Erny

Well that's a reprieve that was needed - and yes, time to shore up and be ready. Please post here in general (a new thread might help to stop confusion) with the letters you want us to write, petitions etc. and/or anything else you think will help. In the meantime, if you guys could add your voices to what we're working on at the moment (urgent help is needed) that would be appreciated. What was the reason, or who was the person, behind the "rejection"?

Whatever she is being and whatever the reason, now more than ever she needs to be able to clearly identify your leadership. Changes within the home pack can have a huge impact and there is often a re-shuffle where the dog/s are re-sorting as to where their place in the pack is.

Ahh ..... now I remember

Good onya, Charlieandoops. We can only try. And when that doesn't work, we can only reflect our disappointment when we lodge our Ballot papers on voting day.

Short of a mass rally, letters (as boring and laborious as that might sound and be). Do what I've done - prepare a template letter that people can pretty much copy/paste (and add extra words of their own, if they wish) and direct them as to where you want those letters sent/emailed. Make it easy, as sometimes letter writing can be daunting. Many people in essence agree with a cause, but might not know enough of the details to feel they are able to competently write about them. Template letters aren't ideal, but they are better than voicing nothing at all. At the very least the Government will know there are many people out there who are very concerned and very affected by what they are doing or propose to do. Email talk back radio - if they take it on, that can be excellent exposure. When we speak through media though, we need to be very careful that the view we want portrayed is clear and reflected. It's not too late. Things get set down for dates, but then adjourned. Write. It's election year. Push it. I know ........... it's an exhausting task.

I knew it. The laws that are proposed by the Bill which is the subject of the thread I've created here, felt from the outset, for me, simply a way for shelters to make their money and make it faster, the double-whammy in their favour being that people will not have the necessary time or legal right and recourse to take legal action to reclaim their pets, which will of course save the shelters much hassle. Easy money. And it sounds as though the new codes of practices that are recited in your post, Charlieandoops, are to the same ends. I have my hands full with this and another 'project' (amongst the other of the things I need to try to get done that are the normal process of 'living') but if rescue would care to organise a petition, I will gladly do what I can to pass it around and collect signatures. I am sure there will be many others who will do the same. I don't know what rescue is doing or has done in an effort to fight the fight that it seems you now have on your hands (which is really not just "your" fight - it is a fight for anyone who cares about animals) but I can only strongly recommend action commences now. Ask the Government questions and insist it provides you with answers. Ring your MP's and lobby for their help. It takes up a lot of precious time - that I know from first hand experience. To be honest - I can't help feeling as though this is the final push by the Government to meet the goals it set itself several years ago. To do away with dogs. Perhaps I'm being melodramatic. But I can't rid myself of this feeling.

Hi Melzawelza - thank you for contributing to our Victorian 'cause' - very much appreciated . Also, thanks for the comment regards the workshop and am glad you enjoyed it. But no fair, because you know who I am but I don't know who you are

That's an idea. Thanks. ETA: Cross posted to rescue .

Oh! Looky here! I found this thread sitting on page 2. Fancy :p.

Hope it works out for you. When you were 'shown' the how to's of the check chain, did it help to make at least some difference to yourself and your dog there and then?

Feel free, and yes, please do :p. Thanks for the *bumps* peoples . I've been out training all day.

That's so great!! Thank you Leannek!!!!

As to the above, I expect there would be some sort of obligation - perhaps search AVA codes of conduct. (I tried to get to their website, but there are server errors - either that, or because I'm not a Vet access to me is blocked.) As to the above, IMO that's about the law and dog-owners requirements to observe them. Unless the law prescribes that Vets are the appointed policing agents for breaches in these areas of the Act, then I wouldn't think they would be "obliged" to report. But "obligation" and "confidentiality" I think could be considered as two different things here. I'm not sure if you are asking if Vets have to report breaches of the law, or whether you are asking if they are not allowed to report breaches due to vet/patient confidentiality.

