Erny

Oooh .... only just bumped into this thread and post. Lol at Becks. How predictable am I? I wouldn't just recommend Calendula Tea as "a rinse". I'd recommend it as the wash AND rinse. IOW .... use it instead of using any shampoo at all. Definitely worth a try, IMO. The Calendula helps immensley with problems, but if the cause persists, it isn't necessarily the cure. Unless of course the "cause" relates to the use/over use of shampoos.

Posted to my facebook as well, and will keep an eye out. Not strictly right near Emerald, but dogs can cover good distances. Hope she is found well and soon.

My understanding is : "Off Lead" is permitted provided owners are able to retain effective control. I believe this to be an unspoken and spoken rule. I also believe that if two dogs have a scrap and it is brought to the attention of the Council, the Council is likely to favour the case of dog who was on-lead. But I don't think these two things make a ruling hard and fast in favour of the on-lead dog .... it depends on other circumstances, witnesses etc.

How do they know that it was a restricted breed dog that was the culprit? How does impounding unregistered dogs make it a safer community?

Not all of us. I used to be able to, without much misgiving - about 30 years ago, during a massive rat and then mice plague. But I recently had (for the first time) a suspected mouse trespass into my home so I went to Bunnings to seek out some mouse traps. I couldn't bare the thought of what some of the traps did (not that I'm new to that) and got some that I hope did it fast .... and where I (coward that I am) don't have to see the aftermath. I'm almost glad to say that the purchase of the traps has been a waste of time. No mice caught and no mice seen since the first sighting. Hoping it was just a "passing through" visit . But point being, I wasn't happy about killing the mice .... just couldn't live with the thought of them living with me (shudder, yuck).

Great effort there!! Didn't go back through it a second time, but perhaps interesting to note how many weavers before your dog began to bark. Was he perhaps yelling out that someone got it wrong and this was going on longer than he expected it to!!??? Lol.

Peter Walsh knows he hasn't done any such thing. But he knows he's taken the path of least resisitance that will have the public thinking that he's done a grand thing and scored some votes from them. He makes out that he is caring for children/humans against irresponsible dog-owners, but he hasn't so much as touched on the problem. He doesn't want to listen to those who can and who are trying to present to him a model that is proven to work. Too hard basket, it seems. I thought better of Peter Walsh. I know he could do and be better, if he tried and if he wanted to. And Peter Walsh - should you be reading this, I mean this with due respect for your appointed political position.

Even the media don't properly understand the new Victorian Laws. They don't apply to "Restricted Breeds". They apply to a dog who fits a physical description laid down in writing by Peter Walsh, Liberal Party.

Just read this. Congrats, SK!!! What a lovely pup . But more photos are essential and mandatory. Has she provided you with sufficient mental stimulation yet? lol

Steve (Julie : MDBA) did. She raised the issue of two different definitions on many occasion.

Dear Staffyluv ..... you gave Ollie dog so much - not only life longevity but life quality. I know he gave so much to you. He also gave so much to us for to us, Ollie dog was and will always be a legend. My heart goes out to you and my arms reach. I wish that I could make things easier to bear but I know that just 'being here' is as much as one can do. RIP Ollie dog. Please seek out my girl "Kal" (bhcs) who is on the other side of the bridge too. Tell her and teach her things - you have so much experience I am sure she would appreciate your wisdom.

Well done, Melza. Good to be able to listen to. ETA: And I'd like to add, in regards to Glenn's final comment in his closing speech - yes, those who we speak to, those who crowd around, THEY are of the "Responsible Dog Owner" percentage. THESE people care enough to go seeking the right education. It is the other percentage that WE need to reach out to, so that we can show them that what they think they know because of what the Governments have led them to believe, is not taking them along the right path of knowledge. Heard of the "Tree of Knowledge"? Funny how many dogs would have visited it before we have.

Splutter *cough* gasps for air, rolls over throwing arms and legs in air.

I agree, Sumosmum. I was quite surprised and disappointed also. I spent hours making sure that all breed Clubs (that I was able to collect email addresses for) and as many ANKC training Clubs as possible were made known of the rally. I was absolutely rapt to see some people there who don't even own a likely targetted dog breed turn up to help out. THEY understand the message we're trying to send. THEY care about people. THEY get it. Hopefully one day the Government will too, before another injury occurs.

