PossumCorner

Very nice. The first one is it, (the second one has the top blown highlight and the green-spot lens reflection against it). You could do a few crops to choose between - square format would look good too if you move the light source more to a 'rule of thirds' spot to the right. Or try crop out the tree trunk on the right as it's a bit of a distraction. Lovely image to play around with.

Looks good for a small dog, collar might not cut well for large dogs, worth a try. Two-dollar shop socks then for trying it, then lovely Argyle socks from HorseLand for stepping out. http://www.horseland.com.au/euro-star-argyle-socks-steel-blue-navy-taupe-adults-large-591433-0.html

Being fair, they do plan to shoot those dogs before the two-years is up. So the toxin is a fallback in case shooting them fails, we hope it will not. Enough people will be watching to ensure the attempt is fairly made. Re the 20%, I wonder if today's news of the cattle prods used on greyhounds came in the 20% (or should add to it). Either way, that is still one in five, it is a rather high fraction or percentage to say it is too small to be the decider.

Is this new? I hadn't seen it til today - says 2012 but only just come to notice (ABC News). http://www.abc.net.au/news/2016-07-22/greyhound-trainer-allegedly-uses-cattle-prod-on-dog/7653462 Don't know - but I do feel those in the industry have abrogated any "rights" by their actions and/or by turning righteous blind eye to the entrenched cruelty. Agree to this totally - (some for and against in the three-page spread about the Bulla horses in this morning's Sun: anything keeping people aware is welcome).

What is the broader study that stats from "this survey" is contributing to? Who is producing that study and for whom?? Thistle the Dog, I do take your point. When I worked for a survey group I became maybe over-cynical about the Clients who commissioned surveys. Not a conspiracy theorist, but surveys often end up hurting or damaging something or someone depending on how the stats are used. This can be a good or bad thing, but I don't go near them now.

Yes. Sheridan's is an accurate precis.

And this is a bad thing?? I'd be happy to see the jumps racing gone.

This one for a price comparison - if what they import is as they say, the same product under a different name. http://www.trenigens.com.au/bedding.php How good are they, any particular features?? - I need something more comfortable for Fro and Rheneas, can't see anything in pet shops I really like, warm and comfortable but not too synthetic.

Possibly because the whole country would roll about laughing at the concept: meaning with the numbers involved and their previous commercialism/professionalism, how long would it be before the SP Bookies were standing up (oh that's right, thought that was illegal too: another joke). I'd give it about twenty minutes.

Tor, going on your criteria, very worth taking a long look at Basenjis. They tick all your boxes of short easy-coat, neat small to medium size with great stamina and amazing speed. Cat-friendly with your own cats, need normal recall obedience training for cats at large. Our own short list for next dog is either another Basenji or a Dalmatian. (Or should we take one or two of the many Greyhounds that will be needing re-homing?)

It was equally corrupted way back when Katdogs. As now there were for sure many good people involved. But outweighed by the bad stuff going on with far less publicity. But "the dogs in the street" talked about the rotten-ness in horse and dog racing. Frank Hardy wrote quite a bit on it, (he is also the author of Power Without Glory). His book "The Four Legged Lottery" was published in the late 50s, and another on horse racing "The Needy and the Greedy" in the 60s. How gambling wrecked families and how corruption was part of the industry. Probably less recognition of the animals as victims - harsher times in many ways. Rose coloured glasses not.

