westiemum

Utilising GAP would be great but GAP to my knowledge is an incentive of and funded by the industry, close the industry no more GAP. This is why I would have liked to have seen a bond ( GBOTA suggested $1500, unfortunately this was one of the proposed reforms taken off the table) put on each greyhound when it was 2 weeks old, that would enable it be funded after retirement, another benefit would have been less pups bred due to the added cost of getting them registered $9000 for a litter of 6 pups on top of the 1000's it costs already. I don't see why taxpayers and other good people should be the only contributors to cleaning up their wastage. It would be the breeders choice to absorb that cost or past it on to the potential owners. Agreed - but there's no reason why some transitional funding shouldn't be made available say for two - three years post shut-down to nationalise GAP as well as maybe a smaller bond (you're right - the industry must shoulder at least some of the responsibility for re-homing their 'excess' and mustn't be allowed to escape scot free). But again that takes expertise to mobilise these GAP changes - and a very thick skin along with absolute rock solid political protection - and I doubt that will happen.

I've only skim read the last couple of pages of posts but my view on this hasn't changed. But I do need to clarify my comments about the greyhound people who stood by and did nothing. They did nothing illegal. However in my view they are as ethically and morally culpable as those who engaged in active cruelty - culpable passive inaction (I think I've invented a new term). And yes as m-j says I believe it will happen again - only a matter of time - and if as is highly likely there is then a brutal industry shut-down the issue for those of us who love dogs is how to save as many greys as possible. While not having read previous suggestions, I'm guessing that vastly enlarging the capacity of the existing GAP programmes using their expertise - right through their online systems to fostering and adopting capability. And yes it will take vast amounts of government support - and somehow keeping the RSPCA out of it so it doesn't get buggered up and turned into an RSPCA marketing exercise. I'd go as far as to suggest that a national GAP approach to the problem would be best even if the problem is initially NSW centred. Its probably the only way that enough fostering support can be garnered quickly. But at the risk of sounding like an old record, it will take massive resources, project and change management expertise and national goodwill. While I know the goodwill will be there, I'm not sure the resources and expertise will be when its needed.

Mine still look like new!! And as Sarah gets older I bless their waterproof zip off covers over the foam inserts. The only problem is they both prefer the lounger - might have to buy another one eventually...

Well that's interesting. Thanks. None of ours have any skin issues though. Off to google malassezia! Yes just looked at some sites and this may be it. Kind of freaked me out when he came home and told me and he's also being tested for allergy to dogs. Though mostly this seems to be on trunk and head. OH it's legs and just started on arms. Gretel google Malassezia images and info - strange name but is a human fungal disease I had as a teenager - mine was a 'butterfly rash' on my back from memory. It has the same name as the dog one - and I think there are different types - and yes you can get it on your arms and legs. Best to get your OH's GP to take it seriously and do some swabs and diagnose properly - sooner rather than later - and go from there. ETA - I forgot to mention that your OH's rashes (Malassezia?) may have nothing to do with the dogs - we didn't have dogs when I had my butterfly rash as a teenager - but we did live in Darwin and humidity can be a pre-disposing factor.

Yep Roova is a rockstar - just ask her about her dog beds!!

Can only talk on experience here - but Sarah (15 year old westie) was finally, properly diagnosed with malassezia some months ago. I've also had bad itchies for a long time. Then in DOL discussion Gruf suggested Selsum Blue Shampoo. So I bought some, threw Sarah under the shower with me each morning for a week (much her to disgust! What a morning circus!), bathed her with the Selsun, washed my hair and used it as a body wash for me and I think its helped get us both under control. So while I have no truth the her fungal disease and my itchies were connected, I suspect its possible and might have been.

Same here - I was going to suggest some Adaptil spray for Whitney. I used to spray the dog beds before I left for work when we were in temporary, very unsettled accommodation and I think it helped a lot. Otherwise I think just keeping the routine as normal as possible and give it time is probably the key. I have no doubt dogs grieve the death of their mates. My Sarah definitely grieved Mac's death this time last year but she had Andy's company to help her and seemed to 'move on' fairly quickly to life here as a family of three, rather than four.

