BarbedWire

Not quite feral. Some people (the in-group who wants others to leave him alone) say they can pat him and someone feeds him and he sleeps at her place sometimes. I think he should be caught and it should be left to a Maremma rescue to decide his fate. They have already offered. Some quotes from his facebook page: The in-group Please do not try to approach Franklin. There is only a couple of people he trusts, we don't want to ruin this for them. If you see him just speak softly and calmly to him and let him be. One of the romantics Such a dashing old chap! A realist Nobody has asked franklin if he is happy. Everyone keeps saying he is happy but I see a tired old dog. If you compare early photos and recent photos he is actually not looking as good as you think

I agree with this post. If the dog is hit by a car it would indeed be sad for the dog but what about the driver and any passengers? They could be seriously injured or even killed or someone could swerve to miss the dog and have a head on collision. This Maremma is a dog and it deserves proper care, not to be the stuff of urban myth. People have even referred to it as a 'ghost dog'. It is a real dog and it deserves (nay needs) adequate food (balanced diet), shelter (It is freezing in Canberra in winter), and veterinary care (Has it been immunised?) just like any other dog in the ACT. It should also be desexed (as per ACT law). What happens if the person feeding it (who has no responsibility for it) is no longer able to? What will this dog eat? Chickens, cats etc. I believe it is cruel to allow the dog to continue to exist in the way it has been doing for the last few years. Poor dog! I assume he'd be desexed at least - being an escaped rescue / having been adopted at some stage. I wonder too - if the RSPCA have said he's OK - are they ultimately responsible for him if he does cause a serious issue? I'd also worry about him possibly getting flyblown at some stage. I'm not saying give him a home and a crate and expect him to fit in to a family with everything being hunky dory, but surely he can live out his life in a secure paddock with someone to keep a better eye on him. I think he was adopted from DAS and escaped from his new home the next day. DAS is a pound not a rescue. They do not desex dogs but dogs leave there with a desexing voucher for use at the RSPCA. I don't know if this dog is desexed or not. Edited to change 'rescued' in the first line to 'adopted' which is more accurate.

Sorry but this is romantic nonsense! Why is this dog a special case? 'Red Dog' (if he really existed) lived in country towns. This dog lives in suburbia. Plus I don't think Red Dog had a happy life. To get a statue presumably the dog will be dead. I wonder how it will die. The people posting on that Facebook page seem to know very little about dogs and their needs and how to care for them. It's mostly just twaddle.

I agree with this post. If the dog is hit by a car it would indeed be sad for the dog but what about the driver and any passengers? They could be seriously injured or even killed or someone could swerve to miss the dog and have a head on collision. This Maremma is a dog and it deserves proper care, not to be the stuff of urban myth. People have even referred to it as a 'ghost dog'. It is a real dog and it deserves (nay needs) adequate food (balanced diet), shelter (It is freezing in Canberra in winter), and veterinary care (Has it been immunised?) just like any other dog in the ACT. It should also be desexed (as per ACT law). What happens if the person feeding it (who has no responsibility for it) is no longer able to? What will this dog eat? Chickens, cats etc. I believe it is cruel to allow the dog to continue to exist in the way it has been doing for the last few years. Poor dog!

re your criticism of my involvement: See #17. I did go to the pound to find out what was happening and I did speak with one of the rangers and I have reported here what I was told. This issue had already been raised and asked about in the Urgent forum where it went unanswered but that is the norm for those threads. Questions are never answered. People even offered donations to help this girl but from memory they were not acknowledged. I started this thread to draw attention to that girl's situation and to try to help her and other dogs in similar situations. I am not sure exactly how else I am to find out if that dog is safe. eta If reading this thread was a waste of time no-one asked you to read it.

Powerlegs in answer to your comment I have brought this post forward. Please note the bolded part. I can't find anywhere in this thread that I have been critical of volunteers. Comparing the dog's plight at DAS to a bitch at a puppy farm was pointing out that the ACT government has recently passed legislation to ban puppy farms in the interests of dog welfare yet it wasn't prepared to put funding into the facilities that already existed. I have also asked questions about the RSPCA's role in all of this and I have expressed concern about the dog's future. I still don't know why the RSPCA did not take this girl. It was post #20 in the Urgent thread 'UPDATE 4 Jan 2016 The girl in Yard 1 formerly yard 5 has just had her pup and both are fine. So she is not going anywhere at least until her motherhood duties are completed' by Quintessence which made me anxious and which is why I started this thread. I feared the dog would remain at DAS in y1 for another 8 weeks. My conclusion from this thread is that my ability to communicate via the written word has obviously deteriorated. I am so frequently having to explain what I meant. Perhaps it is an early sign of brain decay. I will not be contributing any more. I will not ask for the thread to be deleted though because I do think it is an important topic and hopefully some discussion might make it easier for pregnant dogs in our pounds in the future. eta Quite frankly IMO FWIW keeping a dog and a pup in Y1 at DAS for 8 weeks is not okay and I respectfully wish to record this opinion.

