2008 & Federal Labor

Puppy wakes man to house fire - A puppy has been credited with alerting a man to a house fire. Tenant Scott Grace says he was woken by the young dog barking before the smoke alarm went off. Don't you just love these stories? There are so many gorgeous stories of how pets contribute to the well-being of their carers.
Thank you to all members who have taken the survey and updated details to our new database. All new members should have received their membership kits in the post. In 2008 Barking Mad will be increasing our work to raise the profile of the domestic dog (and cat) as a contribution to the health and well-being of owners and the community. We are lobbying for a national ID for assistance dogs; especially those that help people with invisible disabilities. One in five Australians has a disability and is therefore protected by the Disability Discrimination Act.

Every Dog's Day has Arrived (again)

Hi everyone. Yes, we're still here. It's been a big week with the assistance dogs campaign, work with transit folks and our presentation to Warringah - where Barking Mad all began. Lots of Sydney members have really enjoyed being able to travel on buses with their pets, though lots of bus drivers are still confused about our right to travel. Today one of our members with an 'invisible' disability travelled to Canberra and back with assistance dog for the first time. Until he came to know Barking Mad, he didn't know he had this right, so he had to make other arragements for himself and for the dog. It was a big pain! No more!
BARKING MAD: KNOW YOUR RIGHTS - EXPAND YOUR ACCESS
We're working on getting the web updated with all these fantastic stories. If you are a member of Barking Mad and can help out in the office for a day or two, we can do a great swap with our beach-side bush office on the central coast of NSW. We can accomodate up to three people and three dogs as long as they won't eat the one remaining cat in the house. See the members area for more details. Thanks to everyone who attended the Warringah meeting. Barking Mad is establishing ourselves as a powerful lobby and moving out of our 'start-up' phase. It's all thanks to the members!
_________________________________

Death, Apathy & Desire

DEATH: Today we mourn the loss of Lucy, the standard poodle loved by Irene, one of the original members of Barking Mad.
Lucy replaced the irreplaceable Ebony, who died 3 weeks after a diagnosis of cancer after a long life 10 years ago. Lucy brought surprise and joy to her human carers hearts – how is it that a replacement dog can become ‘even better’ than the best dog ever? Lucy lived in the same place and had her daily walks in the same areas for her 10 years. The tick that ended her life was the first tick she ever had.
Lucy died in intensive care, and was calm during her treatment and ultimately in her passing. We really thought she would pull through. These two middle-aged women found a labourer in the local paper to dig Lucy’s final resting spot in the yard she danced upon for her life. As things happen, he too was grieving the loss of his dog to a tick just 3 weeks earlier. His work placing Lucy in her resting place was healing for him. For us, it was restorative of the good of people, especially those who love animals who live a much shorter life than us. We grieve – and we will do it all again, for the love of dog, for the loyalty, for simple pleasures of a wag, a wave and a bark. Donations in memory of Lucy can be made to Sydney Wildlife.
________________________________________________________

Election 07

Within a couple of days from my previous BLOG entry, Barking Mad received promises from both the NSW government and the new Labor government. We have really worked hard to achieve this amount of focus on a new issue in such a short amount of time. We have three months to lobby NSW Parliament and have started on Federal Labor already. Good dog!

Apathetic or Anarchistic?

APATHY: If you are apathetic, Barking Mad may look anarchistic to you!
We had a very successful day at the Leichhardt event on Sunday and this ‘apathy’ BLOG entry comes from an exerience at this event. Two people visited our stand with their beautiful muzzled greyhounds by their side. If you didn’t know, there is a law in NSW requiring ALL greyhounds, regardless of their temperament, to be muzzled.
I have personally been intrigued by this law as I can’t understand why greyhounds in NSW are different than those in other states where they don’t have to be muzzled. One of the perople asked ‘when will the greyhound muzzling law be changed?’ To which I basically responded something like you have muzzled your greyhounds, so you are stating your acceptance of the law. The response, as expected, was that they didn’t want to get a fine. WELL! If you’re not willing to stand up for what you believe in, then aren’t you part of the problem since you won’t be part of the solution?
________________________________________________________

Desire rules the world

DESIRE: Desire rules the world. Have you ever watched a group of adults going from shop to shop because the one toddler in the group says they want an ice cream that is this way or that (place any colour or flavour here). Maybe it isn’t blatantly noticeable, but I’ve seen it happen many times while I’ve sat in public at a café with my quiet dog under the table watching kid after kid drive the adults from one venue to the next. Why? Because their desire for that ice cream (or whatever) is stronger than their parent’s resistance.

