Not all our WILVOS 5441 6200 Hotline calls are about Australian native animals. We will receive calls for different animals in different situations. The animal’s welfare is always important, even in the case of a feral animal. If WILVOS cannot help directly, we can point people in the right direction for assistance.
Education on both wildlife awareness and domestic pet ownership is very important and our community awareness officer, Roslyn, is very busy with her presentations at schools and community groups. There is a wonderful program initiated by the Australian Veterinary Association called the Pets and People Education Program, better known as PetPEP, which is available to everyone in the community. Roslyn works with their presenters at the schools, often with an RSPCA representative there as well. The three people rotate through the classes, giving students an insight into our unique wildlife, responsible pet ownership and animal safety and welfare issues. Roslyn finds these school visits especially rewarding as it is educating our future generations on considerations for all animals.
We are very fortunate to have such wonderful veterinarians on the Sunshine Coast. David Dawe of the Blanck Street Vet Surgery in Maroochydore has given up time on his Saturday afternoons to instruct WILVOS carers in initial bird assessment, with advice on such issues as stabilizing fractures and crop feeding. I have been to scores of training workshops over the years but this intensive couple of hours was up there with the best.
On the marsupial side, Charlotte of the Woombye Vet Surgery has once again saved the life of another ‘pinkie’ (furless) Swamp Wallaby. Sustaining a fractured leg and tail after his mother was killed by a car, this little treasure is recovering well, and the outlook is very promising.
With so many domestic animals to care for, the work done by our local veterinary surgeons on wildlife is most appreciated.