Thankyou for the answers. poppop what you describe sounds exactly like it but she has never been near water in her life and is not a hound. It just seems to be connected with jumping up with all four off the ground to catch a ball. ATM she is on prednil for an itchy skin and and I think that is also an anti-inflammatory and she does seem okay. I just rang the vet and the vet I thought I might try is on leave. My availability is also limited because of important medical appointments of my own and as well I have had a minor car accident and am going to be without a car. I will take her to a vet if it happens again. Thank you everyone.

SG I love your clear logical posts. You know so much and you write well. The desexing cannot happen at DAS because it is designed as a temporary holding facility. It appears that other states do it differently and dogs move on to rescue after only a few days at the initial facility. Wondering now if the ACT RSPCA desex dogs who are pregnant. I am not sure how I feel about it although I guess it is expedient and the fact that the whole uterus is removed would make it easier for the surgical staff doing the operation.

Initially I was going to ignore but a few comments then I am moving on and will have no more to say to you. I am quite disappointed even shocked that this has been allowed to happen in 2016 because I thought pounds, especially DAS because it is in Canberra where people care about dogs, would have better amenities for pregnant dogs. I am using the dog as an illustration of what can happen when these poor dogs find themselves at a pound and I understood that she was looking at another 8 weeks of confinement. The comment is not only about this dog but other dogs in the future who may also find themselves at DAS or other pounds (I am not familiar with what other pounds do) in a similar situation. What will happen to them? I was inviting posters to discuss and bring in their own examples, and think about this topic. The photos seem to be important to you. I am not sure how I was supposed to know that they were your photos. I did not see a copyright symbol. They came from a thread started by Quintessence on this board. I think the dog is thin and looks miserable with her tail down and her back hunched but she does have a gorgeous face, and I am not blaming the pound (or you) for that because the photos were taken when she first came to the pound. I see an unhappy dog. I did say in another post that I hold the owner responsible for what has happened, but the owner may not know where his/her dog is. I was not having a go at the pound other than that I was concerned that the dog would be kept there in Y1 for another 8 weeks, as per the quote from Quintessence in the other thread, and that was what initially disappointed and shocked me, and it still does. It also seems as if she gave birth in Y1 which upsets me. Why did she not go to the RSPCA? What is happening there? How many more dogs will give birth in a yard at DAS? I am not blaming the staff at DAS as I said in another post they don't have the resources to deal with this situation. I want better treatment for pregnant canines and I will choose where I 'focus my energy'.

Perhaps you should read the whole thread before you start mouthing off. I was concerned for the well being of the dogs. I am reassured to know they are both okay. I don't need to be blasted for my concern. Perhaps a bit more information earlier on would have been appropriate. ETA Re photographs: My concern was for the condition, or lack of, that she shows in the side on photographs. I think she is thin.

Thankyou Scottsmum for sharing your mind. That information was so interesting. I sat in my special place and read it. Thankyou also to teekay. I have ordered that book. I have no idea what exposure means - something to do with the sun, and aperture I assume is something to do with an opening. I am excited about this new learning journey. :)

Well I don't know. This is copied from the DAS thread in the urgent forum with some editing so that it makes sense She would seem to be safe which is important but Keetamouse? Also ARF saying that she would be serving her time of 8 weeks.

Thank you for the advice. Pers, I can't take videos. (So much to learn and so little time left.) Her tail is up over her back again today. She carries it like a flag. Jumabaar if it comes and goes is it urgent? There is a vet at my local vets who was great treating my other dog for a bee sting. I liked her manner - confident and no fuss. My dog might settle for her. I thought I might give it a try, but is it urgent?

Thank you Snook and Scottsmum. Beautiful photos everyone. I can see a craft in there which I don't quite understand, especially in Snook's and teekay's sunsets - the way the colours are distinct yet blend together so beautifully. Can anyone recommend a book for a novice photographer - one that explains the different terms about photographs and one that discusses the virtues of different cameras. It would also be helpful if I could get some information about uploading photos to a website such as DOL. For example how do you control the size of what you post? Are some people just posting from their computers or is everyone using flickr? What is the point of a website like flickr? Sorry if this is too long. I just want to know more. :D

That would be my guess. re birthing in pounds, if desexing is an option then I'm all for it but it isn't always, sometimes it's too late etc. It's pretty easy to rehome puppies as opposed to adult dogs so I don't have a real problem with it as long as the pups and Mum are well cared for, and that really depends on the staff and facility. DA this post is so interesting. I am not sure what you mean by desexing as an option. Do you mean desexing a pregnant dog? I would like to know more about this. Do you mean desexing a pregnant dog that is already in rescue? I am not sure but I think pregnant cats are often desexed as a way of solving the problem.

