DMA

We're getting signatures from around Australia, even some of the USA, so that's good But we need more So please sign, if you haven't already, & pass on the petition website to everyone you know

Thank you & will do. We're actually hoping to have a walk around in Cessnock & Kurri soon to get signatures of locals as well as the online petition.

Bump!

We've just gone over the 250 mark, but we need many more. So if you haven't signed yet, please do, & don't forget to let everyone you know about the petition. Thanks

We're almost at the 200 mark, but we need 800 more in order for council to take the petition seriously. So please sign & spread the word to everyone you know.

Below you will find the wording to the "Preamble" to the petition: Cessnock City Council (Kurri Kurri) Pound Petition The actual wording of the petition can be found at the address provided below. At the moment I plan to let it remain open until 08/03/2010 (now extended to 05/03/2010). That will give us a month to collect as many signatures as possible before it can be presented to Council. I beg you all to spread the internet address of the petition, http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/cessno...imal-pound.html, to everyone you know in order for this action to succeed in forcing the council to take the problems at the pound in a serious manner. For further background to the council's handling of the situation, please follow this link to DOL's News Subforum where I've put all the information together in one thread: http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=188721 I will thank you in advance for your time & support. We need about 1 000 signatures to make council pay attention. So let's make something important happen for our fury friends! Now that you've read the Preamble, please sign the petition at the address provided below. Thanks Petition address: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/cessno...imal-pound.html PS: My personal thanks to those who have helped me prepare this petition. You know who you are PPS: I know I've already posted this in the General Rescue section, but it's been wisely suggested to me that this just isn't a rescue issue, yet one which potentially effects all animal owners. These issues just aren't solely a Cessnock Pound situation but ones which are nation wide.

There's a new article in the Cessnock Advertiser today (page 3) about the issues at the pound & last weeks Council's meeting. See below: As you can see, other than accepting that the hours maybe extended, other vital issues aren't mentioned at all by council's response; these being a volunteer program, being facilities, far better security, a do-not-kill policy for releaseable dogs, among other issues. So please sign the Cessnock City Council Animal Pound petition (link below) & spread the word to everyone you know. Council won't do anything unless presured to do so by the people. Support the Cessnock City Council Animal Pound Thank you

Please note that I've started an online petition about the situation at the pound. Please follow this link to the Rescue Subforum where a thread has been set up in respect to the petition: http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=188754

Yes I know what you mean Steve. I've been banging my head against a council brick wall for the last 18 months

For those of you who don't know, Kurri Pound is located in the Hunter Valley of NSW some 50kms west of Newcastle. It has many issues which are starting to get notice. It started getting some public awareness in the local Cessnock Advertiser about 2 weeks ago (Page 6 for those who can get a copy). As stated, given there's a lot of disatisfaction about the place, in respect to the extremely limited opening hours (ie 4 hours a week), no volunteer scheme, & possible relocation to better facilities, at last someone at Council has heard the cries of the public (well some of us anyway). Please see article below... Now it has come to light what was discussed at the council meeting in question on 3 Feb 2010. After Cr Allan McCudden raised the issue about problems at Kurri pound the council meeting was interesting to say the least. A friend sent me info, about the meeting, which can be found online here: http://www.cessnock.nsw.gov.au/resources/f...3022010_AGN.pdf You'll have to scroll down to page 38 to find the relevant section. Essentially the council is only willing to open the pound for an extra hour a day. I don't know if that means only on the current days the pound is currently open or they mean every day. So that's either an extra 4 hours a week or 7 hours. Not really what the place needs. The irony is the council acknowledges the place has major issues (see below). Now I hope I don't violate any copywrite laws, but I'll paste here the "report" section... There's a lot more in the council minutes/agenda, so read it if you wish, but this is the essential part I think. So even though, as noted in the last paragraph above, the council admits they're in breach of their own Code of Practice, all we get is an extra hour a day opening time. Seriously that's simply not good enough... Needless to say it'd be great to support Cr Allan McCudden by sending letters & emails to the other councillors, & the mayor, to show there is voter, I mean public, support in respect to the real issues. Here's the list that DOL member butch's dad compiled for the Kurri Pound thread resently: Mayor: [email protected] Councillors emails: [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected], [email protected] General Manager [email protected] Local MP [email protected] Please help in any way you can.

