website is not operational, many links on this blog are broken, work is starting again, contact is bonefido at gmail.com

Copy of complaint to Veterinary Practitioners Board of NSW against Chris Gough, Riverbank Animal Hospital (Formerly South Grafton Veterinary Clinic) for engaging in conduct in the veterinary practitioner's professional capacity that likely caused unnecessary suffering to an animal and caused the inappropriate death of an animal, namely, Pema.

As this is another self-regulated industry, nothing is likely to happen and this conduct will likely be repeated by Chris Gough, causing further suffering and death to animals.  http://www.scribd.com/doc/95993306 

Pema has passed

Pema is dead.  Tick.  Treated fortnightly. Hair clipped. Vet didn't think it was a tick, admitted he didn't do a thorough search and gave her a shot because she'd had cruciate ligament surgery (a year ago) and sent us back to the house we had rented for our holiday. Vet had 5 dogs in for ticks at the time and seemed to ignore the fact that Pema has been working cattle in a paddock for 6 months even though she'd had knee surgery.

Bad tick season because of wet and vegetation.  Next day she could not walk at all.  Back to vet where nurse found tick in 5 minutes in feathers on a front leg.  Pema crashed about 15 hours into treatment.  Can't recommend South Grafton vet.  Pema was sent on her way in a beautiful wild river in full flood.

I sit and watch you from my window,
Giving yourself away,
You've been working hard all day

I see the ground catch at your feet,
I see the sweet signs of defeat,
Like you're beaten but you feel no pain

And then you turn to me instinctively,
Checking if you're alone,
Like a reflex from my guilty mind

I fall away into the background,
Like a shadow on the wall,
To leave you with your peace of mind

I watch from my window up high,
All alone in this room,
So many people go the same way,
I think it's time that I changed my view

I got nothing got left to lose,
 
Well you're the part of my memories
That I never wanna live without

Back in Oz with dog, cows, poultry, horses, cats & pigs.

I have returned to Oz and am happily reunited with Pema.  We've traded daily work with political animals for a daily life with farm animals.  Back to a life of primary production instead of methane fueled political lobbying.

Barking Mad Equity for Pet Owners needs a new top dog as my health puts severe restrictions on my travelling. We can still help out with renting-with-pets, and pets-in-strata and some council issued infringement notices in NSW, VIC and QLD.  

Guard Dog off Duty

Eedra, proprietor of Barking Mad Equity for Pet Owners, has had to go away due to prolonged and unrelenting threats to her health, accommodation and livelihood by the man (and his agents) who defrauded her of property, superannuation and business back in 2004. At least Pema can laugh about it - don't we love our dogs' lives!

Therefore, the lobbying work of Barking Mad is suspended.  Individual cases for members will be reassigned as required. Court cases will be postponed as required.

Pema is now in a temporary home and doing great work with people - still.  Soon, she wll be reunited with me!

Eedra hopes to be able to return - when the legal system gets an injection of justice, when thugs work both ways or when an advocate comes along with enough guts and authority to say ENOUGH!  Or when karma reaches the white-collar criminal.

Check out past issues of the Bite for information on work Barking Mad has done.  And yes, we're still going Warringah for the Ultra Vires case.


BARKING MAD- EQUITY FOR PET OWNERS
PO Box 310, Woy Woy NSW 2256
skype: barking-mad
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Your membership of Barking Mad helped create a safe and pet-friendly society.
Make your donation now if you wish to help clear the debt:  Bendigo Bank; Barking Mad, BSB: 633-000, Account: 128910064

BARKING MAD IS AVAILABLE - TAKE IT OVER  - FOR DOGS' SAKE

Dangeous Dogs and children

SMALL CHILD WARNING

If you are an owner of a dog that belongs to a 'dangerous breed' category and you also have a child or a visiting small child please take this as a warning.

Don't leave your dog with a small child unattended under any circumstances!

Only one little moment was enough for this to happen.

Remember - maltese terriers and labrador retrievers have joined the list of dangerous dogs in NSW.

'Every dog has the potential to attack' or should we say every animal? Because the risk of harm to humans from humans FAR exceeds both the risk and real injuries caused by an interaction with a dog.

Feeding the hand that bites you

Are you renting your home? Do you have a pet? If so, then you are in the majority. More homes have pets than don't. Homes with pets are about double in number of homes with children, yet families with children make up the largest demographic of dog owners.

