Steve

A big Thank you to Shmoo who designed our new banners for us to have on the stage and around the room. Beautiful!

Yes we have to give exact numbers for meals.

O.K. We're right on the downhill run now. Only 3 weeks to go. For those attending and who havent already done so please book your tickets.No tickets will be available at the door and we have to give final dinner numbers. For those who have been nominated but wont be attending we need you to prepare a quick acceptance speech and either send someone in your place ,choose someone you know is going or let us know if you cant do either so we can select someone for you to accept your award if you win. We need to know who you want to say a few words for you if you win. For those attending - its going to be a hell of a party and its all coming together nicely. So dont muck around any longer - book your tickets www.mdbaawards.net.au

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02...mp;section=news One of the eight koalas removed by the RSPCA from Gunnedah's Waterways Wildlife Park is dead. The news was faxed to the offices of law firm Slater & Gordon, which is representing the park's owners Nancy and Colin Small, late yesterday. The two-line statement, from RSPCA lawyers Smythe Wozniak, did not specify why the animal was destroyed, nor who performed the procedure. The Gunnedah-based lawyer for the park's owners, Peter Long, says the information is disturbing. "These are koalas that on all of the evidence available left Gunnedah in good health," he said. "This koala is now dead with a coat that was just looking so fabulously healthy and we're just mystified why anybody would want to put down a koala 22 days later." Local vet David Amos conveyed the news to Nancy Small, who says she is sad, but not surprised, and would like the dead koala returned. "Yes, I was thinking I would like her back just to dig a hole and put her in the garden, like I did with my old dog," she said. Slater & Gordon will today write to the RSPCA asking for further and better particulars concerning the animal's death. The CEO of the RSPCA New South Wales says his understanding is that the koala that was euthanased was elderly. Steven Coleman says the animal was not expected survive for long after it was removed. He says a post-mortem will be carried out today.

Megs is sorted. I'll check into yours biafra.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02...mp;section=news The New South Wales Government has announced a one-off payment to Gunnedah's Waterways Wildlife Park, where eight koalas were removed by the RSPCA earlier this month. The money, up to $5,000, is to be used to develop a business plan for the park's future. Details of the recovery plan, to be coordinated by Gunnedah Shire Council, Industry and Investment New South Wales and the RSPCA, are yet to be finalised. Primary Industries Minister Steve Whan says it is a goodwill gesture to help the park meet its licensing standards. The Minister's announcement follows a call by Tamworth independent MP Peter Draper, for a full investigation into the RSPCA's seizure of eight koalas from the park earlier this month. Mr Whan says the money will give the park future direction. The Mayor of Gunnedah Shire Council, Adam Marshall, says he is not too sure how the State Government sees the plan working, but he is holding meetings to come up with ideas. The CEO of the Australian Koala Foundation, Deborah Tabart, says she is completely underwhelmed by the Minister's offer.

Can anyone else give us a hand by taking some tickets?

