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| November 15, 2009 | ||||
VALE BESSY We lost our beloved Bessy this last Thursday November 12, to tick poisoning. She was almost 11 ½ and the most beautiful, lovable and friendly Staffy, a real credit to her breed. She would greet people enthusiastically, talk to them and wag her tail at a million wags per second! We brought her home and she lays under the cabbage tree palms just on the way to her favourite walk in Elizabeth Park. Thankyou everyone for your warm wishes Cass, Bill & Tashi
Church Point Plan of Management Meeting Free Transport to Council Meeting on Monday 16 Nov 6pm Just a reminder that it would be great to have a good roll-up of Offshore residents at the Council meeting on Monday, November 16 at 6pm in the Mona Vale Community Hall where the Church Point Plan of Management will be up for consideration. A significant presence at this meeting will
Similar to the last public meeting, please avoid interjection during the Council discussion. SIRA and WPCA will have representatives addressing Council and your positive support would be appreciated. For those who would like to read the current Draft Church Point Plan of Management and related documents, go to the link below. Also download the report and recommendations to Council here (MS Word document) http://www.pittwater.nsw.gov.au/recreation/parks_and_reserves/reserves_plans_of_management/church_point See you there. Cass Gye 02 9979 5853 0418 220 107 P O Box 52 Church Point 2105 Paralysis Tick Information Sheet - Canine & Feline The female paralysis tick, Ixodes holocyclus, is found along the eastern coast of Australia and causes tick poisoning. It is more prevalent in the bushy, seaside areas where there is an abundance of its natural hosts, the bandicoot and possum. The paralysis tick is very sensitive to climatic changes and so the life cycle slows down in cold and dry weather, and accelerates very rapidly in warm, humid weather. Thus, in Sydney the worst time for ticks is between September and April, but it is important to remember that they are present all through the year and their incidence is climatically con trolled. The life cycle of the tick consists of the adult laying eggs that hatch into tiny pinhead size larvae. These larvae attach themselves to a suitable animal (the host), suck blood, fall off when full, moult and develop into a nymph. The nymph, like the larvae then repeats the process and finally develops into the adult tick. The adult then attaches itself to a host, feeds until engorged, falls off and lays 2000 to 3000 eggs, which hatch into larvae and so complete the life cycle. The paralysis toxin which the tick produces comes from the salivary glands of the adult female tick and paralysis occurs progressively, that is, the more engorged the tick, the more toxin it produces which in turn produces more paralysis. To our dogs and cats, the all too often result of tick paralysis is an untimely and uncomfortable death. So let us speak firstly of prevention. By far the best, if not the only means of prevention is to search your pet daily; that is running your fingers over every square inch of its body. Pay particular attention to the head, neck, shoulders and forelimbs but not forgetting between the toes, in the ears and even inside the mouth. Ticks can be found anywhere on your pet - SO BE VIGILANT! Ticks, even large ones are easily missed so the more members of your family that can spare the time to go over your pet the better. Products such as Frontline (cats and dogs) or Advantix (only to be used in dogs as very toxic to cats) do help if used every 2 weeks. Permoxin rinse, which is used weekly can also repel ticks but again is only to be used on dogs as is toxic to cats. While use of these products does help there is unfortunately no guarantee. For this reason we highly recommend daily searching of your pet. Also, if your pet has a long or thick coat, having them clipped short for the summer months makes searching for ticks that much easier. Let us suppose you have found a tick on your pet (remember if one is found always look for more). Do not start dabbing at it with methylated spirits, kerosene etc.- all that is going to do is further irritate the tick and burn the animal's skin as well. Grab the tick firmly at the point of attachment next to the skin with your fingers or a pair of tweezers and pull the tick out. If the body of the tick breaks off leaving the head behind imbedded in the skin, don't worry, the tick has been killed and there will only be a slightly prolonged irritation at the site of attachment. This is another time for close observation. If your pet is not showing any symptoms (remember symptoms can occur for up to four days after you have removed the tick), keep him cool, quiet and for the first eight hours withhold food, water and any medication. If your pet develops any of the following symptoms:
No vet will mind a phone call. Let them ascertain the extent of the poisoning and whether you should bring your pet in for treatment. It is far better to err on the early side, apart from the fact that your pet stands a much better chance of survival. The cost of tick serum is expensive and advanced cases need a lot of other supportive therapy as well. At this point it may be as well to explain why there is emphasis on keeping your pet cool and quiet. As the tick poison circulates through the body, there is a gradual paralysis, starting with the rear legs and moving for ward. If your pet becomes upset, too hot or you take him for a walk just to see if he becomes wobbly, you will aggravate his condition. This causes more distress and exhaustion, which in turn further aggravates his problems. If you have to transport him to the vet, be calm, re-assure your pet, keep him cool, restrain him gently and generally keep him as quiet as possible. Most animals die of paralysis of the respiratory muscles, hence the emphasis on helping the breathing. However some animals die from a tick toxin induced pneumonia, which can be caused by two things. One is exposure. Cats have a nasty habit of crawling off somewhere when they are ill. It rains during the night, the paralysis worsens and without shelter your pet is severely stressed by chilling, leading to pneumonia. The second cause is the reason why food and water must be withheld if you suspect tick poisoning: as the larynx is not operating as it should be due to the tick poisoning, the chances of stomach contents being vomited up and inhaled into the lungs by accident is a very real risk. When this happens a bacterial infection usually occurs and - pneumonia again.
