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So sorry for your loss. Malmsteem will be forever keeping his friends warm now

I have a desexed male dog who is a mad keen marker outside but is absolutely bomb proof inside the house. Never had a problem with him peeing somewhere he shouldn't or stealing things he shouldn't (with the exception of the cats food ) However, recently, I took him with me to a friends house, where he has been plenty of times before. They had to have their very elderly dog put to sleep a few months ago, and my dog hasn't been there since then. Before they took their dog to the vet, he had been having accidents in the house, when he just couldn't make it to a door in time, so there were a few spots where he had peed on the carpet. My dog went and peed on one of those spots. I was absolutely mortified and couldn't work out why he had done it, particularly as he got on well with their dog and it would be 5 or 6 months since he was put down, maybe even longer. Other dogs, I have had a whole male who I never had any problems with and one that I adopted from the RSPCA as a 5/6yo male, who had only just been desexed. I probably had one or two accidents with him when I first got him, but not after that. Humping though, was a whole other story He never stopped.

You've nailed it Perse. Gorgeous colours and sharp as!

Great restoration job. What a great project for a young fellah. We have a HZ vacationer wagon sitting in the front yard as a project for our son, who can get his L's as soon as he has done the road ready course at school. My hubby's every day drive is a HZ wagon which I bought 25 years ago. We have two other HZs for spare parts. We also have an EJ wagon, which my father in law bought when it was only a couple of years old We just need to get the son started on the restoration. I think once he actually starts driving it will become a bit more enticing to him Love your FJ too. Great paint job.

So why have no charges been laid ? There is plenty of concrete proof & evidence that the dog was not only abused but neglected as well. How do they know there is no lasting mental damage ? Whose good hands is the dog in now ? The matter being made public & his workplace knowing & imposing what they did will let everyone know what a bastard he is & is probably more severe than what a court would do but in principle this should go to court. Sounds cynical but I guess if he were poor or ethnic it would. They may still be preparing their brief of evidence. If it's anything like the court system here, it can take months and months before a summons is issued. And until whatever their equivalent of the DPP is accepts the brief, it would be silly of them to say that any charges have been laid. It sounded to me as if the dog is still in the care of the SPCA

