Her Majesty Dogmad

Are you suggesting that - as a dog owner - every time you walk along the road and see a gap in a fence or pool fencing that you should keep your dog away from the gap? With the gap that I've seen on the news, maybe this owner DIDN"T KNOW that there was a dog behind it that would take it's dog's face off. I'm sure if she'd even had the slightest inkling that would be the result that she would have kept her dog well away - perhaps even as far as the next bloody suburb. No, the responsibility lies with the owner of a dog that has gaps in the fencing, so close to a public footpath. They should be fixing their gaps. I walk my dogs along the road each day, footpath is wide enough only for 1 person. My dogs sniff the grass, by fencing. I don't expect them to turn around with half a face left, as a result of that. I'm quite sure they could tell from their side of the fence if their dog was agitated by people/dogs walking on the other side of the fence. It wouldn't be rocket science to figure it out.

That owner was a piece of crap .... that's the nicest thing I can say, and such a liar.

Alas, yes. I can't seem to help it. Either way I am free to say so if that is what I think :) Your theory is plausible, too. I guess we'll probably never know. You are free to express your opinion, I never said you weren't and we can't all agree, all of the time. Insert a smiley face here. I'm just sorry that you and others can't seem to empathise with someone whose dog has died in this way. Instead, you seem to prefer to demonise the owner. Nice. I imagine this would be a trauma that would last a lifetime. As someone else has said, some people simply cannot empathise unless it happens to their own dog. Could it have something to do with the breeds of dog involved, I can only wonder.

Frontline DOES NOT work for fleas. I'm constantly being told about dogs having itching problems and the foster/owner always says "it isn't fleas" but in pretty much every case, it HAS been fleas. If the patches are on her back/rear end, chances are that it is fleas. Has she been to a vet? Is she in the house or in a barn/kennel run? Most of the people who say it isn't fleas aren't living in the same area as the dog. There has to be something in the environment I would have thought. Has she got access to an area with Wandering Jew? Best to get it sorted asap as if it is fleas, puppies will perhaps become anaemic ...

have you contacted Edwin's Mission - they are in VIC: http://www.edgarsmission.org.au/

Make sure the crate is on a thick mat of some kind - I buy mine for $10 in Bunnings ... Line the bottom of the crate with newspaper before putting the bedding on. In the cold weather I also cover the crates with blankets to try and stop drafts. It's very hard when you get a dog that won't wear a coat - I've got one here like that, I just rescued her after her owner died. She hates a coat with a passion and doesn't like being covered over by a blanket but being short coated, she's feeling the cold! She came from WA so perhaps it was never cold enough over there to wear a coat etc. She sleeps on my bed but I'm trying to find her a nice home with more attention and hopefully somewhere cosy. I also have a heat pad I bought off ebay for $40 - 4 mins in the microwave and it stays warm for many hours - all night. You would need 2 for a larger dog so maybe it's not as practical. Is there any way you could put a doggie door in rather than leaving the door open? This might make it a little less cool.

Wow, do you always see the worst in people? How about she's trying to protect other dog owners from having it happen to them - either by walking past the same property or by demonstrating how a seemingly harmless gap can result in a horrific incident that causes your dog to die? I'm pretty sure most dogs would not react in such a vicious way - I've come across plenty of dogs on walks who are in their gardens and are not too bad with dogs passing by, sure they might bark but I don't think they are going to rip my dogs apart. There are two dogs round the corner that are DA and I no longer walk past there and worry about other people who do because they may not realise there are no gates, a 2 foot high fence and dogs with no collars or leads on in that property who regularly frequent the front yard ... A terrible accident will happen one day, council are aware but sadly it seems someone's pet may have to suffer before something finally gets done. The owners hardly have a brain cell amongst them. If you want to own an aggressive dog then fine, but just ensure you don't ruin someone else's life because you don't take the proper precautions to protect the community and their pets at all times and in every way possible. I hope it never happens to me but if something like that does happen, believe me I will not go quietly, I will take plenty of action.

Wow - great news Kirty!!

Wonder if the original rescuer is aware?

Yes they do, sadly.

I just checked the breeder listing on DOL's front page and could only find 2 breeders in NSW. I'm presuming you've looked there already?

Well you would think that the Amstaff's owner would desperately want to prevent such an awful thing from happening again, wouldn't you? Gap is still there.

I'm fully aware that HA and DA are different things but my point here is - can you GUARANTEE that this dog would not have done the same to a hand that came through the fence? No, none of us could. I'm saying that something would have been done if it had been a child rather than a dog that was attacked in that way. Don't misconstrue what I'm saying. I euthanased a dog in 2011 that I'd rescued for being not only DA but also HA. Dogs CAN have both forms of aggression but of course I know that because they have one doesn't mean they have the other. Some people don't know that, usually standard dog owners.

Glad the fine was increased but the moron deserved a decent stretch in jail.

Obviously the owner is either not very bright or just doesn't give a s--t about other people - children or dogs. If it had been a child's fingers/hand/arm bitten off, I'm sure the authorities would be doing something. The attacking dog owner's attitude is absolutely disgusting, completely without compassion but oh so common in people these days when their animal has attacked another. The poor little poodle, I cannot understand why he had to wait for 3 hours to be put to sleep ... maybe they were awaiting a specialist. He deserved to die of old age, in peace and dignity.

I'm a bit concerned that you are thinking of putting something around the dog to change her shape. Is this your first dog? Did the former owner get her vet checked before selling the dog to you?

If anyone should take the little dog on, as long as it's a kind and loving home there is every chance the dog would adapt. I've rescued/adopted dogs as old as 15, they've had a terrible life but I can assure you that they've all responded to love and kindness and thrived on it1

I just spoke to the breeder who isn't in a position to take this dog back. Apparently a rescue group is helping the owner - is it anyone on here?

My fc sent me the ad last night - I only found 2 breeders in Australia, one of whom has dogs that look like the one in the photo - mainly white with some tan whereas the other breeder's dog was mostly tan. I have emailed them in the hope that they can help.

Why wouldn't they release her if the chip was in your name? Just being jerks really, they claimed there was a dispute over ownership which there wasnt we were both there wanting her released to me. But they needed a stat dec from police and then the ranger had to be there but apparently they have a dog attack every 2 hours in that council so she wouldnt see us. Then she had to inspect the property the dog came from. It was all made up stuff but they had the dog and i didnt so had to go with it. Was insane But if you had rehomed this dog, had you done a homecheck for suitable fencing/environment? How did the dog get out of the new home?

I have a foster carer who keeps sending me ads. I actually spoke to the owner of this dog. A friend has taken the other dog but this one remains without anything. Owner doesn't speak the best English and I struggled to get the message across. She is going overseas in about a week's time and was in a hurry - of course ... I hear this s--t all the time.

There appears to be more males in rescue - if you go on Petrescue you'll see that. I find that many people generally believe the following - which I usually can dispel quite easily on all counts: 1. Female dogs are cleaner 2. Female dogs are more loving and loyal 3. Females are better behaved It really annoys me because it is absolutely wrong. In my experience I've found that males are much easier generally however their piddling can be annoying but they are actually easier to housetrain ...

Hilarious!! Go Stan, you only get a birthday once a year so make the most of it LOL!

Hugs to you ES, I cried for months when I lost my little budgie and I completely understand what a heartbreak it is to lose a little feathered friend.

So very sad to lose our beloved ones like this and way too young. My heart goes out to you for your broken heart.