Steve

Look I'm sorry but I honestly think that even though there are good intentions all round that its too bad before anyone stated banging a drum and having any expectation that what they were asking was even a possibility there should have been a hell of a lot more research. The majority think that the outcome of all of this is going to be close down mass production of puppies and stop the sales of pets in pet shops. Neither of those things are going to happen. Around about now you can decide that you are right and therefore everyone should have been there with you - that those who weren't wine and moan but do nothing or you can stop beating down anyone trying to explain and understand why they didn't support you. IF your beliefs and knowledge only come from those who have never bred a dog it seems to me to be a limited learning plain. Good intentions don't cut it if you don't also open yourselves up to the potential unintended consequences and mis information which has taken on a cult like unthinking zombie like belief system.

http://www.suntimes.com/news/24-7/2722424,CST-NWS-dogpoop18.article September 18, 2010 Miller, 43, also swiped a sign -- asking the apartment complex residents to pick up dog waste -- and placed it on the dog owner's property, police said. Miller was charged with disorderly conduct.

http://www.thestar.com/news/gta/crime/article/863284--windsor-man-jailed-for-cruelty-after-strapping-condom-on-dog Anjalo Abeywickrema didn’t know what to do with his new dog, Tyson, a three-year-old black Lab mix that urinated and “humped everything” in his house. So he placed a condom on his dog’s penis and secured it with rubber tubing. About 24 hours later, Tyson had to be euthanized after an infection spread from his genitals to his bladder. On Friday, a Windsor judge sentenced the 51-year-old man to four months in jail for cruelty to an animal. The incident occurred in early May. According to Abeywickrema’s lawyer, Tyson became agitated when the condom was secured. The dog tried to get the condom off, but couldn’t and bit Abeywickrema when he tried to help. Then Abeywickrema brought Tyson outside to calm down. Once outside, Tyson took off. Abeywickrema, a severe diabetic, lost the dog and collapsed — and then suffered a heart attack. A day later, with Abeywickrema still in hospital, Windsor city officials found Tyson and notified the Windsor-Essex Humane Society. An external infection spread internally to his abdomen and bladder, according to Melanie Coulter, the society’s executive director. “If we could have saved the dog, we would have,” Coulter said. Abeywickrema was out on parole from a manslaughter sentence at the time, said his lawyer, Kevin Shannon. “He stabbed his best buddy in the heart one drunken New Year’s Eve,” said Shannon. When Abeywickrema was released from the hospital, he broke down and told his parole officer about the dog. Shortly after police arrested him, Abeywickrema suffered a second heart attack in jail. Abeywickrema’s parole was revoked and he has been in prison since his arrest on May 13. The four-month sentence will be tacked onto the remaining manslaughter sentence. Shannon figures his client will serve two-thirds of his time and will be out sometime next spring. Shannon said Abeywickrema has mental health challenges in addition to his severe diabetes. Shannon said he was remorseful in court after pleading guilty to the judge. “He turned to the people of the court and said ‘I’m sorry to all the animal lovers,’” Shannon said. “It’s too bad because he was starting to turn things around.” As part of his sentence, Abeywickrema isn’t allowed to own an animal for five years.

Me too.

Good thinking - not sure that would have worked in this case but its definitely a good option. thanks again to everyone - you've been great! Julie

Deadline for the craft fair is end of January but we will always need squares so just asap is good. Julie

Thank you to everyone who has donated to help this dog. We now have enough to cover them for the operation and some follow up care. I hope you all know how much your kind donations have made a difference. I forgot to say that all donations over $2 are tax deductible so if you email [email protected] and give me your details I will have tax invoices issued to you so you can claim the donation on your Tax. Thanks again guys - you're awesome! Julie

Wow what an awesome response! So far we have over 100 of you enrolled for just that one course in a few days ! This is going to have a huge impact on Rescue in general and on the work Pacers can do. Anyone who is thinking of having a go at the course you dont have any longer than the 20th to take advantage of the offer to enrol for free when you lodge a nomination for the awards here. Proudly Sponsored by dogzonline! After that the price of the course is back to $68.

