For some, a passion project is a car, book or work of art, however, for Revitahl Yosef, their passion project aims to help pet owners across Canberra. PAWS Network ACT is an online pet aid and well-being resource that would see all chosen family members receive the best care.

The resource contains information like veterinarian-recommended vaccine schedules and legal requirements, such as microchipping and desexing. There is information on charities, rehoming, and resources that can help owners in emergency situations financially and with accommodation.

“It really breaks down what’s available and in what order you need to do things to access things … So giving people step by step, go to this website, go to this page, and you’ll get financial help,” Revitahl says.

When setting up the resource guide, Revitahl knew it had to be three things: free, accessible, and easy to understand. The project work began around April last year before Revitahl started studying veterinary nursing, putting the resources together in their downtime.

Originally meant to be a list of charities that could help people in times of duress and inspired by working in the animal sector non-profit during the bushfires and ongoing pandemic, Revitahl realised how much easier it could be for everyone if more information was available, like how to find a vet for you, and why expenses can rack up.  

The driving force behind the resource site is Revitahl’s own experiences of becoming a first-time pet owner. Revitahl didn’t grow up with a pet, but was friendly with the neighbour’s dog. In 2016, Revitahl and their partner adopted a rescue cat, Becky, and  were soon overwhelmed with the amount of information that pet owners needed to know.

“There’s a lot of stuff that I look back on and I’m like, ‘God, I wish I knew that starting out, I wish someone had been able to explain it to me’,” Revitahl says.

Dingo, Revitahl’s dog, came into the picture when the couple were travelling to Adelaide for Christmas in 2017. Driving through a stretch of barren plains on a hot summer’s day, they saw a figure that they first thought was a dingo. They soon realised that it was a dog, which had been abandoned in the heat, so the pair pulled over and opened the door of their Hyundai, full of luggage and presents, and the dog jumped in.

With the car so full and heading to stay with family, they dropped the dog off with the council of the closest town. A week later on their way back, they stopped to see if he had been claimed. No one had come forward for the canine and the council was happy to see him go to someone who would care for him.

They don’t know how long Dingo had been left out in the heat; he had a chain around his neck, scratches, and burnt paw pads. After a visit to the vet, they learned he was around a year old, had evidence of scraps with wild animals like foxes or kangaroos, collapsing trachea, an infection, and a burn on his tail. The couple spent around $2,000 over nearly two months to bring the dog back to good health.

“We were lucky enough that the vets that we went to explained to us about Vetpay, which is a payment plan service. We utilise that because we weren’t in a position where we could just find $2,000,” Revitahl says.

The adventure has continued since then, and Revitahl says Dingo had obviously been mistreated before he came to them.

“We’ve worked through a lot of behavioural stuff but seeing him happy now and playing and initiating his own play or jumping into bed in the morning with me – such a stark difference from when we got him,” they say.

Two years after finding Dingo, Revitahl began working in the animal welfare industry, where they saw many owners face challenges when caring for their pets and the heartbreak they experienced surrendering them. 

“Ninety-nine per cent of the time it’s just terrible circumstances and these people aren’t in a place where they need to be judged or they need to be told off, you know; they just need support.”

Revitahl says the veterinary industry is trying to meet the mounting pressure, with Australians owning a lot of animals and the pandemic only amplifying those numbers.

“Australia has about 26 million pets – we have one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world and we have about 13,000 registered vets,” they say.

Wanting to keep any kind of advertising out of the resource, Revitahl pays the domain fees out of their own pocket; there is also no revenue, which is intended to keep bias out.

“I just need to look at getting the word out to clinics and see offering it to them as a resource that they can use for their clients, also so that staff have up-to-date information about what’s available in Canberra.”

While the PAWS Network ACT resource guide is mainly targeted towards owners of dogs and cats, there is information for pocket pets like ferrets, guinea pigs and rabbits. Revitahl plans to continue to grow the database with more information, including that for trickier pets such as reptiles.

“I just wanted to present the facts and what’s supported by modern veterinary medicine, especially with how fast veterinary medicine is advancing,” they say.

Revitahl says that animal welfare is at an all-time high with modern medicine and more of an understanding of animal behaviour and that the resource is a way for people to access education and resources in a judgement-free way.

“Animals are having longer lives, they’re so much happier, we have such a deeper understanding of our pets now. If I can be just a tiny part of helping continue that growth, then that’s fantastic, “ they smile.

Visit PAWS Network ACT for resources on how to look after your pet in Canberra; pawsnetworkact.com

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