“The remaining 79 bears are still confined to their cages in the hands of the same owners who have abused them for many years. These owners extract their bile, openly flouting Vietnam's laws prohibiting bear farming, contribute to the illegal, international trade in bear bile and cause the bears horrendous fear, suffering and pain every day.”

Author Bryce Courtenay, singer Jenny Morris, TV presenter Laura Csortan and newsreader Sharon Ghidella have also added their support to the campaign along with over 7,000 others whose letters will be delivered to the Prime Minister of Vietnam later this month.

“The farmers holding these bears have been ordered to improve their care or surrender them but nothing has happened. Now we are calling for action. Only international pressure will save these bears from further cruelty and abuse,” Katrina said.

Although bile farming is illegal in Vietnam, the practice is still widespread with an estimated 4,000 bears kept on farms across the country. The bears are drugged, restrained and their stomachs repeatedly jabbed with an un-sterile four inch needle so their bile can be extracted through a crude suction pump. The bile itself is used in Traditional Chinese Medicine even though there are many herbal and synthetic alternatives available.

To add your support to the campaign, or make a tax deductible donation,
please go to www.animalsasia.org.

While daughter Rachel Hunter has attracted the headlines and spotlight for years, Jeneen has been quietly creating a treasure trove of magical fairies and pixies that have been hidden deep inside her imagination.

Originally inspired by her grand-daughter, Jeneen has opened a whole world of fairytale and wonderful adventure.

“She wanted to be turned into a Fairy Princess with wings,” Jeneen recalls, “and like any grandma, I spent hours and hours turning my grand-daughter into her dream.”

The idea then just grew out of love. Eight years later, Jeneen has just moved from New Zealand to the Gold Coast and teamed with an Aussie Partner, Debbie Walatara, and they are now creating these enchanting images for everyone’s family to enjoy and love forever.

Wonderland Studios is the Photographic Business Partner distributing “Photo Art by Jeneen Hunter” throughout Australia and internationally. Soon to be released is our new range for Weddings, Formals and Graduates – basically any formal occasion. We can transform your existing photo, or re-do a photo session with your gown or dress from your special day These hand-designed originals are one-of-a-kind, and are graphically detailed and overseen by Jeneen in our Art Department.

Our Head Office/Studio is located in the beautiful Gold Coast Hinterland. Wonderland Studios is currently recruiting Agents across Australia and already has representatives in Sydney/Melbourne/Darwin/Sunshine Coast/Brisbane/Adelaide/Perth.

The response and feedback that we have had

to date from Award-winning photographers across Australia and throughout Europe is overwhelming, and we take pride in supplying families with a keepsake for generations to come.

To see our exclusive range and available agents in your area, visit www.wonderlandstudios.com.au
or call 1300 204 282
(Mention 'Paws & Claws' for your special offer)

With the holidays upon us, Queensland Primary Industries and Fisheries (QPIF) is reminding pet owners to keep pets healthy and happy, especially if you are going away.

Biosecurity Queensland officer Vern Doyle said it was important to remember that pets needed proper care, especially if owners were thinking of travelling and leaving their pet behind.

“All animal owners have a legal duty of care to their pets,” Mr Doyle said.

“This means providing, in a reasonable way, animals’ food and water, accommodation, handling, treatment of disease or injury and displaying normal behavioural patterns.

“If you‘re going away these holidays, booking your animal into a good boarding kennel or cattery is the best option to ensure your pet is properly cared for.

“Alternatively, organise a responsible person to come to your house to care for your animals.”

Mr Doyle said dogs should not be confined to small spaces or tied up all the time.

“They must be exercised or be provided with the opportunity to exercise themselves,” he said.

“If you are taking your pets in the car you should never leave them in a hot car – temperatures in cars can heat up very quickly and your pet can become quickly heat stressed and possibly die.”

Mr Doyle said the QPIF website ‘Help an Animal Smile’ could help parents educate their children about responsible pet ownership.

“The school holidays are a great time to foster good animal care skills with your kids and the website has fun and interactive downloadable games, quizzes and activity books guaranteed to educate and entertain kids for hours,” Mr Doyle said.

“The activity booklets can be printed off and taken with you to entertain kids on those long hours travelling in the car.

“It is also a great source for parents with tips, fact sheets and important information on pet owner’s duty of care to their animals.”

For more information on animal welfare or Help Animal Smile activities, visit www.dpi.qld.gov.au/animalwelfare or call the QPIF Business Information Centre on 13 25 23.

The Sea World Rescue Team have brought a critically endangered Grey Nurse Shark to Sea World for care & rehabilitation after rescuing it from Julian Rocks, 2.5 kilometeres off Byron Bay in the Cape Byron Marine Park.

