Paw Protectors Needed For Koalas Injured in Brush Fires - Sitcoms Online Message Boards

Schmoopie · 03-22-2015, 06:27 AM

I don't usually post here since the posts are so random, but I wanted to pass this along. This is a very sad situation where these sweet and adorable koalas have been severely injured in brush fires in Australia and I found this link to a campaign for people to make these "mittens" for the koalas to wear while their paws heal. I can't sew very well and I don't have access to a sewing machine, but I would love to participate in this.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-0...-fires/6007038

Paw protectors needed for koalas injured in bushfires

Updated 7 Jan 2015, 11:59pm
Koala wearing mittens Photo: Mittens are used to treat koalas with burned paws. (International Fund for Animal Welfare)
Related Story: Koala gets roadside assistance from CFS firefighter
Related Story: Koala recovering well from Adelaide bushfire injuries
Map: SA

Koalas being treated for burned paws after recent bushfires in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales are desperately in need of cotton mittens, an animal care group says.

The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has asked volunteers to make up the paw protectors which are used to put over bandages.

"The treatment for burns in a koala is very similar to the treatment of burns in a human being," the organisation's Jilea Carney said.

"It's a regime of infection control, applying burns cream, bandages."

Ms Carney said the mittens could be dropped off at local wildlife care centres, including the Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Hospital at Plympton.

She said a template for the mittens was available on the group's website.

Four koalas were rescued from a fire in Pottsville in New South Wales late last year, and at least two are receiving treatment in Victoria, but some have had to be euthanased as a result of their injuries, including one who received care on a roadside at Chain of Ponds.

The creatures are particularly vulnerable during bushfires because they are slow-moving.

And Ms Carney said it was impossible to know how many dehydrated and injured koalas remained on the fire grounds.

"We don't know what the needs are going to be. When the fire grounds are opened up to wildlife rescuers, they do what they call a 'black-walk'," she said.

"Any injured animals that can be treated are brought straight into care ... but because of the severity of the fires and the amount of fires around Victoria and Adelaide, at the moment we don't know what we're facing.

"We may not even use them all this year but we know bushfires are a fact of life and we'll have a stockpile."
Vet staff preparing for influx of injured koalas

Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Hospital founder Rae Campbell said she was "devastated" with worry thinking about the koalas in need of help.

"We've got one coming in very shortly and another following it," she said.

"I think over the coming days and weeks there will be many, many more.

"Many of them, if they're picked up early enough and treated, are able to be released and have normal lives."

Ms Campbell said extra staff were preparing to handle an influx of cases.

"We have vets on call and extra vet nurses and extra volunteers on call and we can take 20 or 30 or more at a time if we need to," she said.

"Please, if you have a little bit of time, or a sewing machine that's sitting there, run up a pair of mittens."

The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has 190 volunteers and three paid members of staff.

Supervisor Cheyne Flanagan said the centre, which on average houses 25 to 30 koalas, will fill to bursting with 100 koalas if bushfires hit the local area.

Ms Flanagan said one by-product of bushfires was that staff were becoming better at treating koala burns.

"We've got probably 400 mittens here and if we had a fire, we'd go through them in a week," she said.

The pattern for these seems fairly simple so I may give it a try, but it would take me a while to make even one. If anyone has a sewing machine and would want to participate the pattern is here...

http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/fi...PATTERN-A4.pdf

My husband and I would even be willing to mail them to Australia if someone was willing to make some of these.

Bonniegirl · 03-22-2015, 01:58 PM

Poor little things!!! That breaks my heart!!! I love Koalas! I don't sew either. I know if my Mom was still alive she would do this! She was a great at sewing but my sister and I never got into it!

Are they taking money donations I wonder ? I'd like to send a donation for anything else I could help with !

