Boronia

there is a video in the link http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-05-08/red-panda-cubs-make-public-debut-at-canberras-zoo/5439220 Red panda cubs make public debut at Canberra's zoo Updated 20 minutes ago Gallery: Red panda cubs in Canberra Map: ACT Twin red panda cubs have emerged from their nesting den to delight visitors at Canberra's zoo. The male and female cubs were born in December but have been tucked away with their mum Eilish in their nesting box at the National Zoo and Aquarium. "When they're born they're quite underdeveloped so they spend a lot of time in their nest box with their mum attending to them," wildlife supervisor Bec Scott said. "Over the months they grow and get more confident and here they are at four months old where they are starting to venture outside their nest box and looking at the world and starting to experience what their mum goes out to see every day." Already the female cub is proving to be more adventurous than her brother. "The female is quite confident, spending a lot of time with her mum out exploring the enclosure going to wherever she goes," Ms Scott said. Video: Red panda cubs make public debut in Canberra (ABC News) "Whereas the little boy, he's a little bit more hesitant, he's quite shy and a little more cautious. He likes to take things a little more slowly than his sister." The cubs are part of an Australasian captive breeding program for red pandas. The acrobatic tree dwellers are native to the forests of India, Nepal, Laos, Myanmar, Bhutan and south-west China. Their Chinese name is Hun-Ho, which means fire fox. But there are fewer than 10,000 red pandas recorded in the wild. International conservation authorities have classified the species as vulnerable, and their numbers are dropping due to pressure from habitat destruction, land clearing and poaching. It is the third time cubs have been successfully bred at the zoo. "Eilish had a son a couple of years ago and Eilish herself was born at the zoo prior to that with a twin sister as well," Ms Scott said. She says the new cubs will play an important part in the breeding program. "As they start to get older, when they become sexually mature, it's quite possible that they'll head off to other zoos for their own breeding programs," she said.

Freezing (for at least four days) will kill any weevil eggs that may (and probably are) there, so at least it will preserve the kibble from being munched by the little critters

I usually send my blades to Colin Butt, Grooming,Clipper Blade Sharpening at Moruya Heads NSW His DOL name is Nicestman77 http://www.dolforums.com.au/user/8666-nicestman77/ If you email him include your phone number...he will phone you back as he has Skype. I have always found him really helpful and he does a good job

What a lovely old dog and lucky you to have him for so many years...it is like a dog-love bonus. What a treasure you were Columbus. RIP Old Boy ❤

I checked at Handicapped pets, they have Australian distrubiters but I couldn't figure out if the collar is sold here. I know you have already bought the collar but it is an interesting enough site for further reference http://www.handicappedpets.com/no-cone-collar.html

I have found that Omar's is pretty cheap and their service is good, I get the Advantix from them. http://ovedshorseandpetstore.com.au/Dog-Products/Flea-Tick-Control/Frontline.html

Dear little monkey...her nose is long...just like your dog's Grizabella :D

If councils are finding the BSL such a problem I am wondering if they can introduce mandatory dog training up to an advanced stage as a requirement for 'Bull' type dogs. I know that some owners are not going to train their dog let alone register it but for the people who love these dogs it would give them a chance to own one legally. It would surely be better than having dogs killed because of their appearance as well as preventing heart-ache to their families. Just a thought.

