Joel

which law is the same? Like I said though, it sounded to me like the pound wanted nothing to do with them...? What would happen in that case...?

what difference does it make if its a small country town or not? and which law is it specifically (i like to read official things like this so i can understand them completely)?

Is it law that a found animal must be sheltered at the pound? I didn't think it was If the law states that a lost dog MUST be impounded, then so be it. From the OP, it seemed like the shelter didnt want anything to do with it. THATS why I suggested housing it elsewhere (while it still would have been recorded with the pound). EDIT: (Far out it seems like I edit every post that I write) With that said, I think then there should be penalties if the finder has said that they wish to be contacted if the owner doesnt show before their time is up.

My apologies for assuming, but how can you have worked in shelters and not support these people who are doing everything they can to make sure this lab survives and produces her litter safely (while still giving the owner the ability to claim her)? Again, I am not condoning people taking found pets and keeping them. What I am saying is, if there is a way that the dog can be HOUSED somewhere other than the pound (for the pure purpose of it not getting put down once the deadline is up), but still with the ability for the owner to come forth and claim it, then I think this is a better option than risking that the girl be put down because the finder wasn't contacted beforehand.

What was so interesting to me about Hugo's appearance is that his ticking isn't really black, its almost blue... It looks really nice. Thats cool to hear about your Whippet Robbi - He's definitely a nice looking dog. Have you got any more pics of him? Hehehe Sammy, as much as I like the idea, theres no dogs allowed on people beds in this house. Dogs have their own bed and I have mine. We've come to an understanding that I dont get on Honey's bed (if I try she starts stretching out and licking me till I get off ) and she doesnt get on mine (my way of getting her off is a little less romantic - it involves a "Hey, what do you think you're doing up here?! Get down!" usually coupled with a gentle push No licking on this end im afraid. I would however like to spend some time with a Pointer if anyone who has one would let us come play or go to a park where we can meet! We had lots of fun going to fiveplusone's house and playing with Hugo, thats for sure!

Collars as a strangulation risk is dependent on the collar. Personally I see the likelihood that a dog will strangle itself on a properly fitting collar very unlikely, but to each his own. There are breakaway collars for a reason. I'm not at all saying that a young, pregnant lab is more important than a brindle staffy cross, or any dog for that matter. What I AM saying is that it would be easier to identify as there are less of them. Your comment also makes me think that you would be fine if the pound put this dog down. I personally am not fine with putting a dog down unless all other avenues have been considered. Greytmate, I think you are misunderstanding mine (and many other peoples) standpoint and comments thus far. I am not saying that a lost dog is fair game for anyone who finds it - far from it. Do you know how many lost animals I and my family have found? HANDFULS. Did they go to the pound? No. Why? Because finding them does not give us ownership. One case in particular comes to mind - a kitten that was stuck up a power poll at quarter to 6 in the morning. It had obviously been there all night. My mum called the fire brigade to get it - they wouldnt come. So up a ladder I went on a slippery wooden power pole, pulled the poor kitty down and took it inside. Now, this cat had no collar and no microchip and we still managed to find its owner. How? Well, the owner wanted it back and so they put out posters (and so did we if I remember correctly). If someone is REALLY looking for their dog, they will find it (unless someone has stolen it and is keeping it from them). I am in no way saying that people should snatch up dogs and put them in their backyard and wait for a call and if it doesnt come in 3 days then sell it. What you are misunderstanding is that firstly, nobody here was trying to profit from anything (in fact, it would COST them time, money and effort) and secondly that there was no intention to claim the dog BEFORE the waiting period (for the owner to claim the dog) had expired. This IS a problem with not having a dog in a pound. Whats the solution? Put in systems to minimize the chances of communication breakdown? Have a council ranger (or similar) come to inspect the dog and take a photo (which means then that the owner could walk through the pound and flick through some photos)? <--- I think thats a good one. Or, do we just take the dog to the pound and hope for the best? If there was a way to guarantee that the finder be contacted if the owner didn't show up, then I would say that every dog should go to the pound when it is found. But the fact is, it doesnt happen that way. There are countless animals that are put to sleep because the owner didnt claim them and the person who found them wasnt contacted. And these animals, apart from having crappy owners, are perfectly fine to go to another home. If you're worried about losing your dog, keep a collar on it. If you're 100% sure that your dog cant get out and its chip is in the same place that it was put, then leave it off if you like. I think the chances of a dog getting out far outweigh the chances of them strangling themselves with a proper collar. EDIT: God I hope you werent serious writing that. If you were, lets switch it and look at it from my perspective. From what it sounds like, you would be fine handing over my dog to the pound when theres a good chance that she'll get put down if I cant get to her in time. One of my family's dogs has run more than 3 councils over when they got out. It was just LUCK that she found him. I know of dogs that have gone further! How is someone supposed to find their dog in that situation in 3 days? I would rather that someone had her, even if I was too late and she was given away, at least she'd be alive.

