Alkhe

Yup, I totally agree with you. I guess the issue is that, that assumes that there is a desire to improve, and recognition that there is a problem. Many pounds would say that they DON'T pts adoptable animals, so there isn't a problem. They just make 'adoptable' a broad, undefinable category. It's like the word 'healthy' - it's subjective. How healthy is healthy enough to be considered 'adoptable'? Depends who's making teh decision, where, and when. Just because an organisation is in the animal welfare/management space, doesn't mean it has the same aims and views as people like you or I, who are involved in animal welfare from a different perspective. (That said, I'm involved both in shelter managemetn and a rescue group, so I get both sides) Also, many pounds are more interested than donations than euthanasia figures, and one threatens the other. Of course low euthanasia rates will attract donations from people who know and care about those things. They'd rather not give air time or open a can of worms, by providing more data than strictly necessary.

Oh, I absolutely agree. I was actually at that conference too. But the problem is that pounds are reluctant to publish information with that level of detail, because it looks bad. Of course there are some dogs that shouldn't be adopted if they have serious behavioural issues that make them unadoptable, or if their health issues are so serious that putting them down is euthanasia in the true sense of the word. Ie, not because it's inconvenient to house them until they are adopted or release them to a rescue group to be rehomed, or because they may take longer than some other dogs to adopt. I totally agree with you, but I just don't think it's going to happen :/

It's the same for most (if not all) pounds and shelters - the line is that they rehome all "adoptable" pets (or all "healthy and rehomeable" or "treatable") pets.. words to that effect. The trouble is that the definition of 'rehomeable', 'adoptable' and 'healthy' is opaque at best. Some places have a much lower "healthy" threshold. Is a dog with a skin infection healthy? What about a dog with luxating patellas? They're decisions that are made behind closed doors, and the definitions aren't transparent or available. Is a 13 year old "rehomeable"? I say so. Others may not (and I'd fervently disagree, but it's beside the point). What if it's got an ear infection? I'd say of course, treat the ear infection, and many people want to adopt older dogs. Some pounds may have an an unofficial rule or policy that dogs over a certain age aren't adoptable, or dogs with a particular health or behavioural issue aren't adoptable.. therefore they are removed from the figures and unless you interrogate them, the figures look brilliant. I'm not saying DAS isn't a great shelter - I've got no experience with them, and have no idea. I agree that those figures look pretty good, even with that reporting and filtering. But when a pound that does a great job and works wtih rescues, community, etc is up against the big guys who claim to adopt out ALL healthy and adoptable animals (when in reality that mean they euthanise an animal with a minor ailment that could be quickly and inexpensively fixed) - what hope have they got. It's an uphill battle. .. just my thoughts :)

Hi PatchPuppy :) Have you got any idea how long you're going to be in recovery mode? Is it likely to be a matter of weeks, or more like months/years? If you're able to stick it out for a few weeks that'd be great, but if it's a more long term thing and you're likely to be unable to meet his needs for a long period, I would suggest the following rescues: ' New Beginnings Animal Rescue Noah's Bark Forever Friends Vic Dog Rescue They're not local to the peninsula, but I would prioritise a good rescue rather than proximity :) Also, many rescues don't necessarily have a geographic location and their carers are based all over the place. My rescue (that I foster for) has a postal address at our vet clinic, but the carers are based all around the place, and none of us live that close to any of the others!

http://www.cootamundraherald.com.au/story/2019111/hundreds-of-dogs-saved/?cs=12 Is this you, mup? Go you!!

I'd rather people pay $615 for a bitsa from the pound than $3000 for a designer dog from a website! I don't think they're hurting the dogs' chances of finding a home at all - they're only 'high value' dogs because they're ones that are highly adoptable, and will be easily adopted. If people wouldn't pay it, they wouldn't put the price up like that. And I agree with kirty, the aim of the shelter is surely to get more dogs adopted, and some will require more money and treatment to get to that point. So getting some dogs' adoption fees to cover the cost of other dogs' treatment is fine to me. I don't have a problem with it at all.

Oh, she is just gorgeous!

Fergal!

Yep. I'm saying that it's NOT like anyone is forced to live in a CBD apartment. It's a choice. This is NOT a situation like someone losing their house and having to move to rental accommodation where they can't keep their dogs, or any number of other scenarios where you're stuck against your will, between a rock and a hard place, eg for financial concerns. If financial concerns were an issue, rather than convenience, it might be more understandable. If the end result of whatever this situation is means you end up in a CBD apartment, this is not a situation where you don't have any other options.

