Gems

If you think its cold here to keep a dog outside. I once lived in a city that went to -15C in winter and usually lots of snow, and the dogs were kept outside.
I was shocked that everyone had a big dog going bonkers in the back garden, we lived in a good area and you couldnt walk down the street without dogs barking and going mental at every passer by.
These people had new built posh houses and new cars but the way they kept dogs was appalling.

The thing Ive noticed in WA is price of dogs at rescue places are not cheap, $300-$400 for a cross breed dog thats been abandoned. You can buy a pedigree from $400 so they maybe need to lower the price. I know people will be more serious if they pay this price. However its a large amount of money for some people who may be otherwise willing to take a dog.

Gems

ozzieeagle

The local Council is the first port of call for stray dogs. At least thats the case in Melbourne.

Bernieboy

Bloody long walk from Perth to Mel

Ozzy dog

My husband has 'obtained' so many stray dogs at one point I thought he was kidnapping them!

Once he walked into our bedroom early one morning with a staffy that had strayed into our garden.

Once new family move into street and their two staffys escape and are running up and down the street.

Once got in from work with two staffys that had been running round the housing site he was working on.

Once dog just ran up to him as he opened the front door.

Each time they have had either a pendant on their collar or the dog license tag - we called the number to be given the owners name and number for us to call ourselves. Have to say at first thought this was very odd, they very much seem to put the responsibility on the person that finds the dog! However, at least that way we are in control and can arrange pick-up.

Only one person was really grateful and wanted to give us something. All the others acted like we'd inconvenienced them!!!!!!:curse:

So in our experience the system works - but some people are ungrateful to be saved the fines for having your dog put in a lockup.!!!!!

T

Bec_cook

I know where your coming from - thats why i paid £1300 to bring my little Jack russell over here, I couldn't bear to leave him behind, Pets love is unconditional, no matter what you do they will allways love you,
When we got our renta; the real estate agent said he has to stay outside at all times - needless to say .... he lives in the dining room, with the run of the house - I rest my case, I Would NEVER make him live outside - too cold in winter and too hot in Summer, A dog is part of the family, like furry children! he he

There are loads of loose dogs wher i live and hardly any of them have ID or RegistrationTags ( here in perth you have to register your dogs) It makes me so mad that they don't seem to care about them - there is this black one (Blackey apparently) that is out all day every day - i was thinking of reporting them, but seems it's not going to get me anywhere!

Bec

Damson

I have read that dogs in the civil pounds are destroyed after 10 days - is that true, or does it just depend on the state you are in?

We used to live next door to an absolute nutter who kept 2 x dobermans outside 24/7 and they barked constantly. When you passed by they barked but were very welcome of a pat through the fence (was a while before I risked it initially though!) and it immediately soothed them so no I don't agree that it is OK to keep them outside.

We sadly lost our 15 year old border collie recently after crippling arthritus (completely gutted, but there you go) so the thought of animals not being cared for makes me completely mad and it is one aspect that I'm going to struggle with when I get there.
Lorraine

melaniee

10 days !! You'd be lucky. I never call the rangers anymore as if the owner is not found after usually 3 days and the local dogs homes/refuges can't take them, they get put down. I am the biggest animal lover out there-but most of the time the dog is taking itself for a walk like it does every day, jumped the fence and will go home later etc. If the dog has a collar and tag, I'll call the owner or take it back-done that before. Otherwise might take it to the vet to see if it has a micrchip-or tell it to go home !

Different way of thinking with dogs here !

ozzieeagle

Conversely the first place to Call if you lose a Dog, is the Local Council. They will have or know about it in most cases. If they dont, then it's time to really worry.

melaniee

If I take the dog home, I let the rangers know in case they get the phone call. It is not up the rangers to re-home the dogs so "most" get put down if not collected (by owner or dog home).

Jacqui

I think dogs are tougher than you give them credit for. What about that film, what was it called "Snowdogs"? They slept out on the snow at the North Pole. My dogs sleep outside all year round, they have a sheltered kennel and their own bit of fully-fenced off garden. When I bring them in in the morning, they feel really warm where they've snuggled up together.

We have a good Ranger service here in Mandurah. I've had to call them out to collect stray dogs that I've picked up on 3 separate occasions. They usually come out within the hour. Also I reported an increase in the number of stray dogs around our area recently, after having almost hit a dog that ran out in front of me and they said they would send out extra patrols over the next couple of weeks to keep an eye on the situation.

Back in 2003 I reported a neighbour who let his Rottweiler out every morning to do its thing in the street, because he didn't like the mess in his own back yard. Mainly it chose my front garden to leave its calling card. One day it must have eaten something really bad because it deposited the most revolting slimey mess all over my driveway. Before I'd had chance to hose it down, a young girl walking to school slipped in it and hurt herself as she fell. Her father reported the neighbour too. Thankfully the family moved away shortly after that.

ozzieeagle

The rangers here take them to the Lost dogs home, I would have assumed that was the case all over Aussie.

The reasons taking the dog to the Council is Important is for collation of Information.

When people hang on to dogs, there is always a suspicision of Dog Blackmail... IE: Taking for reward.

http://www.moreland.vic.gov.au/anima...an-animal.html

Someone grabbed our Cat from outside the front of our house, in the last couple of years, claiming it looked lost, took it to the Adjacent suburb then found afterwards the tag on its neck...then phoned us, I was not happy, I did not pay a reward, I strongly suspected thats why our cat was taken.

Evelin

It is part of the Australian culture to own a dog, no matter if you have time for it, money or what ever. Many, many dogs never get out of their backyard. I do not know why people who are 10 hrs a day away from home need a dog. A sh1te life. Once a vet said to me, the majority of dogs never get to see a vet in their life.

We had a case in Secret Harbour about three years ago when a dog was completely distressed roaming around the shopping centre for days until the ranger was able (willing) to collect him. I have never seen something like this before.

kiwinow

Dogs are tougher than you think. With shelter and water they are quite happy outside, and usually safer than inside where they might chew through wires or be trapped in a house fire etc. Mine is inside when we're home and out when we aren't, as he will be in Oz. I don't condone keeping them without walks or interaction, but the barking is about territory, not necessarily lack of socialisation.

My terrier is sitting on my bed right now, where he can see the main street. Every time someone walks past he growls and if they come on the property all hell breaks loose, but once I've given them the all clear he brings them his toy and wants to play. Protection of territory is instinctive.

I have a regualar nightly visit from a dog, who comes and cleans up my cats bowls and sometimes carries them (the bowls, not the cats) down the road. You'd swear the owner lets it out at night to find food. I love dogs but I am considering catching it and calling the pound. Here in NZ it is the council dog pound you ring, or the ranger in rural areas, but I am shocked that they told you to let it go where you found it. Having said that I once found a German shepherd puppy on the street, took it home and rang the SPCA, as it had an SPCA tag on it. When they gave me its address it turned out I had kidnapped it from right outside its front door.

Jerseygirl

No what you have is a loyal companion...one who will never judge you.

irishfamily

We bought R 2 dogs (off te shelf) from a pet store and they r like r babies . I went to the RSPCA and my kids(teenagers)fell in love with a dog but we could`nt take him until the next day because we were moving into r new house (the next day) we asked them could they keep the dog we would even pay a fee if they wanted but they did`nt want to know and yet they r on tv complaining aboutthere kennels being full . But we love r to babies fenian and siofra