http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/11-things-humans-do-that-dogs-hate 11 things humans do that dogs hate There are many ways you can drive a dog nuts — and you probably aren't even aware of them. So if you want to be your dog's best friend, find out how you can fix your annoying habits. Sometimes, dogs get impatient with our mixed signals. Don't you want to do better? (Photo: Hannamariah/Shutterstock) Dogs try to be our best friends, but boy do we ever make it difficult sometimes. Here are some of the things we do that might make dogs question whether they want to remain best buds or cut ties completely Using words more than body language We’re a vocal species. We love to chatter away, even at our pets, who can’t understand the vast majority of what we’re saying. Dogs might be able to deduce what a few key words mean — walk, treat, toy, off — and maybe even learn hundreds of words as some border collies have done. But they can’t understand human language. What they rely on to figure out what we mean is our body language. Dogs have evolved to be expert readers of the human body and can figure out what you’re thinking and feeling before you even realize you’re thinking and feeling it. But we can easily send mixed signals if we are only paying attention to what our mouths are saying and not what our bodies are saying. If you go to any beginning dog training class, you’ll see plenty of people saying one thing, doing another, and a confused dog trying to figure out what in the world is wanted of them. For instance, telling a dog to “stay” while leaning forward toward the dog and holding out a hand like a traffic cop is, in body language, actually inviting the dog to come toward you. But when the dog does, she gets reprimanded for breaking her stay command. It’s all so confusing! A great experiment (and something that will probably have your dog sighing with relief) is to try to spend a whole day not saying a word to your dog, but communicating only with your body. You’ll realize just how much you “talk” with your body without realizing it, how to use your movements and body position to get the response you need from your dog during training, and how involved a conversation can be without emitting a single sound. Hugging your dog While you might love wrapping your arms around a furry canine friend, most dogs hate hugs. We as primates think hugs are awesome and express support, love, joy and other emotions through hugs. It’s totally normal to us to wrap our arms around something and squeeze, and it only means good things. But dogs did not evolve this way. Canids don’t have arms and they don’t hug. Rather than camaraderie, if a dog places a foreleg or paw on the back of another dog, this is considered an act of dominance. No matter your intentions with hugging, a dog is hardwired to view the act of hugging as you exerting your dominance. Many dogs will tolerate it with grace — the smiling face of the family golden retriever with a child’s arms wrapped around it comes to mind. But some dogs will feel threatened, fearful, or just flat out loathe the feeling — and in fact, a child grabbing a dog for a hug is why many dog bites occur. Also, the same dog that enjoys one person's hug might react entirely differently with another family member who tries the same thing. You'd be hard-pressed to find a dog that actually enjoys or seeks out hugs. This dog is barely tolerating a hug from the little girl. Everything about the tense mouth, eyes and ears say that this is not something the dog is enjoying, and this is a potential safety issue for the little girl. (Photo:Dwight Smith/Shutterstock) If you’re wondering if your dog hates your hugs, just pay attention to her body language when you go in for a cuddle. Does she tense up? Lean her head away from you? Avoid even a hint of eye contact? Lick her lips? Keep her mouth closed? Pull her ears back against her head? All of these are signs that a dog is uncomfortable. Yes, even the dog licking her lips while someone snuggles her is not showing that she is overcome with love, it is showing submissive, even nervous behavior. So next time you want to go in for a hug, pay very close attention to whether or not the dog is okay with it. After all, you’re putting your face right next to a set of sharp teeth. Petting a dog's face or patting her head Do you like to be patted on the head? My guess is no. Having someone reach out and tap us on the head, no matter how lovingly, is not something most of us enjoy. It’s annoying at best and painful at worst. And we really don’t want the hands of strangers reaching toward our face. If someone were to reach their hand toward your face, I’m guessing your reaction would be to pull your head back and lean away, and get a little tense about the invasion of personal space. Yet most humans think that dogs like being patted on the head. The reality is that while many dogs will put up with this if it’s someone they know and trust, most dogs don’t enjoy it. You may notice that even the loving family dog might lean away slightly when you reach for her face to pet her. She’ll let you because you’re the boss, but she doesn't like it. It’s a personal space issue for dogs just as much as it is for us. This is why responsible parents teach their children to gently pet a dog’s back or rear, but don’t pat, and definitely don’t go for the dog's face. If you really want to reward your dog for being awesome, don’t bang on their head, but give them a rub on their rear end right by the tail. They’ll thank you for it! Walking up to a strange dog while looking her in the eye We all know how powerful eye contact is. While we view steady eye contact as important, as a sign of trustworthiness or focus, we have to also be aware that eye contact can feel unnerving, uncomfortable and domineering. It’s creepy when a stranger looks us in the eye without breaking contact, especially as they’re approaching. It’s clear their attention is zeroed in, but what is their intention? We have to read the rest of their face for the cues. Eye contact is part of establishing dominance for many species, and in humans, we can use the tiniest of details about the rest of the face — the softness or hardness of the muscles around the eyes and mouth — to determine if the stare is friendly or not. And even then, it’s still creepy to have a stranger stare at us! It feels the same way for dogs. When you look a strange dog right in the eye, unblinking, you might be smiling and trying to warm up to them but the dog is probably reading it as an act of dominance or even aggression. They might display a submissive response — looking away, doing a little wiggle for pets, rolling over onto their backs — or they might start backing up and barking. Either way, for most dogs, a stranger looking it right in the eye while approaching is not a comfortable situation. If you want to say hello to a new dog in a way that is comfortable for both of you, approach with your body angled slightly (not with your shoulders squared toward the dog), your eyes slightly averted, and speak quietly with a gentle voice. All these body language cues of friendship will help a dog understand you mean no harm. The dog might still want nothing to do with you, but at least you didn’t approach in a scary way that could cause a defensive or aggressive reaction. Not providing structure and rules Dogs want, need, and love having rules. You might think having strict rules makes life boring or unhappy for your dog. But dogs really want to know what’s what according to their leader. And really, it’s not so hard to relate as humans. Children thrive when they have a consistent set of rules to follow, and they do less well in environments that provide them a free-for-all. Think about polite, well-balanced kids you know, and the spoiled kids who lack social skills or throw temper tantrums when they don’t get what they want. Which set of kids are the ones with consistently enforced rules and boundaries? And which set tends to be most consistently happy? With dogs, it’s pretty much the same thing. Rules make life a lot more predictable, a lot less confusing and a lot less stressful. And speaking of confusing, dogs don’t understand exceptions to rules. They don’t understand that they’re allowed to jump on you when you have leisure clothes on but not when you have work clothes on. They don’t understand that they’re allowed on the couch after a bath but not after coming in from a romp in the mud. Additionally, saying “No” for breaking a rule but not actually doing something to help the dog stop the behavior and learn the rule doesn’t count as enforcement. Dogs thrive when they know where the boundaries are, and when you spend time enforcing consistent boundaries with positive rewards, you also are building up their trust in you as a leader. You’re setting up conditions for a very happy dog! Forcing your dog to interact with dogs or people she clearly doesn’t like Just like so many other social species, dogs have their favorite friends and their enemies. It is easy to see what other dogs — and people, for that matter — that a dog wants to