Mila's Mum

And here's a map of the area

Or this group might be able to help http://4pawsanimalrescue.org.au/

There's the barka parka bean bag bed http://www.barkaparka.com.au/

If there was a set adoption fee that included all the work done, then you wouldn't get the nit wits coming in who want to adopt a dog for $22. People shouldn't have to try and guess what they should bid on a dog bec if they want the dog desexed, they don't know for sure the dog will make it on to the desexing program. And if it doesn't then they are up for a lot more money. For anyone who wants to read more, there is this thread http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=192191

And how much more time do you think Council needs to keep reviewing and reviewing and reviewing and ....... ? It's not hard to change the system, and Council has been coming up with the "it takes time" excuse for years. They keep trying to pull the wool over people's eyes, but it's wearing very thin, and more and more people are starting to see it for what it is - an excuse to do nothing. It's not hard to change the system - the only thing that's hard to change is the 18th century mentality of a certain Councillor who doesn't think that compulsory desexing should be brought in. And when he's one of two Councillors who have ultimate responsibility for the pound, it's no wonder "it's still under review".

And the highest tender doesn't always get the dog. I know of a breed rescue who tendered on a dog earlier this year. They also advised someone on their waiting list that this dog was at the pound - the person on the list also tendered and won the tender, even though the rescue group put in a higher tender

Exactly - the tender system was supposedly brought in to stop the bybs and pet shops turning up first thing in the morning, trawling through the pound and picking dogs/puppies for resale at pet stores, and/or keeping them for breeding. That's part of the reason why the tender system is a complete failure. All it does is make these undesirable types wait a bit longer. This is also why people have been trying repeatedly to get Council to bring in compulsory desexing. Do away with the tender system, bring in compulsory desexing, and have standard adoption fees. It's not hard, but Council seems to be writing the book on Poor Excuses 101

The tender system favours the bybs who can put in a large tender bec they know they can recoup the cost in the first litter. The tender system can't be looked at in isolation - it needs to be looked at in conjunction with compulsory desexing. Dogs should be available for a set price which includes desexing, m'chipping, vaccinations etc. As it stands at the moment, people might win a tender and not know if there will be space on the free desexing program - if there's not, then the adoptor is paying a higher price for registration (bec the dog is entire), and then has to pay for desexing once the dog is out of the pound. It's hard to encourage people to adopt from a pound using a tender system, when they have a number of hoops to jump through to adopt a dog. Adoptions would be higher if all the work was done, and people knew the amount of the adoption expense involved.

If I'm giving my girl sentinel tablets (which are large), I cut them into quarters and put them with her meal, or if it's a smaller tablet, I put a bit of peanut butter on it (the raw stuff, not the processed/commercial kind). Down the hatch without a moment's hesitation.

What a relief for them both - a great result .... eventually - shame it took that long for the assessment to happen

Fantastic listening - I love hearing about things like this Society owes so much to dogs, it's such a shame that more isn't done to protect them

Great story - thanks for posting - another example of the power of doggie love and loyalty

Great story baby dragon - thanks heaps for posting. And thanks also Bilbo Baggins for the link to the program - I see they source their dogs from the RSPCA and AWL There is also this organisation in the States - Sam Simon Foundation (Sam Simon was one of the co-founders of The Simpsons) - have a look at the YouTube clips to the right - really worth watching - they feature among other dogs, an Aussie Shepherd and a Cattle Dog x http://www.samsimonfoundation.com/hearingDogs.asp

