Two out of 22 dogs pass rescue test

Only two new potential search and rescue dogs made the cut at a training camp for 22 canines in South Canterbury during the weekend.

Dog trainer and assessor Mark Allen said dogs and their handlers from across the South Island were put through rigorous wilderness air-scent and tracking tests at Raincliff, near Geraldine, to test their suitability to join Land Search and Rescue (LandSAR) teams.

"It's rigorous training," Allen said.

"It's a matter of getting it right because at the end of the day we have to be absolutely assured that if a dog goes into a subject or an article, that they identify it back to the handler because it can mean the difference between life and death." MORE>>

Be great to see some of these dogs in action... perhaps in the next Dogs Day Out :)

Councillor slates Waipa 'pimps' who dob in neighbours

Waipa district residents have excelled in dobbing in their neighbours over the past three months. That's the view of Waipa district councillor Grahame Webber, who described his council's latest environmental services enforcement summary as "a pimping report" for the quarter .These checks resulted in:* One abatement notice being issued,

* 10 warning letters,

* 49 signs being seized,

* 35 parking infringement notices,

* Four litter infringements notices,

* Eight warning letters on vehicles which were advertised illegally for sale on roads,

* Five warnings for bikes on footpaths,

* Six warnings for skateboards.

Council staff and contractors also responded to 220 noise complaints, 39 nuisance complaints, 19 fire and smoke complaints and 422 animal complaints.

(...)

Mr Webber was unimpressed with such "pimping", particularly given the number of instances where complaints were not upheld. He said it highlighted how people would far rather complain to council than talk to their neighbours if they had a problem. "It is a sad day when we prefer to pimp on someone. The country is going backwards." I sooooo agree. Read the editor's note!!!

MORE>>

____________________________

The editor of this blog's note:

Well this report comes at a very good time because one of my neighbours complained about another neighbour's dog, and that neighbour thought it was us.

So they rang the Dog Control Guy on us and complained about some friendly dog barking while we were playing with the dogs in the backyard.

This is our city's policy... ANY ONE can complain ANONYMOUSLY and guess what happens?

I wrote a letter to Enforcement Unit in Christchurch, dated: Saturday, July 25, 2009

I was visited by your unit yesterday by a Dog Control Officer since he said that he received two complaints about dogs barking on my property. I explained that I was playing ball with young dogs in the backyard.

I would like to make you aware that we have recently been given a note placed in our letterbox by our neighbour who lives at (ADDRESS WITHHELD) Road , who recently moved in, and who recently has been visited by with the SPCA or by CCC Animal Control because someone complained about their dogs.

As you know, complainants are anonymous. We would like to point out the effect of this rule. Because our neighbour thinks it was us who complained it appears they retaliated by complaining about some playful barking and alerting that occurred over a very short period of time.

We want your unit to go to the person who complained about the neighbours at (ADDRESS WITHHELD)Road and explain the ramification of anonymous complaint. As a consequence we are now uncomfortable directly experiencing the flak of this. Also tell the person who complained that they should TALK directly to their neighbour instead of getting your Inspectors involved.

Here's the content of the written note delivered to our letterbox. It was addressed from (ADDRESS WITHHELD) Road and delivered July 21, 2009. I quote:

We know that you complained about our dogs , (PARTNER'S NAME) said we are going to be here along time. You don't know anything about us. Don't come here again. Thanks.
I know you are just moaning about me because you have nothing else to do. We have had it before so nothing new. People causing trouble not needed.

We would like your Dog Control Unit to visit our neighbour at (ADDRESS WITHHELD) and assure them that it was not us who complained.

As I explained to your inspector, we are the type of neighbour who walks wandering/visiting dogs back home; we are the type of neighbour who takes the time to be neighborly and takes the time to get to know them. We are not the type of neighbour to get a third party involved in disputes. We would rather have a good talk and assist when ever possible. We wish to protect this healthy community reputation.

Regards,

(keep watching this blog for the updates on this neighbour's PIMPING problems.)

Inmate-trained dog graduates

The country's first mobility dog to be trained by a prison inmate has graduated, the Department of Corrections says.

Golden retriever Echo was trained by an Auckland women's prison inmate under the Puppies in Prisons scheme launched in July last year.

The programme, based on schemes in Britain and the United States, helped to cut down waiting times for mobility dogs, which were typically four to five years.

Echo would now undergo advanced training, Mobility Assistance Dogs Trust spokeswoman Jody Hogan said. MORE>>

Finally some understanding on the benefits of dogs on society!!

I hope that the training of dogs is not only for mobility dogs, but for other animal companions

Great Cat and Dog Massacre

A forgotten massacre of pets at the start of World War II is challenging the image of stoic Londoners accepting the conflict with a stiff upper lip.

Over four days in September 1939, 750,000 London cats and dogs were killed on their owners' instructions, visiting British historian Hilda Kean says.

"The popular memory is that at the start of war everybody was calm. But here you have people panicking and killing, essentially, a member of their family."

The Great British Cat and Dog Massacre of World War II hinted at the sense of foreboding in September 1939, Dr Kean said. "It was thought massive aerial and gas attacks were on the way."