The real estate industry is slow to capitalise on this reality and 'no pets' is frequency seen in adds for rental homes. Many rental applications include questions about your pets. Legally, pets are no different than your TV, toaster or handbag. They are chattel - meaning property, legal property.

Each time a responsible tenant puts a case 'to have their pet' to a prospective landlord, including references for it or offering to pay an additional bond (the taking of which would be illegal), they are feeding the hand that bites them!

I know, it's hard when you need a home, love your pets and are an honest person and a good tenant - but letting someone decide if you are their suitable tenant has no more a relationship to your status as a pet owner, as it does to the brand of your toaster or the size of your TV!

So please, show that you are a responsible tenant, neighbour and pet owner by your actions, not by playing into the hands of the 'no pets allowed' brigdage or by letters written by people who happen to love your pet like you do.

In South Australia, NSW and most other states, there is no prohibition of pets in the residential tenancy laws - and why would there be? When renting, you gain a right to quiet enjoyment of the home for due consideration (rent) and you have a responsibility to act legally, take due care of the property and repair what you break or damage beyond reasonable wear and tear.

The Real Estate Institute of NSW has propagated a rental lease form used extensively and they have added a no pets clause as 'standard'. This is contrary to the residential tenancy law. We recommend you request your lease be based on the Act and Regulations, not the REI form.

We've started a case in NSW challenging the special conditions on a residential lease regarding a dog. This is based on contracting out the right to quiet enjoyment and/or the provision for normal wear and tear and/or a tenants' obligation to return the property in the same condition.

In South Australia, the tenancy tribunal can vary terms if they are found to be harsh or unconscionable. Of course, refusing pets in an otherwise pet suitable home with a good tenant is most unconscionable!

Happy Birthday Pema

Pema is 6 years old today.

Not happy dog - again

The Barking Mad mascot is not doing much work at the moment - except making sure our vet has enough income to keep his kids in private school! Between her second injury this year and my illness, we're virtually housebound. Lucky we live in the bush by the sea - come and visit - members are welcome.

We did manage to take Pema to her weekly visit to the public hospital. It was PEMA that was in a wheel chair. She got a lot of sympathy and still enjoyed making a few of the patients smile on our short visit.

If you and your dog are suited to volunteer at a hospital, remember that you don't need to be in any special program to do so - at least in NSW. Visit the health section of the website for more information. I like to know that my dog has $10 million liability insurance - which she does through my home contents insurer.

Public Transport - Small dog Big bark

The report from the Senate Inquiry on Public Transport will be tabled in federal parliament on 20 August. Members of Barking Mad contributed 10% of the submissions received - just for us and our dogs. Well done for our small, unfunded lobby group!

WHAT YOU CAN DO NOW

Be positive – our submissions for dogs on public transport were a full 10% of submissions received – this is massive! For a tiny, struggling organisation, this is such a great show of our influence.

1. Write letters to the editor. Use your local paper and the Greens media page for easy access to the media.
   
   
2. Write, call, fax AND email your federal member. If you don’t know your electorate, find it here.
   
   
3. Write to the Greens. We want them to add pet owner access to their public transport policy. Email Bob Brown, party leader and Senator Ludlam, spokesperson for public transport.
   
   
4. HELP AT THE BARKING MAD OFFICE. We are beachside on the NSW central coast in a dog friendly community on a dog friendly beach. Accommodation available and help is desperately needed even for a day (due to my ill-health).
   
   
5. FORWARD THIS TO EVERYONE WHO IS WILLING TO CLICK A FEW BUTTONS for our pets. Remember that each letter received by a member of parliament is counted as the view of about 100 voters.
   
   
6. EMAIL DOGS NSW. Suggest they work WITH us (not just plagiarise our work). Transport contact, office contact.
   
   
7. Send a press release. If you can help us get a press release out, or would like to make a donation so that we can hire someone to help, please email me .
   
   
8. Make a donation - $5 or more - we are resourceful and every $ counts. Bendigo Bank, BSB: 633-000, Account: 128910064
   
   
9. AND USE PUBLIC TRANSPORT WITH YOUR TRAINED DOG! Enjoy the community and conversation just because you're joining the masses with a beautiful friend!
   