If Council would like to spend 5 mill on garden areas, and they have the budget for it, fine - but don't say there isn't spare money to spend on Pound staffing and facilities when money can be found for flash gardens .... and flash retreats for Councillors Funny how these Councillors never go on a camping weekend to try and work out their strategies - it always has to be somewhere upmarket As for the cattery, that was actually a really good idea - here's a photo - Part of the strategy for increasing the adoption rate is to make the Pound a much more inviting place to visit. Prospective adoptors are put off by places that are all doom and gloom, and it must surely have a negative effect on people who are working there day in, day out. I would rather work somewhere that looks bright and cheery, rather than somewhere that is drab and looks like a prison. Management do not need to travel to some far flung galaxy to come up with solutions on how to improve the Pound - people who have been attending the Council meetings for years, have been putting forward solutions and suggestions ad nauseum. While some changes have been implemented, that is no reason for management to put further changes at the botrom of their In Tray. There is still more action that is desperately required. The people who have been campaigning for these changes have gone through all the correct channels, dotted the i's and crossed the t's - but the 19th century mentality of the people who have the ability to bring about these changes ensures they are not brought in to effect. We are in 2010 - times have changed, the community has seen that there are better ways of doing things, and they are easily achievable. Some people are criticising the media campaign - however, if those people regularly saw injustices happening at the Pound, they might also feel compelled to take things to another level, because pursuing regular channels has met with little or no change. Yes, people should be more responsible when looking after their pets, and no it's not Council's fault that the animals ended up in the Pound, but once in the Pound, it is Council's responsbility to provide the proper level of care, and to offer those souls who have already drawn the short straw, more opportunity to have a second chance. Putting more effort into the Pound will have many positive effects - here are just several examples - * increase staffing levels so that staff aren't so stressed and are able to do their jobs with enthusiasm, expertise and pride - this is not only beneficial for the staff member, but for their families as well. If you are continually going home from work in a stressed state, how does that impact on other family members, which in turn impacts on how many others? I do not understand why Council doesn't want to provide more support for their staff - working at the Pound mustn't be any picnic, but it could so easily be a completely different environment and mindset. I have numerous examples of staff incompetence and indifference, but these are just a symptom of the attitude that comes from above - put people in charge who want to create a more positive and happy environment, and that will filter down to those who are working at the Pound. Those same people who previously couldn't give a toss, just may well turn out to be star employees if their work environment was more pleasant and supportive. I know with my current job, the last 6 months have been very stressful and horrendous - as a result, my carefactor has nose dived, and I'm cutting corners where I wouldn't normally - but if things improved, no doubt my carefactor and work methods would adjust accordingly. Just check this out - perfect example of how it all it takes to bring about change is the will to do it by the people who can - * get rid of the tender system - this was supposed to be a way of stopping backyard breeders and people buying pure bred dogs for nicks, and then reselling them for a higher price. Doesn't work - these types still trawl through BP - they just have to wait a bit longer. And they have the advantage over your average Joe Blow in that they can put in a higher tender, and recoup the cost in their first litter. There would be more adoptions if people could go to the Pound and pay one set adoption fee (which included desexing), and not have to muck around with tenders and wonder if there will be space on the desexing program if their tender is successful. People can walk in off the street to a pet shop and buy a puppy without any problems - the hoops people have to jump through to adopt an animal from Blacktown drastically reduces the adoption rates at the Pound. * bringing in compulsory desexing will not only help to reduce the number of strays, it would also provide more business for local vets. Once all the spaces in the desexing program are taken up, any other animals being adopted could be sent to local vets who would no doubt provide discounted desexing in return for regular custom. Animals leave the pound desexed, and local vets benefit with the extra revenue. The Pound still gets their adoption fee, so no-one is missing out financially. It's not hard for a Pound to change - check out this thread re Logan Pound (Queensland) - http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=191744 It's time for senior management to step up to the plate and do more for their staff and their facility. If they don't want to improve the system, then move over and let someone else do the job - hand the responsiblity to others who are prepared to bring about positive changes at the Pound. Turning the facility into a more positive place for staff, impounded animals and visitors is not rocket science - it can be done !

Take a look at this quote from the article - “I see first-hand how under-staffing impacts on animals.” The article is saying that under-staffing is an issue at the pound, and the people trying to bring about change have been requesting higher staffing levels to help bring about some of the changes - surely that is going to help the existing staff. People realise there is not enough staff to cover all the jobs adquately, and that it can't be a pleasant place to work at with all the stress involved. If media coverage was going to help increase staffing levels and thereby reduce the stress levels at my workplace, I'd say bring it on ! It would be easy enough to implement a plan for having every animal that is adopted from the pound desexed - this task could be spread around various vets in the area. Adoption fees could be standardised to cover the vet fees so there would be no monetary loss to Council. The way it works at the moment is ridiculous - a recent example - a person tendered on a dog for $200 - won the tender but there was no space on the desexing program so the person was going to have to pay another $200 approx to get an entire dog out of the pound, plus another $200 approx to have it desexed - an overall cost of approx $600 - $700. They declined to purchase the dog. The next day, someone else purchased the dog for $60, and a space was found on the desex program, so the second person secured the dog for under $200 - go figure ! It's not hard to find a solution - they just don't want to put in the effort. If they can afford to spend $5 million dollars on gardens next to Council chambers, then they can afford to spend a few extra dollars on the pound. They could engage community support to help with a whole range of issues - there are heaps of things that could be done that wouldn't cost Council any extra money, but they don't want to pull their heads out of the sand. ETA - re the dog in the above example - luckily he had someone else interested straightaway - but how many other dogs miss out and are pts bec prospective owners don't want to pay the high fees. The free desexing program only accepts 10 dogs a week (and that's only when the uni is open - not during term holidays). Look at the number of dogs that come into the Pound each week, and that doesn't give very many prospective adoptors a chance at free desexing. Even if the Council offered some sort of voucher system whereby people could get a refund on their registration fees once the dog was desexed, that would be a help, but they can't even manage that.

