CountryGirl

I'd love another greyhound...maybe one day.

My goofy greyhound girl left me two years ago today. I'll miss her forever. There will never be another just like her...love you always Lillychops!

Country pounds are a different world...sad but true. At least Parkes has started to work with rescue where others prefer to PTS.

Oh, my new favourite thing!

Great recognition for a job well done. :)

That's appalling. They're dogs not bloody statues! They need proper care and attention... I'm glad I now live on acreage and don't have pedestrians walking their dogs past my property. I have enough space for my dogs to run around in the paddocks, and a creek for them to paddle in, and not a single dog walking ignoramus within miles. My next door neighbour's dog pops over to say hello most days...he comes via the paddock to my side boundary...and my other neighbours have working dogs that don't usually get off the property unaccompanied so I only see them if they're meeting the school bus at their front gate...or herding the sheep in the driveway paddock that runs along my back boundary. People are stupid. There needs to be a test for competency in so many areas of life...including pet ownership.

Cryptic and I live in adjacent rural shires. My shire operates a Pound but there is no presence online or otherwise. No ads for dogs or cats that are impounded so I've no idea what they do with them as there is also no vet in the town. I suspect the animals are shot. The adjacent shire has a volunteer presence to give away certain dogs from the pound but there's no de-sexing required. In fact it's outrageous to even mention it in the country apparently because it's so common to keep your dogs and cats entire and just allow them to breed whenever they choose. It's one reason there are so many working dog mixes and pigging dog mixes in pounds that just never make it out. Some are killed on arrival in some pounds from what I've been told. I was on the friends of pound page so I know the discussion in question. I also know that in that particular shire, there is one of the highest rates of BYBs in regional areas - most particularly for the pet shop trade AND pigging dogs. These BYBs will sell pups under eight weeks, without having had them chipped or vaccinated because they don't care. They also think that country pounds should give away all the dogs instead of attaching a fee to their sale. It's "better than the dog being destroyed". Apparently. Whenever the issues are raised locally, and they are done so on facebook quite often, the ones in favour of vet work are shouted down and basically banned from the pages. We are seen as "do gooders" who are "interfering" with people's rights to do whatever they want with "their" dogs. It's as if we have stepped back into the 1950's in some rural areas. I came from an urban environment and then from a semi-rural one...with a no-kill shelter background and lots of experience with the issues surrounding BYBs and dumping rates. But it's impossible to effect change here. It's a closed shop. Everyone seems to think that "rescue" is getting a dog out alive, for free, and entire. Everyone seems to think that once the dog leaves the pound it's life has been "saved" so therefore it's the end of the story. I have no way of putting into words that these folks can understand that "rescue" is nothing of the sort...that rescue's aim is to stop the cycle not continue it. But I'm just an outsider, a do-gooder, a person who needs to "get a life" apparently. I shouldn't concern myself over homeless dogs that end up getting out of the pound only to end up being used for breeding...because hey at least the dog wasn't killed. Yep. Really.

Time to update. I took one of my dogs in for a check up and asked the vet about heartworm in the area. This vet has been in the region for 15 yrs and has seen 2 cases of heartworm. Both cases were in dogs that had come from a heartworm area without being on preventives so the infection would have happened prior to moving here. The vet recommended preventives only if my dogs were regularly going to the coast, Sydney, the Riverina etc; because I live so far out of town, the chances of a mosquito transmitting heartworm to my dogs are virtually nil as it would need to pick up the heartworm from a dog in proximity to mine. Lucky for me that I don't travel often with my dogs and they haven't been to a heartworm area in the last couple of years. :)

No, this is a different breeder. I'm wondering how papered animals end up being used for breeding by backyard breeders? They must have come from a Registered Breeder? And given this breed and region, there can't be that many to source breeding animals from, can there?

I've been alerted to a BYB in Townsville QLD with a litter of Neapolitan Mastiffs currently for sale - $1500 a pup - from papered parents. The litter is currently advertised and two pups are still for sale. I'd suggest all Registered breeders take a good look at whomever they sell to as this isn't the first time I've seen this. Can it be reported to the CCCQ or is it outside of the jurisdiction?

