Souff

Indeed. gaol, jail, clink, brig, slammer ...... they all mean the same thing no matter what their origins or what country they are used in PRISON

Angelsun, you have said it all. And sadly, the backyarders will continue to do it and the silly owners who allow them to do it will be the ones who cop the rap, get themselves out on an appeal or such like. I cant seeing any lessons being learned here. These procedures are for vets to do, and the local authorities SHOULD be making sure that the vets are allowed to do it. There are a lot of dog hating people in this world and the first thing that will set them off is a barking dog, and the next thing that set them off is when they see dog poo somewhere. If dog lovers want to live in urban areas with their dogs, then having the vocal noise turned down a notch, with a qualified veterinarian doing the procedure is NOT CRUEL. Such a procedure can ultimately save a dog from being PTS. But I am preaching to the choir here and yes, give your dogs an extra hug ...... the lunatics are in charge of the law making asylums. Souff

Totally agree. Best medicine. Myrtle should have met that cat when she was a puppy .... dominant male cats are excellent puppy trainers. We had several pups "raised" by an old tomcat and they are still the best mannered and sociable dogs in the crew when they are near cats. The younger ones missed out on getting swiped by a cranky cat when they were pups and yes, they have a total lack of respect for cats. Souff

Exactly.

All good points Steve, and if its OK with you I will be including such in my submission to my Member of Parliament. I will also be pushing the point that some of the "cottage breeders" are amongst the best breeders in the world imho, and do not deserve to be lumped in with the real puppy farmers. Horses for courses. As I have said before, blanket legislation or "one-size-fits-all" legislation DOES NOT WORK. It frightens the bejesus out of the very people who should continue breeding in a responsible manner. It is a good time to write to your local member folks, elections are in the offing. But be nice!!! Souff Edited to correct a MAJOR oops! ;)

For those who are shocked by my attitude, I am sorry but this writing has been on the wall for years and I think what you are now looking at is very similar to what happened when bans on tail docking were first announced - the bloody thing is a foregone conclusion and it is going to happen, whether we like it or not, whether we fight it or not. The political deals will probably already have been done and the animal libbers have very heavy backing. You all have a voice through your local member of parliament and you are well advised to use your individual voice now and write politely to that member, outlining your concerns and stating what you want if such a law is enacted. I have a suspicion that if you rely on your kennel clubs and other organisations, that you may as well whistle in the wind. REMEMBER THE TAIL DOCKING LEGISLATION? DO YOU REMEMBER THAT IS WAS NOT FOUGHT BY ALL BREEDERS? I am sorry to say this but we did tell you then that more legislation like that would happen, that tail docking was just the point of the wedge. The dog world chose to divide on that issue; many DID NOT BELIEVE and did not stand shoulder to shoulder. It was a case of "united we stand, divided we fall" and we fell ... and your enemy saw and heard the cracks in that wall. The soft underbelly of Australian dog breeders was on show to the animal libbers. In NZ it was a very different story and they now have a very different outcome. If you dont want unaffordable licence fees and you dont want to have to post bail for your dogs if they are siezed, then my best suggestion is to get behind the MDBA and to make your own representations to your local member of State Parliament. Souff is tired and wont be joining any team of campaigners this time. Will my local MP be hearing from me? Bloody oath they will. Souff

I disagree. If they advertise pups anywhere the thought police will be on to those ads. This happened to a retired couple in Queensland about 5 years ago - put an ad in the local paper to sell 3 small breed pups, two nice ladies arrived on the Saturday to "have a look" but didnt buy, and the council ranger was there on the Monday to harass the old people about how long they could keep pups on the premises - a normal suburban block. Straightout harassment with no law to back it up then. No doubt the two do-gooders and the ranger were proud of their Gestapo like tactics. The old couple still have their two beautiful dogs but will never breed a litter again. Those old people committed no crime - and the dogs were not large breed and it was not a large litter. They just happened to live in one of the many anti-dog local government areas of Queensland. Unlicensed BYBs will have to retail their dogs somewhere and if they are advertising, then you can bet your bottom dollar the "nice ladies" will be visiting to see the pups, followed by "the authorities" a day or so later. No risk about that at all. Souff

One of the scariest things I've heard so far. Disgusting. Otherwise, this code will pave the way for large wholesale puppy farms and kill most registered breeders. They'll make a killing because it will be the only place to get a puppy, they will easily afford the licenses because they'll be raking it in. As it stands at the moment, the costs to an owner when dogs are held in custody (sometimes for months on end) by the RSPCA are totally outrageous. Dont see that there is a different end result here

It will be the aim of the animal libbers to make the license unaffordable. It MUST be the aim of the kennel clubs to ensure that is affordable to all who want to breed dogs, otherwise the kennel clubs have no future.