(...)

Dr Kean, who will give a public lecture on the pet massacre in Wellington tonight, said it had been hard finding people who remembered the animal annihilation, recorded in the archives of charities and in vets' files.

MORE>>

That would have been so interesting... anyone that went to the lecture can comment here.

Just taking the dog for a spin

Walkies is a thing of the past for a partly paralysed Wellington pooch, whose owners are more likely to take her for a spin on her specially designed Doggon' Wheels.

Rio, an 11-year-old border collie-cross, lost the use of her back legs about three months ago after an operation on a compressed disc. The degenerative doggy injury was diagnosed through an MRI scan, owner Marg Coleman said.

"She went into the operation walking and came out not walking. From our perspective she wasn't really sick so we couldn't put her down.

"Rio absolutely adores all our nieces and nephews. She is not a dog's dog. She is more of a person's dog." MORE>>

Chance for every dog to have its day

Toy poodle Tiff showed off her acrobatic skills during the national agility dog competition in Porirua. Despite the effortless low-flying pose, the three-year-old managed just fifth place in the final round of the championships yesterday.

She was out-pointed by Chelsea Marriner's Bay of Plenty sheepdog, Spy, who won the starters section.Spy also liked working with sheep.

"We ran her in the sheepdog trials at the Morrinsville A&P Show earlier this year and she finished 10th," Miss Marriner said.

Tiff lives with owner Jane Norton in a household of seven dogs including three golden retrievers and three other toy poodles in Blenheim.

The overall open section winner in the 140-dog weekend competition, which pitted dogs against each other in a series of agility tests, was Lisa Duff's five-year-old North Canterbury heading dog, Zoom.

A dog day out

Canterbury's Press-reading pooches had a dog day afternoon at Canterbury Agricultural Park yesterday.

The Press Dogs' Day Out returned for the TV2 KidsFest this year with traditional competitions such as doggie limbo, tallest dog, shortest dog, longest tail and most interesting name.

New competitions set dogs the task of fetching a rolled-up Press newspaper and Pimp your Pooch.

Jo Hamilton, of Mt Pleasant, took her two children and their whippet-cross along for the day.

"It's just a bit of fun for the kids and they just loved it," she said.

Entertainment included demonstrations from the Alaskan Malamute Dog Club and sheep dog trials.

The KidsFest continues until Friday.

The School of the Naked Dog Team were there in full swing. They did the Ring 111 Challenge where two teams of 5 owners/dogs had to carry a cup of water to the burning dog house.

Great turn out. Too bad that the arms defenders squad were there. Great helicopters skills, but did they really need to scare the kids with their machine guns??

I thought that the helicopter was going to demonstrate dog rescue ... wasn't the day for kids and dogs?!

Man's best friend shows his muscle

Dog owners raced two kilometres through Bottle Lake Forest on Saturday as part of an event that copies sled-dog competitions held in icier climes.

The competitors were part of the 2km Canicross competition, where participants are strapped to their dog by a leash and run through the forest for the finish line. Marcus King, of Christchurch, won the race with his siberian husky, Oscar.

The Canicross event is based on one run in the northern hemisphere where competitors race over ice and snow.

It was part of the Canterbury Sled Dog Club's Double Banger race weekend, which attracted about 50 competitors from around the South Island and about 150 dogs. MORE>>

Cats and dogs for half-price

Auckland's SPCA has come up with a recession-beating deal.

It is overflowing with cats and dogs and is offering half-price adoption fees this weekend for anyone who can offer a good home to a rescue kitten or dog.

Executive director Bob Kerridge says because of the fairly mild autumn, cats have had a third litter this year. The situation with dogs, is that more owners are surrendering them because of the recession.

MORE>>

Snow dogs keep skiers safe at Mount Hutt

Caught in an avalanche and buried in snow, the sight of a dogs paws and face would bring overwhelming relief.

Mount Hutt's three brave rescue dogs: labs Ben, owned by Rob Teasdale, Ayla, the naughtiest of the three, and Ernie, the excitable American import receive constant training. A good rescue dog has a strong play drive and while they think it's just a game, their trainers know better.

To get them up to speed, their volunteer handlers spend hours every day developing the dogs' rescue skills.

Every second counts..... MORE>>

We'll be going skiing soon. I hope I won't need these guys, but if I do, I'll be glad to see a wet nose if anything happened..

Capture of pack leader brings end to dog attacks

A vicious dog believed to be the ringleader in a string of fatal animal maulings in Orakei has been locked up.

Dog control officers found a brindle-coloured un-neutered male staffordshire bull terrier roaming the suburb’s streets on July 2 and impounded it.

"There have been no incidents since then so although there are other dogs involved, this dog might have been the dominant dog," Auckland City Council animal contracts manager Clare Connell says.

Since May 29 Animal Control Services has received reports of five cats, two chickens and a rabbit killed by dogs in the area. Other cats have been reported injured or missing, horses were chased on Kepa Rd and people have been knocked over by dogs. MORE>>

Pencarrow dog ban could be permanent

A dog ban on the Pencarrow Coast Road could become permanent.