hang out with and those with whom she’d rather not associate. Yet, there are a lot of dog owners who go into denial about this or simply fail to read the cues their dog is giving them. It is common for overly enthusiastic owners to push their dog (sometimes literally) into social situations at dog parks when their dog would rather just go home. Or they allow strangers to pet their dog even when she is showing clear signs of wanting to be left alone. It is important to note that there is a difference between positive encouragement with shy, fearful, or reactive dogs. Taking small steps to encourage them out of their comfort zone and giving them rewards for any amount of calm, happy social behavior is important to helping them live a balanced life. But knowing the difference between gentle, rewards-based boundary pushing and forcing an interaction is vital to your dog's safety and sanity. When dogs are pushed too far in social situations, they’re more likely to lash out with a bite or a fight. They’ve given cue after cue — ignoring, avoiding, maybe even growling — and finally they’ve had enough and give the clearest message of all with their teeth. What is possibly even worse, is that their trust in you as a protective leader is eroded, and they have an even more negative association with a park, a certain dog or person, or a general social setting. So do your dog a favor: read the body language she gives you when she doesn’t want to be around certain other individuals and don’t force it. Going for walks without opportunity to explore and smell There are walks, and there are walks. It’s definitely important to have a dog that knows how to walk obediently on a leash. However, it’s also important to allow a dog to have some time to explore her surroundings while walking obediently on a leash. Dogs see with their noses, and they place as much importance on their sense of smell as we humans place on our sense of vision for interpreting the world around us. It’s probably safe to say that dogs appreciate the smell of a tree trunk the way we appreciate a beautiful sunset. Dogs loathe not being able to take in their world for at least a few minutes a day, and too often we humans are focused on going on walks for the sole purpose of exercise or potty breaks. We trudge along the same old route, often without any variety or sense of leisure, and in too much of a hurry to get back home again. The sense of smell is how a dog takes in the world, and sometimes they're simply desperate for a chance to take a good sniff. (Photo:Csehak Szabolcs /Shutterstock) Do your dog a favor and dedicate one of your daily walks to having a "smell walk" — going slow and letting your dog take in the world with her nose. Go somewhere entirely new, explore a different neighborhood or trail, let your dog sniff at a spot until she gets her fill, even if it's for minutes at a time before moving forward. For helping your dog know the difference between a walk where she should be obedient and stay beside you, and a walk where she is free to explore, you can have a special backpack or harness that you use only for smell walks. Just make sure it is something very different from your usual collar and leash set-up so the different purpose for the walk is obvious to your dog. These walks are a wonderful opportunity for your dog to get some of the mental and sensory stimulation that keeps life interesting for her. Keeping a tight leash, literally Just as dogs are amazing at reading our body language, they’re amazing at reading our tension levels even through the leash. By keeping a tight leash on a dog, you’re raising the level of stress, frustration, and excitement for your dog, and conversely, for you. I know what you might be thinking: “I don’t want to hold a tight leash, but I have to. My dog is the one pulling, not me!” But this is why it is so important to teach a dog how to walk on a slack leash. An amazing amount of energy is transferred between you and your dog through that little strip of canvas or leather. By keeping a loose leash, you’re letting your dog know that everything is fine and dandy, that there’s no reason to be worried or tense. With a slack leash you’re saying to your dog that you are calm and have everything under control so your dog is free to be calm as well. On the other hand, by keeping a tight leash you’re sending a message to your dog that you’re tense, nervous, on alert, ready to fight or fly, and your dog responds in kind. Just as you don’t like your dog pulling you around, it doesn’t feel good to your dog to constantly be pulled and thus cued to be on alert. They’re also well-aware that they can’t get away from you even if they think they need to. A dog that walks on a tight leash is more apt to bark or be reactive in even the most mild of social situations. But a dog that can walk on a slack leash is more likely to be calm. This is a difficult thing to master, and something the majority of dog owners can commiserate about, but it is so important to having pleasant walks with a relaxed dog. Being tense Tension on the leash isn’t the only way a dog can pick up how you’re feeling. You can tell when a person you’re around is feeling tense, even if you don’t realize it. Dogs have the same ability. The more stressed and wound-up you are, the more stressed and wound-up your dog is. And dogs, just like us, don’t like that feeling. You might roll your eyes, but the next time your dog is acting frustrated and tense, check in with yourself — have you been feeling that way for the last few minutes, for the last few hours, or the last few days? Your dog might just be acting as your mirror. If you need a reason to meditate, helping your dog calm down is a great one. Being boring You know that feeling of being stuck hanging around someone who is totally boring? Think back: remember having to be with your parents while they ran grown-up errands? None of which revolved around a toy store or park, of course. Remember that feeling of barely being able to contain yourself, of wanting to squirm and groan and complain. You couldn't take part in the adult conversation, which was boring anyway, and you were told to sit still and hush. But oh boy did you ever want to just moooove! Just run around the block or something to break the monotony. That's how your dog feels when you're busy being that boring grown-up. Dogs abhor it when we're boring. And it's hard not to be! We get home from work and we want to unwind, to get a few chores done, to make dinner and sack out on the couch and relax. But that's about the most annoying thing we could do to our dogs who have been waiting around all day for us to finally play with them. If your dog is making trouble — getting into boxes or closets, eating shoes or chewing on table legs — she's basically showing you just how incredibly bored she is. Luckily, there is a quick and easy solution to this: training games. Teaching your dog a new trick, working on old tricks, playing a game of "find it" with a favorite toy, or going out and using a walk as a chance to work on urban agility, are all ways to stimulate both your dog's mind and body. An hour of training is worth a couple hours playing a repetitive game of fetch in terms of wearing a dog out. While of course exercise and walks are important, adding in some brain work will make your dog happy-tired. Even just 15-30 minutes of trick training a day will make a big difference. Teasing This should be obvious, and we won't spend too much time on it. But it's worth pointing out because too many people still think it’s funny. Don't bark at a dog as you pass it on the street. Don't wave or talk to a dog that is barking at you from behind a window or door. Don't pull on a dog's tail. The list can go on and on, but in short, don't do something you know makes a dog mad just because you think it's funny. It's not funny to the dog and can lead to some serious behavioral problems — and, perhaps deservedly, you getting to sport some new dog-shaped teeth marks. Further Reading If you'd like to learn more about how to be a better friend to your dog, try these great book recommendations. For example, in "The Other End of the Leash: Why We Do What We Do Around Dogs" professional behaviorist and trainer Patricia B. McConnell goes into excellent detail about the species differences between primates and canids and why dogs don't appreciate our hugs, as well as many other great ways of understanding a dog's perspective about the world. Meanwhile, in "Inside of a Dog: What Dogs See, Smell, and Know" by Alexandra Horowitz, you'll get a chance to see the world through a dog's eyes and learn so much about body language, the importance of scent, and other things that will help you know more about what your dog wants out of life. And for understanding more about how clicker training and training games can help you and your dog get along better, try "Reaching the Animal Mind: Clicker Training and What It Teaches Us About All Animals" by Karen Pryor. Follow the link for these and more great reads. Read more: http://www.mnn.com/family/pets/stories/11-things-humans-do-that-dogs-hate#ixzz3BjMModDV

