Reserve the Axe for the Opera

Opera is a fantastic medium in which steal another person's property, take their partner and murder all the people who try to interfere before causing damage to yourself or the community around you. It's also a great forum to 'fall in love' but usually someone will die in the process, which is acceptable - in Opera. It's a place to take out aggression on someone you just don't like or discriminate because of their work or class. Barking Mad members and their assistance dogs are thrilled to be the guests of ABC Opera on the Big Screen in Sydney this Wednesday to enjoy the classic opera Carmen. It's another opportunity to demonstrate the benefit that 1 million 'assistance dogs' provide to a wide variety of people across Australia - and also how well trained (read quiet) these dogs are.

This BLOG is NOT an opera. Yes, Barking Mad has our share of drama, more in the form of discrimination or ignorance of the laws, than all the 'bad' things that dogs are blamed for. HOWEVER, Barking Mad is not an Opera. We want to hear to your opposition as well as glow in your support. Anonymous and personal attacks are not useful. Barking Mad is about community, not pets. Lots of things annoy us and we can tolerate them. Children can be SO difficult - but how can you help but love them? Some dogs are natural people pleasers, some require strong training, some are mistreated.


Is it not the same for people? We all go through phases. I'm still new to the blog thing but I'm quickly noticing that the few (and I mean few) people who strongly oppose our work refuse to identify themselves. I don't think this is the go. We as members show up with our pets, or look after our elderly parent with their pets. I want that transparency for all of us. I am looking to change the comment section so that you will need to be a registered user before posting. In doing so, I hope the debate continues, focusing on issues, not people. Remember, the majority of people have pets, public transport is for all, and pets are a known value to health and ageing. Facts - like it or not.

A most unusual apology - VOTE

Maybe it's a green thing. Maybe the transport 'guys' see their big buses, trains and timetables and not the social and environmental importance of public transport, especially to our ageing population. Maybe State Transit has a sense of humour I don't get.

But after they admitted to the media I was travelling legally - after I was arrested, I received two penalty notices in the post totalling $300. The first for 'passenger take animal on bus without permission' (um, they even published I had obtained permission), $100, and 'passenger not leave vehicle when directed.' $200. That's right, this girl had a ticket to ride, let's call that a CONTRACT, and I was holding them to their contract. Place your bet: Will the CCTV have been working in this new bus when I was arrested? Vote Yes. Vote No.

Silly! That's all I can say; what a silly waste of time and resources from so many people. There was no problem, no noise, no violence, no disruption to any travellers until the transit police emptied the bus and (the Burwood police came and removed that passenger who had the contract to travel). Click on the photo above to read State Transit's report on making transport accessible to the majority of the community - that's the 40% "majority" who don't have pets, I presume. They even refer to the State Plan on their home page, like we do in our draft policy; we have common ground!

I'm going on a bit about this because it's been over two weeks and my wrist is still sore and strapped up from big boy police officers who interpreted my reaching over to unhook dog lead from bus and collect by bags as 'resisting arrest', and who felt the need to hang on and pull handcuffs that were so gently (ha) applied. Also, members are STILL being hassled by bus operators, although finally today the reports from members travelling has been positive. One even got a free ride, but we won't tell anyone about that.

We're moving ahead with our call to the Federal Government to announce a national transport strategy for pets on public transport. The policy is a copy of the current policy in London - why can they do it, and why haven't we? Please write your support for this policy to your local Federal Member and to the Minister for Transport, Anthony Albanese.

Not a good look from RailCorp

We are seeking a national transport policy, guideline, direction or whatever that will provide national CONSISTENCY across the public transport services in regards to the responsible carriage of pets.

Here is one reason we want a national policy. In the last few months, we have written correspondence from three different departments of RailCorp (and countless different stories from employees at stations) as to the carriage of dogs and/or pets.

There may also be a constitutional issue here; if dogs are 'chattel', well, can't we move them freely between states? Sure, it's a stretch, but it points out the need for common sense (scents).

The majority of Australians have pets. The majority of Australians with pets will, most probably, be occasional or infrequent users of pubic transport. We want our RIGHT to public transport. If we're on holiday and left without our vehicle due to breakdown or other incident and need to travel home with pet - we need to be able to do this! If we are attending a big public event where public transport is recommended, such as DOGGYWOOD for Sydney Mardi Gras, we need access to public transport. Fair go. Pickup and pickup a bus ticket too.

Better for the environment to streak than use public transport?

