A Rangers Life

[j]

There's a couple of photos on the link, so have a look

http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/its-a-dog-rangers-life-for-animal-shelter-workers-20120821-24k0p.html

Having killed a pet duck next door, the 40kg Rottweiler was now charging towards ranger Jason Ritzen, teeth barred, hackles up and ready to attack.

Mr Ritzen had come through a collapsed fence into a huge backyard at Kambah, looking for the owner when the dog, now running at full speed, found him first.

"I thought I was a goner," the ranger said.

The Domestic Animal Services shelter can keep up to 100 dogs at a time. Photo: Rohan Thomson

"I've been here (in this job) for five years and you get to know how to read dogs pretty quickly." He had to stand his ground. Any attempt to escape could have been fatal.

"You don't run. You don't act aggressively."

Standing his ground was enough to slow the Rottweiler's charge, before a tussle developed as Mr Ritzen fended off his assailant with his catcher's pole.

"When the dog realises he doesn't have a chance, he stops.

"I have done this so many times. I don't want to dominate the dog. I show him I'm not scared and who is the boss."

The attack happened two weeks ago when the eight-strong Domestic Animal Shelter crew were short staffed. A woman had rung them after her daughter's duck had been killed.

Eventually Mr Ritzen and three Australian Federal Police cornered the dog and spoke to the owner.

Mr Ritzen says people reporting attacking dogs often mistake them as pit bull terriers because of their aggressive reputation.

His family's English bull terrier is highly regarded for the amount of 'playfulness' it endures from his two children.

Canberran Bill Slattery called at the Domestic Animal Shelter on Tuesday morning hoping to buy an unclaimed Rottweiler after his female 'rotty', Silo, died from cancer.

Mr Slattery said he loved the big breed and was impressed with the shelter's record of finding homes for 90 per cent of stray dogs.

Thirty two dogs are in the Symonston shelter this week. There are 50 enclosures which can be divided to hold up to 100 strays, which are fed daily and walked by volunteers.

Schools often call the rangers because stray dogs are attracted to children and their food.

Mr Ritzen said Staffordshire bull terriers were prolific escapees. Jack Russells were a close second.

"Staffys are a great dog, placid and very good with kids," he said.

Many of the dogs coming into the shelter were not registered or microchipped or desexed. Irresponsible owners who did not de-sex their dogs often found they had a litter which they advertised for sale, adding to the stray dog problem.

Mr Ritzen said his biggest reward was reuniting families with their dogs. "The whole family come in. The children are crying," he said.

A big black and grey Mastiff-cross wearing a studded collar which he collected from Kippax Veterinary Hospital has formed a rapport with Mr Ritzen while awaiting its owner.

If people registered their dogs the shelter's population would be halved and halved again if owners of registered dogs updated information and microchips.

Read more: http://www.canberratimes.com.au/act-news/its-a-dog-rangers-life-for-animal-shelter-workers-20120821-24k0p.html#ixzz24EtcoR00

[Sheridan]

Nice article, though I query if DAS finds the dogs homes or if those who rescue from DAS do?

I particularly like that he said some nice things about staffies and his bull terrier.