All my dogs have been rescued or adopted from a pound or shelter. I know many people claim to have "rescue" pets available but they neglect to ensure the dog has its vet work. This gives bona fide rescue groups and individuals a very bad reputation. Even reputable groups have/had some members doing the wrong thing to the detriment of the whole group's reputation. I have a good idea of what to look out for...and I would hope they would vet me as thoroughly as I'd vet them. :) If not, they don't have the dog's best interests at heart...so I'd avoid.

The ad sounds so responsible. The pups are offered chipped, vaccinated, wormed, come with puppy packs and are [price firm] without papers. So I think what they're not doing is following the rule to register the litter but I don't understand WHY. What are they hiding?

I think I might stick with rescue dogs. :) I guess there are good and bad in every profession but when it comes to a regulated thing like pedigree breeding, I expected the majority of breeders to do it properly. What I'm finding so far is that some Registered breeders behave like backyard breeders and don't uphold the values of pedigree breeding.

They were astute enough not to provide me with their prefix but I do have a name, assuming it's a genuine name. It's not a commonly kept breed for pet homes which is why I am so suspicious. I didn't see the ad on gumtree...they're advertising elsewhere and they "suggested" I come here for information. That concerns me as well.

They're no longer answering my questions. I've been accused of wasting their time by asking questions about their litter's lack of registration. They seem to have something to hide but I don't know enough about purchasing a pedigree vs non-pedigree pup hence asking questions of the breeder. It would seem this breeder has something to hide. Either they are Registered and not providing pedigrees for this litter for whatever reason, or they are NOT registered and pretending to be. In either case, I'd like to know what can be done about it, if anything? There are already enough dodgy breeders around aren't there?

The litter was bred in QLD, does that make a difference? It's being advertised as available in QLD and transport via a well-known transport company can be arranged at buyer's expense. The breeder is representing themselves as an exhibitor...therefore I would assume KC registration not a BYB.

I've been in touch with a breeder about their litter of pups currently available. The advertising says the parents are both pedigree but the litter is being sold without pedigree registration. I have asked the breeder why this is and the response is that the pups are meant for pet homes not show homes. Can someone explain the logic behind a Registered Breeder refusing to register a litter from pedigree animals? Is it actually permitted? I've never purchased a pedigree pup before as I've always adopted via rescue groups or direct from the pound. So I'm puzzled as to why the litter wouldn't be Registered, even on Limited Register, and what it means if a litter doesn't get registration via the Kennel Club in question. Thanks. I appreciate your replies.

I'm pretty sure I've stayed at the Jolly Swagman...and if so I'd recommend it. It was a few years ago now but I only stay in places where dogs can be in the rooms with me. I'm not on the Hume highway but you'd be welcome to stay at my place in the Cowra area - I used to have a greyhound, and I love the breed. I've got 3 dogs of my own...just a thought. :)

People who give away their dogs or sell them on sites like Gumtree or Facebook pages generally - not always - but generally don't care about what happens to the dog. They don't care that they could send the dog to a puppy mill - possibly because they bought the dog online in the first place - or backyard breeder - because it's "not my business" if the next owner wants to breed with the dog. Sheesh. It's ridiculous. These sorts of people have no idea of the scale of the problem and they are usually the ones that go off and get another BYB or factory-bred pup. There are also a number of people calling themselves "rescuers" when they are in fact on-selling entire dogs and pups at a profit in the guise of rescue. They have also been known to use the animals they claim to save as breeders and sell litter after litter. I know of several...it's sad and it gives genuine rescuers a bad reputation. However it's not illegal...and as the saying goes, "you can't fix stupid," so I try to let people know the ways to minimise the risk of their give-away or dog for sale falling into the wrong hands and I try to educate buyers as to what to look for and avoid. But it's a losing battle.

That sounds like the BYB who told me she doesn't breed "for the money" and her pups are "happy". So what other reason would there be for crossing a CKCS with a Poodle? Apparently, silence is golden as she hasn't bothered to answer that one...

That is great news! I'm about 100 kms to Coota so can transport and temp care for any poundies in need.

Oh she's gorgeous and QUICK!!! One day I'll have a Crestie...they're delightful little beings. :) Congratulations.

I'm really sorry to hear of your loss...

Thanks Lisa, I'll check out the link. :D

Thanks for the replies. I wanted to know before I go looking for a new vet as I know sometimes they tell you things are needed when they're not...and there aren't many vets around the area to choose from. One vet's website says heartworm is more prevalent in coastal areas and not to worry much unless your dog has been on the coast...but that's all I can find so far.