tdierikx

Patience pebbles... lots of it! Basically I just sit outside and let the little terrors finish their interest in me for cuddles or as a chew toy, then when they go off and start doing their own thing, that's when I start snapping away. Take LOTS of pics, and you usually get a few really nice ones that show off the pup in their best light. My big plus is that I get to foster lots of puppies... and there's nothing cuter than puppies, is there? T.

Actually, you can buy many drugs from sources other than a vet... but then you must ONLY use them under instruction from a vet. My vet knows that I usually have a well stocked doggy first aid kit, and will tell me what dosages of the stuff I have to give to my dogs if they need it. T.

OK - you are all asking for it now... *grin* This is one of my fave foster pup photos... ... and these are just darned cute... ... and just for the complete "awww" factor... T.

When my Labrador was a pup, it was always and adventure doing the poo patrol... and we still don't know what happened to the other battery from the TV remote... it wasn't inside her (xray taken). I have a camp dog foster failure who has a nasty habit of chewing bedding - usually someone else's - and anything else she can get her mouth on... more adventures doing the poo patrol. At least I know which ones are hers... lol! T.

POCTAA is plenty sufficient as far as laws go... and I'd like to see those enforced better before anyone thinks about adding any new ones... T.

I have heaps of cute foster puppy photos... but posting them would be "cheating", right? T.

Trouble trying her best "butter wouldn't melt" pose... Thanks for the compliment on my baby girl Harper Minimax... T.

Groomers here are unregulated too - and this is what can happen... http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/245262-my-beautiful-buddy-hung-at-the-groomers-how-can-this-happen-%3B/ T.

It doesn't get much cuter than this... *grin* ... and she's staying gorgeous as she grows up too... Well... I think so anyways... T.

Here's a pic of my "old" girl... she wants the stick I'm holding... T.

But there ARE already plenty of laws regarding pretty much every aspect of dog ownership... so if the powers that be can find the resources to enforce new laws, then why can't they find them NOW to enforce the CURRENT laws? T.

My oldest is currently 13 - which is past the average lifespan for the 2 breeds she is a mix of... and she's only starting to look older now - greying and developing that "old dog" bark"... *grin* Don't tell her she's old though - she's not showing any sign of giving up yet... I don't vaccinate at regular intervals, I only treat for fleas if I see them on any of my dogs, I only worm if I see one, or the dogs are well past due for a dose. I am currently feeding Nutro dry, but my dogs have been fed a range of different diets over the years - anything from supermarket brands to premium brands, scraps, etc. I think there may also be a link to longevity in dogs who are treated with love and respect by their owners - not mollycoddled and overly "cared" for... my dogs are, well, dogs... T.

We already have enough LAWS to cover all of the things in this debate... we need to be looking at those tasked with enforcing those laws and asking WHY they aren't holding up their end of the bargain. As for different councils and pounds having their own regulations when dealing with rescues - same goes there - THEY need to follow up when rescue isn't holding up their end of whatever bargain they've struck with the councils/pounds in order to have dogs (and cats) released to them. Too many people/agencies who CAN do something throwing up their hands and saying "it's all too hard"... *sigh* Why the hell should WE be having to come up with ways to deal with cowboys in the industry? T.

Awesome! *sticks hand up for a copy when they are done* T.

how do we go about it to make them act? and how do we police those who bypass their state's laws? And therein lies the rub... if the peple who are supposed to be policing the laws can't be arsed to do it, what recourse do we have? T.

The only thing our rescue was asked to agree to and sign from HP was a commitment to desex any intact animals we had released to us, and provide notification of same back to HP when it is done. It didn't say anything about any penalty if one didn't follow the "rule"... T.

:thumbsup: I'll second that! T.

Agree, though it is the difference between responsible ethical rescue and the cowboys. Ummm... responsible rescue can still have/run kennels Nic... T.

Hall a bloody ool ya !!!!!!!!! My link But some of the things that are in that code of ethics could never be laws. Well met Steve... and apart from the references to the MDBA stuff, it's not all that hard to do all that is listed there. Methinks I likes your "ethics"... *grin* T.

I was thinking about this last night, and thought wouldn't it be wonderful if, at a bare minimum that byb's had to health test the parent dogs for genetic diseases. - would stop a lot dead in their tracks :laugh: They should have something in place for byb'rs - even if it were to follow up ads to see if they had permits to breed(not sure about all councils- but certainly my council you must- but people ignore it...). What would stop them in their tracks is being pulled up and fined under the current laws requiring microchipping and vaccination of pups - not to mention selling them aged under 8 weeks. Not hard to find them - they are advertised all over places like Gumtree - get the rangers out there and fine them. The cost of vaccinating and microchipping an entire litter isn't cheap, and if hit by fines for not doing it, that will hit the hip pocket too. T.

Ethics discussions are moot due to the fact that everybody seems to have a different standard for what they deem "ethical". Some people believe that having extremely invasive application forms asking for financial status, etc, is being "ethical" - some think rehoming dogs to people who can be at home 24/7 is "ethical" - and some who don't ask for that level of "commitment" is "ethical"... So what BASIC "rules" should we set down (amongst ourselves for now) that can be used as a yardstick for what is "ethical" and what isn't? If we may be heading for regulation of our "industry", it may be prudent to have these things worked out in advance, so we have something to put forward if/when the powers that be are looking into regulating us... T.

An interesting read... thanks redangel! T.

I've heard that your hubby has a lovely temperament, and isn't bad in the confirmation department either Tapua... *grin* T.

There are breeders, and there are breeders... People breeding healthy and predictable dogs under a specific code of ethics on the one hand... and people pumping out all sorts of interesting crosses with cutesy "breed" names on the other. Which would you prefer to purchase a puppy from? I foster pups for rescue and see a lot of very interesting mixes that I wouldn't have chosen to create - but we don't have any difficulty finding good homes for them. I think there is room in society for all sorts of dogs, pure or crossed... but I'd love to see "breeders" of the latter regulated a little better. We have laws in place to ensure certain aspects of animal welfare, and others that require all animals in most states be microchipped and age appropriately vaccinated before sale - but what we don't see much of is those tasked with enforcing the current laws doing anything real to stamp out the illegal practices of BYB's or puppy farmers. I can remember back when you could look in the classifieds and see smallish numbers of FTGH pups and dogs - now all we are seeing is page upon page of idiotic made up names for these animals and exhorbitant price tags attached. People have seen a market for their idiotic purposely crossed animals and are trying to cash in on it... *sigh* T.

This morning's update on the HP list is this pup has been sold... yay!! T.