Question reminds me of a Doler long departed - posts were full of weird punctuation, had Staffies, called them little boys in dog suits, ring any bells? Anyway I once posted in an old greyhound racing pro/anti thread that I'd seen a pile of carcases behind a shed on a greyhound training property out of Canberra, I was attending a neighbouring property view to purchase. Did not purchase as the dead dogs did indeed affect my decision. Said Doler whose name I forget was a racing fan, and accused me of lying. Not an accusation easily forgotten even years later. So - no I am not going to name vets. There were a few. JulesP mentioned lure coursing at KCC Park. Yes, I lived near where JulesP does currently, so although the fun-days lure coursing was not in my immediate area, a lot of us took our dogs there and they adored it. Mentioned this to our local vets. Who gave us an earful. Might add same vets were not over-impressed with the number of flyball injuries they saw from time to time. Of course when there are people-sports or dog-sports there are sporting injuries: scale differs between sports. Obviously in Victoria lure coursing is not as organised etc etc as in NSW. There is a little at Healesville, a little at KCC Park, and at days like Rosebud Pet Expo, club activity days etc. I'd even considered putting a long straight line lure on our current property - but the dogs were no longer young so did not go ahead. And if I do take on a couple of greys maybe just fence a boundary laneway and we can take an end each and do two-way speed recalls to keep everyone happy.

Sheesh, surely other breeds of fast sighthounds exist happily without regular top-speed work. Normal daily walking and some off-lead when possible. "Somewhere to slip it up a couple of times a week" - I even hope some of the jargon will disappear along with the gambling and with the ill treatment of dogs. Lure coursing isn't a top option: ask any vet within cooee of a lure coursing venue and they will tell you why they dislike it. Too many tight turns, falls, joint injuries. Not a fitness issue at all, just the nature of the turning. (Straight runs less damaging).

And circular tracks would show up like donuts on GoogleEarth - the same as the dog-fighting rings do in USA. Councils know what is happening in their Shire. Every last swimming pool.

Yes I think when the wording is looked at pure breds for dog shows and pets will be fine. Lure coursing has to be a focus issue: all of us who have been involved at any level with lure coursing for our pet dogs know that it is "okay". But explain that to people who think that greyhound racing is dogs chasing a lure, end of story. Hard to argue with them as the difference is, well, a grey area. (Hope that flyball will not become part of the arguments).

I'm glad the previous owners of our three dogs from the RS didn't take that callous decision. The Bulla horses are likewise under RSPCA care at Horse Shepherd and elsewhere and many will have a good outcome. Why should the dogs have to be put down without a chance.

They have had a hundred years to sort it and done nothing. The complaints aren't new. Time's up.

One of the bits I don't get: the apologists for the industry talk about how much the dogs are really loved by their owners, they are part of the family, and how only a small minority do all this dreadful stuff. So if racing stops tomorrow, or in twelve months time, why so many greys suddenly need to be rehomed or euthanased? Since so many of them are loved and part of the family, why wouldn't the owners keep them - which would only leave the bad "small minority" who would not keep them on as pets.

The culling goes on already, the statistics are already horrific. The export will be watched much more than previously. Nothing can become "worse" in the longer term than it already is. Rehoming will increase surely. We are loaded bases now, Frodo and Rheneas are very old doggies and couldn't cope with new dogs. But when they pass we would consider two greys, I think many people will feel the same. On re-homing, I wasn't 100 percent decided on greyhounds for the same reason people don't buy from pet shops, it supports the puppy farmers. With the industry phasing down, it shifts that point of view.

Wow. Wonder if this will now affect or influence other States. One can only hope.

Rest in Peace with your friends Olivia. Anne I am so sorry.

Yes, I would. But only based on how well it worked out for us with a Rottweiler and a Poodle-cross, which many said was a poor choice of companion size and temperament. They were brilliant together.

Bit too obsessive for me - but mainly anti because I have seen and smelt the end product (from German Shepherd) and you can't in my opinion wash the wet or dry dog smell out of "dog fleece" no matter how well it is spun and knitted.

Umm, Italy, could you go up to the top bit around Trieste. I mean it's only a few inches on the map, you could drive up. Then you can nick across the border to Lipica and see the REAL Lipizzaners doing magic, have a ride, take some photos.

Okay, jealous much. And don't forget, that will leave you at least ten slots, maybe more, in the 52 thread. And you must take Marvellous in your pocket, that's a given.