Abbigail Abby AJ Alice Alika Alchemy Amber Amelia Amy x 2 Anais Annie Anastacia (Annie) Angel X 4 Anishinaabe Annabelle Annabella April April RIP Arizona Asante sana Ashka Askari Astro Athena Audrey Aura Ayla Baba Baci Bailey Beans Becky Bella x3 Bit Blaize Blossom Bonny x 2 (Bonnie) Bonita Brandi Brandy Bree Bridie Buffy Cally Cassie Casper CC Cedar Chelsea Chevy x 2 Chloe x 2 Charlotte Cider Cinta CJ x 2 Claire Claudia Clover Cleoparta Coco x3 Cookie Cossette Daisy Dallas Delilah Delta Demi Dexta Diazz Dinky Dixie Durham Dyzney Ebony Echo Elizabeth Ella Ellie Ellie x2 Emily Emma Emmy Erin Evie Faith Fanta Finta Fleur Froggy Gabby Gemma Genie (not exactly a girly name but I thought it suited my goldy) George Ginny Gita Glitter Grace Griffin GT Gypsy x 3 Harlow Hayley x2 Heddy Heidi x2 Holly x 5 Honey Honour Hope Imme Imogen - Imy Jade Jane Jay Jay Jazz Jedda RIP Jenna x 2 Jess Jessi Jessie x 2 Jezebel Jindi Jodie Juliet Kara Kari Karma Karmen Kaos Katie Katy Kayla Keilani Keirra Kelli Kelsey Kenzie Kiesha Kiri Kiri-Lu Kirra (agility name Kiz) Kitty Kizzey Krissy Kuean - (Queen) Lacey Layla Lea (lele) Lexi x 2 Libby Lily x 2 Lobo Logan Lola x 2 Lottie Lucy x5 Luuka Mable Maddison Maggie x2 Mallee Marie Claudette Marlo Meg Meisha Merrique Mia Milla Millie x3 Minnie x 2 (Mynni) Minouche Mischka Mitzi Molly x5 Molly Coddle Moochie Mya Nala Narla Natasha Nena Ness Olivia Pagan Paris Paxy Pearl Peggie Pebbles Phoebe Pip Piper Polly Popcorn Porridge Porscha Prada Quince Rani Reba Rebel Reno Rhoda Riki Rizzi Rogue Rommi Rosey Rosie Roxy x 2 Ruby x3 Rumour Sabrina Sadie Saffron Safire Sally x2 Sarah Sarah Jane Sascha x 2 Sarsha Satu Savannah Scandal Shae Shandy Shannon Sharnie Sheba Shine Sinta Sienna Skye SkySnow Sooty Sophie x2 Sophia Springy Spook Stella x2 Stimpy X2 Storm Sue Suzie Sybill Tara Tasha Tayla Teegan Tess x 4 Tessa Texas Tia x 2 Tilba Tilli Tilly x3 Tinny (tin tin) Tori Tully Tyra Vada Voodoo Winter Wilhelmina Xanthe Zara Zillah Ziva x 2 Zoe x 3

