“Rufus and Boris, Cool Cats of Hurstbridge” sponsor a jazz music program on community radio and each week their names are read out on air. Sometimes they reply with cheeky texts about kibble or how much they are digging the vibes, as they listen to the show from one of several luxury bedding sites around the house. Afterwards, they head for the amenities wing/laundry where they groom and tuck into food shipped directly from France, and when I finally finish making the payments they will also be able to enjoy Swedish microchip feeders and individual wellness centres, complete with back massagers and simulated mother’s heartbeat, for those desperate times when we cannot be together.
My rescue pets are living their best life but it has created tensions around the house. Credit: iStock Rufus and Boris are my rescue pets and ever since they arrived from the cat shelter, I have considered them the best investment I ever made. Such a good investment that I have an urge to grow my fur family further.
But after many thousands of dollars spent and a referral from my bank manager for financial counselling, I have been forced to admit that I may need rescuing from my rescue pets. Australians are among the world’s most enthusiastic pet owners. According to PetRescue, we adopt more than 60,000 abandoned animals each year and Animal Medicines Australia has estimated the annual worth of the pet industry at $30 billion.
Sixteen per cent of us have pet insurance – an unthinkable stat.
