Ravyk

Foxes are massive pests, and if you saw the damage they cause to livestock, particularly lambs and chickens you wouldn't think them so cute anymore. Unlike a lot of predators, foxes don't kill just for necessity/food, they kill for the sheer pleasure of it. I went to a wildlife place on Thursday, the lady who runs it had a fox get into her chicken pen overnight. FORTY chickens dead plus many many injured. It's sad isn't it??? I like them too....I grew up in the UK where althoguh they are seen as a pest over there, not to the same extent as here. It's shame that lives have to be taken when it's not their fault. But yes, they are a problem here. Probably because they're native there.

Sorry, probably won't be there...will be in Broken Hill

Sorry I didn't make it down...didn't wake up until 11:30, then went and did some work in my garden.

RIP Jake, you were such a wonderful dog, even if you did try to eat me. Cas, I'm sorry your week has been so horrible.

That is a spectacular shot! Love the expression

got mine and OH's the other day

My ACD came to me from deathrow, NSW. By the way he acted and still does a bit today, we think he was neglected and/or abused. He is the reason I will set up a working dog rescue in SA when we have a property.

I think the only who looks like they are enjoying it, is the Kelpie.

Lo Pan, read the second article. The man had fled the DV incident and was being tracked by the dog.

Surely you'll just recognise DOLers dogs first

Sorry I disagree. Though I don't believe the dog should be put down nor that we know the whole story of the incident, I do have to question the strength of nerve and clarity in a working dog that would see a child as a threat. I don't think it's a case that it just saw the child as a threat, but more the way the child acted as a threat. The article states the boy ran into the house calling to his mother. The erratics of a child running around can come across very threatening to ANY dog. Think about it, what would come across more threatening to a dog, a calmly walking adult or a child running around, skipping, chattering, yelling, playing, etc? They are unpredictable doing what all kids do [which is play]. My partner was almost attacked by a police dog. He was crossing an oval at night and the dog squad were out tracking an offender. He was bailed up by the dog and he did the sensible thing of freezing and letting the officer deal with the dog. The officer told him after that he'd done the right thing, if OH had decided to run from the dog, he's have definitely have got bitten or worse. So it is quite possible the dog thought the boy was a threat or an offender running away. They are trained to take down offenders running away from them.

Sik3 do you have any idea what you are talking about? Pure GSDs used in the police force must pass all kinds of tests, including a gunshot test where they are not to show fear or startled behaviour (its also a requirement for passing breed surveys in GSD clubs). Its to test soundness of mind and temprement I think? A police dog isn't going to be startled by a child, but when it is working they are trained to protect themselves/their handlers from possible attacks. A police dog can't tell that a child running around isn't a threat, as we can tell that it is not. They cannot rationalise that a child isn't a threat running at them but an adult could be. The dog did exactly what it was trained to do. It saw something that it percieved as a threat and acted accordingly. Unfortunately it was a child that bore the brunt of the attack.

Its a dead wasp I think.

Found this in my aquarium last night

Love this one! The eyes are hilarious!

I don't think cats are particularly 'more progressed' than other species. (actually, I think cats are primarily still very instinctive and haven't progressed that far at all from their 'wild' cousins). Some apes/other primates, elephants, dolphins and pigs are all known to be highly intelligent and have certain forms of heightened awareness of self or learning etc.. that said.. i don't think that intelligence is a requirement to having a soul. No I don't think that intelligence is a requirement to having a soul either. I believe all animals have a soul. We as a race would be screwed then if it was.

Maybe try here: http://TheAnimalRescueSite.com/ They sell quite a lot of clothing items and the proceeds go to rescues around the world

Everything crossed here for safe collection of the puppy. [PS knew you were going to get him from your first post ]

Anyone got their boxes yet?

Congrats on the win. We ended up leaving before they'd even announced cutest dog. We had 4 dogs with us and we were buggered.

*yawn*

There might have been a team from Dover. Not sure if they entered.

I'll be there too...with 4 dogs.

I house sat for a month and looked after 3 dogs and a cat. I got paid about $10 a day for it.

I don't think it is 1km. I have helped an animal refuge relocate lizards that were bought in injured who couldn't go back to where they were found. We released them in the same suburb in the bushy parks. As long as they are within essentially the same area its ok, particularly in suburbia, where there may be no suitable place to release it for a kilometre or two. The local bit of bush should be fine to release the lizard at. Tokkie, when trying to catch it, use a damp [not wet] towel. It will make the towel fall faster and more accurately, just swap over to a dry towel once you've caught it. Secure the lizard by holding firmly but gently behind the head and behind the back legs. Holding it like that will make sure it can't bite you. Place in a box to relocate. If you want some help catching it, PM me, and I'm happy to come down and help.