Listening to the video, the puppy has been seized (sounds like from Hagues property)and the owner has to appeal to have her returned. Good on his work for being so strict straight up and imposing the fine and community service on him. It will be interesting to see what happens if the matter goes to court and whether they will be strict or they consider that his work has already imposed enough of a penalty on him. http://www.canberratimes.com.au/world/ceo-desmond-hague-caught-on-camera-kicking-doberman-puppy-in-lift-of-luxury-condos-20140828-109d77.html The chief executive of a multibillion-dollar company has been caught on a lift surveillance video repeatedly kicking a Doberman puppy and yanking its leash as it cowered at his feet. Desmond Hague, the CEO of Centerplate, a Connecticut-based food and beverage corporation, was captured on surveillance video on July 27 abusing the animal in a lift of the luxury Private Residences at Hotel Georgia in Vancouver, Canada. The video shows Mr Hague yanking the dog's leash and kicking the dog in the ribcage as he enters the lift. Desmond Hague is captured on CCTV lashing out at the young dog. Photo: Global News Once inside the lift, Mr Hague kicks the dog repeatedly as it sits subdued on the floor. When the dog does not respond to the abuse, Mr Hague violently yanks the leash, pulling the puppy across the floor and lifting it into the air by its collar. "This incident is completely and utterly out of character and I am ashamed and deeply embarrassed," Mr Hague said in a statement released on Saturday. "A minor frustration with a friend's pet caused me to lose control of my emotional response. Unfortunately, I acted inappropriately, and I am deeply sorry for that and am very grateful that no harm was caused to the animal." During the attack, Desmond Hague hoisted the dog into the air with its leash. Photo: Global News As CEO, Mr Hague is at the helm of a $US6 billion ($6.4 billion) business with more than 350 clients and 30,000 employees, according to American business magazine Fortune. The puppy, a one-year-old Doberman pinscher named Sade, belongs to a friend of Mr Hague. Mr Hague was reportedly pet-sitting at the time of the attack. Centerplate CEO Desmond Hague. Photo: Facebook The video, which was initially emailed to the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) by a "concerned citizen", went viral after it was aired by Canadian television network Global News. "I have reached out to the SPCA and have personally apologised to the dog's owner," Mr Hague said in the statement. The SPCA raided the 39th-floor apartment last week and found Sade trembling in a urine-soaked cage with its food and water bowls out of reach, The Vancouver Sun reported. Sade was seized by the SPCA on Wednesday night and is now "in good hands" with "no real lasting physical damage", SPCA's chief prevention and enforcement officer Marcie Moriarty told The Vancouver Sun. No charges have been laid against Mr Hague. Centerplate's board of directors have reportedly ordered him to donate $US100,000 to establish a Sade Foundation to help abused dogs in Vancouver and to perform 1000 hours of community service in support of groups that help care for animals. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/world/ceo-desmond-hague-caught-on-camera-kicking-doberman-puppy-in-lift-of-luxury-condos-20140828-109d77.html#ixzz3BfJAhbOK