Personally, I find this photo upsetting. Streaking is a relatively accepted and often funny way to make a point, but why get knocked down in the process? Some sports I will never understand, but the point of this entry today is that it is better (by law) to behave like this naked man (and after the Mardi Gras parade we would have hoped to see a better physique), than to take your pet on public transport.

You see, our streaker payed a $1,500 fine for his publicity and had NO CONVICTION recorded. That means, he is not a 'criminal'. Me, as Barking Mad's proprietor, risk having a conviction recorded for travelling legally on a bus, and therefore being a 'criminal' forever in the public eye.

I started Barking Mad after being defrauded in a business (in which I won in a protracted court case) and having my superannuation being taken by a bank agent passing off as a 'trustee' when he wasn't, (legal action still ongoing). I decided a dog was my best companion option after all this! But the criminal fraud charges have stalled against my perpetrator and I am now at risk of being a criminal for choosing to use public transport with pooch.

Let's make clear that's my 'public-access tested', 'approved to work with children' pooch. In other words - you can step on her, pull her tail, poke your fingers in her eyes, and she will choose to move away rather than retaliate for someones really silly action. She will also never trick you into signing over a mortgage or your super to her - yet we're criminals in waiting.

State Transit say 'SORRY' (really?)

Fact or Fiction? Today the NSW State Transit, after finally admitting in Daily Telegraph that Barking Mad knew the law better than their bus drivers AND transit officers did; finally confirmed our legal right to travel on PUBLIC (note public) transport with our pets (providing we are responsible, of course) offered an apology to all Barking Mad members who have suffered abuse, inconvenience and public humiliation during the last year while Barking Mad has educated our members and encouraged State Politicians to proclaim a right that exists, but has been hidden. We regret that our elected officials have neglected to admit the current law and that it took a violent arrest on the 21st of February and inconvenience of many travellers for them to state the fact. (And Barking Mad thanks all our early members who have trusted us to point out their legal rights - yes, we have been justified.)

State Transit have offered free transport for all regular travellers with pets, with a special 'honorary' pass given to senior citizens from now until the end of 2009.

In regards to the arrest of me, the proprietor of Barking Mad, after being allowed onto the L20 bus on Victoria Road towards the city only to be subsequently harassed by transit officers for travelling with my cute, quiet, public-loving, pooch sitting inconspicuously under my seat, then violently arrested by the infamous Burwood police, State Transit have agreed to hire Barking Mad (a qualified workplace training organisation) to educate their drivers on the State Transit laws as well as the Disability Discrimination Act and 'assistance dogs'.

Fact or Fiction? Fiction. Although State Transit have admitted we were in the right, members are still being harassed even after the generous publicity in the Daily Telegraph and the public admission from the NSW Transport Minster, John Watkins. I am sorry it has come to this. We have known our rights for over a year and all our correspondence to the politicians has not helped. A female in a skirt, heals and a singlet (with dog, big handbag and legal briefcase) needed to get rolled off the bus and on to Victoria road to have her feet kicked out so she landed on the pavement to get handcuffed - separated from her dog, to have our civil right to travel on public transport acknowledged. It's really sad isn't it? What happened to man's best friend?

Man, Dog & Angry Bus Driver

Watch & Listen: that little dog is an assistance animal.

Saddened, but not surprised. Another "customer service" public transport staff deciding that they know more about dogs than the dogs' guardian. Read this story from the Adelaide Advertiser.

Vladimir (in photo) with his dog Roxy may well want to know about Pet First Aid for Cats & Dogs run by the Seattle Red Cross - but hurry, the first class is sold-out!

Even after NSW State Transit admitted Barking Mad was right - members have been hassled, and fines issued - after permission to board the bus was given!

No Animals at the Mardi Gras Parade

L-R: Pema (in pram), Kane (with boots), Eedra & Clover Moore MP before the parade.

Well, we did it; two Barking Mad members & dogs walked in support of Clover More, along with 100,000 others marching for various rights for a vibrant and diverse community - and for FUN. Having only watched the parade once before, and not having been in a parade since I was twirling a baton and a silly wooden rifle with wearing cute white boots at age 8 surrounded by giggling girls - AND, not being a 'crowd' person - despite Pema the dog being one - IT WAS QUITE AN EXPERIENCE!!!!!!!

