Tempus Fugit

In this case the dogs are scapegoats for the government's inability to deal with attacks on racial minorities by humans.

The state government has probably threatened councils with a reduction in funding unless they demonstrate progress in eliminating devil-dogs from their shires/ municipalities.

One can get signs saying simply "Dog on Premises". They are often sold in rural supplies shops. After all, not all farm dogs are friendly to strangers.

I know this is probably a necessary evil - but it makes me sick all the same, poor dogs. :cry: Not according to this and similar articles. I think if you Google on the subject you will find, at least in the US and UK, canine blood donors are well looked after.

If you are concerned about animal testing, you may wish to consider supporting HRA or MAWA.

Does anyone have any comment/ experience with Suprelorin implants?

For starters, one can easily buy a guide dog harness with rigid handle on eBay. Identification and certification of service/ assistance dogs is a bit of a "dog's breakfast". The other day I observed a woman walking her dog through an indoor shopping mall. The dog was wearing a vest labelled "Companion Dog" - which it probably was. But that doesn't mean the handler has the same rights as the handler of a Service/ Assistance dog.

Could some biting cases be the result of a dog confusing a nightmare with reality?

I think Melzawelza is essentially correct although I think the appeal would hinge more on the phrase 'without provocation'. 'Provocation' does not appear to be defined in the Act and if there are no independent witnesses to the attack then there is no proof that the cat did not provoke the dog. Cats, like dogs, are predatory carnivores and are well known to attack and kill other animals such as mice, bilbys, birds etc.

I raised the Herald - Sun item about the 'rabid' dogs in order to infer that the the Herald - Sun piece on the pitbull attack may have been sensationalised and that both items may contain untruths and are an example of poor journalism. I don't think headlines alleging dogs are rabid is a trivial matter. The threat of rabies getting into Australia is very real. Papua-New Guinea is officially rabies endemic, two dogs in Queensland were not so long ago destroyed because of possible exposure to the rabies-like Hendra virus (apparently there is a real risk that the virus can jump to dogs) and then in Victoria there is a risk of a bio-security breach at the Geelong Animal Health Laboratory. For more information read the relevant AUSVETPLAN

Now the Herald Sun is inferring wild dogs in Gippsland have rabies: Rabid dogs chasing farmers off their land Ed Gannon From:Herald Sun April 05, 2012 12:00AM I feel sorry for you guys in Victoria who have to cop this sort of hysteria. (here)

Berserk dog attack

Sorry duplicate post

The correct spelling is 'sacco'. They originated in Norway so you could try searching for sacco dog cart in various european languages (use google or bing etc to translate) eg 'sacco hundevogn'. The will probably be pricey no matter where they come from.

Wasn't sleeping with dogs to keep warm the origin of the bushies expression 'two dog night' 'three dog night' etc? I used to share my bedroom with two german shepherds, but they had their own hammock beds, I didn't allow them on the human bed.

I have lost count of the number of time I have read of children/ adults being bitten by a dog whose owner had given the person permission to pat. Many lay owners aren't capable of reading their dog's body language, other times a dog that has never shown agression can bite as a pain response to an undetected ear infection, sore spot etc. The dog is then executed. I also regularly read of guide dog and other assistance dog owners complaining of adults/ children wanting to pat their dogs whilst they are working. So a culture change to one of ignoring other peoples dogs seems to me appropriate. Perhaps some DOLers could enlighten us as to what happens in other cultures, eg aboriginal settlements, towns with populations of stray dogs such as in eastern europe,and countries where large dogs are used as livestock guardians. Is there a culture of patting such dogs or ignoring them? What about other domestic animals, e.g. horses? Would DOLers that are horse owners be comfortable with having adults/ children going up to their horses and patting them - bearing in mind a horse can kick and bite, and some can bolt if frightened?

I remember one time when I was adopting a rescue dog, the foster carer's neighbour screamed abuse at us the whole time I was there because of the barking of her other foster dogs. It was a very unnerving experience.

It should be a summary offence punishable by a fine for any person, without reasonable excuse, to interfere with an animal, or anything attached to or fitted to an animal, or to permit a child under their supervision or guardianship to do so. So one could get fined for trying to pet a dog, or allowing their children to pet a strange dog. I recall a situation about a year ago when I was going into a roadhouse cafe, a guy already in the cafe had left his german shepherd by the door. As I went through the door, I held my hand near the dog's nose as a greeting and he snapped at it - he was simply telling me in dog language that his attention was totally focused on his owner on the other side of the glass door inside the cafe and for me to mind my own business, which I did. He didn't lunge at me or try to kill me, he was merely communicating dog style. Would he have bitten me if I had actually tried to pat him on the head? - maybe. Would he have bitten a child that tried to pat him? maybe. I recall readind a blog entry once from a zoophile - never force yourself on an animal - if the animal wants to interact with you let it come to you, otherwise leave it alone.

Tell me I'm wrong in assuming the dog is riding unrestrained in the front passenger seat, and later rear seat.

As far as I am aware, the federal Dept of Agriculture, Fisheries & Forestry (under which AQIS comes) has a biosecurity plan to deal with rabies outbreaks, although it is probably classified. There are special provisions, for example for persons from a rabies endemic country like the USA to bring their disability assistance dogs into Australia.

There is comprehensive information on this TAMS website.

I agree with T. Notwithstanding DD regs, lawyers have a way with twisting words. You should be able to get "Dog on Premises" and "Please shut the gate" signs from a hardware, pet or farm supply store if you are prepared visit a few places. Personally, though, I would keep my dog inside the house while people are going in and out of the gate given the risk of the dog getting out while someone is going through the gate - and keep the gate padlocked at other times.

Reading this thread reminded me of my 2nd german shepherd, that I got as a 3 1/2 year old FTGH. When I got him he would try to alpha roll any dog he came across (including my other rescue shetlie/husky cross) and I actually got bitten a couple of times holding him close to me as we passed other dogs being walked (redirected agression). I enrolled him in obedience school and used traditional discipline - a firm NO and strong correction with his check collar whenever he attempted to lunge at another dog. I was very happy when he eventually got his CDX title. (I wasn't game to try agility with him though). His agression appeared to be due to insecurity. The few times he did roll a dog he never physically injured them. Snarling ferociously he just grabbed them by the throat and frightened them so much they submissively rolled on their backs and wet themselves. I worked out that it was a pre-emptive strike/ fight avoidance technique. To avoid a prolonged battle where he might get injured he went in hard and fast, similar to the shock and awe tactics used by the Australian, British and American forces to avoid a prolonged battle with Saddam Hussein's forces when invading Iraq. In that case it was a pre-emptive strike because the allies were afraid Saddam would attack them with 'weapons of mass destruction'. With my sheppie, he apparently also had a fear that the other dog would attack him if he didn't get in first. The controlled environment of obedience class and daily obedience drill (which asserted my pack leadership) seemed to settle his fears somewhat. Thankfully the owners of the loose dogs he rolled never tried to pull their dogs away, since my understanding of an alpha roll is that depends on the underdog being completely submissive and still. Any movement of the underdog is interpreted by the 'alpha' dog as an attempt to fight back and will result in the alpha dog resuming its attack.

You can view the draft legislation here. Note the web page allows readers to make comments.

Reminds me of the days when there were horse troughs in the main street. Drinking fountain with dog bowl