Pets
Max, a young and handsome American pit bull, sits on death row in Miami-Dade County’s Animal Services, a victim of possibly the world’s toughest breed-specific dog laws.
The paperwork on his cage labels him “aggressive”, but it’s more out of caution. He’s never bitten anyone.
Max has got 24 hours for a reprieve. His owner is a soldier on duty in Afghanistan who left the dog with his family. They became panicked that they would be fined for harbouring an outlawed breed and handed him to the Animal Services pound.
Continue reading "Dog ownership laws a load of total bullpit" »
Watch this. Now, do you have a dog? Did you get it from a pet store? Or online?
If you did get your dog from a petshop or ordered it online, there’s a strong chance you have unwittingly bought a dog from a puppy factory.
A puppy factory – like the dark satanic mills which ruthlessly exploited children of the Industrial Revolution – churns out cute designer crossbreeds which we all go goo and gah over. While the puppies mostly go on to have good lives with owners, walkies, grass, toys, food and vet care, the breeding animals do not. They exist for the sole purpose of breeding, and live in appalling conditions, in tiny cages, sometimes with barely enough food and water to sustain their horrible lives.
Continue reading "How much has that doggy in the window suffered?" »
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amba says:
I have a 2year old daughter and would love to get a snall breed dog to grow up with her and be her best furry friend like i had growing up with my old dog who lived a good 19 years. Ive read a lot of things about puppy farms… Read more »
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Yip says:
@Anthony, your obsession with doing ‘rewarding’ and ‘interesting’ things with jumped-up, de-furred apes is more freakish to the rest of us, I’m sure. I’m glad you feel that you’re better than anyone who believes that animals need protection. I guess saving an overabundant, Earth-destroying, foolish species that is, in truth,… Read more »
It’s illegal to teach your children responsibility by buying them a dog to look after. At least, that’s what my local council would have you believe.
The other morning my wife and I and our dog went to the local oval to meet with a friend and her dog. We live in a small rural area, nothing but dairies as far as the eye can see. At nine o’clock in the morning the only people in the park were the five of us – three humans and two dogs.
Everyone was having a tremendous time, the dogs playing, the humans talking. Then a ranger turned up and told us we weren’t allowed to have dogs on the oval, even on a lead.
Continue reading "Man’s best friend is the product of its owner" »
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Daniel D says:
Has anyone really been far even as decided to want to do look more like? Read more »
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Staffy Owner says:
Thank you. I own a staffy x bullterrier (Kain) and he is the friendliest, happiest little guy despite the rap these breeds get in the media. We have family friends with a 6 year old boy who has been attacked by other dogs in the past, and so is scared… Read more »
A friend of mine recently posted a picture on Facebook of their well-loved pug sleeping companionably underneath their sleeping baby’s cradle.
“Protective pug”, she posted, and a flurry of exclamation marks followed in reply - pug and baby were bonding, our friends’ fears were allayed, their household was harmonious, everything would be fine.
As any dog person will tell you, this was an important step. Dogs need heaps of love, care and attention, especially when life is apt to change.
Continue reading "Puppy love and pampered pooches: It’s a dog’s life" »
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acotrel says:
‘Dogs do make excellent companions though. ‘ Mine doesn’t answer when I speak to him. Am I doing something wrong? Read more »
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KDB says:
Explain to me the bizarre logic in having a dog for companionship, only to keep it outside? I admit my dogs are spoiled rotten, definitely more than a dog trainer would recommend. They are both older rescue dogs that had had rough lives so I must feel a subconscious need… Read more »
Next week is Hair Expo. The very best stylists in the land will gather in Sydney to show off their talents.
There is no more defining characteristic than hair. It is both unique to the person yet capable of dramatic change. What we do with our hair is an expression of our personality.
Yet the pinnacle of hair expression lies not with people but with poodles. The poodle coat has become a canvass for the most artistic of canine coiffeurs. With a pom-pom on the tail and an afro on the head a non-descript mutt can be transformed into the elegant high society hound.
Continue reading "If clothes maketh the man then hair maketh the poodle" »
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stephen says:
Ha ! Afghan, I think. And from memory, the bloody thing went into the pool, too. Very funny show. Read more »
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Ryan says:
If hair maketh the poodle then what is this? http://cheezpictureisunrelated.files.wordpress.com/2010/05/129183293305810750.jpg Read more »
It’s the month of love. Of greeting cards, long stemmed roses and boxed chocolate. Of old flames, new flames, love hearts and lonely hearts.
I figure people can be roughly divided into two groups – those who love Valentine’s Day and those who avoid it.
While my longest relationship is with my husband Richard (and don’t get me wrong it’s a very happy one) some of my most treasured moments in life have been with my fur family.
Continue reading "Finding your pawfect match this Valentine’s Day" »
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Pilliga Princess says:
How does the RSPCA justify killing animals, including 48 cows belonging to a Pilliga farmer in 2007? RSPCA are hypocrites, as they didn’t care what happened to the 13 orphaned calves after their mothers were inhumanely shot. How do you justify hiring a QC for a matter in a local… Read more »
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wendy says:
I still cant believe that people still consider the killing of innocent animals as sport. Lynn, as a fellow animal lover I don’t know how you cope with what you must see in your job - but I am so happy you do. Here’s to you and your brilliant organisation.… Read more »
This week I stood by two long time friends as one of them was euthanized.
It followed a “tough conversation” I had recently with the human friend after witnessing the canine friend’s decline in recent months.
I had called up first and asked permission to discuss the topic. “When it is my turn with [my cat] Mikki I want you to be objective,” I told my friend.
Continue reading "How to support your friends when their pets are fading" »
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Tim says:
Kate - Your article and other readers comments of support, their experiences & their kind messages reminds me of my own treasured 4 legged companions I have loved throughout my life. I did finish with a heavy heart & feel very sorry for all the heartache felt by so many.… Read more »
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Elle says:
I’ve had dogs and cats all my life and so have said goodbye to more than one. It never gets any easier, but the decision to call it when their suffering reaches a certain point does get clearer. I have also been told the ‘don’t regret leaving it too late’… Read more »
Lucy and Gemma, two pretty little girls, live across the road from me.
While walking on the beach, I regularly meet a trio of handsome hunks named Max, Henry and George, as well as a stately old lady, Rosie, and her sprightly young companion, Ruby.
Their owners are Shane, Riley, Jordan and Tayla. (That’s one boy and three girls, for the record.)
Continue reading "Why are we giving our kids names fit for puppies" »
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Ionakana says:
In Germany the registry of births vets all proposed baby names, and will not make them official if it deems them inappropriate. A quick Google search revealed a case where a US expat had the name Mackenzie denied. Perhaps this is a policy we should consider here? Read more »
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Daddio D says:
My mother told me a story about her neighbours while she was a child - Mr. & Mrs. Long. They called their first-born Myles. I have visions of a child being asked by a new teacher in school what his name was and getting a clout on the ear for… Read more »
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marley says:
I'm one of the older ones, so I've certainly seen a few changes in my time. When I started school I learned to write with a nib pen, dipped in an inkwell (no, I'm not kidding). My mother became a dab hand at getting inkstains out of my clothes. Flicking ink at one another in the classroom was an essential… [read more]From: I’d rather have a piece of toast than listen to crap lyrics
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