Would we do it again? While in the 'lock down' for three hours before the parade and after being HASSLED by another ignorant STA bus driver who hasn't been told of our right to travel with pets (and therefore upsetting passesengers), the operator refused to drive on and I could see this going crazy again. Eventually, she realised all was safe and well, but didn't miss an opportunity to be extremely rude when we got off the bus. SO tired of this... So would we do it again? NO WAY. That is until the parade actually started and the crowd went wild wanting to pet Kane and then thought Pema in the pram following was SO CUTE. The dogs were a big hit. We think they have fully passed their public access tests now - so please stop hassling us with well-behaved, highly-trained (and loved dogs).

A Barking Mad float next year? Volunteer here.

To the Feds we Go

Our NSW and Federal Transport Ministers and the NSW Police force at Marrickville.

Pema and I have finally made it home from Sydney to the Central Coast via public transport - the same way we got back into the city for a day of media interviews and filming after the Daily Telegraph article. We had to spend another unplanned night in the city because the transit police were waiting for us at Central Station. "We know who you are", they wrenched my phone out of my hand. I'd had enough, I could see they were not going to let me get on my train, so I was going to leave. Nope, they wouldn't let me leave, wouldn't let me get my train, they were just being obstructionists - and ruff. They asked if Pema was a registered assistance dog. All Barking Mad members know the answer to that one: 'yes, of course, and she has $10 million public liability insurance".

They demanded ID and didn't like it when I asked why if they knew who I was. I am also not obliged to give them ID unless they put me under arrest, but they didn't look happy when I quoted my rights. And these uniformed folks obviously didn't know the Disability Discrimination Act or the difference between a companion dog, an assistance animal and NSW RailCorp unique definition of a 'Therapy Dog'.

Still, winners are grinner's, and we finally got the State Transit to admit what we have known and acted on for nearly a year. We gave Minister Watkins many opportunities to help us end the harassment we were receiving from uninformed bus drivers and even bus Depot Managers. Why did I have to be rolled by the police, charged with resisting arrest (get the irony? That was the charge - so what charge was I resisting?) before he and State Transit admitted their own policy. I can happily say "I told you so" but that does not accomplish our objective. I have no need to stay in the past.

• We have the admission we wanted, Barking Mad and our faithful members have been vindicated.
• We have a strategy that is aligned with the NSW State Plan.
• We have some very pissed off members who are taking up the issue of the police treatment of me (that is not Barking Mad's issue).
• We have good federal and state (NSW & Queensland) support for many of our policies and we need to build on that.
• Barking Mad members will continue to use public transport when appropriate and respect those with opposing opinions or fear.
• But more than that, we will enjoy public transport more than anyone because we ALL experience conversation and people chatting to our dogs while we travel - and we love that sense of community!
  

What we ask now of Minister Watkins is to assist us in getting a national pets on public transport strategy. We ask him to work with his Federal counterpart (Minister Albanese in the top photo) for our draft policy which is based on the existing pets on public transport policy in London:

Animals

1. You can bring an assistance dog with you without charge. You can also take with you without charge any other dog or inoffensive animal, unless there is a good reason for us to refuse it (such as if the animal seems dangerous or is likely to upset other customers).
2. You must keep it under control on a lead or in a suitable container, and must not allow it on a seat. Staff are not allowed to take charge of any animal.
3. If you bring an animal with you, for safety reasons you must carry it on moving escalators or through automatic ticket gates. If you have an assistance dog, you must ask a member of staff to open the manual gate to allow you to enter or leave a station with automatic gates. If there is a moving escalator and no staircase or lift, a member of our staff will stop the escalator to allow your dog to travel on it when it is safe to do so (generally outside the rush hours and when the station is not busy).

In practice, this proposed change comes down to "behave and be responsible”. Both Ministers Watkins and Albanese have excellent reputations for being honest 'nice' guys. Let's hope we can work together with them and the relevant environment, health (ageing) and community ministers to bring more common sense (scents?) to the important public amenity that is transport.

No Sh!t - and no agreement

Barking Mad is a relatively new lobby group. We have no need to 'trash' any side of the political debate. We have 30 years of experience in lobbying, and as a lobbyist, that means we lobby for controversial issues. History is clear in showing us that many of these 'controversial' issues become commonplace - it's the lobbyists that are the leaders to get the public perception into the political arena. And yes, sometimes we suffer personally for it, and historically, many 'lobbyists' become 'heroes' only after death.

Minister Watkins didn't agree to anything as this article in the Telgraph implies. He is just confirming what we have asked to be publicised for nearly a year. Barking Mad located our statutory right when many other groups did not. Thank you to our members who supported us in this early vision and subsequent victory. Why did it take a violent arrest for our right to travel on PUBLIC transport to be acknowledged? Barking Mad works for responsible pet owners - the majority.