Good Idea ! MDBA PACERS is an Australia wide professional charitable organisation committed to preventing animal cruelty to domestic animals (mainly dogs, cats and horses) when they are in emergency situations as a result of their owner's hardship. This organization came about because The Master Dog Breeders and Associates were getting regular calls for help from pet owners and we felt we could help animals more by offering their owners help when they were in desperate times before they got to point where their animals were being neglected taken off them, surrendered or punishing them after things were weighing them down. Many animals, which come to MDBA Pacers, are homeless and looking for a new family to live with. Our shelters [located in NSW AND Queensland so far] and foster carers act as rescue, recovery and adoption centres as well as holding facilities for when their owners need time to put their lives back in order to take their animals home. Whilst a large proportion of these animals are cats and dogs we also offer refuge and primary temporary care to horses and livestock in need. Our principal activity is in saving those animals, which are already in dire circumstances. However, some of our programs help owners prepare for possible hardship or disaster and we have established a support, buddy system network to ensure pets have a safety net to aid in preventing them from suffering if their owners are not able to care for them because of hardship or disaster. Ill tell you a little about some of the work we have done. We have been able to help thousands of people which have been affected by natural disasters .We have done this by helping out with animal feed, paying for fencing, supplying crates and pens and temporary care for their animals and help and counselling with welfare issues for owners. We also provided human clothing and food items as well as emergency cash. We currently feed about 80 dogs and cats which are still in their owners care who’s owners have hit hard times and need some help to cover some feed until they get back on their feet. We do this on a case-by-case basis but we help out for a minimum of 4 weeks. We have also been able to help out several rescue orgs with free donations of dog and cat food. We help out people who are in a position where they would normally have to either neglect or surrender their animals because of personal crisis. This is most often due to ill health, domestic violence old age or unexpected unemployment. We have been able to help some people who owned too many animals for them to cope with by helping them to clean up their homes and kennels and helping them in finding new homes for their animals before it was necessary to have their animals seized by the RSPCA and them charged with neglect. We have a few animals, which have been accepted by us for re-homing with elderly owners who have been very distressed about having to give them up when their health deteriorated or they have moved into aged care etc where their animals are not allowed. These people get letters and photos and updates fortnightly to let them know how their dogs and cats are doing and a couple of our volunteers are doing a great job at ensuring they still feel part of their animal’s lives. We also operate the MDBA Pacers Buddy system which provides pet owners with a safety net in case something unexpected happens where they may need someone to help them house them, look after them or get them out and ensure they are safe in an emergency or disaster. This has enabled lots of people who felt thei animals were at risk if something happened to have peace of mind knowing that someone will step in and help them if or when they need it. Currently we get between 4 and 8 calls every week for help but we can’t grow or help as many people as we would like without funding and without volunteers. Things have been slowed down for us due to all the red tape it takes to set up a charity and the high workload of just a few but we have now recruited a National Marketing Manger and a National Foster Carers coordinator with more positions vacant being advertised over the coming weeks. Our aims are similar to the RSPCA except we only operate with domestic animals and we work with a welfare and preventative prospective rather than a police or punishment focus. We want to help owners before the RSPCA is called.

Still a lot more books of tickets to spread around - Can anyone give us a hand? Julie

RSPCA gives wildlife park koala deadline http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02...mp;section=newsPosted February 23, 2010 11:26:00 The owners of the Waterways Wildlife Park in Gunnedah, in north-west New South Wales, have been given until Friday to show they have not breached the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Yesterday, the park's owner was served with a section 24N notice by the RSPCA, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act, over the care of eight koalas removed from the park in early February. The notice is issued if an inspector claims he or she has reasonable grounds to think the Act, or its regulations, were breached in relation to the care of animals. The lawyer for the park's owners, Peter Long, says he still cannot work out what the RSPCA is doing. He says he is concerned about how the notice was issued and why.

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHea...euterInDogs.pdf

http://www.naiaonline.org/pdfs/LongTermHea...euterInDogs.pdf

http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2010/02...tm?site=idx-nsw Posted February 19, 2010 08:19:00 Map: Gunnedah 2380 Law firm Slater & Gordon has weighed in to represent the owner of the Waterways Wildlife Park in Gunnedah, in north-west New South Wales, after the RSPCA seized eight koalas from the premises two weeks ago. The RSPCA removed the koalas on February 3, under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act. Solicitor Peter Long says if his client is charged over the alleged maltreatment of the koalas, his firm will seek detailed information about the RSPCA's communications with third parties before the animals' seizure. He says, if charges are laid, it will be necessary to secure additional evidence from the RSPCA, especially in relation to a film crew who accompanied inspectors. Mr Long says he is yet to be advised of the specific allegations against his client. He says he wants the koalas returned to his client immediately, as well as a public apology from the RSPCA. The RSPCA alleges the animals were malnourished and dehydrated, a claim disputed by the owner. Mr Long says he believes the animal welfare organisation will struggle to make its case, if it decides to lay charges against his client. A petition containing nearly 2,000 signatures in support of the Waterways Wildlife Park will be presented to Parliament when it resumes next week. The independent MP for Tamworth, Peter Draper, says he will also make a speech, detailing the community's concerns to the Legislative Assembly. Mr Draper says the petition highlights what the community perceives to be an alleged injustice on the part of the RSPCA in removing the park's koala population. The ABC contacted the Minister for Agriculture, Steve Whan, the Department of Industry and Investment and RSPCA New South Wales for their comments, but all were unavailable