Far too many links between animal abusers and offences of other sorts. The links have been recognised for many years. Unfortunately, by the time the animal abuse is recognised, the offenders have typically already moved on to "bigger and better things"

So sorry Perse. The ginger ones sure are special and they all steal a special little place in your heart. That Tortie girl looks divine, and is the female equivalent of a ginger, so I'm sure it was meant to be. Bye Dougie, run free at the Rainbow bridge

See first post for new update

http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/man-who-fought-off-savage-dingo-pack-on-fraser-island-beach-survived-because-he-covered-his-face-and-throat-stomach-and-groin/story-fnihsrf2-1227021876033 A MAN who was savaged by a pack of dingoes on Fraser Island fought off the wild dogs as he scrambled to safety. Dane Allan, a 25-year-old chef employed on the island, walked to the beach about 10.30pm on Monday, apparently to make a phone call. Alone in the dark, he was approached by four dingoes about 100m from the fenced township of Happy Valley. An island paramedic said Mr Allan scared one dingo away – with one report suggesting he used a torch to hit it – before he was set upon by the other three. The dogs mauled Mr Allan as he fended for his life, leaving him with puncture wounds to the back of his head, buttocks and legs. But he saved himself by protecting his vital regions. His board shorts were shredded off, his tank top torn and remnants of his clothing were still on the beach yesterday, the paramedic said. The paramedic said fishermen discovered Mr Allan collapsed on the ground after he had escaped the dingoes’ clutches. “He was able to fight them off and make his way to the fenced area,” he said. “Fishermen heard him calling out. He was only about 100m from the gate.” Mr Allan was yesterday ­recovering in Hervey Bay ­Hospital where he was in “good spirits”. He had been working at the Fraser Island Retreat at Happy Valley for about eight months, according to residents. Rangers who already conduct regular patrols of known problem areas have vowed to step up their rounds of Happy Valley and alert visitors. The attack follows the serious mauling of a German tourist in 2012 and other less dramatic incidents since. The Queensland Parks and Wildlife Service introduced a dingo management strategy – with strict rules against feeding and approaching the animals – after the death of a nine-year-old boy in 2001. About 200 dingoes roam the island in packs of about 30 and generally stick to their territories. Situated about halfway along the island on the ocean side, Happy Valley is fenced against dingoes and its entrance protected by an electrified grid. Fraser Island Association spokesman David Anderson said Mr Allan was lucky. “He covered himself to protect his face and throat, stomach and groin; he was lucky because he was able to protect himself,” Mr Anderson said. “If it got him in the stomach and throat and punctured an artery, there’s not much you can do for them.” QPWS Fraser Coast principal ranger Ross Belcher urged residents and visitors to remain vigilant. “Fraser Island’s dingoes are not domestic pets, they are wild animals and they must always be treated as such,” he said. “In the wake of this latest incident I would caution people against walking or jogging alone on the beaches, particularly at night. “We aim to balance the conservation and welfare of wild dingoes with providing a safe and enjoyable experience for visitors and residents, so our focus remains on educating visitors on how to be dingo-safe.” A 1.8km dingo fence was completed on the island last month. Its construction followed a 2012 review sparked by a spate of attacks, including the fatal mauling of nine-year-old Clinton Gage in 2001. QPWS issued the following tips for being “dingo-wise”: • Keep children close and stay in a group – don’t walk alone. • Avoid feeding dingoes. • Keep camp sites clean and secure food, bait and rubbish. • Whenever possible camp in a dingo-fenced area and never approach a dingo or encourage interaction. • Any negative interactions with dingoes should be reported as soon as possible to a QPWS ranger by calling 13 74 68 or by emailing [email protected]

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/dog-attack-in-st-clair-man-loses-finger-police-attacked-20140809-102crx.html A Sydney man lost one of his fingers to a neighbour's dog late on Saturday afternoon. The 32 year old man was attacked by a brown, male Staffordshire Terrier after entering his neighbour's garden, where the dog lived, in St Clair in Sydney's west. During the scuffle, the dog bit down on one of the man's fingers, severing it at the second knuckle in the middle of the finger. The dog also attacked police officers who arrived at the scene shortly after the incident occurred. The police sprayed the dog with capsicum spray, causing the dog to run away howling. Council rangers later captured the dog in a nearby street. The man's finger was also recovered and sent with the man to Westmead Hospital, where he is receiving treatment. According to the NSW government Dog Attack Register, more attacks were carried out by Staffordshire Terriers in the first part of 2014 than any other breed. Of the 1,302 attacks recorded in January to March 2014, Staffordshire Bull terriers accounted for 158, followed by Australian Cattle Dogs (100) and American Staffordshire terriers (82). A further 43 attacks by Staffordshire terriers of unspecified types was also logged. 154 of the dogs involved were put down. Fewer than 40 of these attacks resulted in a person being hospitalised. Local authorities are still investigating the incident. No decision has been made regarding the fate of the dog. A spokeswoman for the NSW Police said dog was likely in the council pound. "We're only investigating the attack. What happens to the dog now is up to the local council and its owner," she said. Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/dog-attack-in-st-clair-man-loses-finger-police-attacked-20140809-102crx.html#ixzz3A5bcaPy3