http://www.abc.net.a...386?section=qld 'Koala poop dog' enlisted by Logan council to follow scent of droppings, sniff out habitats By Courtney Wilson Photo: Koala detection dog Maya. (ABC News: Courtney Wilson) A highly specialised detection dog trained to sniff out koala droppings is on the case in Logan, south of Brisbane, in a bid to boost protection for the vulnerable species. Logan City Council enlisted conservation canine Maya to help identify koala habitats in the area. Maya's owner is Dr Romane Cristescu, an ecologist who specialises in koala research. "I've spent a lot of my life looking for animal poo, specifically koala poo," Dr Cristescu said. "The reason we look for koala poo is because that gives us where they live, the koala habitat. "But it's really inefficient for us humans to look for koala poo because we rely on our eyesight, so that takes a lot of time to look for really small koala poo in a really big habitat." On the other hand, specially trained dogs like Maya can canvass a large area of land in a relatively short period of time. Dr Cristescu says using sniffer dogs is an emerging trend in the areas of conservation biology, ecology and pest control. "There are detection dogs from everything from drugs to border security - so why not a koala poo dog?" Dr Cristescu said. Trainer Gary Jackson says Maya represents "the future" of conservation efforts. "These detection dogs do so much better and so much quicker than humans." Maya trained for three months 'to look for koala poop' Mr Jackson rescued Maya from the pound several years ago before training her to be a detection dog. "She's had about three months of solid training to look for koala poop," he said. Photo: Maya with her trainer Gary Jackson and owner Romane Cristescu. (ABC News: Courtney Wilson) "And not only to look for koala poop, but also to ignore so many other things in the environment. "The dog had to go in a very scent-contaminated area and only be interested in locating the koala poop and showing you exactly where it is." In Maya's case, the behavioural traits which made her a less-than-desirable pet have meant she was a perfect candidate for training as a detection dog. "You need a dog basically with an OCD on a tennis ball, an absolute nutcase on a tennis ball," he said. "Then you scent-associate the tennis ball with the target odour - which is a koala poop - and then the dog will search for ages just to try to find that odour. "She will go into an open area and she just has to find one little koala poop and she will just hit the deck. "Maya will do a drop and then when you go up to her she'll go and put her nose over the top of it and pinpoint exactly where it is. "You've got a whole acre and you've found one tiny piece of koala poop." The information Maya is able to provide Logan City Council will be used to inform the Koala Conservation Strategy, which is used to manage and improve prospects for koalas in Logan. Dogs faster, more accurate than human detection Councillor Trevina Schwarz said the Council is excited about working with Maya, and the innovative approach to koala conservation efforts. "We certainly don't have enough resources within our human capacity and Maya is considerably faster, considerably more accurate and considerably more cost-effective," said Cr Schwarz. Photo: Maya searching for signs of koala droppings in Meakin Park, Logan. (ABC News: Courtney Wilson) "While there is plenty of anecdotal evidence, and locals are encouraged to report koala sightings – there's very little scientific data on koala populations in Logan." "Maya will be searching some parks that we have very knowledge about. "Because of the terrain Maya is able to go through there considerably quicker than we possibly could. "She's an absolute superstar, and having her partner with Logan is just tremendous – we're very fortunate." Maya will search for signs of koalas across an area of almost 500 hectares of bushland over a period of two weeks.

There were around 25 Westies at the Westie picnic and they were grouped together and some being walked around on leads as well, a woman walked past with a Labrador and the Westies all started barking and telling the Lab off for walking in their park. They didn't bark at any of the new Westie arrivals they just barked at any non-Westie :laugh:

had to post this http://www.dailymail...g-seagulls.html Down boy! Firefighters rescue Whisky the West Highland terrier after he gets stuck on roof chasing seagulls Whisky chased up onto the roof of the bungalow when he heard seagulls West Highland terrier, from Suffolk, froze in fear and could not get down Owners Jenny and Richard Eacott called firefighters to rescue the dog By Emily Kent Smith Published: 15:13 GMT, 17 April 2014 | Updated: 17:36 GMT, 17 April 2014 A West Highland terrier became stuck on a roof because he wanted to get closer to seagulls - and had to be brought back to ground by firefighters. Whisky the Westie climbed up to a height of 20ft and then refused to budge. The one year-old West Highland Terrier climbed out of a bedroom window when he heard screeching birds flying above the house. But when Whisky looked down to the ground, he froze in terror and no amount of calling and encouraging from his owners Jenny and Richard Eacott would shift him. Whisky the terrier froze when he became stuck on the roof of the Suffolk bungalow and did not know how to get down One-year-old Whisky's owners only discovered he was missing when they heard their other dog, Jazz, barking in the back garden and staring up at the roof. They then found him trapped on the top of the roof - after apparently climbing out of their bedroom window No amount of calling could bring Whisky down from the roof and the family soon had to call firefighters to bring him back to ground. Here the westie is pictured with the firefighters and his owner eight-year-old Jonathan Eacott The family were finally left with no option but to call firefighters to get the little dog down from the roof of the bungalow in Felixstowe, Suffolk. Mrs Eacott said: 'We didn't know anything was wrong until we heard Whisky's sister Jazz barking outside in the back garden looking up at the roof, probably shouting 'What are you doing up there?' 'We tried calling him, even dangling ham to him, but he wouldn't come. The fire crew put up a ladder and being a sociable little dog he came to them and they brought him down.' The mother-of-two added: 'They were amazing and we just want to thank them so much. 'I know they are part-time on-call firefighters and their kindness was appreciated so much.' Firefighters are pictured climbing up the house in Felixstowe, Suffolk to save Whisky. Mrs Eacott said: 'They were amazing and we just want to thank them so much' Mrs Eacott said: 'We tried calling him, even dangling ham to him, but he wouldn't come. The fire crew put up a ladder and being a sociable little dog he came to them and they brought him down' Family members tried to call the little dog down but he would not budge. They also tried tempting the Westie with pieces of ham

