mita

And excellent points, too, TD. The CEO RSPCA Q'ld publicly gave his own opinion that an ideal animal welfare system should include an extensive, healthy network of foster-care. Makes so much sense that a dog destined for home-life be cared for, in a home-life situation. As well as extending space. Just BTW, I've had good and helpful experiences with RSPCA Q'ld over the years. re tibbies. More recently, their Behavioral Helpline has helped people I know nip problems in the bud.. And, their cooperative work with some community members has prevented a little tibbie becoming one more nasty statistic. It often takes a number of hands to hold the safety net. In this case registered breeders, caring members of the community and RSPCA Q'ld joined hands to get that outcome. Bless 'em all!

Alyosha, an excellent point and one I've heard out of the mouths of people looking to buy dogs. When I've mention buying via rescue to some people, they've replied, 'No, rescue asks too many questions!' I've commented that's a good thing for both potential owner and dog. A good match prevents the dog being seen not to live up to expectations (which is precisely the major reason for dumping dogs that turned up in a UQ study). And in relation to adopting from an ethical registered breeder, one adopter said she almost had to pass as much scrutiny as when she adopted a child. But, in this case, the adopter was saying that with full approval. She saw it as reflecting how valued the dogs were to that breeder. And would also reflect the thought, love and care that went into them. She meant it as a compliment to the breeder. But, there'd be lots of self-centred people who'd see such screening as 'too much', especially a purchase can be done elsewhere with minimum contact. So means of purchase would be another factor which would either increase a dog's chances of being later dumped... or decrease them.

Agree, I'm forever meeting people who are surprised that our pet purebred dogs are ex-showdogs. They believe that only 'show' people can buy dogs from 'show' people. Their other surprise is how people- friendly and affectionate the two ex-showdogs are. They think that 'show' dogs must be 'snooty' & not people-friendly. Just for showing in the ring. I point out that our ex-showdogs came from the registered breeder, already with these lovely personalities. And I tell them that research showed registered breeders of purebreds were more likely to socialise their dogs well. On the point of expensiveness, any of this breed spotted in petstores, have been far, far more expensive than puppies from the best registered breeders. I just saw this quote from the Banksia info: The day starts at Banksia Park at 6.00am with an overall inspection of the newborn nursery to see if there have been any new arrivals during the night. The registered breeder my purebreds come from, has the mother dog sleeping beside her own bed, so she will be alerted & ready with support, as soon as labour starts. She'd find it unthinkable that a mother dog would be left in a shed alone to give birth. Did I say I have beautifully socialised dogs from that breeder? I wonder why that would be so!

Staffy, the research certainly supports your observation. Also TD's point about the higher visibility of the purebreds helping them, when they do get into strife. I had an example of that. What looks like a p/b tibbie found in Brisbane by kind people who took him to vet, no microchip, no collar ID. They did all the right things of notifying council, local vets, posters, even paying for a newspaper ad. But no responses. When vet said he looked like nice p/b Tibbie, finders googled a breed club. Found the one in Victoria who are wonderful when a tib turns up in need. They put finders on to me in Brisbane, as a Tibbie pet owner with local knowledge. Finders were so worried about him....said he has lovely 'manners' and is so nicely social. They dreaded he'd get lost in a harsh 'system' if owners don't claim. Couple of phone calls & support thro' RSPCA Q'ld Lost & Found officer...and all is now well for this lad. Look at how his breed background & visibility reduced his chances of becoming a nasty statistic.

PETA at its very best, they managed to market that message well. Honestly, does anyone really believe that a pound pup dies because a purebred breeder breeds?? Only someone whose maths knowledge is at a pre-Grade One level. And believe the world is explained by all or nothing. Dogs turn up in pounds because of known risk factors. There is evidence that dogs from registered purebred breeders have a lower risk factor. No, that does not mean that all dogs from registered breeders will not finish up dumped. Nor does it mean that all dogs who don't come from registered are at high risk. It means that, statistically, dogs from registered breeders tend to be at lower risk and, therefore, chance of being dumped is less. In fact, registered breeders who follow a responsible path in breeding/numbers of litters/raising/homing their dogs are actually preventing dumping, because they're lowering risk factors by doing that.

You 2 Mels were on my kudos list... along with Tim V, Michelle W, Jacqueline D, Nathan, Tabby the vet... the wonderful B. Russo... and Angie who nearly got lost in all even tho' she sensibly described how she got a p/b puppy. All those people did the world of animal welfare proud. I agree with minimax that all the issues & the rate at which subject matters switched without any definitions or depth...would have confused the general public. Which maybe shows how far away from the general public all those issues are. But that show is better than nothing...and highlights the need to get lots more in-depth info to the public.