Plan to open up Wollongong beaches to dogs

Ok - not just to dogs but dogs AND their loving, joyful responsible owners and guardians! Hooray, they have recognised in the discussion paper the NEED (we say legal requirement under the Local Government Act) to provide services for the 40% of ratepayers with dogs. Wonder where they got that idea from. ;-) Media 1-July Media 6-July

Read the discussion paper and make sure to have your say in the consultation.

I asked a ranger of an adjoining council why dogs were banned from beaches. He said, because of the perception of dog poo litter. I asked him why they didn't ban McDonalds and drink bottles because there is heaps of junk food litter - he said because they don't get complaints. It's a crazy system which forces a regulator to cater to the whingers instead of the PURPOSE of the law they work under - providing equitable, adequate and appropriate services.

Here are some of our initial thoughts - we are still working with members in the area. Barking Mad will be making a submission and I encourage all members to do the same, even if you can't comment on the specific beaches.

Traffic Light System:
Yes, it is much fairer than at present to all community members; recommend changing the orange zone following what Coffs Harbour City Council has in place is already working well for them and is fair to all members of the community. Their traffic light system is again Red – Dogs Prohibited, Green – Leash free areas but the other areas (what would be your proposed yellow areas) are “Dogs are Allowed on a Leash” beaches.
Alternative: No, anywhere on a lead.

Zero tolerance policy for animal control offences:
Absolutely not. The wording itself offensive – isn’t this the type of wording used against murderers in New York? These are very strong words and should be used in very severe circumstances. If we are talking about the simple, healthy pleasure of walking your dog along the beach this is way over the top. Recommend to encourage tourism dollars via pet owners.

Claiming to maintain a zero tolerance policy is a negligent misstatement. Even if Council DID maintain a zero tolerance policy how can it be justified as an appropriate use of resources?

For example, compare the number of offences for drinking in alcohol prohibited areas to dog on beach, or dog off lead. We know alcohol fuels violence and other anti-social behaviour, so resources should be applied in these areas more.

Time Share
Time share is discriminatory especially towards women and families. It is also a regulatory nightmare. It is only appropriate a main beach in a city.

Specific Comments on W'gong proposal
Managing a community space is about sharing and the present situation allows dog owners 10% of the public beach space when they represent 40% of the community. In fact during the winter times the only people on the beach are dog walkers, surfers and fishers.

Walking your dog on a beach should be encouraged as a healthy way for the community to meet and dogs and owners to socialise. An unsocialised, unexercised dog can create a problem.

One argument many non dog owners seem to sprout is dog poo. Dog owners appreciate the beauty of the beach and want to keep these areas that way. 90% are compliant in picking up dog poo. We are educating the other 10%. Many people are seen also carrying plastic bags with them to pick up other rubbish on the beach. They are an asset to the environment. I

Providing more off leash areas with bins and poo bags is proven to achieve better compliance with the pick-up culture.

Man unpatrolled beaches have become isolated and therefore dangerous since council’s absurd policy of banning dogs and their owners from beaches.

General comments on urban animal management
Principles – off leash areas should be accessible and proportional to the population, and available resources, such as 40% of the 16km for off leash. The remaining areas should be on-leash areas (excepting the rock pools).

Education should take a larger application or resources than policing to reflect the knowledge established by urban animal professionals.

Any debate as to whether people like or dislike dogs is irrelevant. Like is not a requirement in a pluralistic society. Statute is. The current noise, crime, animal and other relevant acts provide a solid regulatory base to take punitive measures against bad behaviour.

Council would do well to dispel the myth that dog poo is a health or environmental risk. It is not, especially so due to our hot and or dry climate. Council would do well to dispel the myths that vaccinated dogs are better to be around humans. Dogs are not vaccinated for any zoonotic condition. Council would do well to encourage regular worming of dogs. Dogs can create a public safety risk and this needs to be managed in context of all the risks we deal with daily.

Dog litter should not be treated any differently than other litter. Council does not ban McDonalds or Pepsi because of the litter THEY create, so why blame the dog owner if they miss a poo? Doing so can be construed to be vilification.

Council would do well to implement dog-share as a strategy for nuisance barking dogs.

And, above all, remember the ANY dog can go into Dept. of Health facilities, i.e. hospitals, so try not to think that a local council knows more about health then DOH.