HeelerLove

Anyway, moving on. I have had further discussions with the person I posted about previously, who is familiar with the workings of Moorook. They have given me permission to post the following information: Before the RSPCA raid in March the RSPCA had never identified any issues during their inspections. Of the animals seized by the RSPCA, all except for Gangsta and the kitten that had arrived the night before the raid, would have been at Moorook during those prior visits. I had questioned this person about why so much has been invested in making Moorook visually appealing, instead of using that time, effort and resources to improve the kennels, and they said they can only assume it is to appeal to the council, as the RSPCA really didn’t care about that. A number of people have questioned Mark’s allegations that the push to shut down Moorook is in response to the RSPCA wanting to build their own shelter in the Riverland. Below is an article this person sent to me that appeared in The River News. This person said that animals are taken to the vet if any issues were identified with their health. This is not solely based on Lola’s opinion and is also be done if any of the volunteers think an animal may need closer inspection. This person admitted Lola really struggles with the idea of putting a dog to sleep but that she does listen to the volunteers when they say the time has come for a particular animal and has also driven animals immediately to the vet upon arrival, to be PTS because they are suffering. The person I have been talking to confirmed that the information about the animals being fed pies and pasties is true and that they are left overs from a bakery. She said they are still fine for human consumption and that it is not a regular occurrence or a primary food source. She said the dogs get a huge mix of various types of food but mostly get a mix of normal dog food and fresh meat and bones. They said that the dogs do get fresh milk from the milkman but they have never seen them given chocolate milk. It was confirmed that there has been algae in some of the water bowls at Moorook. The bowls were scrubbed out at least every weekend and possibly in between but not daily. Some of the bowls are cement and even after the algae was removed there was green staining, which may make it look worse than it is. Some of the photos that showed heavily green algae in the water bowls but didn’t have a dog in the run may have been because the workload often meant a water bowl didn’t get emptied when a dog was adopted, until someone put another dog in there. I was also asked to point out that the footage on the most recent Today Tonight story about Moorook used old footage of the shelter and none of the improvements that have been made to the kennels etc from the working bees. So some things at Moorook aren't as bad as what they appear but there is definitely still room for improvement and some things should not be happening at all. I wonder what made the RSPCA change their minds about those animals they seized that they had seen beforehand and had no issues with. If Wombles for example was indeed suffering from chronic hydrocephalus, wouldn't this have been picked up in a past inspection? I am not 100% familiar with the disease but from my understanding the symptoms are fairly obvious and it is not something that just happens overnight? Definitely agree.

That is great! The middle picture looks like grumpy cat lol!

That is really cool - I had no idea things like that existed! Great to see some kids getting involved and the dogs look like they are having a great time! Good on the presenter for giving it a go too.

I'm glad that other people feel this too! When we decided to get my girl a friend last year, we spent a lot of time discussing it and a lot of time looking for the right dog. We found him and we were really excited. The night I brought him home all I could keep asking myself was "have I done the right thing?" even though they got on fine and he settled in straight away. Fast forward 8 months and I'm so glad that we did, he is a great friend for our girl and it feels like he has always been part of the family. As others have said I think it is just the realisation that it is a big commitment and your life is going to change in one way or another. I hope everything works out for you :)

What a cutie! Looks like she has settled in quickly :)

I thought I looked there and another page too but I'm having one of those days- a snake could crawl across my foot and I probably wouldn't even notice it lol. There is a pretty slim chance they'd get any names, I know when I looked in to it I gave up before I began as was told there's very little chance. What is knowing going to do for them anyway? It won't achieve anything, what's done is done.

I can't find that post on his wall, funny how quite a few of his posts seem to disappear! You would think being a political candidate he would try to use proper grammar. I have seen a few comments from people pointing out spelling mistakes etc in the articles on his website and offer to proof read for him and they are usually shot down pretty quickly and quite rudely. When you are putting yourself in the public eye small things like that are pretty important! 60 is definitely better than 150 but probably still too many for Lola and the volunteers that are left.. The other week there were only 50 dogs there and she was struggling to have all pens cleaned out by the time the council got there at 2.

My boss has said previously that I could bring my two in if I wanted to, but I haven't and I doubt that I will in the future unless I need to. As much as I would love to spend all day with them, I don't think I'd get much done. My girl would probably settle after the initial excitement of new human friends and therefore lots of pats wore off but my boy would spend the entire day snuffling in every single nook and cranny of the office while he looks for food crumbs, people on the phone would think there is a pig in the office :laugh: ETA - Staffyluv, Ziggy is just gorgeous!!

No, it does not make you a horrible person. Just wanted to give you a as having just been through a similar scenario myself I know how hard a decision it is.

A beautiful tribute, RIP Bob.

Ubu is gorgeous unfortunately I do not have room for any more My Cattle girl sounds very similar in that she does always not like to share us with our boy but as long as the attention is equally divided (or she gets a little bit more :p) she is pretty happy. And if she feels like she is being left out she'll just head nudge you until the focus is back on her lol :) I hope Ubu gets the best home to live out the rest of his days.

Now I've had a chance to watch the Today Tonight segment, my thoughts: For once a reasonably balanced report from Today Tonight as in it wasn't all one sided which is a nice change from their usual reporting. Although I think they tried to present it in Moorook's favour it didn't really come across that way, but they definitely didn't do any favours for the RSPCA either. Mark Aldridge's facial hair is NOT cool. :laugh: "There is no reason anyone should put a cat or dog down unless it's very old and has ill health". What happens if the dog is not very old, but has ill health? Whether that is just a trip up on words or not I don't know but I don't agree with that comment. Some of those enclosures have loose wire and corrugated sheets. I have seen what the bottom of my corrugated fence did to my dogs nose when she decided to try and dig under it- it wasn't good and resulted in a fairly costly visit to the vet for a GA and stitches. I know the first thing I did was put stuff down so it couldn't happen again, I would have thought things like that would have been addressed at the working bees. Apparently Mark Aldridge runs a no kill shelter.. I thought it was a 'sanctuary'? You can clearly see water bowls full of muddy, murky water in some of the pens Bit dramatic chucking the dog food in the bin at the end lol but that is Today Tonight for you. Overall, definitely not the big 'expose' Mark A promised it would be.

