Eileen

I am so worried. She's a beautiful 7 yo stafford, she snaffled some cooked pork rib bones on Saturday night from the table when no-one was looking. She's a bit down, only doing little skinny poos, and has vomited up water about 3 times. Obviously I'm taking her to the vet this morning. I guess I'm looking for any stories anyone might have as to how this happened to their dog and they turned out ok? Or any remedies to fix her? She's our darling.

Am very sorry to hear this - and I only just saw as I don't come in here very often. It's heartbreaking to lose a favourite pet. Hugs to you, Cordy, my thoughts are with you, and run free lovely Cordelia.

I agree that they should be kept separate when unsupervised, but if Mike can assert himself as their leader it's possible they can coexist in peace when he's home. IMO. If you're any example, then that's definitely true. Your three are great together!

I had to stop going to the dog park in Paddington as I kept meeting people like these - who got a puppy cos it's good for a family, then when the beautiful dog was about 1, they'd be asking if anyone knew anyone who wanted a dog - too much effort, not enough time for walks, dogs leaves hair everywhere, cries all the time if left outside ... bloody people. I know it's been posted that they aren't cat people, but I don't think they sound like dog people either.

Your dogs have extraordinary condition, no wonder the other person was coveting your spray bottle!

I am so sorry for your loss, Monelite. Rex was a stunning looking dog, and it was clear from your posts what an amazing bond you had with him. I can't imagine how sad you are now, and my heart has a little tug when I think of your other dog (Diviani?), who must be sad, too. Hugs to you.

Ahhh, that's a relief. But that's not what the woman in the news article referenced above is talking about. I live next to Waverley Council. Every second guy in Bondi has an SBT.

But those dogs aren't "dangerous dogs". Also - what breed do they mean when they say Staffordshire Terrier?

I agree, that was my thought too.

That's great news.

God, how bloody awful. Jed is one of my favourite Dolers. Donating now. Poor Jed.

How can we stop this from happening? Is this something the MDBA can help with? Perhaps lobbying to change the registration details?

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/bite-getting-wor...00503-u3rz.html Bite getting worse than their bark HARVEY GRENNAN May 4, 2010 DOG attacks in NSW increased by 41 per cent in the three months to March. The latest dog attack register report from the Department of Local Government said there were 1122 attacks on people and other animals, up from 793 the previous quarter. A total of 666 people were attacked, up from 470. Of these, 131 needed medical treatment and 30 were admitted to hospital. "Dog owners have a very serious responsibility to ensure their pet is under control and well-supervised at all times - particularly when they are around children," the Minister for Local Government, Barbara Perry, said. Ms Perry said increasing numbers of councils were reporting dog attacks, contributing to the increase in reported figures. Councils issued 281 penalties (up 39 per cent) and 308 warnings to dog owners, with 471 investigations continuing during the quarter. Staffordshire bull terriers were the main offenders, with 156 attacks, Australian cattle dogs were next with 93 attacks, followed by German shepherds with 60. There were 114 dangerous dog declarations, up from 100 the previous quarter, and 158 dogs destroyed, up from 108. Byron Shire has overtaken Blacktown for the most attacks. Owners of dangerous dogs can face fines of up to $55,000 or two years in prison - or both. The state government has introduced a bill to Parliament to allow cafe and restaurant owners discretion as to whether they allow dogs in their outdoor dining areas. At present they are banned. If dogs are allowed, they must be on a leash, sit on the ground, not be fed and not be within 10 metres of a food preparation area.

