Happy to be writing as World Animal Day ( read more on that link) is coming up on October 4th, and pleased to celebrate World Animal month for the whole of October. It is so wonderful that some people the world over are finally beginning to celebrate the vital importance of animals in our lives, wild and domesticated.

We had a service at a church in Hobart today for all the animals, based around St. Francis of Assisi’s traditional tribute, but I gave it a miss because I’m not religious and thought it a bit hypocritical to attend, despite the sentiment, but it is very cute apparently, with animals from birds to mice, to dogs and donkeys attending…aaaaahh. Nice.

I’ve already blogged at nauseating length about my George -the pleasure and boundless joy that she has brought into my life.

Enough already!! on that point, other than adding that she was recently diagnosed with glaucoma, which was upsetting, until I found that it could be controlled with drops for the rest of her life. Due to the bribe of a carob drop ( they actually aren’t bad, apart from the palm oil content,taste OK ..thank Gawd for hippies discovering carob in the 70’s …man..) she now bounds up onto the chair to get her drops in twice a day, no probs!

Another fantastic animal support event this weekend in Hobart is the Devil of a Dinner being held to raise funds for further research into the hideous facial tumour disease that is rapidly decimating the Tasmanian Devil in the wild, with the seriously talented world renowned chef,very wonderful Tassie lover and endless promoter Tetsuya Wakuda….go “Tets”!!!

Hoping to meet him at our store on Monday in person to give him some of our  Leatherwood Honey and Herb gourmet  Skin “food” and hope I don’t go all gooey on Lani, my store manager, who is a rampant foodie like me!

We are lucky enough to have Jan Cameron, a fantastically generous philanthropist, who some time ago sold her Katmandu chain of stores, and is now helping so many excellent causes ( she apparently has offered to match dollar for dollar the funds raised by tonight’s dinner, amazing!!!) such as the Brightside Animal Sanctuary that rescues abused animals and factory farm escapees.

The next Order of Australia should go Brightside’s completely fabulous Emma Haswell, who has so courageously exposed the harrowing conditions endured by many factory animals, and is helping to change their lives, as well as – most importantly- permanently changing legislation for better conditions- and a move to free range pigs for example…GO EMMA!!

Log onto their site and if so inclined make a donation in the spirit of World Animal Month.

We are doing our bit to  help celebrate this fantastic focus on animals, we are giving $1 from the sale of every natural olive oil, herb and honey Pet Shampoo bar sold this month online, at our Hobart store in Centrepoint, and at Salamanca market to the local RSPCA, to support their ongoing good work.

On the flip side of the coin, we are doing our best to help you discourage the smallest, peskiest animals that we all hate as the weather warms up – the dreaded mozzies, flies and biting insects- with our special this month…. spend  $100 or more and you recieve  our all natural Bugged Balm, with Tasmania’s insect repellent Kunzea oil!

And your point is??

Is it possible to actually, really truly be in love with an animal? I am with my darling George.

Full name Georgie Princess Diva  Saunders ( they say that dogs resemble their owners-or is it the other way around??) and she sure lives up to every aspect of her name! Especially the diva bit, and HOW. Jack Russell and Fox Terrier is the best guess of her lineage, but like any little “mutt “who knows?

Having never been fond if children ( as I am fond of saying to those who ask,”surely you like babies?”- “yes but I couldn’t eat a whole one…” and I AM joking folks) I remained solo until the age of 44 when I thought, hmmm, this pet thing might have something to it. I thought about it for a very long time and began tentatively asking around….

She came into my life as with all the best things( sometimes) by accident.

One day at Salamanca market whilst packing up the stall our neighbouring stallholder introduced his new puppy, an brown little wiry bundle called Scooter…who apparently had an unclaimed sister awaiting a home. I was fixated on a boy for some reason but thought why not, let’s take a look?

Arriving at the house , we were shown into the loungeroom where a tiny,  6 inch,6 week old scrap of black and white fur was toasting her tummy in front of the woodheater- hogging it all- the human occupants relegated to the cold zone of the sofa ( this tells you why you need to get a heat pump folks). Did I get the message at this point?