ABC24 reporting this morning that Baird has admitted the U-turn on the greyhound industry was taken partially because of the Orange bi-election and it didn't work. Irony is that the result for the Nationals this last weekend has been disastrous (60% swing against the Nationals in one shire which is unheard of).

Aldi have 'medium' size dog cooling mats for $14.99 at the moment - maybe a couple of those?

SnapTSD. Couldn't agree more.

Done. While I'm not a breeder or in Victoria thanks to TSD, RP et al I now understand much better the stupidity of this bill and the template for other states that it provides. First rule of policy or legislation drafting - beware of the unintended consequences and who gets caught up but shouldn't - whoever drafted this bill is a rank amateur.

Thanks tons Hazy - although I don't go back quite as far as Phar Lap! I've known for a long time his death affected me very badly and recognise so much has flowed from that - and I like to think I'm wise enough to know what pushes my buttons and colours my views on so many levels - but i haven't really talked about ti for a long time. So thanks for your understanding and yes lets meet up next time I'm in Melbourne. Will look forward to ti.

Congratulations skip - you've handled this all really well. They are two gorgeous littlies - hope you and Denise can find them good homes.

So sorry Flashmum. RIP beautiful Harry.

Welcome to DOL and the club MissEpi. You're in fine company as many of us have been where you are now - until we learned the hard way. You've learned. Excellent and welcome to DOL. I have had three westies - two were rescues and now down to one rescue boy and one very bossy old girl. And over the years, I don't know what I would have done without the wonderful people here. Would love some pics of your boy and we're here to help as you go along. ETA: What sort of epilepsy does your boy have? And what's his name? My Andy has focal epilepsy but luckily its very mild and doesn't need medication. There's a great website - google 'canine epilepsy guardian angels' and it should come up.

WM I'm interested to know how many people you personally know in the greyhound industry. Have you been to a kennel or breeding/rearing facility or at least attended a track? Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't you only recently meet a greyhound for the first time? Correcting Hazy. I grew up in a racing family - we owned race horses, I rode and I went to 'the dogs' many times and have been to kennels owned by friends of my father (he always had to be fully involved in everything he did ) . It was Andy my westie who met a grey for the first time recently - Harley's beautiful Polly - not me. . Ah I thought you grew up in a horse racing family, so did I. My father was a bookmaker (I've been to more tracks than most people have had hot dinners)he also drove trotters and owned thoroughbreds and my grandfather and two of my uncles owned greyhounds so I've had a lifetime of experience across all three codes of racing. Ahhhh the good old days but times have changed, thankfully. You should get yourself along to a greyhound kennel in your area and see how different it is these days. I can try and organise it in your state if you would like so you can speak personally to a trainer? There are many trainers across most states that have offered many times for people to visit their facilities to see first hand how they are run but unfortunately people would rather just believe what they read on main stream and social media. The new track at Murray Bridge will be state of the art, go along to a meeting when it opens. Shame you're not in Victoria, you could visit Larissa (gapvic on DOL) and see how the welfare programmes work here, I've been there because I like to see things first hand and it's fantastic. She has been with Greyhound Racing Victoria for many years and I'm sure she would not be involved with an organisation that is rife with this "systematic" cruelty you speak of. Anyway just let me know and I'll see what I can tee up in SA. Thanks for your reply Hazy. Need to explain something to you that I haven't talked about in a very very long time... so you understand... I loved horse racing - the track, the race day atmosphere, the occasional bet, the access it gave me to these beautiful creatures - and never gave the welfare of the horses a single thought. Not one. It was the 'nobbling' of my families horse who was favourite for the Darwin Cup when I was in my early 20's which first brought me smack bang up against the under belly of animal racing. I loved that horse - he was such beautiful boy - and I rode him on the track at Fannie Bay a couple of times. He died a cruel, painful miserable death alone in his stall two nights before the race. I had no idea people would do such things and my love for horse racing came crashing down and it was the beginning of my growing unease with industries which use animals for profit, status and entertainment in this way. The autopsy proved poison and yet of course the stewards and police investigation didn't go anywhere. I always felt they didn't try very hard and they all just wanted it swept under the carpet and forgotten. I can still cry for that horse and haven't attended a horse racing meeting since. Later, I never enjoyed attending the dogs either - at the time, my feelings why were vague and undefined but I just felt something was wrong with dogs chasing stuffed bunnies while a mostly drunk crowd cheered (In Darwin in those days 90% of the crowd were off their faces by race 3). It was somehow all a bit macabre. And soon after I decided I would not attend any sort of animal race track again. So I absolutely take your word for it that things have changed at the dog tracks and thank you for your kind offer. But I'm going to decline - my families horses death (can't write his name without crying) - the sight of him dead in his stall is burned into my brain and the searing grief - that I genuinely can't go near a track of any kind - state of the art or not. Just can't do it. But when I'm next visiting my brother in Melbourne I'd be very interested to meet you and gapvic and see how GAPVIC works - as long as I don't have to go near a track. And when the time comes (and I hopefully finally have a permanent address!) I'll get in touch with GAP here - I'm sure a grey is in my future!! And so is Andy! Now I'm going back to talk about that menace in the US!