I have concerns about every point and have expressed them before, however this one has now jumped out at me too. What is a "large" number of puppies ? My adult dogs rarely see a vet, they are in peak physical condition, they are fed and looked after in such a way so as not to require vet attention. There are times when I'd prefer no home visits, when litters are on the ground, a litter is expected or there is an outbreak of a disease. Reluctance does not mean that a breeder has anything to hide. What is a "large" volume of dog food. I also work for a pet food warehouse and do not judge our clients on the amount of dog food they purchase and certainly wouldn't be calling the RPSCA because they purchase a pallet of food. I know where they local puppy farms are and one of them has been reported to the RSPCA several times for failing to treat sick and injured dogs, but still they flourish and continue on. Breeders (ethical and otherwise ) buy many things in bulk, from food to bedding, worm tablets, flea control, the list is endless. Are we going to see an RSPCA inspector on the door step because we purchase 100 all wormers at a time or a pallet of dog food ? Indications of a puppy farm operator ..... yeah, that is very subjective. What is a puppy farmer to one person is not a puppy farmer to another. Indications of "a collector" are much the same ..... they too might be buying a lot of dog food too (but they probably forget to buy a lot of wormers) Healthy adult dogs dont need to see the vet for ailments, but they will be vaccinated from time to time wont they? Mine manage to see the vet for accidents between vaccinations (one old girl decided to become obsessive about chewing a paw to the point of bleeding last week so the vet had to take a look). Another thought he was a bird and flew off something high and landed on something very hard, and of course an x-ray was needed ... grrrr Also, when taking the puppies in for vaccinations, why not have Mum in the car, and the vet can then notate that they are in good condition etc. I think there are a few simple things that can be done so that there is a record that the adult dogs are just fine thank you. And whoever is sitting down at meetings discussing this needs to make the point: BUYING A LOT OF DOG FOOD IS NOT A SURE INDICATOR OF A PUPPY FARM. Souff

Street address will be a big scary thing for some breeders, and a not so scary thing for others. I know breeders who advertise their street address and others who also have signs on the front of their property. Security cameras are a wonderful thing and do not cost as much as you might think. A sign saying that you "are under camera surveillance when on this property" or similar is a very powerful deterrent to would be dog-nappers. As is a not-so-friendly large dog or 2 waiting to greet them In some circumstances it is OK to provide the name of the street or road ..... without a number. You can also provide the name of the property "Millarongabooka" or such like, but forget to put the sign on display on the front gate. Why make it easy for thieves and other loonies It IS possible to live with good security and maintain some privacy and still be a good breeder of dogs. Many breeders currently do just that. Re the pups going overseas, well that will provide a culture shock for the mass producers and exporters I suppose, and some others, but as there are many countries in the world which have a rabies problem and it takes 6 months for the rabies vaccine to be fully effective, I really dont have too much of a problem with that. If Souff can find an excuse to hop on a plane and go somewhere, with or without a pup, then that can only be a good thing ... and leave others to look after things at home, "Sweetie, I have to fly to France in May ... its a terrible thing I know, but somebody has to do it ..... " Whoohoo! Will there be a mass exodus from kennel clubs? No, I dont think so. Any kennel clubs who think that this might happen would do well to take other steps to make kennel club membership more attractive to people and do a bit of pro-active marketing and perhaps add a few goodies to the package. Those people who want to show their dogs wont be leaving, and there are heaps of them. I honestly think that they will sell an extra puppy, or do a bit of extra work somewhere, to finance their government registration and be proud to advertise it. It is a credential that buyers will be looking for. All up, I dont have too much of a problem with the suggestions. If you have things up to scratch and not much to hide, then you dont have too much to fear from inspectors. Some of them are OK, some might have an agenda and kick over the water bowl or something like that, but you wont be too worried about that if the security cameras are running. Gotcha! Souff

Just bringing this matter back to doggy stuff .... Souff never really gets too upset if the large dogs eat a bit of the plastic chocolate. Of course if a small dog consumes a large amount of the stuff that is a different matter, they are going to throw up inside the house arent they, so better that they do that at the vets. But REAL chocolate is a totally different matter, that stuff can kill a dog. A bit like eating formaldehyde straight off the blanket. Souff

Do you want me to cure you of your chocolate craving? I can start on that next. If you buy the supermarket chocolate, there's no chocolate in it so god knows what stuff they put in it. If you buy the real deal it's come out of the Amazon where Texaco dumped billions of litres worth of toxic waste. Great isnt it. Safer just to buy a gun and shoot yourself in the head, my dear. Ohhh .... is Belgian chocolate not OK then? No worries about the plastic chocolate from the supermarket, Souff only gives that to OTHER people to eat ;)

Ah, so it is actually ORGANIC ......

Agreed. I think some politicians were manufacturers in past lives. They just switched products; in politics they manufacture empty promises and spin. :p Souff

The DEET and anti-malarials will get you before the mozzies and the crocs. Sorry. I've probably depressed you even more Watch out for the washing powder you put in your dishwasher, Souffle. Your coffee cup is crawling with formaldehyde Oh well, that is it then! I shall give up drinking coffee, drinking wine from a glass is a healthier alternative. Wine comes in glass, and is drunk in glasses round here ..... and I dont ever put the wine glass in the dishwasher as it likes to eat them Wine is definitely a healthier alternative Hey, I dont feel depressed anymore! :p Souff

Morning Jed! :p

And the stuff you use to wash them has formaldehyde in it anyway :p Oh, that is soooooooo depressing .... you have now officially ruined Souff's Monday .... all those things sloshing around in the washing machine ..... Better start thinking about moving to a nudist camp in the tropics, but then again the crocs and malaria laden mosquitoes would probably eat me before the cancerous cells could multiply ..... Lock up your chocolate, Souff is depressed!