Pema Leads...Daily Telegraph

Welcome (again, with gratitude) to our members and a special welcome to new readers who have arrived here because of the Daily Telegraph article. If you are, were or want to be a pet owner, and support what we do (even if not HOW we do it), I ask you to JOIN. By joining (for less than a bag of premium pet chow), you make your vote count.

If you think pets are dirty, not-welcome in cities, or that they are all owned by irresponsible people, I offer you the following to consider:

Independent research (facts) show that the vast majority of pet owners are 'responsible' and aware of their obligation to share our community resources.

1. Pet owners make a significant contribution to our national economy.
   
   
2. Overwhelming evidence exists of the utilitarian value of pets (mostly dogs) to the aged, infirmed, disabled and to building community.
   
   
3. Yep, there are 'idiot' owners just like there are parents who let their kids act illegally, men who feel a need to urinate in public stairwells, and people who chose to be violent towards another person or to break into their personal space.
   
   
4. There are also 1 out of 5 Australians who suffer from a disability and effects of certain disabilities can be commonly misunderstood. (Bi-polar folks are amongst many of our top achievers).
   
   
5. Lastly, a fact that few want to accept because 'blame the dog' is so much easier, is that a child is at least ten times more likely to be injured at the hand of their parent or guardian than a dog.
   
   
6. Lastly, another fact that is unwelcome in the media, is that the largest category of dog owner is a family with children.

Barking Mad accepts your view of pets and asks you to respect ours. If you support our work, please make a donation. Even a charity can't work without $. Each week I hear the stories of support that pets have provided in difficult times. Would people be left alone to die in a unit if they had a pet? My bet is that the pet would raise the alarm.

Bus Arrest

I was travelling by bus from Ryde to Sydney (CBD) at about 5pm on the 21st of February. After being in court the day before (with three members all with dogs) then being arrested after spending a lovely 5 hours socialising at an outdoor pub, I boarded the bus without drama looking forward to a quiet meal in the city before travelling back up the coast by train.

• We have official correspondence on STA letterhead advising our right to travel on Sydney and Newcastle buses and ferries with our pets, as long as they are clean and well behaved - no special ID required!

It was a nice new bus with fold up seats to make space for wheelchairs. Pema was happily sitting on the floor in this space when the Transit Police boarded for a ticket check. They told me to leave because of dog. I told them to call the depot and quoted the STA instructions to bus operators that allowed me to travel on this bus. The driver confirmed he allowed me on the bus.

The transit police we not happy. They shut down the bus, got everyone off (several folks said good luck), and got the big guns in - three NSW Police. What happened next is the stuff of horror and confirms what we hear about police treatment of youths, Aboriginals and 'people of Middle Eastern appearance' and Ms. McDonald, the 62 year old (Asian) grandmother they searched and hurt while she was waiting for a bus. They grabbed me to get me off the bus so I went to get Pema. My effort to collect my dog now made me 'resisting arrest'. Why would I resist arrest? An arrest can often result in a faster policy change than other means. Dragged, feet kicked out from under me, handcuffed, separated from my dog, etc. I am injured and under medical care. The rest of the story will be in the members area. This is a sad and senseless situation. Please read about Rosa Parks - arrested in 1955 and deemed a criminal only to be later credited by the US Congress as the mother of the modern-day Civil Rights Movement. Please consider making a donation to help fight this insanity. We also need help in the office for the next week while my injuries heal, email if you can help.

Warringah Council rangers were not told...

Photo: Our party after court; two of these three dogs are Assistance Animals by law.

For one year, we have assisted members challenge many 'stupid' dog fines in court. We have won each and every one. We've been looking forward to this legal challenge issued by Warringah Council against Barking Mad's proprietor Eedra Zey because it contains several important issues of law. Please recall that this 'penalty infringement notice (PIN)' was issued during a legal assembly back in May 07 - Salty Dogs Day Out #2. Case law strongly supports the right of people to 'protest' peacefully, yet Warringah appear to think they act above court decisions. We wonder if that is why the Council was SACKED by the NSW government and remains in control of an 'administrator' unlike other councils that have elected members.

Our court appearance, attended by several Barking Mad members and their dogs took the entire day. We've got to hand it to the two rangers who were witnesses. They are SO caught in the middle, and both who testified showed common sense well beyond the Warringah Council administrator who so ignorantly proclaims (with tax payers money) that 'dogs and beaches don't mix'. Unfortunately, the rangers were not aware of the Plan of Management for the beach in question - oops. Log into the members area for more details.