Joel - - the dog isn't at risk of euthanasia just because it is at the pound. The person who called the pound obviously has things mixed up. A dog that is handed into the pound as a stray (and not as a surrender) does not get put down immediately ANYWHERE in Australia. It is against the law. The person handing in the dog can put their name against the dog and pick it up if the owner doesn't come forward. The reason why your suggestion above isn't followed (and doesn't comply with the vast majority of councils' rules) is because people get descriptions of dogs mixed up and owners need to be able to see the dogs in order to identify them (after all, there are hundreds upon hundreds upon hundreds of brindle staffy x's that are in pounds across the country). Teh law is in place for a reason - to give people a chance to pick up their dog (the waiting period is too short IMO, but I would like to think that if someone picked up my dogs they would hand them in so that I could find them). Just because a scan shows no chip doesn't mean that the dog isn't chipped. Chips are notorious for moving around. The age of the dog is just a guess by a vet. Many vets are not experienced in breed and age identification. If this thread had been posted in the rescue section - where people are used to dealing with strays and have saved thousands and thousands of dogs from being put down - the advice would have been very straight forward. Hand the dog into the pound. Wait for the waiting period. Pick dog up. As per RSG, I would hate to think what would happen if my girl got out. She has been abused in the past and is very scared of strangers. She is a mini schnauzer so one day in the rain and she'd look awful. If someone found her and posted how scared she was and how awful she looked on here I'm sure there would be a mob who would condemn me as an owner and try to find her a "good" home without actually doing the right thing. First off, being scared, wet and looking sorry for herself is not the same as unchipped, no collar, PREGNANT, young and scared. Secondly, I am not saying that the pound would immediately put her down. If you have read my previous posts (which obviously you havent) I have said that I doubt this would happen for the reason you have stated. What HAS been stated however is that the pound can and very likely WILL put her down after the waiting period has expired and she hasn't been claimed. And from just talking with a family member about it, who has personal experience regarding taking a dog to the pound and telling them that if nobody claimed them that she would take them only to learn that they then got put down, I would say that taking a dog to the pound is a crappy idea. Of course, they could just wait until the final day of the waiting period, and go down to the pound in person (instead of waiting for a call) to check whether they have been recovered or not, and if not then take them, but far out, not everyone is in a position to do that. The reason that people would have just gone "take her to the pound, wait, pick her up" is because they're used to giving the same, generic advice to everyone. Secondly, there is nothing stopping someone calling the pound going "hey, ive lost my young lab bitch who is really pregnant, have you got her" and the pound going "well yes we've had someone call in saying that they've found a dog of that description, heres their details". Problem solved. This is not a case of a brindle staffy cross, this is a case of a young, pregnant lab. EDIT: Edited to include a reply to this post: Maybe they wouldn't get his breed correct, but im sure they'd get a description correct. Its not hard - just tell them what they see. Of course the idea is for them to be scanned for a microchip. If you look at it like "would the finder take them to get scanned" then you might as well look at it like "would they take them to the pound at all". As to the who would be responsible... well, i would look at it as follows: If it got out of their yard after they had agreed to take responsibility for the dog for the waiting period instead of the pound, then obviously, its their responsibility (in reality though, you wouldnt be in any worse a position than you were originally), if your dog bit one of them - again, their responsibility (they took it on knowing the risks), same goes for if it attacks their pets, if they fed him/her then you (the owner) should reimburse them, if he was injured while in their care (which you wouldnt know happened while in their care unless they were asked by the pound exactly what kind of condition they were in) then its their responsibility and the same goes for diseases. Im not saying that everyone who finds an animal automatically become their own pound for god's sake. OBVIOUSLY the finder would contact at least the local pound to register the find with them so the owner can have someone to call. EDIT: The only problem that I can see at this point in time with people caring for the animals that they find for the waiting period is that if they have to work, then the dog is by themselves for the day (which isn't a big issue). The issue is: if the owner calls the pound at 10 in the morning, the person holding the dog has to be available to receive calls then. This also means that the owner (or, possible owner i should say) doesn't get to come see the dog until after hours. LETS KEEP IN MIND PEOPLE THAT YOUR DOG SHOULD NOT GET INTO THIS SITUATION. IT SHOULD BE CHIPPED AND WEARING A COLLAR WITH ITS CHIP NUMBER, REGISTRATION TAG AND PREFERABLY A PERSONAL TAG WITH YOUR CONTACT NUMBER. It should be as simple as someone finding them, looking at a tag and calling you. Does it really matter if for the half an hour or so it takes you to get to their house they are in a backyard or inside? Lets be realistic.

