ronja

Thanks for the link. Just finished watching it, and found it very interesting :)

In making your decision you may also want to check with the laws in your particular state. For example in the ACT it is illegal to have an undesexed dog if it is 6 months or older unless you have a permit (although this law is never really enforced).

At the time they were surrendered at least the white male dog was not desexed, but the brindle female one was.

I don't think he is desexed. Someone recently asked this on his facebook page and then jokingly (hopefully!) said they were going to mate their female dog with him and make mini-Franklins. Think this might be his pound photo from 2011. If that is him, then he is listed on original pound listing as not desexed.

You are right Scottsmum that was not very nice of me I've now removed it (you might want to edit it out of yours as well?) Just so frustrated by the lack of action.

I have talked to Maremma Rescue and offered to help with Franklin. The problem is his carers here in Canberra do NOT want him caught. This is a conversation with Mark who runs the page (copied and pasted). Maremma Rescue could take him as a private surrender (once owner contact details are found from his microchip), or if he was impounded as a rescue from the pound. **removed** Unfortunately I don't believe for a second they are going to do anything about it. None of the people that feed him are interested in helping him. I have personally called DAS to voice my concern after nearly hitting Franklin one day, and was just laughed off. A friend of mine's daughter who is very dog savvy was also apparently nearly bitten by him when she startled him accidentally.

In the ACT keeping an undesexed dog over 6 months old is the law unless you have a permit, however this is not really enforced. The only time it is actually enforced in cases like this. Even dogs that enter the pound as strays which are undesexed are allowed to go back home to their owners without any fine for keeping an undesexed animal, or usually not even any mention of it. FOI request showing number of infringements for keeping undesexed dogs and cats: http://www.cmd.act.gov.au/__data/assets/pdf_file/0018/644031/Decision-Letter-Signed.pdf

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-3406167/Mysterious-ghost-dog-roamed-Canberra-town-three-years-authorities-won-t-capture-s-not-danger.html

Oh gosh this dog! I live nearby and recently saw a motorbike swerve dangerously to miss him on the road. Not the first time I've seen a near accident because of him. Seems like a lovely dog but probably best off going to a maremma rescue and not living on suburban streets.

sarsaparilla I was referring to some of the Flinders University research I had linked. Eg: http://www.nisu.flinders.edu.au/pubs/shortreps/canines.html#summary

The new Canberra Times article makes it sound like there are dogs roaming all around attacking people everyday. Not saying that roaming dogs are not a problem!! I've been lucky enough to never have to bump into an agressive roaming dog, and I wouldn't wish that upon anyone. But the data in the new Canberra Times article quotes research by Dr Cam Day which is actually the research done by Flinders University. http://www.nisu.flinders.edu.au/pubs/shortreps/canines.html A lot of the bites are from owners breaking up dog fights, and the majority occur in the owner's own home. The article is written in a very sensationalist way.

The new legislation is not going to change anything as we don't have puppy farms in ACT. What we *do* have is a large backyard breeding problem. I counted 200 puppies sold on Facebook in Canberra by Canberra residents (staffy x etc) in August alone.

I run a local lost and found page on Facebook in Canberra. On average we reunite 40 pets a week through or page alone. We always always recommend people take pets to be scanned, notify the RSPCA and the pound. If no owner is found we recommend they take pet to RSPCA or the pound. We also educate people as some people have no idea what a registration tag is, or they say things like "I can't feel a microchip". We tell them what number to call for rangers, what vet is open nearby etc. So far I feel like we are providing a good community service.

Oops sorry for posting in wrong place ????

Came across this on facebook in case anyone is interested in a couple of desexed male Tibetan Mastiffs. It was posted on a local community board on FB. Not sure if the owner still has them but if anyone is interested I can forward you her facebook contact.

I did a backstage tour of the RSPCA ACT a few months ago and found it hugely enlightening. They really do care for all sorts of animals, many of them at the back and not visible to the public. Animal cruelty and neglect is definitely something they are focusing on more...although the article does exaggerate in a way in that many of the ones seized recently were small animals and birds! (not that they are not also important of course ) They are definitely struggling financially. For the last couple of months they have stopped taking in stray dogs from members of the public and all dogs are now directed to the DAS pound, leading to an increase in numbers there.

I keep the dogs' kibble in the kitchen and one day while dishing out their bowls one kibble fell on the floor by accident. After eating (outside) the dogs came in and one of them discovered the kibble that was on the floor. The next day she rushed inside just after eating to see if there was a kibble on the floor again. Now every time I prepare their bowls I leave one or two kibbles on the floor and the female dog loves coming in and searching for these wayward kibbles :)

I attended the Inner South Vet puppy class last year and found it very good.

I had a look at these swags for dogs once (never ended up getting one) but they look so cute! https://www.facebook.com/MaxieSwags

Little Rupert is absolutely adorable!! :D

Another one at the pound now that could be him? http://www.tams.act.gov.au/city-services/pets/keeping_dogs_in_the_act/lost,_found,_impounded_and_wanted_dogs/impounded_dogs?sq_content_src=%2BdXJsPWh0dHAlM0ElMkYlMkZ3d3cuZG9tZXN0aWNhbmltYWxzLmFjdC5nb3YuYXUlMkZJbXBvdW5kLmFzcCUzRkFjdGlvbiUzRFVQRF9JUCUyNlBvdW5kSWQlM0QzNjAyOSZhbGw9MQ%3D%3D

One idea could be to provide an incentive for owners to desex their dogs if they end up at RSPCA or DAS. The cost to have the dog released from RSPCA is about $75 and for DAS about $85 (if already the dog is already microchipped, registered, it's the first offence, and it has been there less than 24 hours). Now if the dog is not desexed then maybe the fine could be +600 dollars to be paid within 30 days OR zero if you get dog desexed within those 30 days and have the vet send in the desexing certificate to DAS. The incentive would be to desex the dog since it would be cheaper than paying the fine. For people who can't afford to desex their dogs they can be pointed to vets that do payment plans. This could go hand in hand with special heavily discounted "desexing" days (the carrot) run at least once a year. The idea would still require quite a lot of extra work of course so probably not feasible. But maybe it would save some money in the long run, indirectly, by having less dogs end up at RSPCA and DAS and therefore leading to less workload from that perspective. I have sent screenshots to DAS of people blatantly breaking the law by breeding dogs and advertising them on facebook including their names, phone numbers and addresses. Never received a reply though.

Adorable ????

Definitely need to tackle the backyard breeders. It's already illegal in ACT to breed without a licence and to have an undesexed dog. Sadly this is not enforced at all.