iffykharma

She should have been PTS, if she can't be rehomed with other dogs, cats or children. Fair enough about the cats and prey drive but she's going to come across other dogs and children during her lifetime.

Its worth noting that she is currently on the Adopt-a-Pet site and available for adoption with no reference to her not being suitable for families with young children, cats or other dogs (and they normally do make those conditions clear). This means, for what it's worth, that she has passed the RSPCA's behaviour/temperament test. I don't know why they have suggested she not be fostered with other dogs, cats or children - I'm sure the Foster Care team have their reasons and I won't speculate. There could be any number of reasons and it doesn't necessarily indicate that she is either dog or child aggressive.

I thought people would be interested to see a little update about Indy. The RSPCA Foster Care team have sent out an email request to their foster carers for help with a few dogs.

INDY

Indy is a gorgeous Boxer / Staffordshire Bull Terrier cross, desexed female. She’s less than 2 years of age and very sweet and loving. Indy is eager to please but is a little unsure and needs gentle training. She can’t be placed with other dogs, cats or children. Indy started at our Dakabin shelter after being dumped from a car in an emaciated condition. This is a beautiful dog that deserves better things from life. Our Behaviour and Enrichment Trainers have also offered to enrol Indy and her foster carers in an RSPCA Training course at no cost. Like Crystal, our intention is to keep Indy in her foster home until an adoption can be arranged.

An unbelievably inadequate sentence. Here's the forum topic relating to when the dog was found.

http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=190463

And the article in the Courier Mail.

As one of the comments to this story says, if the Daughter is old enough to look after a cat, surely she should be held partially responsible for the condition the dogs were allowed to get into.

This sickens me.

Imagine being this man's wife .... I'm sure this isn't the first time he's gone psycho, he's a menace and I cannot believe he was let off. Thuggery is thuggery, even if the innocent puppy ate the bread. Glad he didn't attack the puppy, about the only positive in this sad story of another very angry person.

True, he should have been more appropriately punished - there's no excuse for it. But what about this bit?

Defence lawyer Megan Casey said her client had gone to his car to get a mobile phone to call police and only became violent when he saw his wife being assaulted.

WTF??? This seems to be a pretty important part of the chain of events and it only gets a passing mention at the end of the story??? Bloody newspapers.

Article on Sunday Mail news site.

LOUIE the toy poodle strutted his stuff to take out the longest ears title, but there was not a trophy in sight.

Owner Marie Buckland said the Poodles in the Park day, run by the Poodle Club of Queensland at Meadowbrook near Logan, was just a bit of fun.

"We're not show people," Mrs Buckland said.

She owns Peninsular Beachfront Resort at Mooloolaba with husband Glenn.

Mr Buckland said two of their poodles, Chloe and Kate, had died a few years ago.

"They were a big part of the resort, guests used to come and see them," he said.

Now Louie and another poodle pup, George, have come into their lives.

Competitions yesterday included prettiest colour, waggiest tail and cutest pet.

Excellent comments everyone. Short sharp and to the point. I'll have to practice being more succinct. Well done and I hope he takes note.

Well there's at least one other person out there who thinks what he did stinks. This is a post that made it past moderation:

Here's an idea: if you live a rural property, contain your dog in a house yard or a dog run. Taking your dog to the pound is a disgusting cop-out and your story sends the message that it's OK to dump domestic pets because they don't "share" your mid-life, tree-change, eco-friendly ethos. You had a responsibility to keep both the native wildlife AND your dog safe - you certainly failed on the last count.

Posted by: Kaz | Tuesday, 27 April 2010 at 12:04 PM

Maybe yours couldn't be posted because of its length iffykharma?

I'd say that's probably it... and at least someone has been able to make the point, succinctly and passionately. I may have a crack a editing my version... that's the trouble with trying to sound reasonable though, it does tend to be a bit long winded - well I do anyway.

As I was reading it, I thought stupid idiot, he's not keeping the dog contained. Then the dog pays the price - God I hate people like this.