A total dog ban is currently in place only during the lambing season, August to September. It was imposed after a series of attacks on stock in the area.

Hutt City Council had considered a total ban prior to holding a trial ban in 2008.

John Martin, who farms in the area, told the council that he did not favour a total ban as the area is a popular with walkers and he believed dog owners should be able to use it if they are responsible.

MORE>>

No room for Fido

Families heading away for the school holidays who want to take their dog with them could struggle to find somewhere to stay.

Although countries like the United Kingdom and the United States are going to ever-increasing lengths to accommodate holidaymakers' pets, even offering fine dining canine menus and pet-only airlines, New Zealand is bucking the trend.

Pauline Wagner, the author of New Zealand's only pet travel guide, says ever since seven-year- old Auckland girl Carolina Anderson was attacked by a roaming dog in a park in 2003, accommodation providers have become more reluctant to allow dogs.

Now isn't that a shame... dogs in new zealand are no longer welcome.

(...)

There used to be almost 800 accommodation providers willing to accept pets. Now, she says, there are around 500. "We're not nearly as dog-friendly as they are in the UK."

(...)

The group's Monkbar hotel, in York, advertises walks for dogs depending on whether they have short, medium-sized or long legs and the Dower House hotel offers rooms with direct access to the gardens.

Virgin Atlantic offers frequent- flier schemes for pets and a new US airline, Pet Airways, launches next month just for pets.

(...)

Wagner's Complete Pet Travel Guide 2009 will be available from September at selected veterinary clinics and book shops. It can also be ordered online at www.pettravel.netaccess.co.nz

For those living in Christchurch, we offer Homestays for Dogs... one dog at a time :)

Cheers for the ears, Fido

Less well known, but equally important to those who own them are New Zealand's hearing dogs for the deaf; an extremely special group of canines trained in our very own region.

Hearing dogs are specially trained to listen for the everyday sounds that people who are deaf cannot hear, such as smoke/fire alarms, alarm clocks, people knocking on the door or using the doorbell, telephones and faxes ringing, baby-cry monitors and portable timers.

Every time a hearing dog hears one of these sounds - at home, at work or when they and their owner are just out and about - they gently paw their human companions (recipients) to let them know theyve heard it.

MORE>>

Equally amazing dogs are the Mobility Dogs. They do everything from pick you your TV remote, to finding your keys, opening the fridge, and the best thing is to provide company, and to help foster friendship outside of the house. That, of course, goes for all people with a disability. Dogs help bond people together.

Cat starts blaze, dog saves family

A pitbull named Jack can expect to be treated to the best dog roll for life after saving a Northland family from a devastating house fire.

Two adults and three children fled their blazing home on State Highway 12, 5km east of Kaikohe, about 8.30pm on Tuesday after being alerted by Jack's barking and pawing at the back door.

(...)

He believed the family cat, Bubbles, had knocked over a candle left burning after the children had taken their baths.

Jack was inside at the time with Mr Montgomery, his partner Vania Le Noel, and their children aged 5, 6 and 12, who were preparing for bed.

"He just kept barking, like a cry for help. We didn't smell the fire but he did."

Wasn't it good of them to keep their dog outside, otherwise he may not have reacted as he did... but it is also the human 'reading'the dog's language too... or maybe they were just annoyed with the barking and went to quiet him up.. :)

I can't read too much into it, but it makes for a great story!

(..)

It is not the first time the 11-year-old pitbull has saved someone from a fire - four years ago, when the family was still living in Auckland, Jack raised the alarm when a neighbour's house burnt down.

MORE>>

Now all they have to do is to teach to the dog to put fires out !

While there were smoke alarms in the house, they did not have batteries. It was lucky the dog had alerted the family.

Bob Kerridge: License owners to solve dog's breakfast of canine control

As the reality of the Super City concept emerges, ......

My first thoughts are of the canine population and the vexing question of dog control. If the same thinking reflected in suggested transport solutions is applied to dogs, we have already solved half our problems.

Under the present structure, the Dog Control Act bestows local authorities with the power to concoct their own dog control bylaws, which creates, literally, a "dog's breakfast" of seven confusing regulatory regimes in the Auckland region.

As a result the cost to register your dog ranges from $80 in the Franklin District to $169 in Auckland City for "entire" dogs. And $60, again in Franklin, to $140 in Papakura for desexed dogs.

(...)

Equally when it comes to enforcement of the various dog control bylaws, the extremes between local authorities is alarming, and range from the over-exuberant draconian administration to one where the presence of dog control officers is a rare occurrence. All at the whim of the ruling council in the area.

Hey, someone who actually agrees with me ?! I'm in good company :)

(...)

Imagine a city whose dog-owning residents are aware of their responsibilities, both to the dogs and their fellow humans, and are made accountable for the actions of their dogs.

This is achievable through the simple act of licensing the owner, not the dog. In providing a licence to individuals for the privilege of having a dog it would, in the first instance, be necessary for the person to be educated into the essential responsibilities that go with such an entitlement. MORE>>

Yes !!

It's wouldn't just be for the Super City, but the country too!