Thank you :) I was the second who questioned him re: socialisation of puppies and my friend was the first who mentioned the keeping of the breeding bitches. I had a lot more I wanted to say that night but unfortunately I was supposed to be there in an 'observational' capacity only. Couldn't keep my mouth shut at the puppy farming b##stard though. Glad you spoke up. The two of you got huge cheers at our place, and not only for what you said, but how you said it. Like all the others I've given kudos to, you gave lie to the smear that those with animal welfare concerns are extremist hysterical screamers. No, you & the others came over as articulate, focused and rational. You made the world of animal welfare advocacy proud. I agree with you... the short time didn't allow so many other issues to be brought up or developed further.

Some kudos: B. Russo. Great example of how committed people can move from a horror pound to one where all the strategies are put in place to do the best possible. Tabby (Vet) Showed difference when pound worked in with rescues. Jacqueline D. Eye witness account that money, not welfare, is king in pet stores. Tim V (AWL) Sensible use of 'Getting towards zero' as an aim. Also eye witness to puppy farming... and how light the penalties are. Michelle W (Pet Rescue) Calm and articulate, giving lie to the 'aggressiveness' claim about rescue. Nathan (Behaviorist) Another eye witness that 'temperament tests' are actually 'behaviour under high stress tests'. Angie Showed the opposite of impulse buying when she bought a p/b pup. Much research done..& she picked a breeder where the dogs & puppies were kept in a home situation. Two Ladies Up the Back. Both described socialisation needs for puppies brilliantly & pointed out that smug 300+ oddle man was not keeping the dogs in a companion dog situation... yet was selling puppies as companion pets. Less impressive: Ex-LDH bloke who complained rescuers were 'aggressive' in approaching something like the LDH. Yet admitted he had to smuggle out a dog in order to save it. Anyone for passive aggressive? Stars of the Night: The dogs! Reminders that far too many of their fellows are PTS for no good reason.

I don't know how much they can fit into the scope of one program, but it'd be helpful to look at the reasons why so many dogs and cats are flooding into shelters and pounds in great numbers. That might lead to some preventative measures being taken. Here's hoping, then, that this won't be the last program that investigates the issue. Sure good to see this first one!

That's very interesting & hopeful. It'd be great to see that attitude change spelled out in detail... especially what factors have contributed to it. We might be able to learn a lot from it... that would help Australian dogs.

Yes, there's many ticks in actual behaviours in this case that'd show pretty weak formation & supervision... going way back. Unless there's some intervention, at the family level, it'd be a matter of 'Watch this space!' for the future. 'Blame' is not helpful, but assessment of risk is. Those children are at risk... and so is the society around them, if something isn't done.

The stats were based on Q'ld university research. Statistical significance means chances are less that dogs from ethical registered breeders will be dumped due to behaviours relating to lack of socialisation. Similar research found a trend among relinquishing owners that the dog 'hadn't met their expectations.' This does not mean that all dogs from registered breeders will not be dumped or passed on. To believe that, would be magical thinking. So to believe that no pedigree dogs would turn up for rehoming...like being advertised on gumtree... would be magical thinking.

Thanks for the heads up, Aphra. And good on the rescuers, RWL & others, who stepped up to the plate to speak out. I'm with Sheridan on the point that, when puppy farming is being discussed, it should be a case of 'compared with what'... in terms of what the ethical registered breeders do. That group have scientific evidence that their breeding/raising/homing practices lead to dogs being less likely dumped down the track. The terms 'breeder' and 'registered breeder' need to be explained. Meanwhile kudos to SBS for sussing out the general topic. Now to spread word to encourage lots of people to watch it!

And a BTW from me, too. That's a beautiful photo of a very handsome & confident doggie. He looks the picture of health, too. :)

You've spoken with the registered breeder you originally acquired your dog from? What expert advice did you get there? 'Passing on genes' seems to be your sole reason for not getting him desexed. His registered breeder would have dogs from the same genetic pool as your boy... and which he/she is breeding from ... so those genes which produced him are being passed on.

Yes to what HA & Chris said. Both aimed at plans being in place... if a choice is made. Even tho' death & illness can strike at any age, stats are higher for the older age group. So plans take on a special significance. Also matter relating to care...like activity levels and needs of a puppy/dog. ease of handling for bathing & general care etc. Given all those cautions...& possible remedies are in place...then it comes down to individual cases, rather than a certain age cut-off. Just my opinion, but mature age dogs (even senior) with a settled and flexible temperament are good for older people. Man next door told me how, in the course of his job, he knocked at the door of an elderly lady. She opened it with the biggest, calmest senior greyhound standing beside her. Turns out her family had helped her adopt...provided daily dog walking...and any vet care. (And would take full responsibility at any time). They'd judged she'd be less likely tripped up by this calm grey...& could actually lean on him for support. Also his couch potato preferred lifestyle made him a perfect companion for her quieter life. Being a greyhound lover himself, our neighbour was impressed with the planning & thought.

