All AWL animals are vet checked, desexed, vaccinated and microchipped before they are rehomed.

This month we are also looking for new members. If you love animals and would like to help us with caring for them or just become a member and help us raise funds so that we can continue our great work.

For pet or membership inquiries you can phone Elaine on 0410 016 612.

Now that the weather is starting to warm up, snakes are starting to come out of hibernation. If you think your pet may have been bitten, try and restrict their movement and get them to your local vet as quickly as possible.

Armed with curiosity and natural hunting instincts it is not uncommon for our favourite four-legged friends to cross paths with a snake once the weather warms up.

Several factors will determine what sort of reaction your pet has to a snake bite, including whether the snake has just emerged from hibernation, the type of snake, the amount of venom injected and the site of the bite.

Dogs and cats are most often bitten around the head and limbs. Usually the closer the bite is to the heart the quicker the venom will be absorbed into the pet’s system. Depending on the dose dogs can show symptoms in one to six hours and cats anything up to 15 hours after being bitten. 

Signs of snake bite can include: sudden weakness followed by collapse; shaking or twitching of the muscles; vomiting; dilated pupils not responsive to light; blood in the urine; depression, quiet, unresponsive; disorientation; and difficulty in breathing. In the later stages paralysis may occur.

It is a good idea to get familiar with the snakes in your area so you may be able to identify which one has bitten your pet should you see it. Never approach the snake.