Well it's probably getting pretty annoying too for all the impounded animals (dogs, cats, bunnies, guinea pigs etc) who have to endure some of the cr*p conditions they are subjected to, because people who have the ability to change things prefer to sit on their hands and turn a blind eye. The people working behind the scenes to bring about changes would love to work with the Pound to bring about improvements, but trying to get upper management and councillors to agree to these changes is another thing - maybe constant media attention is a direct result of frustration at not getting anywhere going through the usual channels? And it's especially difficult when one of the two councillors responsible for the Pound doesn't believe in compulsory desexing. Expect to see more media coverage - it's not going to go away until changes such as compulsory desexing and removal of the tender system are gone.

http://blacktown-advocate.whereilive.com.a...s-at-the-pound/ Calls for change at the pound IRRESPONSIBLE pet owners and Blacktown Council’s inability or unwillingness to act on urgent matters like mandatory desexing have been blasted as the campaign to clean up the pound continues. Animal Holding Facility volunteers fed up with council’s empty promises have begun writing to the Advocate in the hope of shaming them into action. “Council’s stock, stonewalling, replies that ‘matters would be investigated’ and ‘were under review’ were no longer believed,” volunteer Mariette Blackmore wrote. She said it was time for people who care and love animals to expose the deficiencies and inadvertent cruelty that occurs daily at Blacktown pound. Senior volunteer Jeanette Emanuel said she was horrified that some cats were sleeping on beds covered in urine and cockroach droppings and there were no preventative measures in place to stop the spread of cat flu. “Where does one start to tell the story of the conditions of Blacktown Pound?” she asked. “I see first-hand how under-staffing impacts on animals.” Our recent article about Bear - the maggot-ridden malamute left for days without treatment - prompted heated responses online. Readers called for immediate legislation to make it compulsory for all dogs and cats to be desexed to prevent backyard breeders making a quick buck. There were calls to end council’s tendering system and introduce screening of potential owners and a follow-up visit to ensure pets were in the right hands. Susie Hearder, a volunteer at Tweed Shire Pound, said compulsory desexing was the facility’s greatest achievement and a screening process protected pets from “a hell of a lot of bad dog-owners out there”. That is want we want, Jan Baker said. “Why does Council have to take so long on these issues?” she asked. As well as Blacktown pound’s alleged shortcomings, readers passionately urged pet-owners to be more responsible. “Learn how to look after your own pets so others don’t have to,” C Stocker wrote. Although the pound takes animals from seven council areas, a council spokeswoman confirmed 75 per cent of dogs and cats housed came from Blacktown. According to council, the main reason animals wound up in the facility was because of irresponsible pet ownership. Cr Nick Tyrrell said he was hopeful Blacktown Council’s “entrenched operatives” were beginning to take notice. “In a fantastic turn of events, community concern has led to solid media coverage,” he said. Comment by pound volunteer Mariette Blackmore: How many humans offer friendship and love unconditionally, whether rich or poor, beautiful or ugly, fat or thin, stupid or smart? Well, animals do, they are ready to love you if given half a chance. People choose pets because they see a cute, fluffy plaything in the pet shop window or a neighbour has an unplanned litter of pups (because they have not desexed their dog). “It’s cute, it’s funny, a nice toy for the kids - so let’s have it,” they think without any long-term view as to the remainder of its life. Dogs and cats can live for a long time - 12 to 15 years, even longer. Some people seem incapable of understanding that animals experience the same fear, pain, trauma and depression humans would if they were to find themselves lost, homeless, unwanted and scared for their lives. People should be registered to show they are fit to own an animal. All dogs and cats start out life fit to be pets. Become a responsible pet owner, please. * See Opinion, Page 10.