Good to see that Sydney Uni Vet School treated Mandy for free. "Vets at Sydney University's Veterinary Teaching Hospital treated Mandy free of charge, covered by money from their Animals In Need community fundraising program."

I like that 'senior' has been added to the Search options.

Keeper's breed name, Pharaoh Hound, was created by the British Kennel Club for the native hound they took from Malta. Original name was Kelb tal-Fenek (Rabbit Hound). It's the national dog of Malta and appears on their stamps. http://www.kelb-tal-fenek.de/ Consider publicizing Keeper in Maltese-Australian circles. Like they have a national newspaper. There's also social clubs which might have bulletin boards.

Sera, you've got a swag of us DOLers who think the same as you... the senior dogs are gems and bring enormous happiness to us.

Certainly the GAP greyhounds I saw being tested, were exceptionally lovely dogs in all ways. In fact, I told the co-ordinator my small 'testing' tibbie didn't seem to be much of a test... because she adored those beautiful natured, calm dogs. Totally accepted each one (though she was about the size of their heads!) and happily ran thro' all the tests with them. It was so funny to see her go trotting/running across the field behind a grey, then beside it... & finally in front. With total confidence. Only time her tail went down when a new greyhound hove into sight...turned out to be one that hadn't come the usual GAP route. It had come from a shelter & its owners needed an assessment for council approval. And the little dog was right... it was a bit skittish and good advice was given to the owners on handling.

I don't want to go off your main topic, which is about extent of support to foster-carers. But I think you've made an excellent point here. 'Rescue' is double-pronged IMO. And the first step is prevention of dogs getting dumped or passed on to rescue. There's evidence that 'good' registered breeders who socialise their puppies well and are in firm control of litter numbers, actually produce dogs less likely to be dumped/passed on, down the track. These are the people who, as you say, place their dogs carefully... and are likelier to help with settling in support and to later take back their dogs if necessary. Supporting registered breeders who do all this, is prevention.... as well as setting a good example for how dogs should be bred, raised and homed. Elsewhere you've mentioned you may consider fostering for an organisation that deals with greyhounds. Couple years back, my tibbie girl 'worked' as a 'tester' small dog for the Greyhound Adoption Program here in Brisbane. I was very impressed with the professionalism of that group, the amazing quality of the greys in the program and the excellent advice & support given to adopting owners. But that was when someone, who also happens to be a DOL'er, was the co-ordinator. I haven't any experience, since then. I've noticed similar with other rehoming/rescue groups that deal in greyhounds.

There's lots of wise comments in this thread. But I was a bit puzzled when I read the original post. I don't doubt the OP's experience in finding some breeders/rescuers a bit 'put-offing' a about someone getting another dog for an existing dog. To be honest, I haven't experienced it, possibly because we've always had 2 dogs of the same breed, believing it's good for a dog to have company and also we appreciate the joy of 2 dogs. So I guess we would've covered many of the cautions that DOLers have posted about & what the OP picked up in responses from some breeders/rescuers. When one dog has gone to doggie heaven, there's always that period when you go thro' all the worries again... will a second dog 'get on' with the resident dog. Usually, tho', there's been good advice about personality and needs from the registered breeder (she's always been spot on!). And within a couple of months, I've wondered what I worried about. I've also found the registered breeders to be very happy about placing a second dog in a home that's experienced with their breed... But there's also the dog that just drops from the heavens! Our second sheltie came to us, after being found straying in awful condition and cleaned up beautifully by the Sheltie Club. All avenues to trace an owner failed, so we adopted him. Lovely dog that became a true 'heart dog'...& a great companion for our bossy female sheltie. Heaven-sent that second dog!

We had a cat named Timothy we had to warn visitors about... not going to the toilet, but taking a bath. Tim found this behaviour totally weird that people would sit in a 'pond' of water, He'd get into the bathroom & stand up against the bath rim... & stare unbelieving at the person in the bath. Then he'd get up & walk around the rim, stretching down with one paw to test...'Is this really water?' Tim also happened be terribly awkward & a few times, fell in with the person. Which didn't teach him (he was none too bright) but just made him more amazed that people would sit in water... and so it would go on. Visitors were told to shut the bathroom door very firmly.

Thanks, Michael. It's always good to get information from the source... rather than chinese whispers. This pricing system is similar to that used by major well-respected organizations up here, too. I agree with it. In relation to my (small) breed of interest, I'm grateful to RSPCA ACT for how they've helped some known purebreds of this type...whose owner met sad circumstances. It was a fair thing to put a higher price on such dogs...who are then subsidizing their doggie mates who are seen as less desirable, or those who need considerable veterinary treatment. As i've said before...for small dogs, I often point people, in your region, to both RSPCA ACT and Canberra Pooch Rescue, as quality sources.