Cazzie Cathcart - CAZZIES CREATIONS. Has been nominated for Best Canine Photographer/ Artist of the Year. Got good couple of tears out of this one too. Well done Cazzie!

Paul Sparrow from Precious Pet Photography has been nominated for best photographer of the Year - 4 nominations . Hope to see you in Melbourne Paul! Pets Haven at Woodend Victoria have been nominated for Best canine Rescue of the Year. Great speaking with the staff there and chatting about the hard work they do. Friends of the Hound has also been nominated ffor Best Canine Rescue of the Year. It was great speaking with Lisa and hearing what agreat job they do for greyhounds. Rachel Grover has recieved two nominations. One for Excellence in Contribution and or Leadership in Canine Affairs the other as Best Canine Rescue of the Year. Well done Rachel it was great speaking with you and obviously well deserved. Jennifer Scott from Peiradise - Paradise for rescued Shar Pei has been nominated for Best Master Canine Rescue of the Year. Good to catch up with you Jen and hope to see you at the awards evening in March ! Peta McRae has been nominated for Best Canine Rescue of the Year and Excellence in Contribution and or Leadership in Canine Affairs Its a great effort and it was my honour to be the one to let her know how much she is appreciated. Sara and Ben Grace have been nominated for Best Canine Foster Carers of the Year They are attached to No Kill Rescue in Sydney. - Ben was really shocked when I told him of his nomaintion but when you hear the ouitstanding stuff they do to go the extra mile you know its certainly well deserved. Please remember that this weeks promo for the awards is that if you place a nomination we wil offer you a Certificate in Canine Foster Care free of charge until the 20th. MDBA Dog Owners Choice Awards proudly sponsored by dogzonline - thanks Troy! Tickets for the awards are now on sale. Limited seats.

This dog is not hairless and the pimples on yours bothers me. You are probably right but Id be checking before I do too much else.

Im not convinced she has no coat because of a genetic hairless issue.It could very possibly be that she has no fur due to the skin condition.I would have a vet look at her first.

Hard to tell with the photos but Id suggest you take her to the vet to have her skin checked out.

I didnt realise that often vets who allow clients to pay off their bills do so via credit companies. That case the vet used GE finance but due to the owners age and financial situation the finance wasn't approved. I can see it from the vet's point of view I guess they have to run a business but once the work is done they don't get any money if the owner says PTS and walk away anyway. Why not take the risk and allow them to pay it off? What have they got to loose? The vet nurse in that case contacted us and tried to get some help for the owner so she was very affected by the outcome too.

So many dogs and so many people are affected by people who don't follow the law and keep their dogs on leashes. Its not just what can happen to their own dogs it what their dogs can unexpected do to ours. The laws are there, never enforced and always scoffed at. i reckon its this one we should be standing on the steps of parliament house about and getting petitions on the move. How many of us don't go for walks any more with our dogs ? How many of wont take one route or another in case we meet up with one we know will be there ? How many laws have been made which restrict where we can take our dogs because people do this?

The dog is in regional NSW and several avenues have been investigated to get it done. If we find some place which will do it without the kind of costs we have been given then we will need to consider transportation and other high stress issues for the dog and the family. Im having another phone meeting with the salvos today to have a chat about potential options to manage the operation. When you deal with vets who have little competition because of geography it can be a whole new learning curve. We had one 2 weeks ago - Owners dog is at the vets for an emergency due to a car accident and the bill was much higher than the owner expected. The vet refused to release the dog until the bill was paid in full and every day the bill was climbing due to boarding expenses. Several options were looked into but the vet wouldn't budge - Before we got a chance the owner has said she couldn't pay and the longer it went on the less likely she would be able to pay and to put the dog down.