Your reply was excellent, well done and I hope he has a good think about it but he sounds pretty callous ....

I actually thought the same dogmad. Although I have to be fair and say that my thinking in relation to dogs has been greatly expanded in the time I've been reading and posting on DOL and I'm not certain that I would have "thought outside the box" beforehand in terms of how to manage the situation he described. But honestly I cannot see myself just leaving a family pet at the pound.

I guess I'm also surprised that that was the outcome after they'd had assistance from a "dog whisperer", whatever the hell he means by that. I would have hoped that someone involved in working with dogs in that way would have been able to provide better guidance on how to deal with the situation in the event that behaviour modification wasn't successful??? Seems poor Billie was let down by everyone. Would be nice to think that he caught the eye of someone at the pound and found a great new home, but I'm too much of a realist to really believe it.

Just noticed from the link you put up that all comments have to pass moderation for posting

Maybe it's just awaiting moderation?

either way it is a great and well written reply

--Lhok

Lhok, No I'm pretty sure the message I got said it couldn't be accepted (or something like that), so I don't think it even get through to the moderation stage. I may have a look around the website and see if I can just send an email to him.

dogbesotted, you've no idea how many times I had to rewrite parts so it didn't come off as a rant. I subscribe to the saying that you catch more flies with honey... and figure it is too easy for people to dismiss a idea, complaint or criticism if the person saying it sounds unhinged, much less easy to dismiss if comments are polite and reasoned.

Not to worry though, I'm sure I'll have another opportunity to put these ideas forward again at some point.

I've just tried to post a comment but it wouldn't accept it - either too long or perhaps comments are closed as the topic is a week old.

Here's the original blog post

The experience of taking a dog on that terrible one-way trip to the local pound is not one I'd recommend. In my case it was a necessary evil, having had no luck trying to find a new home for our dog, a bitzer called Billie. The short point is she killed native animals. On our property in rural NSW we celebrate the bandicoots, echidnas, wallabies and the wondrous array of reptiles that co-habit with us. Unfortunately Billie didn't share our enthusiasm, or at least she wasn't happy with just looking. She wanted to hunt, and she did so with unreasonable success.

Naturally we did all the puppy training stuff, and even enlisted the help of a local 'dog whisperer' to try to curb her instinctual responses. It didn't work. The merest rustle would send our dog into predatory mode. She'd stand stock still, ears twitching, eyes bright with a hunter's desire. After her third successful foray into the bush we decided enough was enough. I had to explain to my young son that all the native animals we cherished were simply takeaway food for the dog.

So after failing to find a home - interest drops away pretty quickly when you truthfully answer the query of whether the dog had killed anything - we arrived at the ugly option of the pound. The man behind the desk didn't even look up when I asked if we could find out if she'd been adopted. "Better not to know, mate", came the curt reply. At least the staff were kind and enthusiastic in their greeting. What a weird situation, I thought, it really helps to be "good with dogs" when your job is to dispatch unwanted pooches.

These memories came flooding back when I listened to Ian Walker's intriguing Background Briefing on keeping native animals as pets. In these days of feral cats and dogs, when the bush has introduced predators to which the native animals have no effective defence, it's an interesting idea. Who would've thought that backyards might one day become refuges for animals we're usually not allowed to keep. Or that market forces in the buying, breeding and keeping of native fauna might prove a way to stave off extinction.

Ian's show is fascinating, whether you love dogs or hate them. I line up in the first camp, but find myself in the strange position of never wanting another dog.

This is what I tried to post. I'd be interested in any other comments people would have made - or if you think I've made any errors in my response

I'm trying hard not to be too harsh or judgmental, but to often the response of dog owners with a "difficult" dog is to dump it at the pound, washing their hands of responsibility and passing their problem on to someone else.