Abrham Ali Andrew Andy Angus Anzac Apollo(different spelling!) Appollo Archie Arkhan Armand Arq Ashke Attila Atlas Bailey x 5 Balou Bandit Banjo Bardigrub Bart X 2 Barton Baxter Bear x2 Bender Ben Benji Benny Benson Billy Bing Bluey Bomber Bosch Bosco Boxer Brady Brian Custard O'Doggle Brock Brockie Brody Bronson x2 Brownie Bruce Bud Buddy Bumble Bundyx2 Buster Cannon Caramel Carl Cash Casper Champ Charlie x 5 Chevy Chief Chip x 2 Chok Clifford Coco Cooper x3 Cory Cowan x 2 Cowboy Cuba Danny Darcy x 2 Dashx2 Deakin Dean Declan Delgado Dennys Dog Diablo Diesel x2 Digby Digger x2 Dillon Dinky Douglas Dumas Duncan Dylan Ebon Echo Eddie Elijah Elliott Edge Ernie Esky Fergus x 2 Fox x 2 FlashBazil Fleming Fletcher Flynn Focus Forester Frank Fudge Gandor Geo George Greedy Grover Guiness mcGuinness Hail Harley Harrison Harry Henry Hogan Hudson Hugo Ivan Jack x 3 Jake x 2 Jasper x 2 James Jay JayDee Jed Jethro Jet Jett Jordan Joshua Judd Juggie Kahn Kai Kaiser x 2 Kane Kasper Kaos Kiba Kei Kingston Kippy Kisho Kynan Kyzer Leo Lincoln Lenny Leroy Lestat x2 Logan Luca Lucius Ludwig Lughie Lukas Lukon Mac X 2 MacKenzie Mark (the cat) Mason Max x 7 Maxie Maxwell THE DOG Maze Mel Merlot Merry Milky Milosh Milton Minook Mistral Mojo Mokha Morris Mr Darcy Nammu Napoleon Nelsson (yes two s's) Nicky Nigel Noah Nova Nudge Nugget Occy Onslow Oscar x 3 Oz Pal x 2 Payton Pete Phoenix Phantom Piikki Porsha Punch Quick Quincy Raffy Ralph Randy Reeve Reagan Rex Ricky Riku Riley Ripley River Rocks Rolly Rory Rove Rover Roy Jones Jnr Rupert Rusty Sam x2 Satchmo Scout Scrap Scratch Shadow Seth Silas Snitch Sonny Soul Spartan Speed Spencer Spike Sport Spud Sterling Stig (The) Storm Stryker Sumo Swanky Tazz x 2 Teddy Terry Tey Dog Thunder Tiger Tirra Toby x2 Tolkien Tommy Tub Tusca Tye x2 Tyson Udo Ulf Valdez Wags Walker Watson Weave Whisky Willow Willy Wilson Woody Wycomb Yoshi Zac Zedley Zeppelin Zephyr x 2 Zeus Zuma

If you all don't know already, one warning about importing goods. If the item, or items, are worth more than $1 000au, customs will hit you with importation duty. It's rather heavy too It's in the hundreds depending upon what the item(s) are worth.

Nothing wrong with DWI but shop around elsewhere to get the best price as there's several American shops worth looking at I've gone with Cameta Camera, in the past (via eBay), & I've been thoroughly satisfied in both price, delivery time, & equipment quality (I've gotten an E-30 & a 18-180mm lens from them). Importantly they have a wide range of gear for many brands. So they maybe worth a search. Here's their eBay URL: http://stores.shop.ebay.com.au/Cameta-Camera__W0QQ_armrsZ1 Again there's 47th Street Photo via eBay. I've never bought from them, although I'm watching a 12-60mm SWD lens of theirs, so they maybe worth looking at as well considering they too cover Canon. Their URL is <a href="http://shop.ebay.com.au/47st.photo/m.html?_nkw=&_armrs=1&_from=&_ipg=&_trksid=p3686" target="_blank">http://shop.ebay.com.au/47st.photo/m.html?...p;_trksid=p3686</a> Good luck shopping

There's also the Dingo Sanctuary in Bargo NSW. Here's their web address: http://www.dingosanctuary.com.au/

Now, yes, how early can you desex? That's a very debatable subject, regardless of breed, which can get rather heated. Some say as early as 8 weeks, if not younger. Personally I'd go with 6 months, as I have done with any pup I've adopted. I'm sure others will suggest something else. If you're going to get your pup from a breeder, it's probably best to ask their advice. If you're going to get one from a rescue group, they should desex it for you as part of the adoption process regardless of age.

Thanks Peta23 for your suggestion. We are planning to buy from a breeder, it sounds to risky to not buy from one. Does anyone know of a non-working dog breeder for ACD in Melbourne? Or does anyone have recommendations for a breeder who is not overly priced? If I may ask, but you are adamant you want a cattledog from a breeder? There are many cattledogs, of various ages, being held by Australian Cattledog Rescue & other rescue groups. Although I'd doubt any would come with papers, the dogs will have had all vet work done, including vacinations, worming, desexing, health check, not to mention microchipping & registration. Their website is here: http://www.australiancattledogrescue.com/. Furthermore getting a dog from a rescue group will be much cheaper at around $300-$350 (depending upon the rescue group in question).

My two certainly do. What's essential, if we're talking companion dogs, is that they have access to the house & to their family. My experience has been they demand to be with their human family. And if they are denied that, then you get behavoural problems. Furthermore, once they're introduced to the luxuries of indoors life, you can forget about all this rough & ruggard outdoors lifestyle that they're supposedly meant for...