I wouldn't mind my dog housed in someone elses backyard, SO LONG AS the pound was contacted and the pound let me know the whereabouts of my dog. I think the issue of temperaments, potential danger, disease, parasites etc would have to be taken into account by the person who would be homing them temporarily. If they have no issue and know the possible dangers, then so be it. If you look at it how you've described, just owning a dog seems like a bad idea. After all, a dog can bite an owner after 10 years of being their companion. They could bite a child. They could introduce parasites and disease. They could escape. They could leave you in a whole heap of trouble with the law, your neighbors and anyone that they attack. They can fight with another dog. This could also land you with huge medical bills. With all that in mind, just the idea of keeping a dog is scary. And yet, we do. Why? Because we've weighed up the risks and decided to go with it anyway. Because the benefit of going with it is something great, whereas if we were scared by the possibilities then we would never move forward in life. I mean, far out, lets be a little bit realistic and less pessimistic. People are generally pretty cautious when they are taking on an unfamiliar animal (i learnt my lesson when i was young by getting bitten by a 3 legged cat that i was trying to help). If somebody is going into it with a clear mind of the potential dangers, then I dont see a problem. Oh, thought I would add... I have had Honey escape (we left her in the care of someone else for a morning while we were out) and be housed at someone elses house around the corner. They called the pound, she was microchipped with her tag (and now she has our ph number on a separate tag as well) and they gave us a call. We went around and picked her up. She was having a great time playing with their little JRT. Try and see the positives before jumping straight to the negatives. Sure, they could have just taken her collar off, put a new one on and we would never have found her. But then again, that could happen with any dog that ends up in the pound - they already had the chance to be stolen and weren't.

Would you agree that a good middle ground would be for people to leave their details with the pound (maybe along with a picture if available (that can be emailed) and house the dog (again, if possible) themselves? This way, there is no fear of the dog being euth'd if the owner doesn't show, and if they do, they can go pick up the dog. What do you think? I assume that your dogs are microchipped, so this problem would most likely not occur with you. Also, looking a bit scruffy is a little different than being pregnant so young. I hear what you're saying, people should follow the rules, but there are ways that you can follow the rules and not risk euthanisation.

Hmm... yes, skin allergies can be a problem. I hadn't thought about it like that :\ (in regards to washing and drying. Something else to consider. Great! The more info I get, the more of an informed decision Steph (my partner) and I can make THE RACE CONTINUES!!!!!!!! EDIT: Hey aussielover, I was wondering why you hadn't recommended Australian Shepherds... (not that its a bad thing - I'd rather people recommend what they think would fit MY situation and not their own). I did a bit of research into them at the same time as I did with the Blue Merle BCs. They seem like lovely dogs, but yes, again, the coat may be an issue. I hadn't really considered a lab before. I think I figured that it wouldn't be able to keep up with her in the same way that a Rottie wouldnt? They are lovely dogs and very intelligent, I'm just worried that one isn't going to have the energy (or the speed) to match Honey. Ill have to look into it. Do many people have Labs to agility or anything like that? They might be worth me looking into regardless I guess. Ill have a look! P.S. Its kool that your dog is named Honey too ;)

Its lovely to see people willing to help. As I said to Ellz, if more people were like this then the world would be a better place. Sometimes I think the world is a bit doomed when I look around and everyone is just out there to help themselves, but at times like this, when people put their hands up to help with no real benefit in it for them other than a good feeling knowing that they've done the right thing, the coals of the fire that is my hope for the world get a little hotter. Please keep us informed of what happens to her, I'm very interested.