Protecting our native wildlife is an honourable aim, and I commend you for caring so deeply. But based on the information you've provided, what you've described essentially sounds like a failure to manage Billie properly, to prevent him from being in a situation where he could attack and kill wildlife. While it seems you did try to find a solution and, failing that, to find Billie a new home, I suspect there are other alternatives that probably could have been investigated. I don't know how big your property is, or what the set-up is like? It sounds like it might be acreage, but I'm just guessing. For example, if you are on acreage, did Billie have free access to the entire property? would it have been possible to build a fenced yard around the house to keep Billie contained and out of the bush? Billie would have required walks on lead around the property for exercise, and probably other activities to keep his mind and body occupied, but that responsibility falls to most dog owners, regardless of where they live.

There is also a vast network of private dog rescue groups who will take on dogs for rehoming, both from pounds and private citizens, placing them with foster carers until the right home can be found. Many use the internet to promote the animals they have in care - an excellent resource is Pet Rescue (www.petrescue.com.au).

But if there really was no other solution, and Billie simply couldn't be rehomed, then I really do feel he was at least owed the comfort of your presence at his life's end - and odds are that his life did end at that pound. The alternative - an appointment at the vet for a needle, with you and the family there to say goodbye and give him comfort. It's hard to do. Hard enough when a loved pet is terminally ill, sick with no hope for recovery. Harder still when the pet in question is healthy and has the potential for many more happy years. But leaving your family pet at the pound, alone in a strange environment, to be euthanised by a stranger, really is the easy way out.

You did what you felt you had to - I guess I'm writing this in the hope that someone who finds themselves in a similar situation may try harder to find a solution, a way to better manage their dogs behaviour if changing their behaviour is not successful, look deeper into the options available for rehomeing a dog, and if all else fails, to take responsibility for making sure their dog's life ends as peacefully as possible.

Thoughts please?

Oh My God... she is so stunning. I can believe it was love at first sight. That first photo in particular is so precious.

This would appear to be the current version of what you have posted.

http://kb.rspca.org.au/What-is-a-dangerous-dog_71.html

Currently, certain breeds are banned from importation into Australia by Commonwealth law. In addition, some Australian States have introduced breed-specific legislation which requires some breeds to be desexed and regulated. In some states the RSPCA is required to euthanase these breeds if they enter our shelters.

Regardless of breed, all dogs at RSPCA shelters go through a behavoural assessment test before they can be adopted. In this way we ensure that aggressive or dangerous dogs can be identified and that only dogs suitable for adoption are rehomed.

How do they do a behavioural assessment with an 8 week old GSD puppy I certainly wouldn't take the RSPCA's opinion of a GSD pup of unknown parentage how it will turn out as an adult in regard to health and temperament, they wouldn't have a clue, but they are happy to palm it off to someone regardless

So your argument then is that the RSPCA SHOULD be euthanising all GSD puppies of unknown parentage? Good to know where you stand on the issue

Ok We have called the BCC, RSPCA and the local pound. Sent through pictures of him, and they all say that it would be better if we could keep him for a few days or until someone shows up.... They have his picture and if anyone comes in looking they always show found pictures etc.

He is a very very very scared dog. He wee's himself when we go near him.. when Chris got a spare dog collar and lead out he wet himself and ran away and bared his teeth.

http://lostfound.rspcaqld.org.au/animal/an...&statusID=2

OMD, isn't Ferny Hills in the Moreton Bay Regional Council? Have you been in touch with them as well? I would hope that anyone who'd lost their dog in that area would call both BCC and Moreton Bay because it's so close to the border, but you never know.

I would also move out of the area. I could never live there again and wonder who the lunatic was who did this, and what if they strike again.

I am afraid that this may not be the first time this sicko has done this

Last November 2 pet staffies went missing from Bargara and were found at Burnett Heads (all costal communities surrounding Bundaberg, as is Moore Park where the Dogues went missing from). The staffies were found alive but were so severely beaten that the female had to be PTS. The treating vet said that the females injuries were consistent with sexual abuse

They haven't caught the person scum who did that so I am wondering if this latest attack on pet dogs could be the same person.

Poor sweet dogs - makes my heart break and my stomach churn when I read these stories... I have to wonder though if one person would have been able to do this alone - stealing and causing such horrific injuries to two very large (85 kg and 60 kg) dogs. I'm sure its possible, but I suspect it's more likely that two or three people are involved, egging each other on and reinforcing each others sick behaviour. Its sickening and very scary.