Rare gibbon birth at Adelaide Zoo A critically endangered white-cheek gibbon has been born at Adelaide Zoo, but its gender is not yet known. http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-04-17/rare-gibbon-birth-at-adelaide-zoo/5398744

http://www.abc.net.a...-island/5377622 there are also readers comments in the link Wednesday 9 April 2014 11:44AM Image: Finn is one of the dogs on Macquarie Island that determined the island was free of rabbits. (Karen Andrew) After a $25 million operation, Macquarie Island in the subantarctic is now free of environmentally damaging pests like rabbits, rats and mice. Finn is one of the dogs that helped confirm the pest-free status, as Keiren McLeonard writes. It's a dogs life. Finn has spent two years with the run of Macquarie Island, 1500 kilometres south-east of Tasmania in the subantarctic. But while he has enjoyed hundreds of days on the hunt, his super-sensitive nose and inquisitive nature have failed to detect any rabbits lurking in the environment. There's an enormous amount of training that goes into the dogs. So if he didn't find any, there were none to be found. Karen Andrew, dog handler on Macquarie Island That might be frustrating for Finn, but for his handler, Karen Andrew, and the pest eradication teams that have been stationed in this rugged and beautiful patch of earth, it is good news. There's almost no part of Australia's territory that has escaped the destruction of invasive species, but on Macquarie Island the curse of invasive pests appears to have been vanquished. Keith Springer is the Macquarie Island pest eradication project manager for the Tasmania Parks and Wildlife Service. He has been overseeing a $25 million pest eradication effort that's been running for several years on the island. Can he finally claim 'mission accomplished'? 'We believe so, yes,' he says. 'We've had teams on the island for the last three years, searching intensively for any sign of remaining rabbits, rats or mice and for more than two years we've not found any sign of them.' 'Given the coverage we've been able to get on the island we're pretty confident that means they are gone.' Image: The Island has been declared free of pests. (Karen Andrew) There were believed to be around 150,000 rabbits on Macquarie Island—which is listed as a 13,000-hectare World Heritage site—and the nearest estimate of ship rats and mice was 'lots', according to Mr Springer. He says the mice came first with ship stores taken in by sealers in the early 1800s. Rats came either with ship stores or from one of the shipwrecks near the island. Rabbits arrived with island workers in 1879, when the crews wanted a new food source. The rabbits soon found their own food supply and the environmental damage started. 'Rodents were chomping on eggs and chicks of burrow nesting seabirds. Rabbits devegetated the island ... that was resulting in landslides,' says Mr Springer. The eradication program involved three years of planning and then, in 2011, four helicopters spreading rodent bait across the island, which rabbits also consumed. Then hunting teams of 12 were brought in to put pressure on rabbit survivors over the last two years. Karen Andrew, one of the dog handlers, has this week arrived back in Tasmania after two years on Macquarie Island, in time to hear the declaration that the island is free of the target pests. She's confident they are gone, having spent six days a week for two years with her dogs, including Finn, searching for any remaining pests. 'I didn't see any the entire time I was there,' she says. 'There's an enormous amount of training that goes into the dogs. They are really enthusiastic and switched on by hunting rabbits. So if he didn't find any, there were none to be found.' Image: Karen and her dogs on Macquarie Island, 1500 km south east of Tasmania (Karen Andrew) It's a job, she says, where it was important to be able to enjoy your own company, along with the dogs. 'I spent a lot of time with Finn. I saw more of the dogs than anyone else,' she says. 'I stayed in field huts ... some put in especially for the project. They are small, compact but with heaters, food, cooking equipment. Every block had a couple to choose from. You could share or be by yourself with your dog.' The eradication efforts have already seen environmental and wildlife changes on Macquarie Island, with some of the bird species, like Blue Petrels that were eaten off the island by rats, back and breeding. New tussock cover for the seabird chicks that are fledging is returning, protecting them from predator birds. While full environmental recovery will take many decades, there have been three seasons of regrowth. Now Mr Springer says attention is turning to other islands with similar pest problems which might benefit from the lessons learned from Macquarie Island's eradication program. 'Lord Howe has been following what we are doing ... in South Africa they are taking notice because there are islands with mice. And South Georgia, in the south Atlantic Ocean, has their program under way now.'

