~Anne~

Ahh, OK. I understand the parallel you're drawing now and I agree 100% - particularly your last statement about the need for breeders to more seriosuly consider their risk factors.

I'm not sure how the links you've provided show that there is an 'agenda' and I'm still unsure of whose agenda. You and I have had many frank discussions about brachys and I've debated the topic more times than I want to think about on this very forum. All I can say is what I've just read shows that people are actually starting to take action, which might save breeds like the pug. I'm still not sure how anything you have shown me is linked to the ban on greyhound racing, announced by the Premier of NSW.

I normally agree with you but I don't in this case re brachy or any other BSL issue being linked to this decision. The ban here is for greyhound racing, not breeding. The racing of dogs and breeding of dogs are different issues. As for it being on 'the' agenda? Whose agenda is that exactly? I do agree that the Bill may not get through, however. I'd says it's got good odds for passing but who knows.

A copy and paste from Mike Baird's FB page:

I'm not so sure their focus is animal welfare. It's come about as a result of multiple things. To my knowledge, the Greens, circumstance, public outcry and the review lead to the postion we are at today. The Greens lodged a Bill in parliament 2 years back calling for a ban. The story that aired nationally on live baiting stirred a public outcry and a review was called into the industry. There's probably been other things too, but these are the few I'm aware of.

It looks like a pretty lightweight study. It was more a survey by the sounds of it. I wish they also included the original tallies and scores, not the prettied up version which could be showing a lot of fluff or skewed views.

I'm with you, RuralPug. The figures don't ring true, although I do agree that pet populations have actually been on the decrease (per capita) for many years. It's why the argument of 'over supply keeping our pounds full' is false. If anyone manages to locate the actually study, please post it up here.

Not to mention rabbits, piglets, possums and cats. Then there is the injuries to the hounds themselves. The move is a good one. Sure, there will need to be adjustments. Sure, some will lose employment and I feel for these people. I feel for the owners of racing greys who live and breathe this horrible sport. Their lives will change. But the owners and the communities will adjust and move on. The very heart of it all is that racing involves money. Humans + gambling + animals = abuse. It doesn't matter how much soem want the industry to change. It doesn't matter how hard hey work. Human greed and ego will mean that animals will be abused. And all purely for enjoyment. Human enjoyment. Nothing else. It's not an activity saving a human life. It's not an activity producing food. It's not an activity for anything but entertainment. The argument about racing greys and pet greys being different is one I cannot fathom. So what if they're different, if they are in fact different at all. Essentially they're a breed that we as humans have developed. We can still have greys and will still have them.

Obviously you are not from NSW, westiemum! The man is a right wing dictator who has his eyes set on Canberra and most likely leadership, in time, of the Federal Liberal Party. There are 65 greyhound tracks in the country, 33 in NSW. In our regional towns and cities, and particularly in Sydney, the greyhound tracks sit on valuable land that developers have been trying to get their hands on for decades. This is nothing more than a land grab and what makes it more obvious is that other states are not following suit. The exception is the ACT which has followed NSW. Coincidence that they have been trying to move the greyhound club off the land at Symonston for sometime and that they have also expressed a desire to resume the land at Thoroughbred Park? Unless you know him intimately, your post is nothing but a political opinion and because you have such an obvious dislike of a political leader, it restricts you from being able to view the subject matter with any rationality. Coincidently, as I have pointed out before, the most valuable of all lands, Wentworth Park, was at risk of the Racing Assoc who was trying to convince the State Government to allow them to turn the track into housing development. It's on record. The state Government, via the agency that manages crown land, said no way, not ever.

That's beautiful. Thank you.

Thanks SM. After years of owning pugs, I think it will take a castrophic event or remove the hair. I find hair in the most unexpected places. :) My brand new car is already christened with hair. I look at it as being a part of my miss muppet and possibly even Monte nad Boof, so I'm happy to leave it. Now I await until her ashes are returned. I've ordered yet another urn. My living room has become a memorial to them all. ❤️

(this is from the govt site) Do they own Wentworth Park and places like that? I'm not sure what their actual property assets are. It will all become crown land? Sorry for the questions, I don't really understand the land thing and if it will be turned over to developers straight away. My understanding is that the track was leased land from the state government so with the ban the lease becomes invalid as greyhound racing is illegal and the land is basically under government control. whether or not this I'm not sure but it is my opinion on it. --Lhok Yes, that's largely correct. The land is crown land which means it is owned by the state. DPI manage crown lands in nsw. Two years ago, a proposal by Greyhound Racing NSW was put forward to turn the site into apartments. A plan was being developed to move the main track for hound racing elsewhere. The Government (ie DPI) knocked it back saying they would not agree. So, for everyone saying it's the government going off a money grab, maybe do a little bit of research through time.