How often does your dog shake? Not just a little head shake, a whole, starting at the head and going all the way down their body to their tail, as if they are shaking water off themselves shake? I've noticed that my dog seems to be having a whole body shake pretty much every time he stands up. He also LOVES rolling on his back on the carpet. For minutes at a time with deep satisfying groans as he does it. The back thing isn't new, but the body shaking is certainly on the increase. I've put flea treatment on him recently, wondering if he was itchy, but it hasn't made any difference. His ears don't smell, so I don't think it is anything to do with his ears. He has been licking his feet a bit and they are that red sort of colour they get sometimes when they have an allergy or something. I'm going to make an appointment at the vet for him tomorrow anyway, but I was just wondering if anyone has a dog that does this and if there was anything in particular I should be considering, other than "it feels nice"

Call me a doubting thomas, but after watching the tv news, I won't be at all surprised if we hear that one or both of the parents are charged. http://www.oberonreview.com.au/story/2462873/child-unconscious-after-park-accident-parents-tell-police/?cs=1873 POLICE say a three-year-old Oberon boy left unconscious and critically injured on Sunday afternoon may have been knocked over by his family's dogs and are seeking further witnesses to the incident. The boy, along with his mother and step-father were walking in the park, known as the soccer fields, on Cunynghame Street at 1pm on Sunday when the incident occurred. Chifley Local Area Command Crime Manager Detective Inspector Luke Rankin said police were told the boy had been "knocked down and struck his head" after he became tangled in the leads of the two family dogs. "The dogs [an Alsatian and a husky] were on a lead and they got loose and in some way the leads have tripped the child over," he said of the mother's report to police. "The child had been rendered unconscious and rushed home from where emergency services were called." A crime scene was established at the family home, with forensic police officers called in to examine the inside and outside of the home, along with an area in the park following the accident. Police on Monday removed a number of items from the family property including several boxes of ammunition. "We've been working to establish what's actually happened," Detective Inspector Rankin said. "Our prominent line of inquiry is we are trying to establish if the child has injuries consistent with what the parents have told us." The mother and stepfather are at Westmead Hospital and will be interviewed later today. Following the incident the child was treated by Oberon paramedics and police before being airlifted to Westmead Children's Hospital in Sydney where he remains. "The child was injured very severely to be rendered unconscious," Detective Inspector Rankin said. "He was in a critical condition which stabilised somewhat in the morning [on Monday]." Police are also liasing with the NSW Department of Community Services (DOCS), and Detective Inspector Rankin said there are no known incidents at this stage of the investigation. Police are now focused on potential witnesses and have already spoken to a number of children following the incident, but are seeking further witnesses. If you have information that will assist in this investigation contact Oberon Police on 6336 1000 or Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.

First post edited - has appeared in court and indicated he would plead guilty

It's not meant to get your two off the lounge. It's meant to give you somewhere comfy to sit while they take up the lounge :)

I saw it on a facebook page for an Australian Produce store (farm and pet produce), so I just assumed they would know if it didn't relate to Australia