This is a Barking Mad strategy as well. It’s proven time after time to work, so we use it and hope you will too.

Please – vote with your membership for common sense and a value of our heritage. The dog and its relationship with humans is a part of our Aboriginal and colonial heritage. The recent election featured an off-lead dog on the cover of the election guide that went to 13 MILLION voters. This is our (election) guide dog!

Swim between the Flags

On this gorgeous morning, I had my first swim 'between the flags' for two years. I felt so safe! We get this message about swimming between the flags so strongly, yet so many flagged areas, at least in NSW, don't want our family dog with us, even if it is well trained and sits at the shore while we swim. It's madness. The biggest group of dog owners is families with children. It's summer. We want to be able to bring our children and our dog to the beach for a swim. Dogs love it.

Barking Mad had a long chat with the lifesavers who agreed that 'they' (council) make it hard on the 42% of people who own dogs. Pema was welcome at this beach, and it was a beautiful morning of swimming with kids, other dogs and a variety of people. All between the flags. Thanks to the voice of reason - we wish you would appear more often.

We have contacted all the councils in Australia (yes, all 700 plus) to inquire about their provisions to not discriminate against people with dogs and WOW what an interesting lot of responses we have got. We've found councils that don't even have a ranger, several without ANY 'no dogs signs', and many that are not aware of the Disability Discrimination Act. We've found two who are interested in our user-pays, 'extra access' dog registration. (Pay more, get more training, and get more access for you and dog). And, we've found problems with the AQIS requirements to take an assistance animal to Christmas Island. Did you know they are making Christmas Island dog free? We wonder if they have gotten rid of the foxes, rabbits and cats too. We will be adding this to the members area as well.

Stolen Time

SUNNY JACOBS and her boyfriend were falsely arrested and convicted of the murder of two police. She had her baby girl and 8 year old boy with her at the shooting event she witnessed, but did not do. There was no forensic evidence that she shot the gun. The guy who did failed a polygraph and did a deal with the police.

Her juvenile son was held by police for 6 weeks, repeatedly interrogated and never provided with a lawyer. Sunny and her parents could not even locate him or the baby for weeks while Sunny was still expressing milk for her baby in jail.

This amazing woman spent the next 17 years fighting for justice. Finally exonerated of the murders with the real killer identified, it's too late for her boyfriend who was killed for a crime he did not commit in a botched electric chair execution that took 7 minutes and sent flames up from the top of his head. Sunny was not permitted to go to his funeral.

Her parents managed to gain custody of the children and did all they could to shelter them from the media and raise them with love. On the grandparents first 'holiday' in ten years, they die in a plane crash, and the children are subsequently separated until Sunny finally gets out of prison many years later. At an appeal hearing after their death, the drug addict who was bribed to lie against Sunny and whose testimony was crucial to convict her had a heart attack while in the witness box and DIED when she tried to make amends for her earlier false testimony.After 17 years of survival in the US prison system, 5 years in solitary confinement on death row, I read her " inspiring fight for justice" but I am not inspired, I am devastated. I ask, how can this happen? And I ask that over and over and over.

Obviously, I recommend this book. It brings a whole new meaning to the phrase trial and error.

Sex, Lies & Witch Bank

INJUSTICE. Barking Mad started because I got a dog then suddenly and surprisingly found out how limited my access to normal, daily activities had become unless I left dog at home. I got the dog when my life and liberty were turned up-side-down due to being defrauded by an agent of a big bank (a bank that ignored my warning) and the bank decided (as it turns out wrongly) to defend their employee. I ended up in a legal battle that is now in year four. I needed a trusted companion and I found comfort and solace in the simple pleasures of life in the company of a smiling border collie. The bank employee was moved out of the bank one year ago, the bank still refuses to admit it, and Barking Mad is one year old and going strong - but REALLY under staffed.