The rescue team were alerted to the distressed 2.5 metre male shark by Byron Bay Dive Centre and Sun Dive who spotted the shark with a large amount of fishing gear around its mouth & in a very emaciated condition.

Sea World’s Director of Marine Sciences, Trevor Long said that Sea World & the Industry and Innovation NSW (I&I) and NSW Marine Park Authority (MPA) had grave concerns for the health of the shark, given the amount of gear lodged in its mouth and its very poor condition.

Sea World, NSW I&I & the MPA sent a rescue team to the popular dive site, and located the shark in about 15 metres of water.

“The Sea World divers were able to rope noose the injured shark, allowing them to carefully bring the shark to the surface” he said.

The shark was then brought aboard Sea World One and placed in a 4000 litre tank using a crane, with the rescue team then turning the shark on his back, placing him in a dormant state.

“When the shark was in a relaxed state, the expert Sea World veterinary team inserted a large PVC pipe into his mouth and removed a small amount of fishing gear,” he said.

“Unfortunately, the shark still have a problem with its jaw, so in consultation with the NSW I&I and MPA we made the decision to bring him back to Sea World for closer examination & rehabilitation”.

“Following the removal of the gear, the shark was administered a dose of broad spectrum antibiotics and placed in a special transport tank for the trip back to Sea World” Mr. Long said.

Mr Long said that the shark has been placed in a quartine pool and will receive vital care and rehabilitation at Sea world including an x-ray to determine if there is a fishing hook embedded in the jaw.

Due to the endangered nature of the Grey

Nurse Shark, Sea World will remain in communication with I&I and the MPA in relation to the treatment process and all decisions relating to its welfare.

The Sea World rescue team have seen many seriously injured sharks over the years and while they remain hopeful for this shark’s future, it cannot survive in the wild without a fully functional jaw motion.

Cape Byron Marine Park Manager Andrew Page thanked Sea World for their efforts in helping save the grey nurse shark.

“The skill and expertise of the Sea World staff has been to vital in achieving this positive outcome,” Mr Page said.

“I would also like to thank the local divers who first raised the alert on this injured shark.Their passion and commitment is are key elements that helps keep threatened species such as the grey nurse sharks from extinction and raises recognition of the important values of the Cape Byron Marine Park.”

The Grey Nurse Shark is on the critically endangered list, with less than 500 individuals estimated to still be living along the east coast of Australia.

Grey Nurse Sharks have very low reproductive rates, only breeding about every three years, and giving birth to only one or two pups at a time.

Theming for the photo booths will be courtesy of Rudolph's Warehouse, and photographs will be taken by professional Animal Art Photography Studio, Zoo Studio. So whether you want to give them as a gift or mount them on your own wall, the photos will be sure to impress!

There will also be animal demonstrations, RSPCA Qld stalls and activities, refreshments and an opportunity to buy tickets in the fantastic RSPCA Qld Christmas raffle.

Best of all, all proceeds from the day go towards helping all creatures great and small at RSPCA Qld this holiday season.

When: Saturday 28 November, 9am - 4pm
Sunday 29 November, 9am - 3pm

Where: World for Pets Superstore
Hometown Centre, Cnr Lexington and Logan Roads, Springwood

Where: Shop C57 Harbourtown, Biggera Waters QLD

Time: 10am - 3pm

For more info please contact Pet Supplied Direct on 07)5500 - 5435, or Erica from Glamour Puss Pet Photography on 0411-451-131.

Sunday, 29th November at Pizzey Park is the date chosen however notices with details closer to the time will be emailed or posted on the web site, www.cavalierrescue.org.au.

This beautiful snowman so skilfully knitted by one of our members Shirley Smith, and kindly donated as a raffle for Cavalier Rescue. His name is Mr Bojangles and he stands 49cm (19 1/4") high to the top of his hat.
The raffle will be drawn on the Picnic Day.

We look forward to seeing many of you and
your precious Cavaliers on the day!

Bring your pets down to the Coombabah Rehoming Centre for a photo with Santa this December.

Where: Shelter Road, Coombabah
Phone: 07 5509 9000

Stay tuned for further details as they become available!

Visit us at www.awlqld.com.au.

It is estimated that 63% of households own pets and statistics sho that 53% of the Australians that don’t own a pet would like to do so in the future, meaning that this niche dating site will certainly rival the big guns.

What better way is there in getting people with similar interests together than a website designed for pet lovers? There certainly won’t be a lack of conversation on that first date!

For more info visit http://meetapetlover.com.au/.

All species were affected by rivers and habitat, and the analysis provides important information relevant to the examination of future impacts of climate change.

The results were reported recently in the journal Animal Conservation.

Visit the Magical Scarecrows at www.themagicalscarecrows.com