The tick season is from September to April Author Talk@ Mona Vale Library Louise Egerton - "Wildlife Australia" AUTHOR TALK EXPLORES AUSTRALIA’S WILDLIFE Mona Vale Library will host an Author Talk with Louise Egerton on Thursday 26 November at 6.30pm. Her book, Wildlife of Australia, is an authoritative compendium featuring over 550 stunning photographs by Jiri Lochman. The book highlights the enormous diversity of Australia’s wildlife and emphasises the need for conservation. With the help of over 70 zoologists, Egerton and Lochman have produced a magnificent work of reference featuring Australia’s mammals, birds, reptiles, frogs, freshwater fishes and a cornucopia of invertebrates. The book follows the fascinating story of animal evolution on the Australian continent, including the remarkable ways in which species have developed in order to survive in such an inhospitable land. Because of Australia’s long isolation, many of its animals are endemic; that is, they live nowhere else on Earth. The book also discusses how some Australian animals are on the brink of extinction due to the introduction of exotic pest species and how the spread of the built environment impacts on many species. The book brings home the conservation message, explaining how we need to protect the species through improved environmental projects and policies. Louise Egerton has a degree in Zoology and Botany. She currently researches, edits, writes and publishes books that specialise in the life sciences. Her first book Know Your Birds won a Whitley’s Book Award. Jiri Lochman, born in Czechoslovakia, is an experienced wildlife photographer and he and his wife are winners of the Australian Geographic Award for Excellence in Photography. Louise Egerton’s Author Talk will begin at 6.30pm at the library in Park Street, Mona Vale. Books will be available for purchase and signing by the author. Bookings are essential and can be made by phoning 9970 1600. Payment is required within 3 days of booking. The admission fee which includes light refreshments is $7.50 or $5.50 concession (please show cards at the door). Local Council Notices  The Coast of Australia Revealed Pittwater Council’s Coastal Environment Centre (CEC) and Next Chapter Books at Warriewood are launching a seminal book on Australia’s coastline co-authored by Professor Andy Short. Andy Short is a Professor of Marine Science and Geosciences at the University of Sydney and with degrees from the University of Sydney, the University of Hawai’i and Louisiana State University, is an internationally renowned expert on the world’s coastlines. He has studied the coasts of North and South America, the Arctic Ocean, Hawai’i, New Zealand, the British Isles and Europe, as well as the entire Australian Coast. Andy Short is also a former resident of Narrabeen Beach who has documented storm events on the northern beaches and the subsequent effects of erosion and climate change over two decades. The Coast of Australia will be launched at the Coastal Environment Centre on Friday 20 November at 5pm by Pittwater Mayor Harvey Rose, Pittwater MP Rob Stokes and local environmental campaigner Phil Colman. Mayor Rose said the book showed that Australia’s coastline was one of the most beautiful in the world, but also vulnerable to climate change. “Professor Short has spent a lifetime studying the coast and the Coastal Environment Centre has benefited directly from his knowledge in developing education programs about our coastline,” the Mayor said. Rob Stokes, MP for Pittwater said that the value of Pittwater’s economy, culture and homes were all enhanced by its coastline. “Learning about our coast at the Coastal Environment Centre and from experts like Professor Short enriches our experience of the coast and all it offers”, he said. Gary Jackson, Executive Management Consultant at the CEC said “During climate change impact uncertainty, our association with Andy Short provides an accurate and informed voice for the local management and potential impacts on the northern beaches coastline and lagoon catchment”. ‘We encourage our community to join us at the CEC to discuss these important issues, enjoying an outstanding educational resource that will help all of us manage our future on the coast”. The Coast of Australia is published by Cambridge Books and will be sold at the Coastal Environment Centre and at Next Chapter Books, Warriewood. To attend the launch please book through the CEC on 9970 1675 by Wednesday 18 November; bookings are essential as numbers are limited. For Sale If you have something for sale that you think locals would like - let us know and we will put an entry in the PON at the beginning of each month... Christmas Moving Sale bric-a-brac and knick-knacks from around the world WHERE : Ferryman's Cottage on Robertson Road between Tennis and Cargo Wharf DATE : Sunday 29th November 2010 Time : 10am start (no early birds please) Philip & Trilby Bond Dresser for Sale Solid Pine with 3 shelves, 3 drawers and 3 cupboards in good condition CONTACT : Trilby Bond 9979.5958 or m. 0419.600.792 PRICE : $200.00 Biminy & Motor for sale Biminy for a polycraft 4.1. Canopy is approx 183cm or 6ft + attachments Price: $350 Retail for $660 at boat shop In good condition and just sitting in our garage with a Biminy zip cover over it. Mariner 30hp Tiller Steer Motor Price: $1,800 Only selling due to getting larger 50hp motor for boat Contact Sally Bacon - 0417 28 15 20 |
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