Insight On Sbs Next [email protected]

[Little Gifts]

In the media world any attention is good attention. There were so many aspects to the issue and so many different players. It is an utapped area for other programs like Insight to tap into or for Insight to even do another show on. Things have to start somewhere and it would be great if the show last night was the catalyst.

I think even for Joe Public there was some interesting information to get you thinking like Tabby talking about how they reduced kill rates, the positive changes to the Geelong facility and the details given by the ex-RSPCA behavioralist on temp testing. I think people at home would be thinking about some of those issues in relation to their own pets. As I posted on the other thread in general none of my dogs nor the 3 adults I have fostered this year would've survived if they had ever come through the RSPCA. I also hope some people were shocked at the idea that people commonly spent $1000 on a puppy from a pet shop. That is just ridiculous!

[minimax]

In the media world any attention is good attention. There were so many aspects to the issue and so many different players. It is an utapped area for other programs like Insight to tap into or for Insight to even do another show on. Things have to start somewhere and it would be great if the show last night was the catalyst.

I think even for Joe Public there was some interesting information to get you thinking like Tabby talking about how they reduced kill rates, the positive changes to the Geelong facility and the details given by the ex-RSPCA behavioralist on temp testing. I think people at home would be thinking about some of those issues in relation to their own pets. As I posted on the other thread in general none of my dogs nor the 3 adults I have fostered this year would've survived if they had ever come through the RSPCA. I also hope some people were shocked at the idea that people commonly spent $1000 on a puppy from a pet shop. That is just ridiculous!

All the Joe Public/general weekly Insight watchers I've spoken too walked away confused, wondering why Insight aired it and what the point of the show was as there didn't seem to be a defined argument or set for/against view but more a general discussion (and one person even asked me what the discussion was actually on, because they got confused).

I think the gay guys being proud of their BYB Schnauzer purchase was very strange ("We didn't want to support the BYB but then we saw him and just couldn't help it!") and no one called them on it :/

[Linda K]

and yet no one thought about raising mandatory desexing of pets before being sold, that at least would have some consequence for long term reductions - yet again registered breeders being bashed about us breeding wily nilly with no thoughts for the future (can see that even with some of the posts above), and AR spouting they want animals bred in home, not concrete pens, yet their insistance on a code of practice here for breeding cats and dogs is seeing that very thing being legislated as something needed to be done (ie being forced to breed & litter in pens outside, not within the home). Very onesided as far as input went, where was any representatives of registered breeders - shows that we as registered breeders are lumped in with the BYB and mills, despite some people blinkered thinking that there is a distinction made - there isn't by the AR brigade, and this is all the more clear in instances like this

[Alkhe]

I agree, minimax - even I was trying to work out exactly what the issues supposedly being covered were, because a lot of things were being bundled up into one massive, confused mess. And I'm someone who is really concerned about all these issues and rleatively well informed (IMO). I've watched Insight many times before and there is usually much more clarity around the issues being discussed, and understanding of how they fit together and which ones are to be discussed on the night. Ie, SCOPING. There didn't seem to be much scoping.

Im sure the journalists working on the story would have had a hard time sorting through the issues too though, as even the guests were bundling things together.

Rescued with Love posted a very good status update on facebook earlier today, which is also on their blog. I'm going to take the liberty of linking it here, because I think it accuratley sums up that many issues were canvassed, but none adequately explained. Link to the post here

And an excerpt

The show hit many targets and failed to make an impact on any. AWL NSW rescuing dogs from filth at a puppy farm, Michelle Williamson unable to expand on what No Kill really means. Steve Colemen of the RSPCA NSW pleading that they have multiple jobs - but there was nothing indepth enough to probably shake the average viewer - except for the people who came on and explained the horror of finding a foster dog they knew had been killed, and the couple whose dog was shot. Jacqueline Dalziel from Animal Lib NSW who worked under cover in Petshops was precise and experienced - Bob Croucher from the PIAA was a sitting duck after she spoke, taking no further part in the show. Matt Hams, smug and unrepentant - it has not occured to him the reason why people find him so dispicable is because his 300 breeding dogs will never lead the lives their puppies they are producing will. And 10 full time people working with 300 dogs is not enough Matt. Not enough. Our thoughts are with those 300 who will be forever denied the love of being a family member.

Edited September 26, 2012 by Alkhe

[mita]

That is my friend, also a Mel, who got her point across beautifully. I was the second one that came in with the left hook discussing the socialisation of the puppies themselves :)

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.

Edited September 26, 2012 by mita

[Everythings Shiny]

I missed the first bit of it, but I did see most of it. I think that the show needed to go for longer and honestly certain parts really weren't required (IE the lady who had to surrender her two cats and the two guys who bought from the BYB) which would have given more time to other areas.

Still its was an alright start.

[meggie]

That is my friend, also a Mel, who got her point across beautifully. I was the second one that came in with the left hook discussing the socialisation of the puppies themselves :)

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.

Exactly, mita. I agree that show was a start, but somewhat confusing &, to me, distressing. Would have been better IMO if it had been divided into rescue matters with a separate programme on dog breeding, puppy farming, responsible ownership, etc. 300 breeding dogs in one place! OMG!

Thanks for the on-the-spot background, Mel. Interesting & useful. Shame we can't see the programme uncut. Might make more sense.

Was appalled to realise that neither of my two rescue dogs, a maltreated Stafford, Rowdy, my dear departed special girl, and my current whippet, Sam, would have passed the RSPCA temperament test. Both great dogs though they had their flaws - Rowdy couldn't cope with dogs larger than her, especially, for some unknown reason, labs, so she had to have a go, but we worked around that. Sam had to be rehomed after killing chooks, so we don't keep chooks in our secure backyard. I'd rather have him. I had 10 happy years with Rowdy & hope for that with Sam too.

[OutOfSightHound]

I think it's too much to fit into a 1 hour program and have an effective debate. A documenty series in a few parts would have been better so that all could be seen and gone through in a really informative way. You Tube series maybe?

[mita]

I think it's too much to fit into a 1 hour program and have an effective debate. [/i]A documenty series in a few parts would have been better so that all could be seen and gone through in a really informative way.

Or even provide all the basic information behind all the issues. I totally agree with your idea.

Edited September 27, 2012 by mita