STACK #197 Mar 2021

LIFE TECH FEATURE

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2020 proved to be a year where Australian households, gripped in a global pandemic, turned in earnest to owning a pet. Words Paul Jones PET TECH

H ands up who considered getting a pet last year when a certain virus became that annoying party straggler who refuses to go home, even after the music has finished? And hands up who tried in vain to adopt or buy a pet for companionship to ease the interminable boredom of a lockdown? Well, you’re certainly not alone. 2020 saw prodigious levels of pet

2020 where 566 were adopted.” It’s not hard to understand why. Ask any pet owner to discuss the benefits and you’ll be there for hours – and that’s before they pull out a limitless gallery of smartphone photos supporting their obsession.

Where did it all begin? It’s widely accepted that dogs were the first animal to be tamed. Through archaeological finds, wolves, the common ancestor of all dogs, are believed to have become close human companions over 12,000 years ago when they were used to hunt, herd and guard. Cats were long thought to have been first domesticated by the Ancient Egyptians. But in 2004, a grave containing a human and cat was discovered on the Mediterranean island of Cyprus – pre-dating Ancient Egypt by around 4,000 years.

The benefits of pet ownership have never been more important given the crisis the world is currently

navigating. Enforced isolation has, understandably, had an inevitable impact on mental health across all age groups. Pets don’t judge. They are excellent company and provide unbounded affection and unconditional love. Owning a dog can provide the impetus to get active, with daily walks improving the physical wellbeing of dog and owner alike. When an owner pats, smiles at and cuddles their dog, for instance, increased oxytocin – also known as the ‘love hormone’ – is produced in both parties. And studies have shown that pet owners live longer. As we continue to face similar challenges in 2021, the inevitable return to the office is becoming a reality for many Australians. So, what happens when you have to leave your four-legged (or otherwise) friend at home for the day? For some pets, it won’t be an issue, but for others with underlying separation anxiety issues, there could be some problems that need addressing.

sales and adoptions across Australia, as households took advantage of time spent at home to

welcome a new family member.

Animals experienced unprecedented levels of attention and physical

exercise as we all bunkered down in a shared domestic space. According to Allie Small, Cranbourne Shelter Supervisor at the Lost Dogs’ Home in Melbourne, pet

adoptions in 2019-20 were up 17 per cent over 2018-19. “In 2019-20, a total of 5,152 pets were adopted,” she reveals. “These were our biggest adoption numbers in more than five years, and this included an incredible month in May

Well, I didn’t know that!

The oldest cat on record lived to be 38 years old. Crème Puff was born in Austin, Texas in 1967 and, incredibly, died in 2005!

28 MARCH 2021

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