Will Barking Mad Survive?

click and find out

Members Web Updates

Members - we're adding heaps of juicy stuff to the members pages in the next few days. We've started today with the classifieds so please send yours in. Need your password? Email.We have contacted all the councils in Australia (yes, all 700 plus) to inquire about their provisions to not discriminate against people with dogs and WOW what an interesting lot of responses we have got. We've found councils that don't even have a ranger, several without ANY 'no dogs signs', and many that are not aware of the Disability Discrimination Act. We've found two who are interested in our user-pays, 'extra access' dog registration. (Pay more, get more training, and get more access for you and dog). And, we've found problems with the AQIS requirements to take an assistance animal to Christmas Island. Did you know they are making Christmas Island dog free? We wonder if they have gotten rid of the foxes, rabbits and cats too. We will be adding this to the members area as well.

Discrimination

DISCRIMINATION. Barking Mad is concerned. This is not a joke, and this is not about one more dog beach or one more park. Barking Mad works to raise the profile of the domestic dog (and pets in general) in and to Australia.As we research the overwhelmingly positive benefits of pets (primarily dogs) to the well being of some of the most vulnerable members of our community, we are startled with the myths and outright lies people with disabilities are being told about their companion dog in public spaces. Some of this is inevitable as our culture adjusts to dealing with invisible disabilities and because (up until now), we have allowed draconian dog laws to permeate every part of our society. But to someone with an invisible disability who has a trained dog to assist them, each ‘no dogs allowed’ sign is evidence of discrimination. So too is the security guard who chases the person out of the shopping centre and makes a scene. This is just not tolerable.

Over one million Australians live with depression, epilepsy affects up to 2% of Australians and dogs are being used more and more to assist people who are socially isolated or are dealing with an illness.The health and utilitarian role of pets is more accepted than ever, and our financial spend on our pets is growing exponentially. Yet the value of pets in society does not make it into public policy. This is about to change. We are gaining support from peak professional organisations in health and social welfare. Stay tuned and write your letters.

Election 07 website

New web page - please Go there write your letters!

Write a letter for election 07

ELECTION O7 web page added to Barking Mad. Go there and PLEASE write your letters! We are getting a good response to the silly 'one dog per family' law in Queensland. We are calling on Malcolm Turnbull to get rid of the stupid dog line in Bronte (his electorate) and hold accountable those responsible for such madness, and the stress it has caused to many people, particularily the elderly.Your one letter could make a world of difference.Please - if you write just ONE LETTER this election, let this one be it:Email Kevin Rudd -
click here
sample letter: Does the Labor/Liberal Party support the discrimination of 40% of the population? Does the Labor/Liberal Party support policies that deny responsible pet owners access to housing, parks, public transport and taxies? Would the indirect discrimination faced daily by thousands of pet owners who rent be sanctioned by Labor (continued to be sanctioned by the Liberal Party?

• Do your environmental policies of require the 65% of the population who own pets to drive a private vehicle because even taxis won’t allow them to travel with their pet?
• Does the Labor/Liberal Party support a one dog per family law in Queensland?
• Will your party step in and bring and end to draconian dog laws that cause division in our communities and dress up revenue raising as animal welfare?
• Will the Labor/Liberal Party step in and change the focus to the proven benefits of pet ownership, dispel the ‘health risk myth’ and promote the many utilitarian roles for dogs such as in search and rescue, quarantine, policing, aged care and mental health?
  

We look forward to a positive response from you; one we can promote to our members.

Our first conference - no dogs!

Tuesday 30th October - Back to our seaside office after a wonderful riverside weekend away with Barking Mad members celebrating our first birthday. Thanks to all those who attended for your encouragement and support. And those who drove up from Sydney through wind, hail and rain - it's a weekend you won't forget soon. All our dogs are tired from endless running for 2 days. We'll always laugh about our Friday night gathering which we quickly made into a NO DOGS ALLOWED affair. How funny! What does this mean? It's not just 'no dogs allowed' that has us Barking Mad, it's that we, as responsible owners, don't get to make our OWN decisions about where it is appropriate it take our dogs.
Welcome to all the new members from our recent Bronte and Frenchs Forest events. You're membership kits will be in the post this week.
Election countdown - HELP! Barking Mad is desperate for office support up to the federal election. If you can assist with administration please contact eedra@barking-mad.com.au. Thank you.