"....well today he is being a right pain in the $@^#! He is currently trying to make a 4x2 biscuit play with him confused.gif and not very succesfully I might add so he's becoming a bit agitated! laugh.gif After yesterday's mud episode (see pics in GSP forum) he is confined to inside or the side area (which has no lawn or mud) for toilet breaks, so he is a bit hyped up, even after his morning walk. Secretly I think he's wanting to get out in the mud but I have too much work to do right night for the clean up that would entail (unless I leave him out for a significant period of time........and he is Hugo after all so would be a big sook and want to come in once he is cold and wet icon_smile_mad.gif ) " Lol, I can imagine him trying to play with a biscuit. ahahaha. Should get him a kong and put some meat and peanut butter in there - keep him busy for hours! Of course he wants to get out in the mud, lol. What he REALLY wants is to get out in the mud with his biscuit toy, ahaha. Can you imagine? hehehe. Hmm.... Well, you've certainly planted a seed of thought. And they're fine in the heat? Adelaide gets pretty damn hot, and theres a good chance that they wont be inside an airconditioned room when we're at work (im not working at the moment, but obviously that can't last forever). I mean, they'll have shade (we have a huge carport behind the gate) and a kennel, and probably some huge iceblocks with treats in em, but with all that fur... they dont overheat? I know that the double coat is said to insulate from both extremes, but my brain cant get around it. It'd be like wearing a woolen jacket when its 35º. Hmm.... Another seed of thought. The peek a boo game made me laugh, lol. I can just imagine it. Honey bounding through the forest (sometimes i think that she thinks shes a deer the way she runs through the grass) after a whippet whos too clever for her, lol. Hmmm... *Commentator voice* As they round the corner, its still the Pointer and the GSP, a nose apart, but the Whippet on the outside is coming up quick with the Lapphund snapping at the tail. The Border Collie is still there with them, but the Bulldogs have dropped back and look as though they just cant keep up. ITS CLOSE BETWEEN THE TOP FOUR FOLKS, ITS INTENSE, ITS RIVETIIIIIIIIIIIINNG. NOBODY'S IN THEIR SEATS, THEIR ALL ON THEIR FEET. ITS PRETTY MUCH NECK AND NECK!!!!!!!! stay tuned

Thanks for the clarification ;) I think your suggestion is absolutely on the money.

AAAAAAAAAHAHAHAHAHAHA This made me smile and laugh a lot! How tough are whippets? Can they stand a bit of rough n tumble (afterall, they'll be around Honey, 2 of the biggest Rotties the world has ever seen (and I mean it - ill have to post a picture of them for everyone to see) and a greyhound on (hopefully) a pretty regular basis. Also, are they like greyhounds in that they have short bursts of energy and then are lazy bums? (hehe). Those pictures are so great! Awww. Hugo was really great, lol, but *whispers* I think he's a bit of an exception when it comes to energy. He was pretty energetic while we were there, but even so, less than what I expected a GSP to be (and less than what Ive read about on here). And then when you said he just went inside and flopped down to sleep (lol), I think thats not the most common behavior He's still one of the nicest looking GSPs Ive ever seen (including the 1000s of pics ive looked at on the net). When he fills out a bit, he'll look amazing.

+1 OK, TO CLARIFY (and what I would suggest be done by the finder): Clarify with the pound to see if they mean put her down immediately (which I HIGHLY DOUBT they meant (that doesn't mean that they're able to hold her though (but then I would assume that they would contact another pound to organize her being held somewhere else or ask the finder if s/he could hold her))), or after her holding time if her owner isnt found. If they mean immediately, give them a name and a number to contact if the owner comes through, so that they can be recovered at whoevers house they are being held (if its available) If they dont mean immediately, then drop the bitch off, give them a name and a number to contact if noone comes forward. (they are more willing to handball a dog off to someone than put it down). Now that Ellz' offer has been withdrawn (and I can't blame her for doing so -_-), homing her might be a problem. Keep posting on here, talk to some other rescue places etc. If the owner comes forward, give them a smack in the face and tell them that if they want to own an animal that they have to be more damn careful and that next time they might not be so lucky.