I had three girls, the oldest being about 12, come to my door this morning asking if I'd like to let them take the dogs for a walk. I explained that they have to be 18 to walk a dog and it may be an idea to shelve their idea as there are some quite aggressive dogs in the area, some are just wandering around out of their yards can rush at other dogs. I also said that it unwise for them to go into peoples yards when they have a dog inside that yard. Off they went up the road to, obviously, ask other neighbours as I can hear dogs barking all the way up the road. There are four more houses and each one has a dogs...a Ridgie X, a nutty GSD, a Canaan dog and two fierce little Yorkies They are going to be another dog-bites-children statistic and I am wondering if their parents know what they are doing?

There is a Australia Animal Rescue Oso but there doesn't appear to be a Ross on their 'Our Team' page here--> http://www.australia...u/our-team.html

Here ya go---> http://guineapigsaus...ded_rescues.htm

O no, poor Maddie and Stan, awful thing to happen. I have never met your dogs HazyWal but I love it when you post about the stuff they do, I love the photo of them...the beautiful Maddie with her frangipani. and Stan looking soooo cool. I hope they are doing ok this morning, hugs to them both.

I suppose it depends on who runs? (can't think of the correct word) the petition ie Change.org, Get Up, Sumofus, Avaaz, I think they add some legitimacy to the petition. The Aust Labor party had a petition about Malcolm's NBN last October, there was a petition to get Ruby (BSL dog) home so perhaps they have some impact A few weeks back I checked on-line regarding the efficacy of e-petittions, there was some info on Wiki (yep I know...not the best/most accurate source) here is an excerpt of Wiki's page: There are now several major web initiatives featuring online petitions, for example Change.org, Avaaz.org, and 38 Degrees. These are growing in popularity and ability to achieve political impact. The Economist comments that Avaaz has had "some spectacular successes", but raises questions about what objective measures can be used to assess "the reach of a global e-protest movement".[2] Recently, several petitions on Change.org have been attributed the reversal of a United Airlines Dog Policy.[3] [/url]Wiki also goes on to say: Debate over efficacy As is the case with public perceptions of slacktivism, Internet petitions are both a popular resort of web-based activism and a target of criticism from those who feel that such petitions are often disregarded by their targets because of the anonymity of petition signers; Snopes.com, for example, sides against the usage of Internet petitions as a method of activism.[1] On the other hand, the creators of petition hosts, such as Randy Paynter of Care2 and thePetitionSite.com, have defended web-based petitions as being more feasible, credible and effective than e-mail petitions,[16] claiming they are not fairly judged as a method of activism by their critics. Since then, Snopes.com has removed the text about the inefficacy of internet petitions.[1] I do sign petitions, especially the bee ones, and there have been changes. The petitions that asked the Asian sweat-shops to lift their game have also produced results. At least it helps gets the word out there

There is a petition on Change.org about it at the moment. I have an idea it is against forum rules to post the petition link but if you type 'change.org Westfield: No longer permit pet store retailers to sell live animals' into your search-bar it should take you to the page