http://www.theaustralian.com.au/news/labra...6-1225860829155

http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/owners-should-in...00424-tkhn.html THE father of a young boy savaged by a neighbour's husky has called on the NSW government to introduce a liability insurance scheme for owners of dangerous dog breeds. Figures from the NSW government Dog Attack Register, released today, show 130 children were attacked by dogs between January and March this year. Daniel Breen, 6, required plastic surgery after the husky mauled his face outside his home in Kearns, south-west Sydney, on April 3. The dog was destroyed and the neighbour charged with ownership of a dog uncontrolled in a public place, and ownership of a dog which attacked a person, but for Peter Breen that is little comfort. ''His scarring is really bad; emotionally, he's wrecked. When we go out shopping, he pulls a hat down across his face so nobody sees him,'' Mr Breen said on Friday. ''As far as dogs go, he gets hysterical. It's ruined him.'' As a struggling single father of two, Mr Breen said medical and transport bills were likely to cripple him financially. While lawyers had advised him he could successfully sue, he feels it should not be his responsibility. ''That means more fees, more stress and there's still no guarantee of clawing any money back if the dog owners don't have any,'' he said, adding: ''If people are that desperate to own these sorts of dogs, they should be held accountable financially when something bad occurs.'' ''I believe the state government should introduce a compulsory insurance scheme for dangerous breeds. It should be a case of no insurance, no dog.'' Mr Breen said his son was in Liverpool Hospital for five days and, during that time, ''three other kids came in after being attacked by dogs. That's when I realised how often this is happening''. The Dog Attack Register shows that 666 attacks occurred between January and March. The figure featured 536 adults and 130 children, an increase from the previous quarterly total of 470. Of those attacks, 131 people required medical treatment and 30 were admitted to hospital. The Staffordshire bull terrier has topped the list of aggressive breeds for the second consecutive quarter (156 attacks), followed by the Australian cattle dog (93) and German shepherd (60). Blacktown council again recorded the highest number of attacks across the state with 78. Councils reported that 159 dogs were destroyed, an increase of 47 per cent from the previous quarter. A spokeswoman for Local Government Minister Barbara Perry said under The Companion Animals Act, the owner of an attacking dog was not only exposed to criminal prosecution, including fines of up to $55,000 or two years' jail, but was liable in damages for any injury or loss occurring as a result of an attack. Mr Breen said that, in reality, if a dog owner had no money the victim was ''back to square one''.

Thanks guys, you've all just confirmed what I suspected Kendall, my baby is 5 months old, I guess she could sleep in our room, but I wouldn't really like it as we would need to borrow a travel cot, and Dolly sleeps in our room. Not sure I am ready to have them both sleep in a room together, especially out of the blue like this with people in the lounge room too. Too much of a change, I think. I'll tell my friend she ought to stay somewhere else. Thanks everyone.

And I have nowhere for them to sleep but on the lounge room floor. I also have a very boisterous, super affectionate 3 yo SBT. Now my friend told me her 16 month old is very shy of dogs, so I was a bit taken aback she wants to stay, as our only spare room is now our baby's room. My sister and mum sleep on the lounge room floor when they visit, and Dolly (dog) is very used to hopping in bed with them for a snuggle and cuddle, and shoves her muzzle into their face in the morning to wake them up. I am just wondering, is this one of those situations? That Dolly will come into the lounge room at night, the toddler will freak out and scream, and Dolly might snap at her? Not that Dolly has ever, ever, ever shown aggression to any person or animal in her life, as she is so gentle it's not funny. But I don't want to be that dumb person who says "my dog has never done anything like this before" as her dog is put down for snapping at a toddler's face. Any advice welcome

And this is the root of the problem, and why I don't think it is appropriate. Unscrupulous stores would ape the language of stores doing it ethically, and we would have the same problem now, only the problems would be harder to spot, as all stores would be talking the same language - "adopting" dogs/puppies; "careful screening"; "matching owner to dog"; "health checks" etc. You only have to look at the puppy pages on DOL of a breed that has been corrupted by people looking to make a buck, and check out their websites to see how easy it is for people to make it look like they are doing the right right thing. They copy the text from true breeders' websites onto their own, making it look like their are ethical breeders. Puppy buyers don't know the difference. And the general public who want to do the right thing won't either. They will see that Pets Paradise is adopting out rescue puppies, and go through the careful screening, and walk out with a dog in their arms. They will then think they have done a good thing by adopting a rescue, while the real things rot in pounds. I just think it is easier to keep pushing the line that pet shops are for pet supplies, and if you want a pet, go to a shelter/registered breeder.

This is exactly how I see it. Just because we might see the difference, I think it splits the hair too finely. ie saying one sort of live animal sale in a petshop is ok, but not another.

So I just did the MDBA award questionnaire that was emailed to me and there was a section about possibly adding pet shops who sell rescue dogs to the pet shop section of the awards. I did not know there were such pet shops and am confused, as I thought pet shops and rescue were diametrically opposed. DO the dogs actually live in the pet shops?

I think if you read the comments, many posters equate purebred puppies and rescue dogs as the same "good" option, and pet shop puppies as bad. The way her and her friends have all given their puppies away is shameful, but I don't think anywhere in the article she is proud of that. She is just being honest. And to be fair, it certainly proves the point everyone on this forum consistently reinforce: a pet shop puppy can be a nightmare. If you have a young family and don't have the time and patience to raise a puppy properly, an adult dog is the better option. And I am sure by gratitude, she actually means loyalty

How scary for grandma and the kids.

This link doesn't work?

I love my stafford being chatty, so I encouraged it.

Deelee Honey looks gorgeous. I didn't realise you had got a new dog. Congrats!!