Im not saying to not go through proper procedure, I dont think anyone here is. What I am saying is that I doubt the dog has been missing for months. If it has, then the chances of the owner finding it now and not while it had been missing for months up until now is pretty damn slim. Also, I dont think that the pound would put her down immediately.

I have a feeling that the council didnt mean that they would put her down IMMEDIATELY, but that that would be her fate if she wasn't recovered (and they probably assumed that a dog of that age being pregnant and not microchipped (assuming of course that the chip hasn't moved to the tip of its tail -_-) wouldnt be recovered by its owner)

FORGOTTEN TO BE CHIPPED? Give me a break. Its one of the first things I and my family does when getting a new dog. If you dont want your dog lost, then make sure every step is taken to prevent it, and if it is lost, you had better have taken every step to make sure you get them back.

And anyway, if the dog has been lost for months, then the likelihood that the owner will find her is slim to none. They could be from 5 councils over.

Then by the sounds of it (or lack of, i should say) she's in pretty good condition for a dog whos been lost for months

Ok, i think some things have been miscommunicated. I dont think the offer was to ever just have her shipped to Tas without the owner getting an opportunity to recover their dog (however irrisponsible I think they are). I think the idea was for the owner to have the chance (whether the dog is in the pound or not doesn't make much difference so long as they have the contact details of whoever is housing her for that 7 day period) **I dont know the legality of that specifically, but I assume that it wouldnt be a problem so long as they were contactable.

You are making a big assumption about the owner of this dog. We know nothing about them or why the dog is pregnant. The person that started this thread has already told us what the pound allegedly told the finders, and I have questioned that. There was no mention of any attempt to work with council so that the dog could be legally transferred to new owners, just a request for somebody to take the dog. People buying dogs and pups have a right to buy animals without any risk that the legal owner could turn up and take them away. It is wrong to take and sell things that don't belong to you. Regardless of how caring you think you are. The assumption im making is based on observation. How can you argue that a RESPONSIBLE OWNER firstly not microchip their dog, and secondly allow to get pregnant at such a young age? I think those two points there are reason enough to assume that the owner is irresponsible. I don't think its a case of whether the pound will take her or not AT ALL, but that they wont try and re-home her after her time is up. If it is a case of they wont take her at all, I dont think they're allowed to do that, and either way, go to a neighboring area's pound and drop her off. leave details and say if the owner doesn't come to get her to contact and that she'll be picked up by someone responsible.

kk

Agree on both parts. Although money shouldn't be a motivating factor in the slightest, that doesn't mean that the puppies should be given away necessarily. there are costs involved (including time) to take on a thing like this and I think they should be accounted for.

then whos are they? an unchipped dog at that age... irresponsible owner much. what are the options? ill outline them for you. 1. The dog stays at the pound and is put down. 2. The irresponsible owner comes by (who, in my opinion, because they're an irresponsible owner shouldn't be allowed to own a dog), takes the dog back, has the puppies, sells them. Who knows what happens to the bitch. 3. Ellz takes the bitch, looks after her, looks after the puppies until they are old enough to go to new homes and them homes them (whether they are sold or not is irrelivant - I think that ellz should AT LEAST recoup the money spent on homing them). 4. The pound gives her over to another organization that will sell her and the puppies or does it themselves. 5. Someone from the pound will take her home (and then who the hell knows whats going to happen). Ellz offer to take her would only be valid AFTER the period of time has gone where the owner is able to collect her. After that time is up, she is nobodies and will, if what the finder was told is true, be put down. Who cares what Ellz's motives are. Maybe a young bitch is appealing? Maybe she (i'm assuming you're female for some reason) doesn't want to take on an old dog. IT MAKES NO DIFFERENCE. The alternative is potentially death. Far out, I really dont udnerstand your thought process here Greytmate.