Death of Louie Ananda 1992-2007

Due to the death of an aged pet (feline), Barking Mad will be unavailable except for media and conference inquiries until Tuesday, 30th October. For these urgent matters, please call 0418 463 360 and leave a message. If no response and you want to attend the conference, please call Riverwood Downs direct on 1800 809 772. Thank you for your understanding.

Bronte Dog Line

We had over 150 people who signed in at our assembly at Bronte this morning and many more who attended. What a show of support and what enthusiasm! It's very heartening to me when people make passionate comments about the role of dogs and pets in their family. One woman's story of the positive effect her pooch had on her family of five children, the fifth being autistic warmed my heart. We'll have that story soon on the family page. We'll get more reports on our two events today later this week - well maybe not because it's time to have a break and celebrate our one year birthday at our weekend away this Friday. It will be nice to be on 700 acres of pet friendly land, swimming, eating and enjoying family and dog companion at one time.

And yes, Zara (below) got home and now we have work with the builders union as people are trying to ban dogs from work sites. That's why Zara walked. For five years she went with her dad to work. Now he was told to leave her home and it's not working for anyone. Zara is the 9th dog I have found on the central coast and all got home without being fined.

Handle every situation like a dog

Thought For The Day
Handle every situation like a dog .
If you can't eat it or chew it,
piss on it and walk away

Zara - found, but with broken laws

Photo: our found girl on the left and Pema on the right.Finally got the dog out for a walk this morning. We found a very cute and well behaved girl dog on the beach without an owner. These are the 'offences' we are 'guilty' of today:

• no id (our little dog didn't have a collar)
• not under effective control (I didn't have an extra lead)
• dog in prohibited space (I went to talk to the lifeguards about her)

There must be more! How about stealing? But then there is the prevention of cruelty act; so had I left her and she was injured, I would have been a party to that by not showing a duty-of-care.

I hope this one act of kindness is an example of how stupid some laws can be if authorities don't use appropriate discretion and look to the bigger picture.

Critical Mass - Legislation Lags

Barking Mad has been assisting members challenging dog fines. We do this when we view the fine as ‘stupid’ because these people are acting responsibly with their pet, but not strictly following what their local council would like them to. We keep winning – and that is actually a problem. We need to lose so we can get these matters to higher courts where precedents are set. If you’re one of the people who has gone through the process of challenging a stupid dog fine, you know how emotionally, financially and time draining it is. It isn’t easy – but is that a reason to be apathetic?

Each time we as dog owners accept something we feel is wrong – be it a fine for dog off lead BUT under effective control (often evidenced by the ability to walk a well-trained dog near a busy road and trust that it won’t bolt into the traffic), or dog in prohibited place because you’ve taken your toddler and your dog to the local playground, we support the dog laws as they stand today.
Many pet owners have no problem with the laws as they are. To them, being a member of Barking Mad has no value; we respect this. The changes Barking Mad proposes will not impact on their happiness. Barking Mad’s short term goal is to have 10,000 members (nationally) by the time the NSW Parliament sits in 2008. Critical mass – it’s a critical philosophy when applied. Legislation ALWAYS lags pubic opinion. That’s why dramatic actions are required at certain times. As a society, we want a human face behind changes in the laws – we don’t want facts and figures. Ask any lobbyist, they will confirm that this is the fact of our society.
If you want more access for you and your dog (or cat) – to housing, transport and public amenities, and you are not a member of Barking Mad, then don’t complain about the current situation. No other organisation in Australia directly represents the rights of pet owners on a state and federal level. Your paid-up membership represents at least 100 votes – it’s a powerful lobbing tool. We have things happening on a federal level and on a state level in NSW and Queensland. Do you really want a law that requires you to leave your well-trained dog at home when you go out on a summer’s night with your family for a meal? What about when your car breaks down and you can’t get a bus or taxi home because you have your dog with you?
Responsible owners will make responsible choices about where they want their dog to accompany them. A funny example was at the first Barking Mad conference on 700 acres of dog friendly space. Within 5 minutes we had banned dogs from our meeting and set them outside to play. This was an appropriate place for them to run free.