I need to be clear about this - what Im trying to say. Im not trying to discourage any one from attending the rally - I think its a great thing to do and if what you are rallying against is what I think puppy farming is and calling for new laws to regulate that then Im 100% behind you. However, if everyone doesnt agree with what a puppy farmer is then my concern is that the outcome wont be what is expected. My idea of what new laws we should have is different to many others. If Oscars law feels there should be new laws to stop mass production of puppies in factory type conditions thats great but when other groups jump on the shirt tails and use this as a platform and show of support for what their application for a mandatory code is the definition changes. Breeders [and rescue] have to live under laws and mandatory codes OTHER those which are bought in under companion animals legislation. There are several complex sub issues which in my opinion would be better left as it wont take us anywhere here and its coming off as if Im not supporting what Oscars law is all about. I do but I would have felt better if when I asked for the definition of what it was that was being protested about was more clear.

The money will be used for this case.

No I dont have links Im too flat out to even get near trying for them but I spoke with some people from several shires around a fortnight ago, as well as from the DPI in 3 states because I needed the info for one of our members. Some of it comes under state building codes. If they continue to make laws which impact on breeding dogs no matter how many come under one legislation it has to impact differently on someone who breeds one litter to someone who breeds 100 litters. Every council can say what buildings can go in depending on what they are going to be used for and where and what the land is going to be used for and how that will impact on the neighbours and the environment already. I do have to say that most times the people who are responsible for mandatory codes for breeding dogs and POCTAA dont seem to know anything about state and council requirements for health and planning and building regs and how some of them impact.

Please remember I dont have a clue who you are if you dont match your user name up to your real name for me.

I am interested... Exactly what in the mandatory codes of practice would make your dogs suffer more? Well for a start My dogs would suffer more if I had to house them down the back in a shed with whirly birds and concrete floors. Steve, What you have stated is not correct. As you well know, a code of practice only sets the minimum requirements to be met. In the NSW Code of Practice case I have copied he definition of dog housing below Dog housing includes a kennel, cage, module, colony pen or other enclosure used to contain dogs within a facility; or garages, carports, sheds, commercially sold dog kennels of any material, and any room forming part of a house, flat, apartment or town house used for human habitation. Nowehere does it state what you have said, or in any way preclude breeding dogs living inside. Perhaps you might want to clarify your statement Couple of issues here - The first is that this rally is to petition to introduce NEW laws and the fear that many have is that new laws would create a problem for small breeders .This isnt based on what is in the mandatory code in NSW now but much of it fear level was what was presented as the mandatory code discussions prior to the round table conference. Laws and codes we have to comply with in NSW are not just those which come from the DPI - If you want to talk NSW - First the definition of a breeder is any one who breeds a dog - therefore anyone who breeds a dog comes under that definition as the local councils have to take the lead from the DPI in that regard. In most shires in NSW if you breed dogs the mandatory code put out by the DPI at this time is the least of the issues someone who wants to breed has to consider as far as housing and compliances are concerned. Because a breeder is anyone who breeds a dog you have to have approval from council to operate a business from your home even though none of us consider we are in business. That then brings in minimums - such as where the dogs will be whelped, and where they sleep etc . In most shires If you are a breeder you have to house any more than 2 dogs at least 15 metres from a dwelling for a start. So before you can say what the laws are which affect us as breeders now you have to look at POCTAA, state companion animals laws, mandatory codes fro breeding dogs and requirements to operate a breeding establishment via environment health and planning. These are things which affect me no matter how many dogs I have already and Id rather not have any more if I can avoid it. But thats not even the issue here for me. Im anti puppy farmer as much as or more so than most I just want to be sure we all agree on what that is. Id rather see a push for enforcement of laws we already have.

For those of you in Queensland the MDBA has an interview coming up at 4.15 pm today on radio ABC Queensland regarding sales of puppies in pet shops with talk back option to follow to say what you think.

I am interested... Exactly what in the mandatory codes of practice would make your dogs suffer more? Well for a start My dogs would suffer more if I had to house them down the back in a shed with whirly birds and concrete floors.

Good idea.

Did you see the photo? I love it . There's legislation which makes dog breeders have septic tanks - would be worth looking into to see if its cheaper to put one of these babies in instead. Then you could light up your driveways at the same time!