Mine have all been pugs, but I've also baby sat a few other swfs. All of them have been fine with it.... including the grandkids crawling through it! I found it far less noisy than any other dog I've had and it's certainly far more aesthetically pleasing. They're certainly lighter than some of the bendable plastic type flaps and the hinges are really light and noiseless. As DD has said, you need to consider the height of your dogs because once the glass is cut, it's expensive to replace. The rim of the Perspex on mine has a crack from the grandkids but I can easily replace it. It's the glass that is costly, not the dog door. And yes, again as DD said, the dogs following the lead dog through the door get a smack in the face and they soon learn to duck! :laugh: I'd certainly get another installed if I ever get another dog and move houses. In fact, as another cat is more likely on the cards, I will potentially get one put into a window leading into an enclosure. I think they're a great dog/cat door.

That's great news! Remember, he won't be the only breeder there. Introduce yourself to others nad have a chat. Good luck! I look forward to hearing what you think. You'll also probably see many other breeds - I fall in love with more and more breeds everything I go to a show.

Oops - wrong Kings. :laugh: You said Kings school, the article is referring to the basketball team - Sydney Kings.

Animals + gambling = abuse. Horse racing is the same. I wish that was also being banned.

The Kings wanting Wentworth? They're miles apart. Kings is in North Parramatta. Wentworth Park is in Glebe. I'd say it's the media playing with the truth. As for Baird doing it as a development grab - I mean really?!

I had the glass panels replaced in our glass sliding doors so that we could have a dog door inserted. They cut the glass with the hole in it ready. I used one of these dogs doors. Your puppy won't be a puppy forever so I'd thnk more long term use and look at temporary ways of containing him while he's a Bub.

Way to go Mike Baird. I hope the greyhound rescue orgs are looking at tripling their resources. There is going to be an absolute flood of hounds needing to the taken into care. If you've ever considered you might like to adopt of foster a hound, now's the time to start discussions with registered orgs.

Yes, I do think speaking with the liaison officers at pounds is worthwhile, however, they can't act unless they have evidence and a Facebook campaign isn't evidence. That's is the problem with most of these threads and Facebook campaigns. They're generally nasty, bullying and most of the info is often incorrect or exaggerated. If there is reason to act, then it needs to be acted on, but it needs real evidence. Clause exemptions can be revoked if rescues do not abide by the Companion Animals Act. Gather first hand evidence of any breeches and report them. The RSPCA can also take action against rescues that breach POCTA. Again, any first hand evidence should be reported to the RSPCA. Second hand information, rumours and heresay should be avoided, understandably. Find real evidence, and report it to the appropriate agencies. I'm not sure if rescues kept in such conditions also come under legislation controlling boarding kennels, but it might also be worth a try. To speak to someone and get advice on each of the areas of legislation, call the NSW Department of Primary Industries and the Office of Local Government. Please note that these agencies can only provide advice about what areas of each Act may be being breached. They are responsible for administering the Acts, not enforcing them. The actual notification of a breach should be made to the RSPCA and or the NSW Animal Welfare League. You might also like to speak with the appropriate council where the kennels are located if you believe there may be breaches of council by-laws.

Thank you everyone. Kat - yes, the house almost has an echo. I'm so used to listening for her, making sure she's not under my feet. And in the last few weeks, making sure she was ok. Now I don't have to leave a light on for her to make her way out in the night to go to the toilet. I don't have to take her outside to toilet when we first get up. I'm not tripping on her toys or stepping over her beds. She has three of them! I came home from work and she didn't smell me and come racing into the bedroom. She was deaf but even for a pug, she had a keen sense of smell. She always knew when I came home. The first one home, out of my husband and I, would find her sitting at the front door, in the dark and the cold, waiting for one of us to walk through. I won't feel guilty anymore that she did this. I've never know how long she sat up the hallway waiting, and I was always worried about her doing it, especially in Winter.

Thank you, everyone. Although she was small, and reasonably quiet, she had a presence and I miss that presence now. The house is strangely quiet and empty.

Anna, as always your words ring with truth and clarity. Thank you.

Thank you everyone. She's gone.

Dearnlea Sophies Choice - Olivia 14/10/2004 - 5/7/2016 After a short battle, my little Oliva has gone to the bridge to join Boofy, Monte and Molly. Olivia came to me on 10 August 2009 as a rescue, in the days when I ran Pug Rescue Sydney. I'd received a call from a vet in regional nsw asking if I could take her in. She wasn't in great shape and had a large stone blocking her bladder. She'd had surgery to remove a stone in a similar situation less an 12 months before. She was badly infected and appeared to have been that way for longer than she should have been. I had every intention of rehoming her when we got her right. She had the bladder operation and then underwent further surgery for her breathing. While she was recovering I fell in love. She stayed with me. She was the only rescue I took in that stayed. She belonged with us. She was naughty. Oh, so naughty! She was the only dog I have ever met that had a sense of humour. You could see that glint in her eyes as she laughed at her own antics. She never stopped. Until 9 weeks ago she was still chasing toys around the house and playing like a 6 month old puppy. She wasn't the prettiest of pugs, with a wry jaw and her tongue poking out, but what she lacked in visual, she more than made up in personality. Olivia was personality plus. Last year she became an only dog. I was worried how she would cope. The first few weeks after Boof died she worried me but she soon settled in to be a solo flyer. Now she's back with the boys, and with Molly our cat. My little girl is gone.