Abandoned Dogs In Different Countries

[Elina]

Occasionally they would be at home while we're at work, then we'd come home, give them a quick play and feed and go out to dinner or to sports training. I know that you will probably be shocked at that but people who have met my dogs can confirm that they are both happy, well socialised and adaptable...

I don't be shocked Sure I have to do sometimes just like that as well, but I always feel bad about it ;) But I have active Border Collies and they are used to have a lots of activities. They don't want to just spend time with use while we watch TV, they think it's boring. This is of course also matter of breed as well. Many breeds are happy with much lesser activites, but I have to chosen bc's and I go for at leas a one hour walk even it is raining hard or there is -15 degrees. Somethimes I do think how grazy that is :p

[wuffles]

Occasionally they would be at home while we're at work, then we'd come home, give them a quick play and feed and go out to dinner or to sports training. I know that you will probably be shocked at that but people who have met my dogs can confirm that they are both happy, well socialised and adaptable...

I don't be shocked Sure I have to do sometimes just like that as well, but I always feel bad about it :D But I have active Border Collies and they are used to have a lots of activities. They don't want to just spend time with use while we watch TV, they think it's boring. This is of course also matter of breed as well. Many breeds are happy with much lesser activites, but I have to chosen bc's and I go for at leas a one hour walk even it is raining hard or there is -15 degrees. Somethimes I do think how grazy that is :p

Yes it's so hard to draw the line and it does depend a lot on individual dogs I do sometimes feel guilty when I go out without my dogs but they don't really seem to mind! One of mine is lazy, but the other is an Australian Shepherd. She's active, but still spends an awful lot of time sleeping in front of the TV ;)

I do always take them for a walk before work, even if it's raining, and it gets cold here too (at least by Australian standards!!!), it is below 0 most mornings in winter ;)

[Elina]

It's really interesting how in Germany and Finland it seems that if you don't walk your dog regularly you will have someone 'knocking on your door' but when it was mooted here there were a lot of objections to that, based on minority factors such as old dogs that can't walk or disabled owners that can't walk, I assume that it works in these other countries because these factors are taken into account?

Maybe someone can answer from these countries what happens when they knock on your door? Do the authorities take extenuating circumstances (such as disability of owner or dog) when looking into why the dog isn't being walked? How are things like problem barking managed over there?

Thanks to our overseas contributors by the way you are offering a great perspective

I have to say, I don't know for sure how these goes. I don't have any experience. I though am quite sure owners disability is not an excuse. Sure you have to get someone to walk your dog if you can't do it by yourself. Basically authorities can't take anyone's dog in to the custody unless things are really bad. They can just give guidelines and warnings. But most Finns respect authorieties quite well. And nobody wants that your neighbour think that you don't care of your dog :p

Problem barking, hmm... Do you mean in apartment or in suburb? In apartment it is a matter of the deputy landlord. Neighbours can complain to him/her and in worst case you can get an eviction note. In suburbs things are more complicated and in worst cases neighbours have seen each others in the court house. But usually animal welfare organisations doesn't have anything to do with those.

*Edit* I just read here the other thread about problems with dogs barking outside. Most dogs in Finland sleeps inside during days and nights so that is not usually problem.

Edited January 24, 2011 by Elina