Flea & Tao
Name: Rachal aka Flea (who can guess why??)
Specialties/Qualifications/Skills;
1999 (Bentley Tafe) – Veterinary Nurse in Equine (large animal) & Small Animals, 25 years experience (Baldivis, Spearwood & Mosman Park Veterinary Hosptials).
Specialises in: All & any pet, especially rescued and abused animals, Animal Behaviour, Training & Nutrition, injured, ill and post-surgery,
Experience: Since 7 years of age, Flea has only rescued her pets. From animal shelters, contacts through work, driving down the freeway (yes, someone throwing a kitten out of their window and Flea stopped in the traffic to rescue this kitten) or walking, Flea has rescued hundreds. She has rescued, trained & in some instances, re-homed German Shepherds, and recently lost her 14.5 year old German Shepherd Ralph, who Flea rescued from the RSPCA in Queensland in 2010.
Flea has also extensive experience & knowledge in hand raising wildlife, birds (from Lovebirds to Ecelectus’).
Nationality; Australian (Born in Sydney, NSW)
Flea is not an animal lover, she is an animal warrior. In all areas of her life, an animals health, safety & contentment is her priority. Animals are naturally drawn to her, yet Flea will not accept a house sit if at the meet & greet any pet shows unhappiness, non-acceptance or stress of any kind with Tao being there. Just like you love your pets, Flea adores her Tao. How can someone say they adore animals and then leave their nearly blind boy to care for others?
You can watch Tao’s little movie showcasing all the pets Flea & Tao have cared for here.…..
Flea & Tao
In 2024, Flea lost her precious Ollie, a ginger cat she rescued from Karnup Prison at 8 months. The bond they shared was indescribable, so loosing him broke her. She drove to Brisbane, through NSW, to be with her life long friend. And after visiting cat shelters & foster homes, Rachal was chosen by a blue eyed, white fire point (ginger) Ragdoll x Siamese that was dumped in a rubbish bin with his three sisters. His name was Tao.
So, with 3 month old Tao, Flea drove back to WA, stopping at places with Tao to eat, hike, sleep, explore, and since that first night she picked him up, Flea and Tao have never been apart.
They’re a package deal, because of Tao’s blindness and the bond shared with his hooman. Rest assured though, that at the meet & greet, you’ll have a chance to see that Flea’s confidence in Tao’s submissiveness & love of all animals fully proven. And if the body language and/or behaviour of your pets suggests stress or non-acceptance, Flea will not put any animal through that, nor allow you as the owners to stress while you’re away. Another sitter will be arranged for another meet & greet.
Tao is nearly blind, and now a 1 year old (March 2025). He is submissive, placid, absolutely loves every animal, big or small, he meets. As a rescue, he’s used to other animals, and you can be sure that, just like Flea’s repeat clients, that your animals will love him too.
Tao is:
- Microchipped
- Castrated
- Treated with Revolution on the 10th of each month
- Fully house & car trained
- Never outside without a harness & leash
Flea also works from home, as a fibre artist. so besides popping out to the shop, she remains in your home keeping your animals company (and ok, getting snuggles as often as possible).
The images above show:
1 & 2 – Tao asleep whilst driving out of Brisbane. (he was 3 months old)
3 – Ralph at 7 years of age (2016)
4 – Tao fitting into the napkin holder (6 months old)
5 – Flea (2018)
6 – Tao at 9 months in Willeton (still so little he had to have a friendship bracelet collar Flea makes).
7 – Precious Ollie Bear – rescued from Karnup Prison in 2020). Still missed every second of every day.
