Frequent Flyer Pugs & Road Trips

Frequent Flyer Pugs

Airports are a mixture of emotions depending on the intention of your travel.  In our case, we feel a sense of excitement about visiting  extended family and we feel anticipation of upcoming holiday plans. This is soon followed by that lump in your throat when you have to say goodbye to extended family, though it is soothed by the comfort of returning to home surrounds.

Gypsy and Poppet with their Qantas travel crates. They now also have a 'Fragile' Sticker on top thanks to a lovely lady at the Qantas desk who thought they were precious!

I often wonder how holiday travel impacts our dogs. Do they feel the goodbyes like we do?The pugs travel with us where possible. To others, we look like a traveling circus in airport terminals, but to us it feels relatively normal now.  The more attached you become to your dogs, the harder it is to enjoy travel holidays without them. The Qantas staff are wonderful to our pugs and we are grateful that Qantas make it affordable for us to travel with them. If you are interested in finding out more information about flying with your dog, please visit the link below:

http://www.qantas.com.au/travel/airlines/travelling-with-pets/global/en

Prefer to stay on land? Perhaps a road trip or long drive to your destination?

Does your dog suffer from car-sickness? We are blessed with dogs who LOVE to travel in the car. They are extremely intuitive and know when we have reached our destination. They will start screaming with joy and pacing the back seat (within the confines of their seatbelt of course).

Whilst not based in Melbourne, Seeing Dog Seat is Australian made and couriers to Melbourne, and may offer you a solution to your dog’s travel sickness.

I can See Dog Car Seat is an elevated seat that allows small dogs to see out while being restrained.

How adorable does Hamish look in his car seat?!

Why buy a dog car seat?

1. Keep Your Dog Restrained

The main reason to use a dog car seat is to keep your dog restrained. Dogs should never ride in the front seat in case the airbag deploys which could cause death or serious injury. Many dogs jump around the car which can be very distracting to the driver and dangerous for both you and your dog. An unrestrained 4.5kg dog in a crash at 81km/h would exert 227kgs of force on whatever it strikes :(

2. Ensure Your Dog's Comfort.

Your dog will be able to see out the window. Dogs love to see what's going on. They are less likely to slide around, this can also help with motion sickness. The seat is like a bed so your dog feels more secure and can even lie down and have a sleep on longer trips!

3. Benefits For You

You are able to concentrate on driving and not be distracted by your dog on your lap or jumping around the car. The car seat protects your car's upholstery. Avoid a fine and loss of demerit points for having your dog on your lap or unrestrained.

                 

       For further information, email helen@icanseedogcarseat.com or visit their website http://www.icanseedogcarseat.com/

If you do decide to road trip with your dog(s), remember we have included links to Pet-Friendly Accommodation in Melbourne and Greater Melbourne in a past blog which you can revisit via this link:

http://gypsyju.blogspot.com.au/2012/01/pet-friendly-accommodation-links.html

If traveling with your dog isn’t a viable option, then you need to carefully consider how your dog will enjoy their holiday away from you too! Do you have friends or family who love your dog as much as you do? Could you team up with other dog owners with similar breeds and socialise your pets together so that you can both dog sit for each other?  If you decide to put your dog in a kennel or pet hotel, does the environment mirror what you have at home? These are all questions you need to answer honestly in order to provide your companion with a wonderful holiday experience also. While we miss our pugs extremely when we travel away, we feel no guilt as they are surrounded by the same, if not more love in our extended family ~ in a similar environment to that of which they have at home.

Happy travels.

The Age Run Melbourne 2012

Sunday 15 July 

Join RSPCA staff, volunteers, family and friends in Team RSPCA and run for a great cause that will not only keep you fit but help the RSPCA care for animals in desperate need.

There is something for everyone, with 5km, 10km and 21km walk and runs to choose from, anyone can go the distance! If you would like to get involved but running or walking is simply not your thing, why not donate the dollar instead!

The registration fee covers the event costs, so every dollar we can raise as RSPCA fundraisers will go along way to help RSPCA Victoria continue its vital work in animal welfare! 

1	Head to the 2012 Run Melbourne registration page: http://www.runmelbourne.com.au/start.php?linkid=173
2	Click 'New Entry'.
3	Under Fundraising Information – please select 'I wish to fundraise – as part of a team'
4	Under entry details please select your distance and nominate team ‘Team RSPCA' as your selected team.
5	Complete registration and payment.
6	To become a fundraiser visit our ‘Team RSPCA’ Melbourne fundraising page.
7	Select to join a team.
8	Register yourself with your own user name and password and join 'Team RSPCA’ with the password rspca123.
9	Once you have registered with Run Melbourne and joined 'Team RSPCA,' send the fundraising link to your family and friends to sponsor your amazing running efforts and support ‘all creatures great and small’!