Fantastic, Andrea&John!!! Well done!! Perhaps slip them a copy of the "GoodforDogs" response as well, to give them something extra to digest. Good work!! Which paper?

I think the first question that needs answering is "what is Grandma going to be able to differently to that which she's doing now, once the dog comes back?" . I mean, the world of training for a week or a few months will be great for the dog, but it's not like stock piling .... mental stimulation and physical exercise is still going to be needed. And because a dog learns to behave for one person, doesn't mean it is an automatic carry over to the next. Each person needs to demonstrate to a dog their capabilities, and dogs will generally respond of what they see and perceive. Malinois are great dogs and I like them a lot for who and what they are. If I were to take my dog anywhere in SA for training assistance, it would be to Mark Singer - he has a good reputation. I love the fact that it sounds like your Grandma is still going really strong at 79yo. Good for her . But a young Malinois can and often is a lot of dog who needs a constant and reliable leader who will be able to provide ongoing training and mental stimulation.

I think that's kind of what "GoodforDogs" is about. Although that blog is not facebook .... (shakes head ..... I don't understand that stuff) I'm useless with facebook both in setting up and in navigating around it. I get lost all the time. Anyone who's computer/facebook savvy want to?

There's a point, lmwvic. But is there a point to do it now, when it hasn't gone to Upper House (yet), do you think? I was also hoping that it being an election year, some of even the ALP pollies might be a bit sensitive to numbers of votes they could lose if they continue with these sorts of flawed laws. But that's about "numbers" and it depends, I guess, on how many responses they are receiving. Or perhaps I'm being naive and they don't really give a toss in that respect (ie that our numbers are not high enough to be of concern).

We certainly should continue to "harrass" our Lower House members. For anyone reading, please don't think there's no time. The Bill was adjourned to be debated on 20th May, but I'm now informed it is set down for 25th May - but that's if they get to it even then. It depends on other matters that they have for discussion and how long those 'debates' go for as to whether they run out of time or not. So keep letter writing, one and all (as painful as that is ). I'm not certain that it will be a fast matter of going to the Upper House if it is passed at Lower House. "GoodforDogs" would possibly know better. I'm pretty sure it would have to be registered on an agenda and the process wouldn't be immediate. So, as long as we can keep our fingers on the pulse regarding the Lower House debate, I think we'll have time to address Upper House if and when we need to. BUT .... well, you never know. If Upper House were already getting streams of letters (that's me being hopeful), by the time the item is put on the agenda for debate, there might be enough of them already versed and aware and ready to discard it for all the flaws it does contain . I guess one would have to know how pollies think. And I don't think I want to go there . Lordy ..... wouldn't that be nice. It would certainly make my day and would be like a breath of fresh air. But it's almost as though they've dug themselves a hole with all their other "ban it/kill it" laws (that don't work) and instead of trashing much of those and working over, they just keep doing much of the same but worse. Thank you. If there's anything I can think of doing, stay tuned. Oh .... I have a petition that I'm working on getting out and around, but the urgency for letters was foremost in my mind. Once I have the petition worded I'll link it up somewhere so people can download, print, sign and post it back. That's if the petition is going to be needed. It's a bit premature at this stage, but better to be ready with it just in case.