BLACKTOWN dog owner Jock Coulter had his best friend taken away four weeks ago and has not even been told if his mate is still alive. His dog, Royce, is a 13-year-old cross staffordshire terrier and bull mastiff. Mr Coulter fought back tears as he described how pound officers, accompanied by police, came to his door and demanded his dog. ``They said he's a dangerous breed; they say he's a pit bull,'' he said. ``I said: `No he's not; I can prove that'.'' He said Royce has never harmed any person or any other animal. ``He's so timid, he's scared of his own shadow,'' Mr Coulter said. He said he did not know if Blacktown pound was acting on any complaints, nor could he see that any complaint was justified. He said council officers previously told him he would have to desex Royce and build a special backyard cage for him. Mr Coulter had his dog desexed, despite his age, but said it was cruel and unnecessary to build a cage. Blacktown councillor Russ Dickens, who is also a veterinarian, said taking Mr Coulter's dog from him was an outrage. ``It's reprehensible and draconian that this still happens in Blacktown,'' Cr Dickens said. He said he has treated Mr Coulter's dog over the years and was unaware of any complaints about him. ``I'll be following this up,'' he said. A Blacktown Council spokesman said Royce was alive and in an animal holding facility. ``The dog was seized because it was deemed a restricted breed and the owner had failed to comply with the legislated requirements for housing the dog,'' he said. ``The owner had continually failed to meet the legal requirements with regard to housing the dog despite numerous requests by the council.'' Mr Coulter said: ``If Royce had done something wrong I'd understand. ``I wouldn't keep a dog that bit people.'' http://www.blacktownsun.com.au/news/local/...en/1777712.aspx

My understanding is the potential home stills goes through the same screening process as if they were adopting from the shelter.

See the initiative by the AWL QLD and their External Rehoming Centres - http://www.awlqld.com.au/Adopt-a-Pet.html#ExternalRC Several years ago the AWL Qld was approached by a pet supply outlet wishing to rehome our cats and dogs from their shop. This was quickly followed by another independent wanting to assist with the crushing numbers of cats and kittens the AWL has to deal with every year. Now, in 2009, there are seven outlets on the Gold Coast and two in Brisbane that are rehoming on our behalf. These outlets do not sell or obtain cats/kittens from other sources and all monies obtained from the rehoming of these animals comes directly back to the AWL. Although predominantly cats and kittens are rehomed, one Gold Coast outlet and both Brisbane ones also rehome dogs on our behalf. This programme is extremely important for many reasons: First, and foremost, it makes our animals available to a wider circle of people looking for new family members It allows the AWL extra space for other animals waiting to come through and, therefore, helps us keep our euthanizing numbers at a lower level than they would otherwise be It gives us the ability to rehome animals that may not get on well with others but would, never the less, make a wonderful companion It also assists us to get the word out there that all animals should be desexed and microchipped before rehoming

http://blacktown-advocate.whereilive.com.a...ven-a-pounding/ And have a read of the comments at the bottom of the article, including those by Cr Nick Tyrrell

Thank you SO much for posting - I sent this on to someone who is heavily involved behind the scenes in trying to make changes at a major Sydney pound - she was beside herself with delight after watching it, and has forwarded the link on to "people in high places" showing how things can be done - very inspiring - thank you again To Michael Linke And to Stateline for running the story

Hello darlingdog I sincerely hope you will send emails to the three contacts listed in the Post 30 link mentioned above. Cr Alan Pendleton, one of two councillors on the Blacktown City Council Companion Animals Management Advisory Sub-Committee, has publicly opposed mandatory desexing of dogs and cats from Blacktown Pound on a number of occasions at public meetings . Please, for the sake of all the poor souls at Blacktown Pound (past, present and future), please, please everyone, write to this Councillor (and cc in the other two mentioned as well) and voice your strong opposition to the current system of releasing to the public without desexing. I hear too many horror stories of the types of people who trawl through Blacktown Pound specifically tarageting undesexed dogs, and dread to think what sort of fate has befallen the poor dogs that have been released to them.

Great to see Council being so proactive with these programs and sharing in the responsibility of pet management. And thank you for taking the time to let us know what's happening I wonder if any of these initiatives could include some sort of training in the junior school environment, so that tomorrow's adults will (hopefully) be more caring, responsible and knowledgeable about dog/cat/pet ownership. Much easier to educate the child than the adult, and with a longer term positive effect.

Here is a LINK to a thread in the General Rescue Section relating to a news item on Channel 7 the other night. See also Post 30 which provides contact details of who to complain to, if you would like to see changes at Blacktown Pound.