Cupcake Day for the RSPCA

 

Monday 20 August 2012 

RSPCA is calling for your baking expertise and enthusiasm to help raise much needed funds for all creatures great and small. By registering, baking and fundraising for Cupcake Day for the RSPCA, you will be part of an exceptional group of supporters who understand the importance of pets in our lives. Your cupcakes will help give a surrendered puppy a home, rescue a neglected pony, provide emergency surgery to an injured kitten and save thousands of lives.

The RSPCA would love to beat lasts year’s total funds raised of $1.1M  ;)

Follow this link to register in Melbourne (Victoria)

http://www.fundraise.rspcacupcakeday.com.au/registrations/list/334

Gypsy and Poppet found some of the best looking cupcakes ~ check them out for inspiration!

For further information, visit the official webpage. The official Cupcake Day website has all the information you need in regards to setting up your own fundraising page, becoming a host, creating a team and of course how you can support this tasty event! ;)

http://www.rspcacupcakeday.com.au/

So what are you waiting for? Grab your favourite recipe, dust off your chef’s hat and get baking to celebrate Cupcake Day for the RSPCA! 

Oscar's Gotcha Day

Oscar's Gotcha Day

July 9 2012

July 9th 2012 is the day Oscar celebrates 1 year of freedom, however there are thousands of dogs that remain confined in terrible conditions on puppy factories not only in Australia but also around the world. 

July 9th is a day to celebrate but to also remember the ones we are still fighting for. We encourage you to do something on this day to raise awareness about Oscar’s Law and be part of the solution. Organise a morning tea at your workplace, wear your OL shirt, contact your local rescue group/shelter and find out what’s on their wish list, create an event and get friends and family to help you donate blankets or what ever they may need, get some of our postcards and letterbox around your neighbourhood. 

Be leaders, be creative, raise awareness, the power is in our hands. Don’t forget to take photos and share with us all how you made a difference on July 9th 2012.

David at Goodwill Wine has organised limited edition wine celebrating Oscar's "Gotcha Day" on July 9th 2012 with a beautiful photo of Oscar on the label and special wording to celebrate this day.

This will only be available from now until July 10th 2012 so be quick to order your limited edition wine and celebrate Oscar's 1st Anniversary of Freedom.

http://www.goodwillwine.com.au/charities/oscars-law-help-us-celebrate-gotcha-day

http://www.oscarslaw.org

YAP WEAR ~ Albert Park

9 Victoria Avenue

Albert Park 3206

(03) 9696 7474

Helloooooo Jen! Mimi! We're baaaaack!

After a delightful brunch in Bridport St, Albert Park ~ we stroll down to YAP WEAR to visit our friends Jen & Mimi. For those enough lucky to be within driving distance of Albert Park, you must visit the 'Pop-up Shop' to meet Jen & Mimi and view their range of amazing coats and accessories. 



Poppet out the front of YAP WEAR 'Pop-Up Shop'

Alternatively you can visit YAP WEAR online (www.yapwear.com.au) or see some real life happy customers on the YAP WEAR Facebook page (https://www.facebook.com/pages/YAP-WEAR/318146541967). 

 

YAP WEAR Dogcoats was launched in Melbourne in 1999. Proudly all YAP WEAR Dogcoats are made in Australia with as much Australian content as possible, reducing their carbon footprint. 

YAP WEAR's reputation has been built on quality, style and service. YAP WEAR  Dogcoats are known for their bright colours, interesting fabrics and hip reflective trims. Having pugs, due to their top heavy builds, sizing can be an issue and many coats don't cater for their beautiful unique body types! After visiting YAP WEAR, the girls were spoilt rotten with gourmet treats before being measured up for their coats to ensure best fit! What customer service! 

Gypsy doesn't stop smiling in the 'Pop-Up Store' ~ it is her little happy place. Poppet's wagging tail tells the same story, though she does get jealous of the pug who stares her down in the wall mirror ;)

The 'Pop-Up Shop' is open most Fridays through to Sundays but be sure to check the YAP WEAR webpages for updates on opening times. Jen also takes the opportunity in meeting customers in her shop to spread the word about Animal Welfare campaigns such as 'Oscar's Law' and 'Where do Puppies Come From?' as well as supporting rescue groups such as 'Saffron on the Hill' and 'Pets Haven Pro Life Shelter'. 

Saffron on the Hill collars for sale in YAP WEAR 'Pop-Up Shop'

We took some more stickers to put on our travel crates ~ they are covered with animal welfare awareness stickers. Hopefully the Qantas baggage handlers look up Oscar's Law and Puppy Mills and learn something new while spoiling our pugs in transition between their two favourite cities! Thanks Jen for our 2 new stickers!

If you are looking for a lovely Saturday (or Sunday!) plan with your dogs ~ head over to Albert Park ~ grab yourself a fabulous coffee & brunch in the Bridport St region then drop into YAP WEAR. Humans happy....tick......Pugs happy......double tick!

Hey Guys!!! 'Pop-Up Shop' is open! This way!