03-22-2015, 06:27 AM	#1
Schmoopie Keep Calm and Love Snoopy Forum Star Join Date: Jul 13, 2008 Location: Lynnwood, Washington Posts: 15,697	Paw Protectors Needed For Koalas Injured in Brush Fires I don't usually post here since the posts are so random, but I wanted to pass this along. This is a very sad situation where these sweet and adorable koalas have been severely injured in brush fires in Australia and I found this link to a campaign for people to make these "mittens" for the koalas to wear while their paws heal. I can't sew very well and I don't have access to a sewing machine, but I would love to participate in this. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-01-0...-fires/6007038 Paw protectors needed for koalas injured in bushfires Updated 7 Jan 2015, 11:59pm Koala wearing mittens Photo: Mittens are used to treat koalas with burned paws. (International Fund for Animal Welfare) Related Story: Koala gets roadside assistance from CFS firefighter Related Story: Koala recovering well from Adelaide bushfire injuries Map: SA Koalas being treated for burned paws after recent bushfires in South Australia, Victoria and New South Wales are desperately in need of cotton mittens, an animal care group says. The International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) has asked volunteers to make up the paw protectors which are used to put over bandages. "The treatment for burns in a koala is very similar to the treatment of burns in a human being," the organisation's Jilea Carney said. "It's a regime of infection control, applying burns cream, bandages." Ms Carney said the mittens could be dropped off at local wildlife care centres, including the Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Hospital at Plympton. She said a template for the mittens was available on the group's website. Four koalas were rescued from a fire in Pottsville in New South Wales late last year, and at least two are receiving treatment in Victoria, but some have had to be euthanased as a result of their injuries, including one who received care on a roadside at Chain of Ponds. The creatures are particularly vulnerable during bushfires because they are slow-moving. And Ms Carney said it was impossible to know how many dehydrated and injured koalas remained on the fire grounds. "We don't know what the needs are going to be. When the fire grounds are opened up to wildlife rescuers, they do what they call a 'black-walk'," she said. "Any injured animals that can be treated are brought straight into care ... but because of the severity of the fires and the amount of fires around Victoria and Adelaide, at the moment we don't know what we're facing. "We may not even use them all this year but we know bushfires are a fact of life and we'll have a stockpile." Vet staff preparing for influx of injured koalas Adelaide Koala and Wildlife Hospital founder Rae Campbell said she was "devastated" with worry thinking about the koalas in need of help. "We've got one coming in very shortly and another following it," she said. "I think over the coming days and weeks there will be many, many more. "Many of them, if they're picked up early enough and treated, are able to be released and have normal lives." Ms Campbell said extra staff were preparing to handle an influx of cases. "We have vets on call and extra vet nurses and extra volunteers on call and we can take 20 or 30 or more at a time if we need to," she said. "Please, if you have a little bit of time, or a sewing machine that's sitting there, run up a pair of mittens." The Port Macquarie Koala Hospital has 190 volunteers and three paid members of staff. Supervisor Cheyne Flanagan said the centre, which on average houses 25 to 30 koalas, will fill to bursting with 100 koalas if bushfires hit the local area. Ms Flanagan said one by-product of bushfires was that staff were becoming better at treating koala burns. "We've got probably 400 mittens here and if we had a fire, we'd go through them in a week," she said. The pattern for these seems fairly simple so I may give it a try, but it would take me a while to make even one. If anyone has a sewing machine and would want to participate the pattern is here... http://www.ifaw.org/sites/default/fi...PATTERN-A4.pdf My husband and I would even be willing to mail them to Australia if someone was willing to make some of these.
	__________________ In memory of my wonderful husband. I love and miss you more than words can say, but I will always and forever keep you in my heart. September 23, 1961-January 14, 2019

03-22-2015, 01:58 PM	#2
Bonniegirl AKA Hazel Horvath Forum Addict Join Date: Jul 10, 2014 Posts: 66,370	Poor little things!!! That breaks my heart!!! I love Koalas! I don't sew either. I know if my Mom was still alive she would do this! She was a great at sewing but my sister and I never got into it! Are they taking money donations I wonder ? I'd like to send a donation for anything else I could help with !