Adding a dog or cat to your Northern Districts home
Are you thinking about adding a pet to your family? Here’s everything you need to know about owning pets in the Northern Districts, from dog parks and rescue centres to groomers, holiday care and more.
Where to find your pet
There is no shortage of dogs and cats in need of good homes. If you decide to go to a breeder, it’s best to look for one who is registered. You can find a list of breeders on Dogs NSW who are all members and registered owners of purebred dogs. This site covers an impressive collection of breeds from great danes to French bulldogs.
Another site you might want to check out is Dogz Online. This site also has a full selection of registered breeders and you can find both puppies and older dogs for sale. Once again, the range of breeds is extensive and it pays to check often because the list of available dogs and puppies is always changing.
But if you’re not too fussed about the breed and would rather give an abandoned dog a good home, why not have a look at the available options at North Shore Dog Rescue. This rescue organisation is a branch of Dog Rescue Newcastle, a registered charity that has helped more than 10,000 dogs find a new home over the past 16 years.
If your preferred pet is a cat or kitten, check out Fox Valley Animal Hospital in Wahroonga, which has a cat adoption program. All their available cats and kittens have been vet checked and many have been rescued from stray cat colonies to reduce these and, in turn, protect native wildlife. Another rescue organisation in the area is Hawkesbury Companion Animal Shelter located in Mulgrave.
Once you get your new pet home, don’t forget to register it with the Hornsby Shire Council. The council website has lots of information for pet owners in the shire, including how to keep cats safe at home and where the local off-leash dog areas are.
Caring for your pet
Once you get your new dog home, you’ll want to find safe places nearby where you can exercise your pet in fenced dog parks. Parks which you can find on the Shire website include Greenway Park on Shepherd Drive in Cherrybrook and Dawson Avenue Parkland in Thornleigh.
These parks are fully fenced and have double gate entrances for safety. There are also bins for dog waste as well as doggie waste bags and clean water for drinking.
Food, advice and pet supplies
Before getting your new pet home, you’ll want to stock up on supplies such as food, pet beds, toys, harnesses, collars, puppy pads, litter trays and kitty litter. You’ll also want some grooming aids such as brushes, combs and nail clippers.
You can find all these items at Petbarn Pennant Hills, conveniently located at 352 Pennant Hills Road. You can even take your dog in for a fitting if you’re looking for the best harness. The staff are helpful and can offer advice on what you’re going to need.
Holiday care
If you have holidays planned and can’t take your pet with you, you’ll want to find a good boarding kennel or cattery nearby where you can be assured that your pet will be well looked after.
My Dog BNB is located at 22 Roland Avenue, Wahroonga, and is a family-run business whose owners claim that they’ve never had a dog leave their home without its tail wagging. For a slightly more relaxed environment with fewer dogs, take a look at Barking Buddies Beecroft who only take on two to three dogs at a time.
Getting your pet groomed
These days, many pet owners choose to get their dogs professionally groomed and there’s no shortage of groomers within the Northern Districts area. Best Buddy’s Grooming and Pet Care is located near Wahroonga and offers expert grooming, pet sitting, and dog walking.
Pet a Pet Grooming Salon is situated right in Thornleigh on Pennant Hills Road and offers a full range of grooming services as well as pet products and doggy daycare. For Cherrybrook pet owners, Bubble and Groom is located at 135 Purchase Road and Pretty Paws Pet Grooming is located at 21 Forester Crescent.
Veterinary services
If you’re getting a dog or cat from a pet rescue, it will have already been fully vaccinated and desexed, but a puppy or kitten from a breeder will most likely need further vaccinations and desexing. In either case, you’ll want to find a good vet nearby. Here are a few in the Northern Districts area:
- Pennant Hills Veterinary Hospital
- Thornleigh Veterinary Hospital
- Cherrybrook Vet Hospital
- West Pennant Hills Veterinary Hospital
- Parkes Street Vet
Are you thinking of selling?
Reach out to Page&Co today if you’re looking for a new home in the area or have one that you want to sell. We’re always happy to chat about current market trends and everything you need to know about selling - give us a call today.
