Souff

Spot on!

You are not the first person to tell me that more people will dump more dogs by the side of the road if we don't make it easy for them to surrender. Sorry, but this is an old chestnut. People who know their dog is microchipped are not going to leave the dog by the side of the road because the dog will be brought back to them! And, even with pounds and shelters available to them, the dumping of unmicrochipped pups and kittens in the box by the side of the road still happens anyway. No sorry, a message needs to get out there. "Don't get a dog if you are not prepared to devote 10 or 15 years of your life to commitment to that dog. It is YOUR dog and YOU are responsible for it."

You are not too far off topic. It was said by the undercover explorer that people should buy their dogs from pounds and shelters - with no explanation given as to WHY so many dogs and pups end up at shelters. Souff

Raz It really bugs me. Everyone who works with dogs, be they vets, vet nurses, groomers, behaviourists, trainers or whatever, knows that there are a lot of people who in a 5 year period would have had as many dogs and it isn't that the dogs died, they were simply replaced with another type of dog. Some went to other family members, but many of these dogs have been "surrendered". There is one here I could surrender too .... one wrecked flyscreen door was his handiwork at the weekend .... how dare I leave him at home! But no, I will get new mesh put on it and plan around the little devil next time he is to be left for the day. Yet, an incident like this is enough for some dogs to end up in a pound! It is just too easy. Too easy to get rid of a problem and let it be somebody else's problem.

Hmmm, that is one way to learn about keeping your dog under effective control at all times.

Every shop that sells dog food could have a notice to the effect of what you have posted here RSG. And every community notice board at country pubs. If the message only reached 50% of those who dump dogs on the side of the road, then the situation would be 50% better than it currently is. Souff

I just watched all of that video. Just part of a day in the life of a few Victorian police officers doing their job, and the blame can be sheeted home to irresponsible idiots who have the nerve to call themselves dog owners. Souff

Please tell your colleague that Souff wont be signing. Thank you.

Well then you could learn a lot about by going and talking to the university staff concerned. and you would sparkle a little more in the shed. I know for a fact that some of the universities are very much involved in recovery and after care on some of the dogs that they use. In other circs this might not be the case but you will only know by talking to the people concerned. Vets need to learn their practical skills somehow. It is not appropriate that vets start learning surgical procedures on sick dogs (e.g. yours and mine) that need an experienced vet with the skills to save their life. You don't let a pilot take up a plane solo if he hasn't had training and experience on the ground. Same goes for vets. Souff

I'd be interested in signing that. I'm actually quite amazed that someone straight out of law school and wanting to go to the Bar needs a Master to mentor them, but a vet grad can immediately set up his/her own shingle. eta one of the comments on that petition is that vet students cannot use live animals at a Uni in Canada. Would anyone here who has signed the petition allow any vet student who had never picked up a scalpel to operate on your dog? Aussienot, I am with you. There is no way that I would sign a petition that would inhibit proper training of vet students. If the dogs that they use did not have a viable future, and do not suffer at the university, then there is no ethical problem. Vets need to learn their practical skills somehow, not start to practice and learn on dogs that need their experience and skills to save their life. Souff

When you have the answer, please tell me. We have grown used to living with a marked barbecue .....

Have not read the rest of this thread, but support the concept that you have written here. It makes good sense and works well in many other areas of commerce. Souff

RANT WARNING! Another thing in this thread that gives me the irrits is the recommendation by the undercover explorer that people should buy a dog from the pound or from a shelter. This is a notion that promotes another vicious cycle. The dogs in pounds and shelters are almost always the product of humans disinterest, neglect, abuse (physical or emotional and sometimes both). Many of the dogs are damaged dogs, it is only the extent of the damage that varies. Some can be rehabilitated, some cant. Every time it is promoted that people should buy their next dog from a pound or shelter, there is another person out there who then feels justified on surrendering another dog to a pound or shelter, because they feel that somebody else will give this dog a second chance. It is a vicious cycle that is being perpetuated by the very people who consider that they are on a journey to liberate animals! I just don't get it .... I never have "got it" .... and I don't think I ever will. It is blatantly perpetuating a form of animal cruelty! Pass your responsibilities on to somebody else! IT IS FAR TOO EASY FOR PEOPLE TO GIVE UP ON THEIR RESPONSIBILITIES AS ANIMAL OWNERS. "The pounds and shelters will take the dog and find a new owner for it" ... that is the message that is going to the public every time somebody like Ms Dalziel opens their mouth! I am sorry ... but this message is a whole universe away from good animal welfare. Souff

Hugs to all those who have lost a much loved pet lately. We have the knowledge that they are free of pain and we have the fantastic memories, but sometimes it is still not enough to dry the tears.