Just fixing the quote up as Maddy has jumped in!! .

Here you go : http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/newtown/prams-strollers/2-seat-stroller-phil-ted-sports/1129108476 http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/rydalmere/prams-strollers/stroller-3-wheels/1128337744 And one other: http://www.gumtree.com.au/s-ad/denistone-east/prams-strollers/childcare-three-wheeler-stroller/1124587843

The breed will survive and they are already "evolved" into a valued companion breed. Yes you're right - my bad wording. I was thinking that they would evolve from being valued for racing as well to being valued as companion animals only. And in my mind thats a good thing. The 'survive' comment was a response to those who have been saying the breed will die if the industry dies - which I don't believe.

WM I'm interested to know how many people you personally know in the greyhound industry. Have you been to a kennel or breeding/rearing facility or at least attended a track? Correct me if I'm wrong but didn't you only recently meet a greyhound for the first time? Correcting Hazy. I grew up in a racing family - we owned race horses, I rode and I went to 'the dogs' many times and have been to kennels owned by friends of my father (he always had to be fully involved in everything he did ) . It was Andy my westie who met a grey for the first time recently - Harley's beautiful Polly - not me. .

Yep looks fine to me if you want something for a bike as well and are happy to pay that much.

I can't see any pics Prob must be your end as the link is working from here. Otherwise they are both listed on Gumtree.

Here's one similar to mine but a more 'sporty' version. I think from memory the second child seat is removable if you don't want it and a bargain at $20. Or maybe this one - bad photos but sounds OK.

Looking at those wheels, I think that one would be fairly difficult to manoeuvre, particularly in parks and on uneven footpaths. And if you don't mind second hand, then Gumtree for a good quality cheaper one is probably a better bet.

I had the same problem with my old Mac who's now gone. Perse spotted a Phil and Ted's three wheeler stroller on Gumtree for me - which meant I could walk two other westies on a double lead to the park while pushing Mac one-handed in the stroller. Cost me $50 and a new tire. Worked brilliantly by laying it flat, put in his favourite pillows and cushions and I took the hood thing off. And was handy for putting stuff in (like glasses and a bottle of red!) for park trips. Mac loved it - he could still go to the park with the others, potter around, and when he got too tired I'd put him back in the stroller and he'd have a snooze in the park shade. He loved his stroller and I'm reluctant to give it away in case I end up needing it for Sarah now she's heading for 16. ETA: Mac only tried to jump out once very early on. So to start with I put him on a lead (black strap in the photo) and tied it to the handle bar as a precaution. But very quickly he got the idea and so I didn't need to use the leash anymore.