Taking her home in the car, I don’t know who was more scared, she or me.

Me, for sure, as I popped through the Wormhole into Doggie World..

Little did I know what a lot she had to teach me about love, compassion, care, pain and a million other things! Nobody told me how much fun we would have,how funny she would be, and how incredibly fortunate I would feel to be “chosen” somehow to have her! I had no idea that such a deep spirituality and intelligence could exist in a furry coat!

The exercise is a big bonus too- she is my number one priority, and her walk is paramount in the schedule, although now 11 years old she is slowing down a lot….aren’t we all! as a former couch potato the benefits have been incredible, although I never thought that I’d give my last bite of sourdough,free range ham sandwich to anyone!

From the start she has a big, vocal super intelligent personality ( naturally!)who communicated her moods in no uncertain terms- hurry up with that treat, already!! She wakes me with a tentative low growl to say “are you awake” from the bottom of the bed, and we begin a call and response dialogue that never fails to end in a silly wuffing playfight under the doona…Oh Gahdd.. isn’t it sickening??

The beginning of the downward spiral into a large collection of designer sparkly collars, and this was 10 years before all this was “fashionable!” and her very own pet soap but more of that later.

At best I am treated with disdain from the other end of the sofa, she is incredibly jealous and monsters dogs like Dobermans without a thought, or fear. She radiated innate disgust for everybody from a month old which was hilarious.

We circled each other like gunslingers in the OK Corral for the first few months-not knowing hoe to “be” with each other.. Puppy Preschool was a nightmare, as I had no idea what  doggies did or how I was supposed to behave…just like a new mother I guess although it pains me to say it!

I was determined to “feed her right”, with no synthetic congealed slop from cans, or dried rancid pellets flavoured with tallow and laced with antioxidants… none of that for my little girl! I have turned into one of those hideous people I derided who are totally NUTS about their pet, who feeds them tidbits ( yep, including her own cup of tea with Leatherwood honey blown until cool enough to drink) lets them sleep in the bed ( yep, you bet, it’s snuggly gorgeous) and are perennially covered in dog hair ( badge of honour, mate!)

Just as I fought the good fight for chemical free skincare for 20 years ( 15 years being told I was nuts but the world has come to see that what I ranted on about has been widely accepted, very gratifying) I investigated pet food very carefully- and the truth about it is, of course awful, but hey, this is supposed to be cheery!!!

So.. since she began solids she has had nothing but raw wild food-minced kangaroo, cooked barley, vegetables, seaweed, flax seed oil  or raw organic coconut oil ( a labour of love once a month,made into burgers and frozen individually) or chicken necks….and does she look good! The oils add gloss and shine, and coconut oil is a health story all on it’s own.

She has been to the vet twice in 10 years, both for slight injuries, and is the picture of health- no fleas whatever, as she is not laden with sugar in her blood from the canned chemical slop.

And the best bit was that, to avoid besmirching her perfect body ( !) with foaming chemical detergent pet “washes” I could also give her her own 100% chemical free Pet Shampoo Bar, Gorgeous Georgie’s Gloss Bar for Glamour girls, with the very best ingredients, Olive Oil, Coconut Oil, and flea chasing Oils such as Neem and Pennyroyal.

Buster’s Bonza Beauty Bar was made with the same ingredients in honour of an ex boyfriends grizzled boofy mutt too.

This fabulous bar gives a rich creamy lather, and leaves the fur glossy and super soft…moisturises the skin and rinses out beautifully leaving her clean and fresh, with no obvious scent…she smells like her little self, as she should, not of sickly synthetics, which offend me and her delicate doggie nose.

A tip for tip top condition as well is to add a tablespoon of Tasmanian Applecider and Herb  Conditioning rinse the last rinsewater, which removes any remaining soap, and is incredibly moisturising and conditioning.

She is, as a result of this combo, the proud possessor of a glossy sleek lush coat( Coco Chanel was right, black and white are classic chic) and frankly the best tail EVER…like a lush, white boofy Fleur de Lis plume that sashays with her feathered bottom when she walks, and curls tightly to her back with rage when investigating another dog on the beach.

Treat your doggie today!

comfort and joy