This is just an educated guess, but there are a number of dogs now on the RSPCA Adopt-a-Pet site that I suspect are Wondai dogs (I honestly don't know for certain). Search for dogs at the Fairfield shelter and check out the dachshund puppies, some labs, poodles, etc. Animals with BT in their Shelter tag number are cruelty case animals. They are gorgeous pups (and adults) needing new homes.

This page on the RSPCA website gives an overview of states with BSL.

img004.pdf

So the R$PCA ACT is not the same and rehome Pitbulls, read this. Note where it comes from.

If you read the footer properly you'll see it refers to RSPCA Australia and that the contact details and website are for RSPCA Australia. That's the national organisation. not RSPCA ACT. Like the Australian Gov't, the national RSPCA is located in the ACT - doesn't make it the same as the RSPCA ACT.

Tarope, can you provide some context for the page you've highlighted? A link to where it is on the RSPCA website, how old it is, anything like that?

Edit for spelling...

Everyone who lives in the ACT is telling you your statements about the RSPCA here are completely wrong. Why wouldn't you believe us, unless your predjudice is beyond all reason and fact?

Unfortunately, where the RSPCA is concerned, there are many on DOL who are unable see beyond their own prejudice. True, many have had poor (and sometimes truely awful) experiences with individual staff and vollies, but it seems that those experiences are taken by many as representative of the org as a whole.

rsea, if you are really worried, I would try to seek professional advice from a local government law specialist. The Queensland Law Society may be able to direct you to individual practitioners. It may cost a bit, but at least you would be getting well-informed advice.

R$PCA Australia is the Governing body and control the states yes ? Well what they say goes isn't this right ?

I didn't mention BSL, but it was the R$PCA who screamed and whinged to the Federal Government and anyother fool who would listen that we need BSL as it will stop dog attacts. :D

The R$PCA does not rehome Pitbulls, they kill them and any other breed they don't like. Go to their web site and look under dangerous dog policy. They even claim pitbulls are not suitable as pets, this coming from an organization who wouldn't know one end of the dog from the other.

No actually you are quite wrong. There is a national organisation and separate individual State bodies that are affiliated to the national group. While there are some broad overarching policies - things like the Five Freedoms, each State org set its own shelter management policies. There are very often GSDs, Amstaff, SBTs, or more likely their crosses, available in Qld. Hell, there are some Bull Arab puppies at the Fairfield shelter at the moment.

As far as APBTs being euthanised goes, if the ACT govt hasn't made laws that forbid the sale/transfer of ownership of APBTs there is no reason that the RSPCA cannot rehome them. If the State an RSPCA operates in has laws relating to APBTs, and the other restricted breeds as defined by the Australian Government, then RSPCA shelters in those states must comply with said laws.

The RSPCA National org, and some state orgs, may well be complicit in the introduction of BSL in Australia - I don't know the history well enough and I'm not going to get into it. But what people don't seem to understand is that the RSPCA is an organisation made up of people - it isn't a multi-tentacled sentient organism. Some people in the org are crap and are only interested in their own agenda - same as in any organisation.

As people in the organisation change so will the philosophy of the organisation shift - and everyone with an interest in animal welfare can influence how it shifts! The Qld and national bodies have come out in recent times to acknowledge that BSL doesn't reduce dog attacks and that the focus should be on 'deed not breed'. Maybe its time to get over the past and start working with and encouraging those orgs that are trying to move away from old attitudes that have been proven wrong. Just because Dr Worthless still mouths off about things, doesn't mean he represents the views of each state or territory RSPCA.

Ok, off soapbox.

/quote]

There should be laws that people read the whole thread before posting! :D

Beautifully put Golden Rules

What a gorgeous looking little dog.

Best of luck finding his owners OMD. Hopefully some time spent with your dogs will help him get over his fear.

