slk

They have actually applied for a permit. I think the only reason is because council are exercising all their powers on them at every opportunity. They have been issued with infringements notices for many offences which in the past they ignored, but the council issued summons and hello, infringment notices all paid, dogs desexed and presto - registered. So yes, council have confirmed that they have paid the non-refundable $107 application fee for a permit, the forms will be sent to not only immediate neighbours, but every resident who has lodged complaints about existing dogs and, if I can quote my council man, "they don't have a hope in hell of getting a permit". I really do feel for the pup though. And I'm sure that this dog is not unique - there would be many animals affected by this silly procedure. They don't have to apply for the permit until the dog is 3 months old .... the whole application process takes about 4 weeks - and then, at around 16 weeks+ puppies are looking for new homes Stupid.

I have spoken to our council. They need to get the dog, then apply for the permit (2 is the limit, this will be their 3rd). To me that seems a roundabout way to go about it .... poor dog is going to have to be rehomed if they don't get the permit - surely you could apply for the permit before you get the dog?? But no, need to have the animal first. Then, it taken into consideration - neighbour appoval is requested via the council and each case is then assessed on it's merits - ie no prior complain history. There is NO WAY they are going to get a permit give their history - their file is thick, from everything from dog at large to failing to register, court summons, etc. Frustrating to say the least. Oh, and poor pup, will be looking for a new home soon.

I am currently having issues which have been ongoing for a few years now with the neighbour 2 doors up. They have two white fluffy dogs (don't know breed) which are aggressive. They have rushed us countless time. They have been fined countless times for not registering their dogs, for their dogs being at large, for their dogs rushing the postman - the list goes on. I registered a complaint, and my husband signed a statement when they rushed my 2 year old son, and came within inches of biting him. It was the last straw for us. I was told they were going to be issued a summons to appear in court and we made it very clear that we were happy to stand up in court if that was required. They now have a new puppy (haven't seen it, but it apparently belongs to one of the teenage sons so I doubt it's going to be white and fluffy!). So now they have 3 dogs. How does someone who has this kind of history be allowed to have yet ANOTHER dog???? Believe me, I'm ringing local laws this morning - but is there anything else I can do?

Max gets 125g tin of sardines mixed through is kibble every night - he looooooves it. Is it too much for him, too often?

I also have a puller when out walking and the sporn harness is brilliant, no pulling whatsoever and I would highly recomment it. Re the cords rubbing the armpits, I had this problem also. Go to a saddlery and ask for some sheepskin covers for horse halters. These will slip on to the cords easily and you will have no more rubbing. I put a stitch in each end to stop them slipping. Great minds!! Max is on a sporn harness (love it!) but it rubbed under his arms. So I got a leftover over from baby day's sheepskin cot underlay, cut out panels and stitched them into tubes which I then slid over the cords ....... hubby just rolled his eyes and said "that dog is treated better than the kids" Worked an absolute treat but your idea is easier .... going to keep an eye out for when mine wear out

Max the Wonderdog tripped me over this morning. We were ambling along in the dark, me listening & distracted by the 6am news report when a cat (I think!) dashed from a bush and darted across the road - Max, who was walking nicely next to me darted after it and rather than dashing in front or behind me - he decided to go straight through me and knocked me over like a skittle! I landed fair on my hip and am not in a lot, lot, lot of pain - and I think I'm going to have a fair sized bruise by the end of the day Thank goodness it was on a dark stretch because it must have looked quite a sight

Who know why our kids are suffering more today than they did even in my childhood. Personally, our specialists can't give us any answers. There's lots of theories, and one that I tend to agree with more than others is that our food today is so full of additives and so overly processed. Who knows - but they are very real conditions, affect peoples lives, take peoples lives and I can't believe the tone that's been used towards them in this post. Edited to add - my daughter has a list of allergies as long as my arm (only 2 are life threatening) but the ONE and ONLY allergy she has grown out of in the past 5 years is her allergies to dog dander !!!!! How happy is she as she is my true animal girl

and.......this is relevant how - just another putdown for the evil kids of todays society. Heaven forbid your child ever have a life threatening condition. I have a 7 year old with a severe peanut allergy (and kiwifruit, jeez, she's super abnormal). She eats peanut or kiwifruit - without medical intervention - she dies. Simple. Yeah, these evil kids who are a bit different than your normal kids. What a pain in the arse they are. I can't believe the hate in the tone of some of these responses - seriously, they make you worse that the "evil kid" because you're all adults who should know better!

Max was his pound name. And we thought we would pick a new name for him but as my middle daughter was up in Queensland the week we got him we though we would wait till she came home before we decided (he was a secret from her, a big surprise on her return !!). Anyway - spent the week calling him Max and we realised .... he is Max We couldn't change it. He also gets MaxiTaxi .... Maximum .... Maximilleum .... Maxy .....

Harsh.

I nearly got the easy walk harness, but our vet put me onto a sporn harness and I have to say - for our Max who is a shocking puller - it worked an absolute TREAT! From the first walk he went from a choking, gagging, pulling nightmare of a dog to a dream who just trots next to you on his lead! We've been using it for a week and this morning, while fumbling around in the dark I couldn't find his halter to I just clipped to his flat collar and off we went - perfect! He didn't pull once It's it's a sporn harness for us all the way

I don't like making sudden changes - I know there is more than likely no harm done if I do, but I don't like to do it - not with the dog, cat, hubby or kids I'm increasing the kibble, decreasing the tinned food and adding something in most night - either a tin of sardines, an egg or sometimes a little bit of our leftovers (not much though!). He seems happy enough - so I'm sure in the next few weeks he'll be eating kibble + an extra (chicken neck, egg, sardines, etc). Thanks for advice guys ;)

Personally, I would give any untethered dog that had access to me a wide berth. Not everyone loves dogs. And as far as I was aware (and I know it's law in my council) dogs, even in their front yard - need to be secured to the property (fences) or on lead unless it's a non-lead area. Just because you know your dog is safe (and do you always 100% know this, the unexpected can happen) doesn't mean people walking past your house know this.

He's on Optimum tinned and Hills SD kibble. I'll continue the Hills, we seems happy on it and I've always been happy on it. Can I go cold turkey onto a kibble only diet or best to wean him (decrease the wet while increasing the kibble?).

That's a good idea PF. I'll need to wean him onto his kibble straight - he's a wet food fan - but I could mix through sardines or the like through his kibble to entice him and just cut it down over days. I personally don't like the tinned food but it's what he's been fed to date and when he came to his new home I didn't want to upset him by changing his diet too dramatically - but I think he's settled in enough now to deal with change