And may I ask where you get your information from? Kill statistics are from RSPCA's own records. And are spoken about openly right aound Australia as a disgrace. Their actions at Moorook could have been handled a lot better, and with a lot more compassion. I never said Moorook shouldn't improved, but to carry on the way RSPCA is is a disgrace.. and its not only happening here in Australia.. UK are going through it too.. with a very large backlash against the RSPCA and their activities. You will never convince the RSPCA supporters that are blinded by their spin.. As sad as that is, I respect that... :) Yes the rspca kill rates are disgraceful but they have nothing to do with the Moorook/rspca issue. The rspca have not acted as well as they could have in this matter that is true. Buy neither has Moorook, and definitely not Mark. He is probably the reason they have not worked with Lola, and fair enough- I would not want to work with someone who was acting the way he has been either. You will probably find that there are more members on Dol that do not support the rspca than those that do, that is what I have observed from my time here anyway, so I don't think many of us are "blinded by their spin".

They usually are put up on the website but probably not until tomorrow

Yes just things we've already read before and the usual spiel about how good he is.

Couldn't have said it any better

Yep I know that my boy had free interaction with the cats as I asked if he was ok around them and Lola told me he was fine with the ones at the shelter.

That makes sense, I couldn't work out what had been said just looking at the comments from them but that would fit. That poor woman, whether she was the one that reported them or not, whether she was behind that page or not does not mean she deserves having all of her personal details put into cyberspace for any person and/or nutbag to access. Whoever reported them first did so because they believed the conditions there were not adequate. That is not a crime. They told me my boy also "had run of the place". From my understanding it meant he was able to wander around the shelter freely and was not kept in one particular run all the time. I don't believe he was allowed inside Lola's house but I am not sure on that and might be wrong.

Sorry Snook, keep getting mixed up between the different pages- my apologies. According to Paul Snadd, you and Jo have brought shame to the DOL forum and the truth got too close for comfort for you so you have gone. :laugh: Also funny that someone asks a questions about Wombles - "Got a question guys so hope U don't block or abuse me, but it was pointed out and now I would like to know. Dear old Wombles, was he at Moorook for 4 years, was he about 14 years old, and did he spend most of his time in a run for 4 years without comforts etc an older dog needs and deserves, eg inside time ? Just need to know" and suddenly the post goes very quiet and the only reply in regards to the question was "He had run of the place when he wanted and was more Lolas dog than a resident. I know he was old but not sure how old." People are starting to ask questions and not just believe everything their all knowing leader has told them. It's a shame the page has been taken down as it was the only place people were staying calm and reasonable and not just jumping up and down when someone on the other "side" said something. I would have thought with a legal case in the background that Lola's daughter would know better than getting on her high horse and bashing her keyboard but I suppose it is to be expected with the way they are all carrying on. It is only going to harm them more. I didn't see what she wrote but it is unfortunate that she could not stay calm enough to have a civil conversation like most others on that page.

I feel proud when my girl sits perfectly still at the vets for her Cartrophen injection and won't take treats until after it's all done.. she's so polite lol. Seriously though, I feel proud of my dogs everytime I look at them :) they might not be the most perfectly behaved, my boy might not always listen to me but they are mine and I think they are wonderful.

I doubt he will post as he won't be able to delete his comments and people here will challenge him on what he says and not just take it as blind truth. He hasn't wanted to debate before this, he won't want to now especially here. Probably just a stir to get Jo and Snook all razzed up. Good luck to him.

Great post Pailin. I have been keeping up to date by reading the facebook pages and this thread but have not commented on anything except for on here- I am trying to stay neutral and definitely don't want any crazies after me lol. I agree that some people from both sides have probably gone a little over the top, the facebook page you are talking about was cleaned up but when it first started some of the posters were almost as bad as some of Mark's supporters. I guess some people are extremely passionate about animals and rescue and if you are passionate about something, you are going to stand up and have your say, some people have just taken it a little too far in this instance. Snook that is absolutely horrible that someone would do that. In my opinion, the only person causing trouble and damaging rescue is Mark Aldridge. His childish antics, immaturity and downright bullying is disgusting. People need to stop feeding his already oversized ego but they seem blind to anything other than what he says - it's almost like a cult and it's freaking creepy.

Glad to hear he is home with you and feeling better. Gosh they can be a worry sometimes can't they.

The truths and deleted content page is the old rants page but the original person had her profile banned/suspended by facebook and all the nasty content was deleted. There's a new page that has nothing to do with that one that I can send you the link to you if you like? Yes please, thank you.

The more I see and read from him the more he reminds me of my friends 3 year old kid when she hasn't got her way and chucks a massive wobbly. I've just stumbled upon the 'truths and deleted content' fb page and glad to see that most people seem to comment in a calm and mature manner. Some of the content on the rants page that Snook sent me a link to was almost as bad as the crazies from the Mark Aldridge page and I couldn't make myself look at it after a quick browse. He keeps saying that he has known Lola and Moorook for years but I am sure I have seen comments both from him and Moorook that the first time he had ever been up there was after the RSPCA seized the dogs? He is constantly contradicting himself, I don't know how he keeps up lol.