Use by dates of food up until November 2014. See link for full details http://www.dogsplanet.net/post.php?id=351 Proctor & Gamble has issued a press release regarding a voluntary recall they are performing on select Iams and Eukanuba dry dog & cat foods, due to a possibility of Salmonella contamination. Fortunately, according to P&G, there have not yet been any reports of illness due this contamination. A dog who has ingested salmonella may be lethargic and have diarrhea (possibly with blood), fever, and vomiting. Some dogs will have only decreased appetite, fever and stomach pain. Infected dogs can be carriers and infect other animals or humans. If your pet has consumed the recalled product and has these symptoms, please contact your veterinarian ASAP.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/oconnor-becomes-canberras-sixth-dogfriendly-suburb-20140712-zt4fz.html The dogs of the inner north can now run free with the opening of Canberra’s sixth off-leash dog park. About 30 dogs ignored the morning cold on Saturday to enjoy the undulating, 1.2-hectare site in O’Connor. Lyneham resident Camille Goodman said the new park would save her a half-hour round trip twice a week to the Belconnen site to allow her two-year-old beagle Digger to explore off the leash. “I’ll also be able to walk here, which is good, because I didn’t get any exercise in Belconnen,” she said. Advertisement Territory and Municipal Services Minister Shane Rattenbury said the park would cater for all dogs and be an accessible place for those in nearby suburbs, who have previously often travelled to the Yarralumla site. “It features two separate fenced play areas – one for large, energetic dogs and one for smaller, elderly and frail dogs,” Mr Rattenbury said. “The park is within walking distance to surrounding residential areas and provides an interesting terrain for dogs and their owners, with lots of shade and shelter provided by established trees. “The [parks] are enormously popular, wherever you go they’re full.” Off Fairfax Street, the park was designed and constructed for $450,000 and has seating and a drinking fountain for owners, plus a small trough for dogs. Mr Rattenbury said the location was chosen through a community survey. The O’Connor off-leash park is the only one in the territory without lights, an amenity Mr Rattenbury said would be considered once patronage was established. The founder of dog-minding company Pups4Fun, Rhiannon Beach, said the O’Connor park would meet a need in the community. “I know from feedback from my [northside] clients that they have to travel to Yarralumla,” Ms Beach said. She said the O’Connor site, which has a small car park between the two play areas, was the first where the fences were not adjoining. Mr Rattenbury said there were no plans for any further parks, but residents were encouraged to participate in a review of dog exercise areas via timetotalk.act.gov.au. Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/oconnor-becomes-canberras-sixth-dogfriendly-suburb-20140712-zt4fz.html#ixzz37RLNaNDA

Not long enough. They've quoted the wrong Legislation. It should be the Animal Welfare Act 1992 and below is the relevant section. A penalty unit is currently $140, so $14,000 maximum fine 12A Laying poison R21 07/03/14 (1) (2) (3) (4) (5) A person commits an offence if the person lays a poison with the intention of killing or injuring a domestic or native animal. Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units, imprisonment for 1 year or both. A person commits an offence if— (a) the person lays a poison; and (b) the person is reckless about causing the death of, or injury to, a domestic or native animal; and © the poison causes the death of, or injury to, a domestic or native animal. Maximum penalty: 50 penalty units, imprisonment for 6 months or both. A person commits an offence if— (a) the person lays a poison; and (b) there is a reasonable likelihood that the poison will kill or injure a domestic or native animal. Maximum penalty: 10 penalty units. An offence against subsection (3) is a strict liability offence. It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (3) if the defendant proves that the defendant took all reasonable steps to avoid death or injury to domestic and native animals.