Our case continues in May. Council chose not to accept that the dog was a Disability Assistance Dog which would have concluded the case. We don't mind, as we would much prefer to argue jurisdiction, which is often difficult to do in the lower courts but we are managing thanks to Warringah Council's obstinacy.

Our celebration party ended unceremoniously when a couple of young, bored police officers showed up and said the publican of Paddy Maguire's wanted me to leave because my dog was inside. She was outside with all the other dogs, and we were still being served drinks... They said I would be fined $550 if I didn't leave and I said 'yes please'. An hour passed until a (not bored) aggressive Sergeant showed up and arrested me. He was in no mood to know, understand, or even listen to any of the laws that make it illegal for a business to deny access to a person with an assistance animal. So, I was carted off to the police station where I finally got out 2 hours later having missed the last train home. Little did I know I was to be arrested again later in the day, in horrific, brutal and demeaning circumstances. And on that note, I must thank the city police for their humanity in keeping me with my dog, transporting me in a vehicle and otherwise respecting my health and welfare. OF COURSE, Pema won over the custody manager and ended up behind the police desk on the command chair and was given the rank of Sergeant.

• TRAIN: Remember that RailCorp allows you to travel with your dog "if it provides a therapeutic benefit to you or someone other than yourself." More on members area of the web, as to will be our campaigns that stem from these two arrests. None of these laws will stop you from being hassled until a big education campaign is put in place!

Movie Day with the Dogs

Since the beginning of January the notice "no dogs allowed" is removed from the Admiral cinema. Every Thursday, film goers can take their dogs with them into the cinema. For those who would like to sample the quality of the canine cinema for themselves, visit this Vienna theatre - remember you can take pooch on the plane or train or bus to get there, and when you arrive, a petting corner, popcorn for dogs and fresh water are provided.

I certainly recall a meeting with a State MP lately who said to me 'you wouldn't take your dog to the movies with you, surely?'. Whoof!

The Admiral cinema in Vienna's 7th district, one of the oldest in the city, has been under new management since December 2007. They have opened the doors of the picture house to man's best friend.

Sorry

I am sorry. I am sorry for the hurt and lack of humanity so many of our government policies cause. The short-term political arena is a difficult space for visionaries and deep-thinkers. So often, good intent turns into bad legislation. This thread could easily lead to a criticism of companion animal regulations and our previous Prime Minister, but I do not want to detract from the significance of the simple and meaningful act of humanity that started our 42nd Federal Parliament today. As an act of respect, I have linked the Reconciliation Speech onto the Federal Campaign page of Barking Mad - Equity for Pet Owners. As food for thought - dogs were companions to and provided assistance for our original Australians.

Wet Dog

Only a wet dog photo would be appropriate in the deluge coastal NSW has been experiencing for most of February and a lot of January (send in your wet-dog photos!). We have a tin roof, which makes phone conversations near impossible in this weather. It's difficult to think of all the other things we have happening in this NOISE, but I'll try.

• NSW - We are meeting with lots of State members to advance our draft amendment to the Companion Animals Act, get pets on public transport as is supported by the State Plan and raise issues of discrimination of renters, unit dwellers, the aged and those with a disability.
  
• Syndey -This is important for all of us nationally. We put in a 26 page submission to the City and wrote letters representing members' views. Read letters here (members sign-in required).
• TRANSPORT PASSES - not needed to travel on Sydney buses, but helpful. I am doing a bulk order for members in hope that they will take less than the three months it took to get mine. Members, to get a STA bus pass email me.
  
• Queensland - What a bland response we are receiving in regards to the 'one dog per family' policy. Many members have commented on the lack of humanity, responsibility or even care in the response from member Warren Pitt. We will change strategies, stay tuned.
  
• Federal - We are meeting with Federal Members to raise the profile of dogs (and pets) to health, aged care and independence, public-safety and also for national transport guidelines for pets on public transport. I've heard more than one story of holiday-makers who needed to get home after a vehicle break-down and found themselves stuck because of their canine companions.

Argo, a common scents dog meets the Transit Police

We love these stories from members about how they were ultra-responsible for their dog only to get 'done' by someone (often being in a uniform). When we STOP hearing these stories, we will have achieved a safe and pet-friendly society. So, onto the story....Argo travelled to Sydney with Mum to pick up a young relative from Central Station. Mum checked with Central Station that this would be OK and was told it would be. Mum and Argo moved through the turnstile past two lots of Transit Police all ok to meet the arriving country train on a Sunday at 7.30pm.