I just don't understand why anyone would HAVE to move to a CBD apartment. It's not like if you're moving to an apartment in the CBD, you're doing it because you can't afford to live somewhere where you can keep the dog. And flip it the other way - would you agree to take on a dog if you knew their former owners would be wanting to be in your life forever? I wouldn't. I can't think of many people who would. There's no use rehashing the things people have already mentioned here. If you are going to responsibly rehome your dog, fine - but you have to be prepared for some backlash, and you have to give your dog the best possible opportunity to thrive and adapt. That means sucking it up sometimes, and letting him go; you can't have your cake and eat it too.

My current foster is the first dog from RSPCA NSW to come to Rescued With Love

It doesn't even seem like she actually WANTS the dog. I'd be tempted to not respond, but get the feeling that that would just lead to more emails, - Ams's wording is great!

I just have to put my 2c in here - I have been watching Leema's work with Bandit on facebook for the entire 6 months, and trust me, it's not like she hasn't done all the right things 10 times over, evaluated what she's been doing, asked for people's opinions on photos/ads/tactics and taken advice on board.. Sometimes it just takes time for the right home - I had my last foster for nearly 5 months with no bites, and he was perfect, and a SWF. Sometimes despite ticking all the boxes, the right home just doesn't quite find them yet. There's no rhyme or reason :/ I'm not very good at making videos either, but I am more than happy to make one for you tonight if you want to send me some pics and videos? I just use some crap program that I downloaded for free and scroll pics and videos in front of an upbeat happy song (no Sarah McLachlan type crap here!) and put snippets of info in there. It didn't work for Harro (he stayed for months afterwards) but one video I made for another carer's dog ended up getting her adopted, they told us that it was the video that made them enquire about her. This was a beautiful little dog who was in care for 8 months and just had no enquiries for god knows what reason. She was bloody hard to take good photos of, but a lovely dog, no vices or medical issues at all!

I used to be obsessed with trawling PetRescue and a few rescues' websites too, but I think fostering has cured me the need. But I also keep tabs on a few places because people (friends, friends of friends, friends' parents etc.. people who know me as the weird dog lady) often ask me if I know of any dogs that might suit them or fit their needs. Yesterday someone told me their friend wanted a poodle, and could I help.. my head is full of otherwise useless info, like which rescues currently have poodles and what have you! :laugh:

Nyaw, just a few! I didn't end up liking most of them :/ 241013_029 by allkhe, on Flickr 241013_016 by allkhe, on Flickr 241013_014 by allkhe, on Flickr

Linda that is so helpful, thank you so much!! I have been watching youtube tutorials etc which go through different apeture settings and as I was at the zoo yesterday, I was thinking through what the differnet apertures did to the kermit the frog statue from the video I watched.. :laugh: so I'm sure like driving, it'll become second nature at some point, after lots and lots fo practice!!

oh wow, you're going to have fun with that one! I love her blurry little tail in the cyclone aftermath photo!

Oh yes! I'm flickr.com/photos/allerix :D

Ok, I am now convinced that it's totally ok to get my awesome dog action shots at the park using preset modes. :laugh: I'm such a bloody perfectionist, I think I just have to remember that the reason I wanted to get this camera in teh first place was to be able to get great shots of my dogs and fosters, and that wanting to know and understand more about photography is also an aim, but kind of beside the point if I'm not getting the shots I want. I also went to the zoo yesterday and got some great shots, some on auto and some on manual, and I'm completely astounded at how great the auto ones are! I actually had no idea about the difference between jpg and RAW, and that jpg automatically adjusts like that. I haven't yet got any postprocessing software, though it's something I'm going to get asap. Exciting!

It really differs from pound to pound, unfortunately. Some have staff who are more qualified than others, or who have more knowledge about particular dogs, and who are available to chat with potential adopters. Other pounds will have volunteers speaking to potential adopters who have little knowledge of them. It also depends on the actual time of day that people go in to look at the dogs and who's on duty, etc etc.

Oh god I love him, he is beautiful! Ahh, seniors, they're always my favourites :laugh:

I feel like a cheat for using sport mode, but I used it for these today at the park :D It was still difficult to throw the ball then crouch down and find and focus on the dog! :laugh:

Ohhh you DO have the same Flowering Plum as me! I remember from the spring thread :D

Unfortunately I missed allllll the sunlight today - I was at work until 6:30 and didn't get home for another hour But tomorrow I am going to the zoo with my sister! And hopefully the forecast is totally wrong.. Very good point about adjusting the settings later.. I still need to get some good editing software, that's next payday!

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