News & Media

Companion newsletter – Autumn 2020

Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) update

Caring for your pet if you have to self-isolate during the COVID-19 outbreak

No current evidence suggesting companion animals can give humans COVID-19

Lort Smith welcomes new Victorian tenancy laws

Watch out for BBQ snatchers

Sunny weekends are a great chance to get family and friends together for a BBQ. However the combination of BBQ meals and pets can result in injury – both directly and indirectly.

Unscheduled fireworks: vigilance keeps your pet safe

This Australia Day the State Government of Victoria has cancelled the 2020 Fireworks display, and many councils have followed suit. While this is a welcome sigh of relief for pet owners, it doesn’t prevent unscheduled fireworks which cause pets distress.

Providing support to animals affected by Australian bushfires

Updating pet microchip details can be tricky, but worth it.

Lort Smith shortlisted in 2019 VicHealth Awards

Snake antivenom saves lives

Lort Smith Animal Hospital is urging pet carers to be on alert when walking their dogs in parks; and to keep an eye out in their backyards.

Lort Smith acknowledged for Innovation in Rescue award

Lort Smith is thrilled to be named as a finalist in the Innovation in Rescue category of Jetpets Companion Animal Rescue Awards 2019!

For pet’s sake, desex your furry friends!

Lort Smith is pleading pet owners to desex their furry friends to prevent unwanted litters, and to ensure optimal health and wellbeing for animals in the community.

Keep your eye on the balls

Over the last month Lort Smith Animal Hospital has seen a sharp rise in cats requiring life-saving surgery to remove small balls from their intestine.

Winners of 2020 Backyard Hero Calendar Competition announced

More than 4,500 people cast a vote to determine our top placegetters.

Pet first aid

Every pet carer will be faced with their pet being injured at some point. Know when it’s time to bring your pet to Lort Smith’s Accident and Emergency.

Feather transplant helps owl regain its wings

Lort Smith exotic vet Dr Tristan has helped a Southern Boobook back into the wild in just two days with an imping procedure.

Healthy Easter alternatives toxic to pets

Think your Easter egg-hunt treat is a healthy alternative? It could be toxic if Fido finds it first!

Vet warning: Blue-green algae fatal for pets and livestock

What looks like pea soup, can be seen from space and is deadly to pets? Poisonous blue-green algae.

Managing pet arthritis

At least 65 per cent of dogs and cats will develop osteoarthritis. Lort Smith can provide you with treatment options to ensure your pet can continue to live a full life.

Two out of every five Australian pets are overweight

As many as 40% of Australian pets are overweight. We all like to treat our special friends to a little something special from time to time, but consider this: a cat eating 25 grams of cheese is equivalent to a human eating three and a half hamburgers!

Lort Smith launches exciting $20 million Capital Campaign

Lort Smith ‘Our Future Is In Your Hands Capital Campaign’ launched last night with a cornerstone philanthropic donation of $2 million and a separate Challenge Grant that matches public donations dollar for dollar up to $1 million until 31 December 2019.

Kittens don’t always land on their feet

Lort Smith veterinarian Dr Leanne Pinfold is urging all cat carers who have balconies to ensure their cats are safe.

Keep your furry friends safe in the heat

Hot weather conjures up images of fun at the beach, lounging in the shade and iced drinks with umbrellas. However really hot weather can be dangerous for those more vulnerable to heat – including pets.

No more ducky dinners for Beefcake

French bulldog Beefcake is on a strict diet following emergency life-saving surgery at Lort Smith Animal Hospital last week. The four-year-old dog is back at his home in Keilor Downs after vets removed four rubber ducks from his stomach and intestine.

Recent media coverage

Lort Smith and The Lost Dogs’ Home are completely separate and independent organisations.

Lort Smith Adoption Centre named a finalist in inaugural nation-wide awards

The Jetpets Companion Animal Rescue Awards 2018 has announced that Lort Smith’s Adoption Centre is a finalist in the category of Outstanding Animal Shelter.

The immeasurable benefits of pets in aged care

Mr Wendell is no ordinary six-year-old Havanese dog. He holds the important title of Community Engagement Coordinator at Broughton Hall, a residential aged care facility in Camberwell, Victoria.

Cat desexing campaign

For the month of October, Lort Smith will be offering a 25% discount off all cat desexings.

Help us clear the cattery

With the warmer spring weather just around the corner, we need to clear the cattery to make way for the annual “kitten season” influx which is soon to arrive. Until 31 July, adoption fees for adult cats have been reduced to just $50 (from $115).

Hard rubbish puppies reunited

Six canine siblings were reunited at the weekend in a tail-wagging get-together.

Lort Smith calendar competition was won by a whisker

It’s the talk of the dog parks and cat runs all over Victoria – Lort Smith has announced the winners of its annual Backyard Hero Calendar Competition.

It’s back to school time for kittens

Puppies have had their own preschool for a while, so we thought it was only time that kittens also have the chance to shine: introducing Lort Smith Kitten Kinder.

Make sure the Easter Bunny keeps chocolate treats well hidden from pet dogs

While we’re all getting ready to enjoy an Easter egg or two this weekend, it’s important to remember that while chocolate is a delicious treat for humans, it can be potentially life threatening for our canine companions.

Fiona Webster appointed permanent CEO of Lort Smith

Fiona Webster has been appointed to the ongoing role of Lort Smith CEO, taking on the permanent position following a three-month period as interim CEO.

Six dumped puppies given second chance by Lort Smith

Seven, one-week old puppies were surrendered to Lort Smith on Sunday 12 November. They were found in hard rubbish last Friday 10 November in Hoppers Crossing. The finder bottle fed them before surrendering them to us.

Bubbles not balloons, as Lort Smith joins campaign to protect seabirds

Lort Smith has joined Zoos Victoria and Phillip Island Nature Park’s campaign to protect native birdlife by pledging to stop using balloons at outdoor events.

Figures show Lort Smith cares for more than 700 animals every week

Iconic Melbourne-based not-for-profit Lort Smith has revealed in its Annual Report that in 2016 its team of vets and nurses performed a total of 37,996 consultations – that’s an average of 730 animals cared for every week.

Delicate goldfish surgery an eye-opener at Lort Smith

Gary the goldfish is recuperating at home after micro-surgery to remove his enlarged eye was successfully completed by the team at Lort Smith Animal Hospital recently.

Keep your pooch clean and support the Lort Smith Adoption Centre

Keeping your dog clean can sometimes be a full time job, but now you can make sure your four-legged friend is looking their best, while also helping animals in need at the new Lort Smith DIY Dog Wash.

Dr Leanne volunteers her skills in the Cook Islands

Lort Smith’s Dr Leanne Pinfold carried out a volunteer veterinary placement at the Esther Honey Foundation (EHF) Animal Clinic in Rarotonga, Cook Islands. Read about her amazing experience.

Lort Smith launches world’s best practice Adoption Hub

Iconic Melbourne not-for-profit institution, Lort Smith, today unveiled its Adoption Hub set to redefine animal adoption centres in Australia. The facility, officially opened by The Right Honourable Robert Doyle, Lord Mayor of Melbourne, sets a new benchmark in animal adoption services in Australia.