I completely agree. I have the E-420 & E-30 & I recommend both The E-420, as you say, is just so light & easy to use. Great for travelling, whilst still taking SLR quality shots. In fact I've found the E-420 to be extremely easy to use in the pound environment, where I take most of my photos, although I have found that the "professional" E-30 takes better shots, as it is their high end model afterall, yet it is rather heavy to deal with when conditions aren't ideal (ie the pound). Having said that the E-30 is just as easy to use (programming wise) as its level entry sibling. And both models are much cheaper than the Canon or Nikon equivalent, yet fundamentally the quality of the photos are pretty much the same for the "average" (or even better) photograph IMHO. Having said all that about Olympus - Law - go with whatever you feel the most comfortable with. That's important when it comes to SLR. If you're not confident & comfortable with the camera, you'll take crappy photos

Good timing as I was about to head for bed. A good place to research to your heart's content is a website called Digital Photography Review: http://www.dpreview.com/ They basically do everything including reviews of just about every digital camera anyone has put out, a glossary of all things digital, a buying guide, & discussion forum. Having said that, I'll single out some SLRs which may fit the bill. Mind you they're all around the $750 - $1250 range brand new. I won't recommend any individual camera because, as others have said, try them all & see which one suits you best as we're all individuals with our own particular likes etc. So when you do get to a camera shop, try out the ergonomics of each camera, not to mention how intuitive all the controls etc are to your personal tastes. Please note the cameras listed below aren't "level entry" SLRs for the most part, but the next step up, as I don't think most of the level entry SLRs will satisfy you in respect to the auction shots you want to take. Now in no particular order of preference: Sony a-330 Pentax K-x Olympus E-520 Canon 1000D or 450D Nikon D80 or D5000 Needless to say I'm sure others will suggest something else in the price range, so try them out as well as rugerfly & persephone have suggested. Anyways good luck with your camera hunting :D EDIT: What I would suggest is that you play with your current camera, your dad's, & whoever else's you can get your hands on, & get plenty of experience taking pictures - not only is it fun, but the more you do it the more you teach yourself the basic skills. And doing the odd course here & there helps too...

So would I be right in assuming, LittlePoppet, that you want a lower end SLR that you can use for general photography but can deal with fast action shots?

Oddy enough I'd agree about your Olympus remark, but budget for me is a major issue But you're right & if I could afford a 50D I'd get it in a flash ;) Even 5D!

Oh good old Super 8! That brings the childhood memories come flooding back And my appologies if I came across as a bit rude. I do get a touch passionate at times. Sorry about that everyone. Now I'm not overly backpeddling, even if admittedly I was being a tad tongue-in cheek, but I was wanting to point out the difference between how an old fashion film SLR operated, as against a computer controlled SLR (ie digital) - although the actual photography skills are the same I've found. I do find, though, there is a difference between the two due to the equipment itself. Having said that I find using a DSLR much easier than a film one. A lot of the guessing is taken out of the equation, & as you'd know you can take several hundred shoots these days whilst previously you were limited to a roll of 36 shots. Plus whatever ASA you had set, let's face it we were stuck with, but now it's just a matter of pressing a button. As you can with other functions on a DSLR. So to me that is "programming" even if my terminology maybe misunderstanding or incorrect jargon. BTW I don't edit much either, except to reduce the size of a photo. As for recommending the 5D - that was based upon my own recent experience in respect to the E-420 & the E-30. I have found, in respect to operating the E-30, that there was no point buying the "base model" when the E-30 was no harder to learn than the E-420. Consequentially I could have saved several hundred dollars by just getting the high-end model instead. BTW I could have also bought the E-3, but everything I read suggested that the E-30 was the better camera.

Actually LittlePoppet, regardless of the jovial discussion to date, has anyone asked what you intend to use the camera for? Have you a particular idea in this respect? I only ask because your choice really depends upon intended usage: ie casual, enthusiast, or for work. Hence the suggested brands & models will ultimately reflect upon this.

Yeah the money part is the problem as I know only too well And I know all about old school as I'll never depart from my deloved AE-1 As for DSLRs - I've gotten all my Olympus gear from eBay. I saved heaps. The E-420 was about $500, whilst I imported the E-30 from America for $900. Needless to say you can get whatever brand you want as well for good prices. If you don't trust eBay, fair enough, so try JB HiFi http://www.jbhifi.com.au/ I just did a quick check & they've got a twin lens kit 1000D for $996 & a twin IS lens kit 450D for $1269.