The RSPCA are nutorious for euthanasing shelter dogs that no home can be found, why add to that possibility wanting it back???. Further more, what can the RSPCA offer someone in the quality of an 8 week old GSD puppy of unknown parentage and bloodlines???. The RSPCA would be aware that oddball GSD breedings should be met with caution in regard to health, temperament and other factors that relates to the breed.

Sorry, but your reasoning just doesn't stack up.

I can't comment on what the RSPCA are notorious for. In Qld once a shelter animals has been placed up for adoption they remain available until they are adopted and aren't euthed just to make space. I very much doubt that they would have much difficulty finding a home for a young puppy, but of course that could happen.

As for GSDs and Xs of unknown breeding goes, I'm pretty sure that most people know the breeding of shelter dogs is unknown. The stolen puppy is with god-knows what kind of people. At least if he is returned and rehomed from the shelter, the shelter staff can go through their adoption process and at least try to match the puppy with an appropriate home.

A planned break in to steal a GSD puppy, obviously someone wanted it which is great and hopefully has a good home. What does the animal shelter want it back for or making an issue of the theft............doesn't make sense I wonder what an 8 week old GSD puppy is doing at the shelter in the first place, I guess a BYB???

Seriously? You think it's ok for someone to break in to an animal shelter and steal a puppy? There are any number of reasons for an 8 week old puppy to be in the shelter: surrendered by a BYB who couldn't find a home, seized by an inspector for not being looked after properly, pregnant mother surrendered and puppies born in care, etc, etc, etc.

Why would the RSPCA want Sefton back? Maybe because they have no idea if he has gone to a good home. Maybe because if someone is going to steal a dog they don't in fact have the best of intentions and perhaps are involved in other criminal activities like say dog-fighting.

Why make an issue of it? It's a crime! People aren't supposed to be allowed to go around stealing things, animals included.

I am absolutely stunned that anyone would question the RSPCA making the theft public and trying to get the dog back.

And I apologise for adding to the confusion in this case too as I'd forgotten about the animals being rehomed directly from foster home wherever possible. However, it doesn't change the fact that the normal practice is for animals of all ages to be desexed and placed the next day in an adoption pen in the shelter.

what would the reasoning be behind keeping them longer after de-sex?

de-sex is a pretty routine op. with no intensely complex aftercare. Adopters are given an aftercare sheet and checkup/stiches removed consult.

This is common practise for pounds who de-sex prior to sale, pounds who offer a de-sex program aftersale don't spend more than 24hrs if that before going back to their new owners I believe? Most puppy buyers take their dogs in for de-sex with no prior experience of what aftercare is required, it isn't a difficult task so I'm not getting why this would be frowned on?

If a breeder desexed a bitch and shipped it out two days later, there'd be hell to pay for that but because it's the RSPCA it doesn't matter does it.

It's called making sure the animal is in a fit and healthy state and in my opinion that means that the stitches are out and the animal is ready to slot straight into the new owners home. It doesn't include lumping the after care on the new owner.

I picked up my feline foster failure two days after she was desexed. She came with 6 weeks pet insurance and the date when I had to take her back to the shelter for stitches to be removed. In the end I arranged with them that I would have her done at my vet and as they know me that was fine. I was also able to take her back to the shelter for any vet treatment she may have required during that period if I felt I needed to.

I also have a friend who adopted a 6month old pup who was just getting over a mild case of mange. She had to take the pup back to the shelter for regularly scheduled injections. Would it have been better that he stay in the shelter environment for the additional weeks it would have taken for the mange to clear up - or is it better that he was in a home environment with another dog and plenty of human company? I know it's not quite the same thing, but really isn't it about doing the best thing for the individual animals?

All of the animals made available in the shelter are in the adoption pens usually the day after desexing. Many, especially puppies and kittens, are in new homes within days.

Where would they be able to place these animals post desex if they were to keep them for 10 days after surgery? They have trouble enough finding foster homes for those that aren't able to be desexed for whatever reason. Not to be antagonistic, but what would you suggest they do with these animals until their stitches are out?