My first effort. I have just started a flickr account and that was challenging. I also had problems uploading because I did not know how, but it finally worked although I am not quite sure how. I am a totally novice photographer and my camera is an antique, so please don't laugh. All I was trying to concentrate on was the composition, ie usually that means not chopping heads off and here it is not chopping off the head of the umbrella and getting all of the chair in. I only got half the pot but if I had included all of it I would have lost the top of the umbrella. Title: My special place. Here goes eta my dog's tail in the front corner :D It was not intended

Gretchen Y1/5 is no longer on the website as being in Y1. Hopefully she has been moved to the special birthing area that keetamouse mentioned. Maybe this area was just under construction until now. Pup, a male, would be about a week old. I hope they both have a wonderful future and I hope a thankyou to DAS staff is not premature. :)

I have already done some googling and I did find Collie tail and Swimmers' tail. I don't think she has these but I think there might be a connection with her jumping up to catch a ball with all four feet off the ground. Sometimes she twists a bit, and I think it might be hurting her back. Because of this I no longer throw balls for her but the other day at the dog park she found a ball and begged a guy to throw it for her and afterwards her tail was down again. Apparently dogs can get injured from catching frisbees. If it is this the recommended treatment is rest. I have also wondered if she is just a bit miserable because she has recently lost her mate. She looks quite woebegone when her tail is down and she walks slowly as if depressed, not like her usual hyperactive self. I know I should take her to the vet but she hates going - she has to be muzzled - so I really don't want to take her unless it is serious. it's also difficult to explain to the vet what her symptoms are as they do come and go and while I am at the vet she will just be struggling to get out of there asap, lunging at the door and crying and I will probably burst into tears because it will remind me of my old boy. The last time I went to the vet he was pts.

Yes, you sure can! That makes 12 of us now Thanks I am not quite sure what you mean by theme but I thought I might focus on a corner of my garden. Is that okay?

Is it too late? Can I join? WARNING: I am a very bad photographer and my camera is several years old but I need to challenge myself to learn something new.

She is still at the pound in Y1 (as per the website) with her pup. She is so gorgeous and if I were able to bring her home (which I can't) I would be calling her Gretchen or Gretel. She's a beautiful gentle girl who deserves better. Her yard door is labelled 'Do not walk'. I do hope she is able to get some exercise.

My 8yo dog who normally has a tail carried upright over her back now often (not always) carries it low between her legs. Should I be concerned? Is it a sign of a spinal problem or degeneration? Thanks in advance

I agree ^^^ Maybe the post was not intended to be DAS bashing? I don't know. In the canberra times today is an article stating the RSPCA is overfull and has been unable to take any new dogs for over a month.. might explain the situation?? Sad for the dog, yes - but at least she and her pup are safe and being cared for at the pound. Really? It is not DAS bashing. Have a nice day!

This thread was never intended to be a DAS bashing or bashing of anybody. I don't usually 'bash'. I just asked the question because I am concerned about the dog's welfare and that of her pup. I am also concerned that in Canberra in the 21st century better provision is not made for pregnant dogs who find themselves in her situation. Good on DAS if they have created a special area for her. I am only going on the website which says that she is in Y1. I personally have had good dealings with the people at DAS and I have found them to be good people who try their best for the dogs at the pound. They have to clean up after irresponsible dog owners and sometimes it must be difficult. My last dog came from DAS and they were wonderful. eta Bashing is not my style. I ask questions. I am an ex English teacher and I ask questions to instigate discussion and thinking about contentious topics in the hope that answers will be found. If I am critical of anyone it is the owner of the dog, although she is lost and the owner may not know where she is, and the lawmakers in the ACT who do not provide funding for better resources because they do not see animal welfare as a priority although they passed laws to ban puppy farms in the ACT. Passing laws is always the cheap solution.

Are you sure that's what it is? How do you know? First of all she is not an 'it'. Her name is Beatrix. I have no reason to doubt that she is as claimed. Her microchip says that she is a toy poodle x pug and she was handed in for rehoming and only had the one previous owner who said the same about her origins. People who pay big bucks for their designer bred dogs only have the sellers' word for their dogs' origins. So yes I am as sure about my dog's origins as is any owner of a designer bred dog.