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anniek
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Steve

Steve

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Im against new laws especially when the laws they introduce would be introduced by the main input coming from and policed by a group which has no outside accountability and which in the main could see small private rescue as their competition.

All new laws have unintended consequences, usually cant be policed and it makes people do what they want and be more sneaky about it. They usually advantage large groups and disadvantage smaller ones. even the anti pet shop laws being pushed by Clover Moore would have impacted on small rescue groups and when Anne and I sat with Clovers people when they were putting that bill together there was little understanding of how small rescue really operated and how they may be impacted by restrictions on how dogs and puppies could be offered for sale etc. They had come to their position with some pretty big gaps and lots of assumptions. it was difficult for Anne who had first hand knowledge of our rescue members needs and I to believe that their level of knowledge on what registered breeders could and could not do was so ignorant. Then they were surprised when Dogs NSW stood against their bill because they had assumed registered breeders were not able to sell to pet shops?????? All of their input re rescue had come from animal lib and the big rescue groups which had large kennels and the public walking through daily etc and their level of understanding how small rescue operated was at best lacking. Small rescue does need someone to state their case and ensure that their needs are taken into account but this stuff on export and factory farming etc is already covered by other groups and we need another one to be yelling about the same things like we need a hole in the head - it certainly wont gain them any instant credibility or advantage them in any way when it comes to advocating on behalf of anyone let alone canine rescue groups.

I am aware of some pretty heavy work being done in the background by some powerful groups which make it difficult to see how rescue will escape without harder and tougher laws but you dont want laws which havent take into account small rescue issues under any condition.

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Little Gifts

Little Gifts

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Thank you HA. Not wanting to stir the pot, just interested in knowing more. I've always thought it would be great if we could do things like recruit and train new foster carers collectively as that means more dogs can be saved if there is somewhere suitable for them to transition to. And it is sad that Pacers had to cease given the need still exists. Obviously a lot is linked to money.

Im not sure where you are coming from on this but Pacers never trained foster carers - all of the courses are done via the MDBA - still are.

Edited to add the MDBA is still doing what Pacers did just not under that business entity.

Sorry Julie - 2 seperate points there. I think it would be great if a coordinated foster carer recruitment drive and training could be done in any state (like they do for foster carers for children). The MDBA course is fantastic but I suspect not everyone would have the time to do it independantly, but if suitable people were recruited and then trained a one or two day course you'd have new carers available across a geographical area immediately.

As for Pacers I thought one of NARGA's goals was emergency financial assistance in the incidence of natural or personal disaster but it is emergency financial assistance to a rescue group - I read it wrong. I also read your thread about the ending of Pacers wrong as well as I didn't realise the MDBA would still be doing the same work.

See what happens when you stop using your brain? I can't even spell words properly most days!

And did you all know that NARGA once stood for the National Association of Retail Grocers of Australia!

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Steve

Steve

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Sorry Julie - 2 seperate points there. I think it would be great if a coordinated foster carer recruitment drive and training could be done in any state (like they do for foster carers for children). The MDBA course is fantastic but I suspect not everyone would have the time to do it independantly, but if suitable people were recruited and then trained a one or two day course you'd have new carers available across a geographical area immediately.

As for Pacers I thought one of NARGA's goals was emergency financial assistance in the incidence of natural or personal disaster but it is emergency financial assistance to a rescue group - I read it wrong. I also read your thread about the ending of Pacers wrong as well as I didn't realise the MDBA would still be doing the same work.

See what happens when you stop using your brain? I can't even spell words properly most days!

And did you all know that NARGA once stood for the National Association of Retail Grocers of Australia!

The foster carers course is short and could easily be done in 2 days but they get a year to do it. So far over 300 people have done the course most of them free of charge and its structured to be able to be done regardless of where someone lives .They still need to be given further instructions from the group they are recruited by re that groups policies and requirements etc. We travel around helping groups in their set up or if they have struck snags because they haven't had their bases covered initially and much is done via email and phone too.

Your idea of a group having a recruitment drive and training a group of people in one geographical area has merit and is worthy of greater thought and discussion which I will do when I speak with you this week and at the next MDBA meeting. One massive point is that not all rescue groups are equal and part of educating any foster carer is about helping them to know what their expectations are and to choose a group which matches up to that via their policies and procedures etc.

I noticed that NARGA had a blurb on helping in emergencies but then had a look at what they thought was emergencies and how they were structuring it with refunds due after the second lot of help but there were gaping issues there for me some legal and while it appears to be well intentioned Id be surprised if it would float and there are some red lights flashing for me.

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Little Gifts

Little Gifts

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I'm one of those who had all year to do it and didn't finish it! I did four of the assignments and never submitted one! Mind you the work I did still helped me become a better foster carer!

Plus we have the wonderful foster carer manual that another DOLer (name currently escapes me?) made.

I can imagine trying to recruit at pet expo's or even the Royal Easter Show or the Ekka here in Brissie and then those who follow up their interest getting offered training (which could be based on the manual?). It would have to be somewhat generic and could be run by ex foster carers even - the pros and pitfalls, what to expect from the rescue org, issues that might arise with your foster dog, where to go to for help, etc. The next part would be to disseminate potential carer info to member rescue groups who look after specific geographical areas. No point being a carer for a shelter if you have to drive a long way to pick up dogs or see vets. It might also get groups talking and sharing more, particularly if they identify specialist carers/ones with sought after skills (or even the ability to quaratine?). Then you also have breed specific skills that might mean you get offered a dog from a breed specific rescue rather than the one closest to you? There could also be a carer database created? With the age of computers you could even do Skype training in remoter areas.

That's kind of how it works with foster carers for children. A seperate group of people are generally responsible for recruiting, training and identifying the right placement for the child while other workers deal with case and court matters - spreads the workload and also ensures that a carer gets a say in agreeing to each and every placement and is provided standard/set info about the child with each placement made. Imagine that with dogs!

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Aphra

Aphra

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I've read their whole website and I'm not at all impressed with their understanding of rescue or current issues in companion animal welfare. For example, I'm reasonably sure that the majority of rescuers are not supporters of BSL in any of its manifestations, but one of their aims is: "Encourage rescue groups to insert a training clause for adoption of certain breeds."

What breeds aren't specified, but I suppose you can guess.

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Jingle Bells

Jingle Bells

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I'd like to see a little more info on their committee members listed on their pages - what they bring to the table with regards to achieving the goals they are stating are their objective, etc...

The only publically listed email address for the group can be found on their Facebook page, and when you google that email address, she appears to be a palm reader? Then again the email address for the registrant of the site is "rat1bag @ gmail.com", which doesn't exactly inspire confidence...

T.

Hmmmmm True.......

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Aphra

Aphra

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I've asked the question on their Facebook page and got a vague answer about how they will announce their committee members eventually. I'm really unimpressed by both their arrogance and their ignorance.

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