One of the things that the canine councils are not promoting is the fact that the MAJORITY of dog breeders DO have the welfare of animals in mind. If they dont, then they are defeating their own aims. In order to breed good animals, you have to look after the good animals that you own. If you don't you are just going to end up with a pile of vet bills Why is it that we read so little about the WELFARE of animals these days? Why is it that we read so little about BEST PRACTICE when it comes to the welfare of animals? We have read an awful lot about the few bad apples out there and they are in the MINORITY, yet this is rarely stated. In every activity there will always be a minority who will do the wrong thing. It is time that breeder organisations and the RSPCA and the governments started to highlight the breeders and owners who are DOING THE RIGHT THING BY ANIMALS. There are a few million on them in this country to choose from .... they are not exactly in short supply. Good owners and good breeders are in THE MAJORITY. If anyone really wants to help animals, give the people who are in this MAJORITY a pat on the back. Yes, donations are always welcome too ;) ..... but you wont find us out there on the streets with buckets and propaganda. Souff edited to fix a few missing bits

This is the mantra of extremists. This is the mantra of PETA. ANIMAL LIBERATION VICTORIA = PETA As somebody else said in this thread ... if you want a future where human beings can own a dog as a pet, or to be able to breed from a dog .... BE VERY CAREFUL WHERE YOU PUT YOUR ALLEGIANCES and particularly, DO NOT DONATE ANY MONEY to these causes. Every time YOU give a donation to animal liberationist movements YOU ARE INCREASING the odds AGAINST PET OWNERSHIP EXTREMIST ORGANISATIONS are about power and egos and politics. EXTREMIST ORGANISATIONS are not seeking a viable future for animals. Souff

Totally agree Danni. Dogs NSW knows that councils have a lot of power in the existing legislation and they are not exercising enough of that power. Stick with the microphone at the shows Peter. If you want to do something positive about dog attacks put a rocket up the councils for not policing the Act. Souff

Shazzapug ... animal liberationists like Ms Dalziell dont want people to buy dogs from registered breeders - registered breeders are on the same hit list as pet shops. To be eliminated. Souff

I think some of us forget how small dogs legs are in comparison to our own. Souff

Your dog is very fortunate. The poor dogs who are born with hind dew claws have got these ugly claws sticking out of a flap of skin, and are not attached to a bone, just a sinewy thing. They rip easily. Far more easily than front dewclaws. For this reason they are treated as abnormalities and are removed by vets as early as possible. Throwbacks of prehistoric features are no asset, that is for sure. Souff

LoL That's the look that usually triggers the game. Ie it's her signal I must catch her cos I want to go somewhere like agility training, so I will chase her. I had to learn not to - the hard way. She does the same when I put on my dog walking accessories (bum bag with dog treats and poo bags, shoes, hat, coat etc). If I want anyone's undivided attention round here, the car keys will get it every time! Don't have to say a word. Seriously though, if a dog wants to stay outside and wont come in, there must be a reason why outside is better. Find the reason and eliminate it! Souff

Bloody snakes... Good dog, Khan!

Sounds as if somebody didnt do their math too well when deciding how much to give ..... That poor guy, and I agree with him, I dont think I could go through that again. She has terrible spinal problems and cant walk, I would be looking at massage and physio and chiro, and a nice warm bed, and staying right away from vets needles for a while. Hugs for Mia and her owners

Tried standing there with the car keys in one hand, and the lead in the other?

To dig a GR sized than lie in it, I think, is normal for an adult GR. It shows their constructive side. I know of 2 GR girls, who, on a hot day will head for their GR sized already-dug holes under a shady tree, give then a bit of a scratch to freshen them up a bit, and then lie down and snooze in the cool earth. Golden bliss apparently! They have contented owners who don't mind them having their holes under the tree .... they just have to remember not to go running through there in the dark! Souff