Better add this years nomination logo to your signature too.

Yep I got them.

Thank You!

For those of you who will not be able to attend but you have been nominated. You will either need to appoint someone you know is attending to accept your award if you win or let us know we have to allocate someone for you.You will need to write a few words to give them so they have something to say when the award is being presented and when they are interviewed for radio and newsprint. Julie

Still a lot more to go.

Have e-mailed you. Thank you !

The tickets are printed with our logo and details.

Thanks Erny.

Its been a long hard Road to cut through Red Tape but Finally we can do some real Fundraising. MDBA Pacers (Preventing Animal Cruelty in Emergency Response Situations ) Major Fundraiser Rydges Holiday Raffle From the 20th of February 2010, we start our own major raffle fundraiser. We hope as many people as possible support this as the demand for our services grows every day. Please sell the tickets to relatives, neighbours and friends, take the books to work etc. Ø We are calling on people to purchase tickets singly and take books of 20. Each ticket sells for $2.00 The raffle prize is a 2 night holiday at a Rydges Hotel and Resort of your choice throughout Australia and New Zealand for 2 adults and 2 children in a standard room including daily full breakfast.</H4>Ø Second Prize is a MP3 Player and Speakers. THE WINNER WILL HAVE 12 MONTHS TO USE and IT CAN BE USED OVER THE SCHOOL HOLIDAYS Major Draw Prize for all – everyone who sells a complete raffle book of 20 tickets will go into a draw to win a MP3 player and speakers. Anyone who is able to take a book of tickets or who wishes to purchase tickets singly please email [email protected] or call 0269276706

For Those of you who will not be attending our awards presentation evening but who would like a copy of the souvenir program you can order a copy by emailing [email protected] These are $2.50 each to cover postage. Or if you would like to advertise in the program which will give you an opportunity to reach a targeted dog owner market please email [email protected] . People tend to hang onto these and refer back to them often so it's a great way to spread the word about your business, kennel or rescue group. AWARDS PROGRAM ADVERTISING Half page (approx 140mmH x 200mmW) colour $100.00 - mono $90.00 Quarter page (approx 140mmH x 100mmW) colour $75.00 - mono $65.00 {Ads must be high res pdf, jpg or eps files} The MDBA has also offered a special rate for the Awards only for a package of web/program advertising; Half page ad (colour) program + side column banner website (12month) = $250.00 OR Half page ad (colour) program + horizontal banner website (12month) = $200.00 There are also some sponsorship opportunities still available if you would like to donate a prize or cash to add to the prize for individual category winners. Please email for information [email protected]. MDBA Dog Owners Choice Awards proudly Sponsored by

Dog and cat shows are a major part of the pedigree companion animal scene. For pedigree animals, the breed standard is the only criteria by which dogs are judged, rather than their overall health, welfare, fitness and temperament. There is no need to judge dogs at conformation shows for these things because breeders dont just select dogs because they have done well by the standard. We profile pedigrees,we screen, test and study a dog and its family before we decide on whether its a good candidate for breeding. How it stacks up against those of its breed or how it conforms to the way it should look is just a small part of it.Expecting a dog show to judge on health, welfare, fitness and temperament is like asking a cardiologist to judge a beauty contest. Wonder how many times we have to say it?