:rolleyes: Even chocolate can give you cancer I spose ....... Souff always understood that formaldehyde was on all new clothes, blankies, etc and that it stayed there until you washed the things. Seeing as there are polar fleece dog blankets in the washing machine here every other day, about the only thing that is going to get cancer from it is the cockroaches in the sewers cos that is where the formaldehyde ends up. Suoff

Souff is not going to read all these pages of helpful hints ... Souff should be doing other things! However, there are 3 things that I know work well when trying to turn little wombats into slim little cinderellas: GELATIN, CABBAGE, EXERCISE Now, exercise might not be possible for your little dog at this stage, but if you think you can take her for a regular short walk, please do so. Important: ALL WALKS MUST BE DONE AFTER EATING! Important: FOOD MUST NOT BE GIVEN IN THE EVENING! Dogs sleep on it and DO NOT burn off the kilojoules. Now, what is this about GELATIN, you ask? Well, gelatin is a clear-ish powder that you get from the supermarket cooking stuff aisle. You mix some with a bit of warm water and make a paste, then add some hot water to make it runny. Then all you have to do is add it to some nice soft mushy food (yes, I know soft food is not good for teeth) and let the dog eat it. The gelatin has NO TASTE so will not turn your dog off a favourite food. Now, HOW does the gelatin help your dog lose weight? Very simple. It makes your dog feel as though she has a lot of food in her tummy ...... like "Oh, I feel so FULL, and I didnt eat much food at all! I could not eat ANOTHER THING!" This is what you need to achieve. A satisfied little dog who is no longer hungry and is losing weight. Hungry dogs on diets have big pleading eyes and humans give them treats between meals, or another meal, because they feel sorry for the dog. No treats! No extra meals! After a week of using the Gelatin, cook a couple of cabbage leaves in a pot of water on the stove, or in the microwave. Chop them up fairly finely. Add a spoonful of cabbage to every meal of dog food mush and gelatine. The cabbage has a wonderful filling effect, as does the gelatin, and it is also a diuretic. She will be weeing more and flushing her kidneys of toxins and fats. PUT EXTRA BOWLS OF WATER AROUND THE PLACE. She is going to be drinking more water and she needs to do this. Drinking extra water will help her lose weight. So it is: WEEK ONE: Add gelatin to some mushy food. WEEK TWO and thereafter: Add gelatin and boiled cabbage to some mushy food. Lean meats that will also help her are: TURKEY MINCE, MINCED VEAL, ROO MINCE. No fat. No garbage. Just good lean meat. If you really do want to get this weight off her, you will do it. I have used all of the above with great success with little porkers. Get the weight OFF her and you will not only be doing her joints a great big favour, you will be adding back years to her life. Obesity kills dogs. Good luck :rolleyes: Souff

Recently a fox ate skin and flesh from two little girls who were asleep in their beds in a suburb of London that is not very far from the London CBD. Yes the toddlers were asleep in their beds .... UPSTAIRS! Where were the parents, you ask? They were in the garden having supper. It was a very warm night and they just had the patio doors open, as people do on a summery evening. Mr Fox entered via the open doors and went upstairs to the toddlers bedroom. When the parents heard the children crying, one parent (I think it was the mother) went to investigate and found the fox tearing away at the little girl. Absolutely true story. It happened about 6 weeks ago. It will be online somewhere. Foxes have earned the horrible reputation they have got themselves - they are vermin and even the English are now realising it. The foxes in London's suburbs live very well from the bins and the birds that live in London and there is now a large population of foxes in the suburbs. The nature lovers have gone to great trouble to encourage the birds to come back to London, building nests for them in parks etc and some people think the foxes are cute and cuddly and should not be culled. Mr and Mrs Fox have been very well looked after at their London addresses and what happened to these two little girls is not the first ugly recent incident. Souff

Dr Harry is a product of the entertainment business ..... sigh ..... not that talking about dogs in handbags is entertaining. Souff

Hey MM. Jed's laptop finally succumbed to fire damage, and she does not always have access where she is staying. I believe that Cait is making sure the physios give her a good workout also, so she is pretty worn out. I am sure she will come and tell you how she is going when she can get near a computer This is the really hard part for her now, having no home base of her own, and still with lots of healing to do, to get herself back to independance. Keep those happy and healthy thoughts coming, I know she will appreciate them and need them for a long time to come yet. Thanks Toohey, Off to light another candle - lavender this time Souff

He needs to make up his mind. Oh, he is probably just practicing the ancient art of fencesitting .... and you know what happens to fence sitters dont you? Yep, they end up with splinters in the bum! hehehe

Oh, put the Deshonko cheque book away PF :p Pounds to pennies there is more than 1 bitch on the property and the spokesperson was not telling all.