Relative arrives, everyone leaves the platform and moves to the main station by the newsagent where numerous people are smoking. Soon Argo is greeted by two security guards who said no dogs were allowed on railway property for fear of railways being sued if Argo bit (or barked at) someone. They said it was a $400 fine, so our member left. Next time, no doubt, she'll take the fine and challenge it. She also felt harassed by the security guys who turned a blind eye to all the smokers who just happened to levitate out of the area while this conversation about little Argo was taking place.

Argo (being a senior) is now more convinced than ever that he does not want to be reborn as a human.

A Fine Dog Ticket

Some time not too long ago in our Australian history, a dog ticket was a ½ price fare for your dog. Also in those times, many dogs were not vaccinated or de-sexed and most had fleas in the warmer weather.

Yet now, a dog ticket is what the uniformed men in grey with boots and mace give you when pooch is resting on the floor under your feet – taking up no extra space, and it’s $100.

These transit police were the nicest uniformed men I’ve met in a long time. They didn’t want to give me ticket; they wanted to give me warning. I received the ticket joyfully and was just about to tell them about Barking Mad but their station had arrived and they had to leave. 'Don’t go', I said, after they had both declared themselves dog lovers. 'But we have too, sorry'. They took the Barking Mad card with them and thanked me.

I received a ticket for doing what every Australian should be able to do –travel in an environmentally friendly way using PUBLIC transport, with their quiet, clean and well-behaved pet. Off to court we go. Read about our pets on public transport policy and lobbying here.

I take it for granted

I must, because the people I know in Sydney with dogs just don't experience the joy and delight their dog provides like I do. In no way am I saying my joy as a dog-guardian is any less than anoyone elses, it's just that everyday I walk on the ocean beach with dog, and most Sydney beach-side dwellers don't get to do that 'legally'.

Today the waves were big, the tide high, the clouds low and the lagoon was opened by the sea. People watched in awe as pressure waves rolled into the lake. And then their was William and Indy; a guy and his Australian Koolie. So simple, just sitting on the beach watching the waves roll in with endless talk about dogs and the surrounding beauty.

Observation of these last six months on the beach shows me that most of the people chatting are doing so with dogs. People without dogs cross each other on their walk and keep going. If the 300 people who die alone in NSW each year had dogs, would these people have died unnoticed and left to rot with neighbours just next door? My bet is that a dog would have put up a heck of ruckus if its owner stopped moving!

Dear Abby

We are Barking Mad. We wrote to Abby Rudd - yes, the DOG - at the Lodge. Read our letter here, it's been smell-checked by Pema before we sent it. We figure she is top dog now, and a non-labor voter in the post-office today told me Keven Rudd went up in her opinion after she saw the photo of him with Abby! It's all political - dogs here, no dogs there - is there any common sense?

We urged Abby to get her pack leaders to pay attention to the big (meaning federal) issue that is PETS. Why? Because companion, assistance and working dogs are a positive contribution to health, ageing, public safety, our heritage and more.

We anxiously wait our reply with paws crossed. Are you tired of seeing no-dogs allowed signs? Sign up to our letter writing team. (We usually write people, not dogs in case you are concerned about our sanity). Each letter can count for the view of 100 voters and that's good for dogs.

Fail to prevent cruelty

Recently, a NSW man was convicted of "FAILING to PREVENT an offence under the Cruelty to Animals Act". (Cockfighting case, 15 Jan). This opens up a range of options to deal with people who knowingly allow cruelty to occur. Funny how chickens are exempt from this law.

Councils with draconian restrictions on where owners can take their canine best friend also lead to cruelty as dogs are left alone more and more (with smaller homes in physical size and number of people).

They then can bark and end up being less-socialised then their European counterparts who can enjoy parks, transport and pubs with their owners. In other words, by restricting dogs from so many public places we are isolating them and creating problems for residents and dogs.

The dangerous dog act goes so far as to declare an owner guilty under proven otherwise. An untrained council officer can declare a dog dangerous and have it penned up in a concrete flooded enclosure not to be let out. They can do this without any animal experts involved and by believing hearsay stories. Sounds like Guantanamo and that does not have a reputation of making better humans! Research shows a strong correlation between how humans treat pets and animals in general, which negative behaviour towards animals also targeting the human animal.

It is legal to keep cats and dogs as pets and Barking Mad will work with as much vigour as those willing to confront whaling in our territory. The issue is the same, the moral debate on keeping pet or killing whales is a separate issue.