native wildlife and dogs in Lorne

When I was in Lorne recently, I went for a walk along the street that parallels the main beach street, and I was concerned to see an off-lead dog wandering across the road in front of me. In a strange town you're never sure whether to try to catch a loose dog, because it might be the local custom to let dogs roam more freely than they do in the big cities. However, I bent down to see if it had a collar, and did a double take...

Frantically I tried to unzip the pocket of my raincoat - yes, it was raining - to reach for my camera. And this is what I managed to get, as the 'dog' scurried away from me:



Overseas readers might think it's an everyday occurrence to see a koala in Australia, but let me assure you, it is not! Not for city dwellers like me, anyway. And most of us live in cities. Here's a quote from Encyclopedia of the Nations:

Australia's population is mostly urbanized, with about 88 percent of its people living in an urban area. Sydney alone has over 20 percent of the country's people.

Once the koala was in the tree it relaxed and I had all the time in the world to photograph it.



It eventually got a bit tired of me staring and staring at it, and turned its head away.



I wonder how well dogs and koalas co-exist in Lorne? I did notice the house beside the tree had a notice saying 'beware of the dog'. I suppose it might be like our own garden, where Penny goes out each evening to see if she can find any ring-tailed possums on the ground. They're always high in the tree, to her great frustration and my great relief.

pets need foster homes because of the Victorian bushfires

I received this email today from the Darebin Parklands Dog-owners group. I'll print it here in case anyone reading this is local.

We have received two requests for help for bushfire victims - both emails are copied below:

1. From Fun4Paws needing places for dogs
2. For donations of blankets/towels/sheets etc from Marilyn

1. Fun4Paws

Hello all,

Fun4Paws is currently offering emergency respite care to the animals affected by the bush fires, however there are many more animals than we have carers.

There are large numbers of owners with nowhere to place their dogs. If you are able to offer a place to a dog in your home, please contact myself of Lynne Fitzsimmons and we will coordinate.

Luke - 0415 104 044 contact@fun4paws.com.au Lynne - 0428 844 810 or lynne@fun4paws.com.au


If you are interested please let us know when your home would be available (dates) and if you have any other pets for us to consider when placing.

Dog Listeners Australia wide have pledged $1000.00 the assist in the costs of food, petrol etc. so we hope that all costs of looking after a dog will be covered.

Please assist us by forwarding this email on to all of your contacts so that together we can help the hundreds of dogs in need of temporary homes.


Luke Williams
Proprietor - Fun4Paws

0415 104 044

contact@fun4paws.com.au
www.fun4paws.com.au


2. From Marilyn

I am a co-ordinator for the below and my house at 96 Gillies Street, Fairfield will be the pick up spot. So if anyone has anything to donate please deliver at my house as soon as possible. If I am not home you can leave in my front area.

Cheers
Marilyn
URGENT NEED FOR BUSH FIRE VICTIMS -
Sunday 8th February, 2009
DOMESTIC & NATIVE ANIMALS NEED YOUR HELP!
I have this morning been in contact with the RSPCA to offer assistance.
Over the coming days the RSPCA expect to be inundated with animals requiring help and care - both domestic and native.
FYI - THEY CANNOT take outside volunteers who have NOT ungone the manditory RSVPA Training Program.

BUT for those of us in the city area, we CAN help!
THE RSPCA VICTORIA ARE IN URGENTneed of the following items:
OLD BLANKETS - if you don't have .. a neighbour might.
OLD TOWELS any size
OLD SHEETS
BAGS OF CAT FOOD - please purchase - just one bag will help
BAGS OF DOG FOOD - as above
DRINKING VESSELS - old bucket, plastic dish (ice cream container)

IF YOU CAN HELP, please confirm your involvement as ASAP so collection of goods for delivery to the RSPCA shelter can be arranged. NOTE: the RSPCA are
co-ordinating with all other relevant authorities regarding the care of injured animals, BOTH domestic and native. Goods will be distributed where the need is most urgent. THE NEED FROM TODAY WILL BE CRITICAL so carers will have enough resources to work with.

THE MATTER IS URGENT and QUICK ACTION IS ESSENTIAL. TO JOIN IN AND HELP .. YOU WILL NEED TO DO THE FOLLOWING >>>
Immediately FORWARD this email to friends & relatives in the Melbourne area.
Please copy sbyron@dodo.com.au so I can track involvement.
NOTE: THERE IS THE NEED TO STAY WITHIN THE MELBOURNE METROLITAN AREA TO ALLOW FOR COLLECTION AT PICK-UP POINTS.
Request your contacts to urgently forward on to their friends and relatives.
Make contact to friends by phone to say you need their help.
Co-ordinate a group (see info below.)
Try to door knock neighbours.
Be able to use your place as a drop-off & collection point.
Collection of goods will need to be arranged immediately.

If you can act as a Co-ordinator, advise your friends to deliver goods to you TODAY or tomorrow!:
GOODS WILL NEED TO BE COLLECTED AND DELIVERED WITHIN THE NEXT 48 HOURS.
Please confirm if you can act as a Co-ordinator by emailing ASAP your name, address and contact number/s to -
sbyron@dodo.com.au
Suzanne Byron
Southbank
M: 1049 38 12 12