Party Animals Miniature horses Mickey and Eskimo are small in stature but have big tricks. Trainer Susan Pinto nurtures her mini stars with plenty of rewards.
Most weekends, Mickey and Eskimo are the star attractions at children's parties across Sydney. The whole Pinto family gets involved, with face painting, baby animals to cuddle, and always plenty of tricks.
Doggy Delicate Bits It's not most glamourous aspect of being a vet, but internal examinations are very important.
A dog's anal glands serve a useful purpose, helping them mark out territory. They can often become impacted. A tell-tale sign is if your dog is dragging its bottom along the ground.
Healthy anal glands should empty every time a dog goes to the toilet.
If they’re enlarged, the vet has to express them.
Rest assured the procedure is very quick, and your dog will be feeling much better.
Regular vet checks should keep the problem under control.
Large Black Pigs Christine Ross runs East Wind Rare Breeds Farm, and it’s literally a pig sty!
These big beauties aren’t just any old pigs. They’re large blacks, the rare panda of the pig world.
Christine started her farm with only 3 black pigs. 17 years later, she now boasts the largest collection in Australia.
Like many Aussie farmers Christine has done it tough in the drought. To help pay the bills she also runs Animal Actors, training four-legged hopefuls for film & television.
Known for their loyal and affectionate nature, they are adaptable to any situation, even surrogate mothering.
Males weigh 60–70 kg and females 45–55 kg. They also come at a big price, around $1500.
If you don’t have time to exercise, then you really don’t have time for these dogs. A half an hour a day is an absolute minimum. Giant breeds like Newfoundlands can suffer from arthritis in their later years. Maintaining fitness and muscle tone with regular walking will help to keep joints supple and strong. Swimming is especially great as these dogs are renowned for their natural water rescue tendencies.
Big dogs are best in big cars. As passengers, they’re messy. Slobber protection is a good idea. Expect hair loss by the bucket load. Brush daily.
Give puppies a diet formulated for giant breeds - essential for correct bone growth. Big breeds can also suffer from potentially fatal bloat. To minimize the risk, feed three smaller meals and encourage rest after eating.
Newfoundlands live for around 8-10 years. During that time, they’ll consume a lot of food! Medication is usually dosed per kilogram, so a trip to the vet can become costly!
Did You Know?
When it comes to talking turkey, only the males are responsible for that distinctive turkey gobble.
Females or hens prefer to chatter.
A turkey’s most famous physical feature would have to be that red fleshy growth... it’s called a "wattle" or a “snood”.
Male turkeys, also called "Tom Turkeys" puff up their bodies and spread their tail feathers to attract the fairer sex, just like a peacock.
During the mating season male turkeys try to befriend as many females as possible.
In England during the 1700s, turkeys were walked to market in herds wearing booties to protect their feet.
Hinchinbrook Conservation Deep in the rainforest in North Queensland, Sallianne met two remarkable women making a big difference for local conservation efforts.
Margaret Thorsborne's 'open house' is welcome to all creatures great and small. She and her late husband championed conservation, becoming well known for their work in preserving nearby Hinchinbrook Island and threatened wildlife.
Daryl Dickson and her husband Geoff feel privileged to care for rare mahogany gliders.
Part of the care also involves removing pythons from the property when the wet season arrives!
Contact:
The Wildlife Preservation Society of Queensland wildlife.org.au
*Kittens wanted* Animal trainer Luke Hura is on the lookout for kittens for a production on 1st September 2008. If your kittens have star potential, go to lukesdogtraining.com.au
Party Animals
Large Black Pigs
Hinchinbrook Conservation