There is a facebook page with this Cocker https://www.facebook...anielsAustralia Harry has very smiley teeth! :) Introducing Harry! Master Harry is a 2 year old typical, bouncy Cocker. He has loads of energy to burn so would suit an active family with older (teenage) children. He would also do well with another very active dog who also has energy to burn, lol. Harry has special needs, our vet believes he has had a brain injury, most likely from a head trauma Because of this, he needs a confident, firm but loving owner to help calm him down when he gets overexcited. Harry is desexed, vaccinated and microchipped. He is in QLD. His adoption fee is $400. Support will be provided during his settling in period. http://www.petrescue.com.au/listings/284283

A friend of mine emailed me the link to a site called Bidstart--> http://postcards.bid...s-/12130/c.html I am looking at the dog postcards & real photographs section and it has some interesting old photos/cards, some of sled dogs, GSD's and a 1903 postcard of a girl and pug http://postcards.bid...2059102/a.html. These Pekingese look like Tibbies--> http://postcards.bid...18017461/a.html Anyway, DOLers may have fun browsing eta--> O noooo :laugh:---> http://postcards.bidstart.com/Dog-on-a-Busy-Paris-Street-Bad-Location-Postcard-/40018142/a.html

News.com (aka never-let-the-truth-get-in-the-way-of-a-good-story) have a slightly different story http://www.news.com....x-1226870351271 You can't leave me like this: dog attack victim Angela's plea to owner by: richard noone April 01, 2014 12:00AM Angela of Kellyville was attacked by two dogs while on her morning jog. Source: News Corp Australia THE mauling by two dobermans on leads was horrifying enough but it was the callous action of their owner and passers-by that disgusted this dog attack victim. The two brutes had just ripped into Angela's head, blood was pouring down her face and she was terrified. She suffered wounds which would require emergency surgery, 15 stitches in her right eye and uncertainty about her eyesight. All this for simply taking a jog through the Bernie Mullane Reserve at Kellyville at 6.30am last Monday. After the attack the man gave her his T-shirt to hold against her eye. Then he completed what can only be described as a dog act. He turned to the woman who had just been brutally mauled by his two dogs and told her "I've got to go". This despite Angela's pleas for him to stay until she got help. "I said 'You can't leave me here like this'," Angela, who asked not to have her last name used, said. Dog attack victim Angela. Source: Supplied Angela had pleaded with the dogs' owner. Source: Supplied "He told me that his dogs were really friendly and he had two young children." Then he fled — a decision which has made him the No.1 target of the Hills Shire Council, which has warned the man now faces fines of $11,000 to $77,000 and potentially jail. But if all this was not bad enough, what happened next was almost as shameful. With the blood-covered T-shirt pressed to her right eye and puncture wounds to her left cheek and chin — which later needed a further three stitches — Angela said not a single person came to her aid as she made the lonely walk back to her car. "I was in a lot of pain," she said. "I passed four or five people and not one person stopped to ask if I was OK. "I had this T-shirt over my eye and I had blood all over my face but no one stopped, which I think is pretty appalling." The Bernie Mullane Sports Complex, Kellyville. Source: News Corp Australia Council community safety and compliance manager Charles Meader said the council would do everything it could to find the dogs and their owner. "People shouldn't take dogs out in public if they are not confident they will be able to restrain them at all times," he said. "The injuries this woman suffered were very serious.'' Angela said the dogs looked like dobermans but were a pure brown colour. "Surely someone would have noticed a man with no T-shirt on walking two large dogs 2km out of the park back to his house last Monday," she said. The owner was described as about 180cm tall, of average build with collar-length hair and was wearing grey shorts. Anyone with any information should call 02-9843 0555.

Hahaha, I reckon they are listening quietly while she is telling them the story of 'Penny the Beach Westie'

She is a sweetie! Does she have some irritation around her left eye Keetamouse?

Interesting video from New.com http://www.news.com....w-dogs-makeover Article says: We gave seven dogs from Monika's Rescues a fighting chance of finding a loving home by shooting their portraits in our studio. The results were stunning and touching images that will change the way you look at dogs from the pound.