In the absence of a crystal ball, I honestly don't know. I initially sent to every Upper House member, because the news that reached me was that the Bill had been passed by Legislative Assembly (lower house) and the next step was for it to be debated at Legislative Council (upper house) level. But since sending my letter out, I found out that the Bill has NOT in fact been passed (I did wonder how they could pass a Bill but adjourn talking about it .... but shrugged because nothing about Government surprises me anymore) by the lower house (apparently it had been mis-reported), so the second letter I wrote, I sent it to all the lower house members. It is the lower house we want to target - if we can convince the Government at Lower House level to hold back and consider this very seriously and stop themselves before the lives of families and their innocent dogs pay for flawed law then it won't get to Upper House and the letters sent to Upper House will have simply been unnecessary. So I'd suggest hold on to your hat and wait until we know the results of the Lower House debate. I love the fact that you have thought to ask though, Casster17. Mind you - for all that I've been involved in Govt Bureaucratic process, it never ceases to bamboozle me. Sifting through documents that cross from one Act to another Act; trying to remain clear as to whether you're dealing with a regulation or a legislation etc etc can alone drive one gah gah . The people who are watching this even more closely than I am able to, are those at GoodforDogs (refer link in I think post #47). You can ask questions and post in that blog if you wish, as well. I really appreciate that some of you are paying some interest to this matter and taking on board the seriousness of it. Sad that VicDogs are so blinded as to think that VicDog Member's dogs would never be affected by these laws. Or that if it's only one or two, it will be rare. Like as though that won't matter.

From http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Dirofilaria_immitis Apparently there was a period recently here in Victoria where the night-time temperature did not go lower than 14 degrees celcius, so going by the above, that would be when the life cycle of the heartworm might reach the infection stage of development. Then you need a mozzie who is a carrier of the heartworm to buzz its way over and bite your dog. So 14 days straight of temps 14 degrees and higher is not a given that any mozzie bite will infect your dog, but it is the higher risk time. Because of this, I don't heartworm. To me, the affect of the constant preventative drug in the dog's body -vs- the heartworm infection risk doesn't weigh up sufficiently for me to follow the heartworm preventative regime. Even with the period of 2 weeks of 14 degrees and ^ that Victoria supposedly had, I wouldn't have heartwormed, simply because my dog is not out of the woods health wise anyway and I had a surer chance of the preventative drug doing harm than I did of a heartworm mozzie making its way to him. It was a calculated risk that I opted to take. But regardless, I would not bother with heartworm drugs during our colder months. What I've not been able to get my head around, and I know someone has tried to explain it to me but I just don't 'get' it, is if the maturation of the worms into adults living in the heart takes 6 to 7 months in dogs, why should be need to administer heart worm preventative drugs more than once every 6 months (or even 5 months, if we want to be on the safe side)? Does the heartworm drug only affect mature heartworm lava or something? From the enquiries I made when I was trying to decide what to do (when my boy was a pup), Dimmitrol Daily heartworm preventative was the 'kindest' of the drugs available for the purpose. The down side is that you do need to remember to give them daily.

I wasn't going to post because people will be sick of seeing my name as the last response. But I couldn't resist saying and and thanks, CavNrott. I actually came in to do a *bump* (although just to break the monotony I was going to *cough* instead, ). It was great to see a new post waiting instead . ETA: Oooh!! And Chewbacca - thanks for coming in with the encouragement .

Pity it's not closer . Good opportunity for someone though . Thanks for posting it.

Thanks HeavyPaws. This new law, if it passes, though, won't be confined to restricted or certain breeds. Everyone or anyone's dog could be affected by one or more of these amendments in law at some stage in its life. So it really is something that everyone who owns a dog in Victoria should be concerned about. Appreciate the fact that perhaps without even realising this, you wrote off anyway.

Thanks Kelpie-i, but apart from doing some pushing and shoving () to try to get people motivated and in some ways to try to make it easier for them to understand what's going on; how it will affect; and what to do ...... in this instance I don't think I've dedicated myself as much as I have in the past on the PPCollar campaign. In fact, I was very relieved to find "GoodforDogs" blog site and that someone had at least documented a really good response - whereas mine was done in haste (a "better something than nothing" attempt). I think GoodforDogs have been putting a considerable amount of work into this, so they should be the one/s commended. ETA: I also thank you for posting, as I am sure people would be getting sick of me *bumping* this thread.

*bump* I've made it as easy as I can for everyone to make the effort with the least amount of effort . I'm hoping people will take advantage of this, although I note this thread is awfully quiet.