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/bonner-man-arrested-for-dogbaiting-pooch-with-poison-meatballs-20140707-zsyj3.html Bonner man arrested for dog-baiting pooch with poison meatballs Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/bonner-man-arrested-for-dogbaiting-pooch-with-poison-meatballs-20140707-zsyj3.html#ixzz36qMnFkfg A 42-year-old man Bonner man has been arrested after trying to poison dogs with meatballs laced with Ratsak poison. Police say the man was seen walking past the rear entrance of a Bonner residence around 6pm on Friday before removing a number of meatballs from a plastic bag and throwing them into the backyard. The owner of the residence noticed her dog sniffing one of the meatballs and saw multiple meatballs scattered throughout the backyard. The dog did not consume any of the meatballs and was unharmed. The meatballs were seized by officers and taken to a forensic lab for analysis. The Bonner man was arrested a short time later while walking up an adjacent street. He was charged with leaving poison for a domestic animal and taken to the ACT Watch House. He will appear before the ACT Magistrates Court on July 25. A separate incident of dog baiting believed to have occurred on June 17 was reported to the Gungahlin Police Station around 8.50pm on Friday night. Police are urging anyone with information related to dog-baiting incidents to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000. Under the Crimes ACT 1900, anyone who leaves poison that endangers or is unlikely to endanger the life of a domestic animal faces a maximum penalty of $1000 and imprisonment for 6 months. Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/bonner-man-arrested-for-dogbaiting-pooch-with-poison-meatballs-20140707-zsyj3.html#ixzz36qMdip2j Updated - has appeared in court and indicated he would plead guilty http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/bonner-man-accused-of-baiting-dog-with-poisoned-meatballs-faces-act-court-20140725-zwpxt.html A man accused of scattering poison-laced meatballs in a northside backyard to bait a pet dog has made a brief appearance in court. Frank Pavlovic, 42, faced one charge of laying poison for a domestic animal in the ACT Magistrates Court on Friday morning. Witnesses saw the accused take the meatballs, believed to contain Ratsak poison, out of a plastic bag and throw them into the backyard of a Bonner house on the evening of July 4, police said. The home's owner later saw her pet dog sniff a meatball near the back step and discovered more strewn throughout the yard. Police said the dog did not eat any of the meatballs and was not harmed. The meatballs were sent to the Australian Federal Police for forensic tests. Mr Pavlovic, of Bonner, was arrested that same night after he was spotted walking along a nearby street. He wore jeans and a black, long-sleeved t-shirt during his court appearance and spoke briefly with his lawyer. The matter was adjourned, but a solicitor for the accused indicated he would plead guilty at a later date. He faces a maximum penalty of a $1000 fine and six-month jail term. Mr Pavolovic will next face court on August 13. Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/bonner-man-accused-of-baiting-dog-with-poisoned-meatballs-faces-act-court-20140725-zwpxt.html#ixzz38S8oGU9b A Bonner man who tried to bait a neighbour's dog with poison-laced meatballs because the animal "always barked" at him has avoided time behind bars. Frank Pavlovic, 42, pleaded guilty to laying poison for a domestic animal in the ACT Magistrates Court on Wednesday. The dog's owner saw her pet sniff at several meatballs which had been scattered throughout her Bonner backyard on the evening of July 4. Witnesses had seen Pavlovic throw the meatballs over the fence and the owners later saw him walking up a nearby street. When confronted by the owners, Pavlovic told them: "your dog is always barking at me, your dog is always barking at me. I want to make him sick." The court heard Pavlovic often heard the dog bark at him through a fence during his daily walk around the northside neighbourhood. The shift worker also often heard the dog bark during the day as he tried to sleep. Pavlovic got the idea to bait the dog when he overheard strangers at his local shops speak about feeding dogs Ratsak poison to make them stop barking. He was drinking and cooking some meatballs one night when he came up with the plan to lace them with Ratsak and feed them to the dog. From the witness box, Pavlovic told the court he was aware Ratsak was used for rodent control but only intended to make the dog sick for a few days so it would stop barking. He said there was "only a pinchful, three or four granules" in the meatball mixture. "It was just on the spur of the moment, I wasn't thinking properly," he said. He said he thought afterwards the poison "possibly might kill" the dog, but that wasn't his intention. Pavlovic's defence lawyer said his client only wanted to cause the dog some discomfort. Pavlovic, a government security guard who spent 11 years in the Navy, had been stood down from his job for several weeks. He had a potential alcohol problem and had been treated for anxiety. Prosecutors said the offence was serious as it could have resulted in the death of the animal. Magistrate Peter Morrison did not accept Pavlovic had not meant to kill the dog. Mr Morrison said Pavlovic's early guilty plea showed some remorse, but the nature of the offence called for a strong message of general deterrence. "The behaviour was abhorrent to all reasonable people, whether animal lovers or not." He said there was an obvious risk the poison would cause more than discomfort. Mr Morrison said the offence didn't warrant a jail term, but he ordered Pavlovic pay a $900 fine. Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/man-who-tried-to-poison-dog-with-meatballs-avoids-jail-20140813-103jfq.html#ixzz3AGlPYYqm

I wonder though, if there is an elderly person renting one of her apartments, if she would make them move on when their pet died if they felt it would be irresponsible to get a new pet because they are no longer able to properly provide the care it needs, or weren't prepared to get a pet for fear that it would outlive them and then need to be rehomed? There are plenty of elderly people who are still able to live independently but for the reasons stated above, are no longer prepared to get a new pet, but are appreciative of a neighbours pet when they need a little pet therapy.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2014-07-01/wa-woman-fined-over-mistreatment-of-dog-broder-collie-cross/5562618 Goldfields woman fined after neglected dog found frothing at the mouth By Rebecca Curtin Posted 22 minutes ago Map: Kalgoorlie 6430 A woman in the WA Goldfields has been banned from having contact with animals for 10 years for severely neglecting her dog. The RSPCA received a complaint in 2013 about a malnourished Collie cross lying in Janine Gilbin's yard. The dog was found frothing at the mouth and unable to stand, according to a report. A member of the public also took a photograph of the distressed animal. The dog was taken to the vet in a critical condition and was immediately euthanased. The Kalgoorlie Magistrates court heard Giblin had not taken her dog to the vet in 10 years. The court also gave Gilbin a $5,000 fine. Tim Mayne from the RSPCA said the treatment of the dog was unacceptable. "If we catch you doing it we can and will prosecute you," he said. "To leave a dog to suffer to that extent is totally unacceptable and clearly the community won't tolerate it." Mr Mayne said sadly incidents like this were not uncommon. "We're seeing far too much of this neglect at the moment," he said. "The unfortunate thing is that some of the people we know, even though it's not an excuse, can't afford it, but some of the people can afford it and are still neglecting their animals to such a state to where they've had to be put down, it's just terrible."

All gorgeous photos. I really like the first photo of the rooster

Thanks all. Our teacher mentioned both Lightroom and Photoshop elements and said that one was better than the other for RAW and the other was better for manipulation, but I don't remember which was which. Ruthless - stop being so practical :laugh: That would be like telling a man to read a manual (slaps forehead and writes mental note to have a look at the discs that came with the camera)