Brisbane ‘dog mums’ unite in new women-only group
Three Brisbane-based dog mums have banded together to create a new group for women whose dogs are more than just pets.
Brisbane Dog Friendly is the city’s first dog-focused social group just for women, launched by Angel Oliver, Adara Tavares and Holly Bambrige, who say they know firsthand the important role that woman’s best friend plays in their lives.
Launching their first event at the end of the month, the three women want to create a community for women who want connection and a space where the love they have for their dogs is understood and celebrated.
Angel Oliver got the idea to start the group after moving to Brisbane from the Gold Coast two years ago. She had few friends and was done with dating, and was struggling to meet new people.
“I went to events, and there’s always mum and bub events, and I need a club where I can be with other women who are treating their dogs like a child and I want to be connected to those women so I can make more friends,” Oliver said.
Oliver, along with event organisers Adara Tavares and Holly Bambrige, represent three generations – Gen X, Millenial and Gen Z – welcoming women of all ages and life stages to their community.
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“I think it’s more a trend right now, women or families are less willing to give birth and they are more willing to get a pet,” Tavares says.
The three women explain that the group, while not limited to, is about connecting women who have chosen to remain childless, while also giving back to the dogs and making sure they feel important in their lives.
“Especially for a generation like Millennials and Gen X, a lot of our friends are busy with their own kids, and I felt like I’m left alone, and I don’t know what to do,” Oliver explains.
Holly Bambrige adds that the idea of dog ownership is incredibly different from what it was 25 years ago.
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“Most dogs don’t live outside anymore, most dogs are part of the family whether you have children or not, and I think they have legitimately become part of the family,” Bambrige said.
“I guess that Australia hasn’t really caught up with that. In Europe you can take your dogs on trains, you can take them into the airport, there’s a better culture of dog owning that hasn’t quite come to Australia yet.”
Oliver adopted Bentley, her psychiatric service dog after moving to Brisbane – a relationship that she feels is so much more than just a pet.
“I want people to know the affect of having dogs in my life, it really heals my mental health issues, my sadness, my depression, and maybe there are women out there that are also battling the same thing with me, and maybe they should give dogs a chance,” Oliver said.
She adds that after adopting Bentley, she stopped feeling the need to seek external validation and pursuing toxic relationships
“He is the missing element in my life,” Oliver said.
“Dogs will fill a massive hole that no other human being could, and they will love us even better than ourselves,” Oliver says. “They teach how to love us better than ourselves.”
Brisbane Dog Friendly’s first event, a Pupcake & Sip, is being held on Sunday, September 20, at The Shed in Wynnum, from 11am to 1pm.
At the event, guests can make their own dog-safe cupcakes in the likeness of their own pups.
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