life with a new baby – puppy – has her dragging herself around feeling “dog-tired”.
Dione David delights us with stories about her rabbit’s antics, and we know she loves her, even when she threatens to rehome the little bugger.
While it’s not true that pet ownership is a prerequisite of employment, our newest team member, business exec Shaneqwa Lee-Edwards has an American staffy. Shaneqwa’s mum loved the dog so much she adopted his brother.
Of course I have the two feral felines, who’ve turned our home upside down, mostly in a good way.
The news boss, Kim, lives on a farm and we’re all quite used to seeing cats, ducks, or even a llama join the online morning news conference. The business boss, Kirsty, adds two dogs and two cats to the menagerie.
Our regular contributors, quiz queen Eileen Mulligan and master story finder Michele Tydd, have both written about the animals who share their households.
When you think about it, I guess it’s not really surprising. The RSPCA estimates there are about 28.7 million pets in Australia, which works out a tad over one pet per citizen.
In 2023 the Victorian Government shelled out a fair bit of coin to Animal Welfare Victoria for a pet census. (Bet that went down a treat with the anti-Andrews crew.) But it did attract more than 37,000 responses and provided some fascinating facts and figures.
Dogs were the most popular pet at 41 per cent with the most popular breeds being cavoodles, labradors, greyhounds, border collies and golden retrievers.
Disappointingly, only 24 per cent of respondents were cat lovers, but that still far outweighed fish and birds (both five per cent).
Not surprisingly, only 0.3 per cent of Victorians admitted to owning an insect, the most popular being stick insects and spiders.
Sorry to tell our pet rock owner but they don’t even get a mention.
Victorians overwhelmingly said pets had a positive impact on their life, provided companionship and emotional support and helped to improve their mental health.
And it’s just lucky we love our pets because they’re not cheap to have around.
A 2022 survey conducted by Animal Medicines Australia found Aussies forked out a staggering $33.2 billion to keep pets fed, healthy, groomed and accessorised (sigh) during the previous 12 months.
Money magazine reported last year on Commonwealth Bank research that found pet owners lavish about 10 per cent of take-home pay on their pets. All up, dogs cost about $4247 annually, while cats demand a yearly spend of about $2718.
As well as coughing up for the basics, we’re also guilty of spoiling our furry (or scaly or winged) friends. After spending a small fortune on cat-branded toys that disappear under furniture or worse, behind pot plants, these days I just throw an empty box at my pair. Any box is fair game and I figure the snowstorm of cardboard is a far cheaper price to pay.
And because Aussies consider pets to be part of the family, naturally they come on holidays too.
Last year, Virgin Australia announced it was working towards allowing dogs and cats to join their human travellers in the cabin.
While it’s still progressing through approvals, the airline is working on a pet travel guide containing tips and suggestions for travelling with a pet, ahead of trialling the scheme on selected flights.
If there’s absolutely no option but to leave precious pets at home while the humans holiday, there are luxurious options available if you have money to burn.
For example, did you know there are dog hotels and resorts in Australia? There’s no kennels for these pampered pooches, instead canine guests are offered “spacious suites, engaging activities, gourmet dining (including an extensive room service menu) and ample socialisation opportunities”.
At one such resort, dogs are ”spoilt for choice with a supervised pool, professional in-house groomer and in some of our luxury suites, their own TV, human size bed and decor”. If I were a dog I don’t think I’d ever want to come home from that kind of luxury.
While we’re on the subjects of dogs, there’s a question I have for dog owners that has been bugging me for years – why oh why do you have to take them to Bunnings with you? Is it to show them off? Meet fellow dog lovers? Attract potential pooch-loving partners?
Surely they can stay at home by themselves when you duck down for some 2×4, or a tap washer or heaven forbid, bog standard dog food? It’s not as if you’re taking them to the beach or park for exercise, considering most sit in a trolley (and look embarrassed about it).
But I guess it does show they’re loved and wanted, which at the end of the day is all an animal – or human – can ask for.
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