You're welcome, Mita. Hhhhmmm .... I don't think this rally was a "first". There have been prior rallies over the years and countless letters etc. etc. submitted to govt. Chip chip and different approaches and finally the media recognise that this isn't going away, that things aren't improving and a glint of a hint is emerging that hey, perhaps we are right. So, the rallies and work from the past has not been a waste of time. We're just moving along with it and the rally from this weekend is one that so far as achieved the most and best as far as recognition within the media/public is concerned. But I don't wish for all the people who have worked long and hard beforehand to think that their efforts have been in vain. They haven't been. The tactic has changed though, and that helps for the general public to understand what we are trying to say. IE THESE LAWS WILL NOT HELP THE COMMUNITY, just as much as they won't help dog-owners and won't help dogs. It was fantastic to have the numbers that we had - it very much bouys a person in a mission to make things better for every person's sake. That's for sure. Of course the message needs to make its way to the General Public. THEY are the ones who need to understand that the laws won't reduce bite stats or injuries. They've been educated to the contrary for the sake of the Govt fetching votes. We need to swim against the tide and keep swimming against the tide, until the tide turns with us.

If you had been able to be at Melbourne's "Dog Lovers for a Safer Community" rally today, or managed to watch some of the interview the media did with Dr Karen Davis, the Vet down here who supports what we're doing in trying to get our current flawed and useless dog-laws changed, you would understand. I wish I had Karen's words written down for me so that I could quote them. In essence though, she said that in the majority of cases, although sadness exists regardless, for the majority of (in this case, dogs), euthanasia has been able to have been justified. Because the dog is ill; in pain; has insufficient life quality; had no home nor caring person to look after it; and so on. So, even though it will be tough and there is likely to be tears, and your stomach will feel like a lead weight for each one, at least for the small while, you'll know that you helped the dog that was in need. And this will help you move past it and know that what you did was good and kind. Under our Victorian laws (made worse by the new ones) there has been and will continue to be times when such justification cannot be found. It is this very such act that Dr Karen Davis had to deliver and endure, that has her asking herself if she really wants to work in her job anymore. WA don't have our laws, so take heart from the essence of Dr Karen Davis' first leading words and explanation. As I said, I wish I could quote her words. It WILL be tough. But many times, the euthanasia provides peace and tranquility and often people such as our Vets are the only ones who can provide that.

Good on you, Sydney :D. Melz, for your organisation and to all those who spoke up and out. Will look forward to seeing some of the photos of the event. Cheers and Erny

How did your rally go? Waiting to hear news.

Good luck, Melz. There's a lot of work goes into promoting good causes and this is certainly one of them where much time has been spent and where people have sacrificed monetary income for the sake of donating their time . We here in Victoria wish you success for your rally. Good on you Sydney-siders for standing up and being counted, for supporting the Rally and the cause that it represents. And thank you. Erny

It would have been rare news, if it occurred 30 or 40 years ago. Back then, parents were respected by their children. To hear "s/he won't do what s/he is told" would have been a rarity and it would have been regarded as shocking news. It was in my neighbourhood and hang-out places, anyway. We weren't subservient kids, we weren't afraid of our parents and we had a lot of freedom. But if Mum or Dad said "this is the way you should interact with the pup/dog", then that's the way we did it. I don't remember having to be told more than once and maybe one reminder if we forgot ourselves in fun. I don't remember Mum and Dad stopping me from playing with our first pup (I would have been about 8yo, I think). I also don't remember EVER copping a nip/mouthing or any trouble from the pup. So I guess they must have been around to supervise to some extent. That, or because it was my brother's pup (he was about 11 or 12 then) perhaps my brother was responsible enough to make sure that everything was as everything should be. We also weren't blocked into a postage stamp sized yard either. Times have changed. People need to adjust if they're going to have dogs in their lives.

No more dogs needed for the rally, thanks . But will look forward to seeing you there :D. The email "sent". Sent it again. Perhaps check your junk folder as maybe it was redirected straight there due to the attachment ..... depends on your filter settings (says me, who is sooooooo not computer literate, lol).

Can't believe this has slipped off the first page again. It's almost like a ghost town in here, although I see people are checking in, which is great. There is only one week left before the rally and every single 'one' person attending the rally in support, will make a difference. Please jot it in your calendar to come along. Please don't think for a second that you're not needed because you are. It's easy to think you won't be missed and won't make a difference, because you will be. And this is for ALL dog-owners, not just those of the "appearance" the Governement has described. This is a community issue.

You're a legend, Grumpette :D