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| Doggacino anyone? The RSPCA dog cafe at the Million Paws Walk. |
Tell us who you are and what you do?
During
my time as the franchise of The Body Shop Canberra I started a charity for the
elderly and sick called PAWS “Pets are wonderful Support”
RSPCA
were my insurers for the volunteers and we walked dogs, groomed cats and took
animals to vet appointments for the sick and elderly plus we fostered the
animals if the client went into hospital or respite and found homes for the
animals if the client could no longer look after their pet.
This
went on for 12 years until I retired from The Body Shop and I handed the PAWS
over to RSPCA who called it Pet Support and it does still exist in a reduced
form to this day.
When
RSPCA have a dog event I run a Dog Café for them making homemade dog biscuits
and Doggacinnos
I
am also the Rescue Officer for the Scottish Terrier Club of NSW.
And
I have rescued recently 6 Scotties from a puppy farm in QLD plus another from a
family going overseas to live in QLD.
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| One of Jan's PAWS clients with her Corgi Coco. Jan continues to lend a hand by walking Coco. |
You’re passionate about pets and
aged care, why?
Last
year I was approached by Di Johnstone and Mary Porter MLA to be part of the
Pets and Ageing Steering Group in Canberra
My
experience helped me advise them about the setting up of an in-home service for
the elderly.
However
we are currently addressing the problem of retiring into aged care if you own a
pet. This was a great sorrow for many of my PAWS clients having to surrender
your pet on entering aged care so I was very happy to hear that something was
going to change all that and we have!!!! For many of the retirement villages,
although the high care end and hostel care will have to have the support of a
branch of the in homecare when that is up and running.
Funding
is our main problem for all of this, and so far that area has been the hardest
part to obtain.
Why is the human-animal bond so
important to you?
Many
of the sick and elderly I came across with PAWS told me every day “If it wasn’t
for this dog/cat I would be dead”.
We
all know how important animals are in the lives of so many people yet it has
taken government bodies and the medical profession decades to acknowledge this
and even now there is reticence to address this life saving issue.
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| Belle, a Scottish terrier rescued by Jan. She requires ongoing vet care and will need surgery to remove a number of masses on her chest and abdomen. |
When it comes to
keeping companion animals, how could society do it better?
I
tell people whenever I am asked to speak on companion animals get out there
with your dog and take it with you to places you would normally not go with
them, because remember it is easier to get forgiveness than permission!
In
Europe animals are part of the family and can be seen on holidays with their
people on boats trains and aeroplanes taxis and all public transport so why not
here?
At
this stage I must say that all this can only happen if we start to train our
animals to be out there and more visible.
The
owners must be responsible and of course not take dangerous or annoying animals
to public places.
It
is possible though, and it needs us to bring about the change.
Animal
behaviourists can help, dog training centres and diligent training at home can
give you a companion you can take anywhere, and then the critics can’t complain
and say “I told you so animals in public places doesn’t work”. It does if the humans do their part
As a celebrant you
encourage people to bring dogs to funerals. Do many people take up the
suggestion and how do the dogs cope in these situations?
As
a funeral Celebrant, which I do part time, if I see there is a dog in the
family that has just lost its owner during the family interview I suggest they
bring the dog to the ceremony and we mention his/her name during the service.
This adds to the interest, the pathos and shows how much that pet meant to the
deceased person.
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| Agatha, a dog rescued from a puppy farm, meets her new owner in Victoria, thanks to Jan's efforts. |
You can get in touch
with Jan via her mobile 0412
411 424. As she says, “I am not on
Facebook as I want to talk to you live if you disagree with me, or as I hope you agree, “Pets are Wonderful Support”.”
If you want to read more about pets and aged care please check out previous posts including this interview with Di Johnstone.
