Where is “None of the Above”?

While we applaud the public being invited to contribute, we’re forced to choose between values we may not agree with. Anyone who believes dogs in a puppy farm should get more than 30 minutes of human interaction per day is unable to indicate that. The results of the survey are going to be misleading when it only captures a narrow band of values.

Victorian Government is seeking public input on what minimum standards should be imposed on dog breeders. We believe the options provided will seriously the results of the survey.

It will not be obvious to all participants that they can continue without selection an answer. At a bare minimum each question should include ‘none of the above’ or “i don’t know” so users do not feel forced to indicate an option they don’t agree with.

What Should Be Done?

A new valid survey should be created that will capture data more accurately. The question above should at least have a “more than 30 min” option.

• Existing data should be discarded for the current survey
• Invitations should be sent out for people to participate in the new valid survey

The RSPCA has received numerous communications from the community that some Pets Paradise stores are fundraising on our behalf this festive season.  We would like to alert the public that we have not received any donations from any Pets Paradise store, and have actively contacted Pets Paradise head office to alert its store managers that we wish for them to cease using our brand to secure donations from the public.

The RSPCA is in no way associated with Pets Paradise and will not be accepting any donations from pet shops.

http://www.rspcavic.org/campaigns_news/latest_news.htm

This is where things get tricky.  The following email from Pets Paradise Head Office was posted on SavingPets Blog today. Out of 19 Victorian stores, only 9 are listed and a few phone calls revealed that the recipients listed are not correct for five of these. We’re waiting to hear back from the rest.

From: (prh.net.au)
Subject: Christmas Gift Tree Appeal

Please see attached for a list of charities that gratefully accepted donations from our Christmas Gift Tree Appeal last year.

Kind regards,

STORE – ORGANISATION
Roselands – Sydney Dog’s Home
Rouse Hill – Paws and Hooves
Parramatta – Animal Welfare League
Mt Druitt – Hawks Repound
Macarthur Square – Campbelltown Pound
Lakehaven – Hunter Animal Shelter
Blacktown – Blacktown Animal Holding Facility
Toombul – Peninsula Animal Aid in Redcliff
Redbank – Peninsula Animal Aid
Mt Ommaney – Animal Welfare League in Ipswich
Browns Plains – QLD Animal Welfare League
Parkmore – Pets and Paws On phoning the store we were told “Paws to Help”
Southland – Guide Dogs On phoning the store we were told Village Vet & Cat Protection Society
Rosebud – Hastings Pound
Knox City – Pets and Paws On phoning the store we were told Guide Dogs
Corio – Pets and Paws Who are “Pets and Paws”? Has anyone heard of them?
Tea Tree Plaza – Geelong Animal Welfare
Myer Centre – Guide Dogs S.A
Marion – Guide Dogs S.A
Bondi Boutique – Blind Dogs S.A
Bondi Junction – Sydney Animal Shelter
Penrith – Sydney Animal Shelter
Hornsby – Renbury Farm Animal Shelter
Hurstville – Sydney Animal Shelter
Strathpine – Animal Welfare League
Helensvale – Animal Welfare League
Carindale – Animal Welfare League
Karingal – RSPCA Peninsula animal aid in pearcedale RSPCA Vic made clear pet stores are not to collect on their behalf
Greensborough – Cat Protection Society in Greensborough
Epping – RSPCA RSPCA Vic made clear pet stores are not to collect on their behalf
Inglefarm – RSPCA
Colonnades – Guide Dogs S.A
Rockingham – Rockingham Dog Pound
Midland Gate – S.A.F.E saving animals from Euthanasia

It was upsetting to think that these dogs were spending cold winter nights in dirty pens without coats or blankets to keep them warm. Dogs are social animals and shouldn’t spend their life isolated in pens to begin with. Even more disturbing was the lack of concern shown by the shire Golden Plains Shire Council.

Golden Plains Shire media officer Felicity Bolitho confirmed the visit to the property on Tuesday but said rangers were not worried about the animals. “The visit found all dogs on the property are registered with council and conditions are fine,” she said. “There was no evidence to suggest that the property was a breeding/puppy farm.”

That evening I received an invitation on Facebook to join a group of animal lovers taking coats, beds and blankets to the property. My partner and I were keen to help although to be honest I was a bit unsure about the whole thing. Would the owners really welcome our help? Would the other people attending be reasonable or would it turn ugly? We decided go along. If we didn’t feel comfortable we could always leave!

When we arrived at the property with blankets, coats and cleaning equipment the owner accepted our offer to help. We found an old shed that appeared to have been used to house dogs for many years…

…and 17 dogs who appeared to have spent many years in these pens,

and yes, that’s Sharon, the dog from the newspaper article.

This was not a good environment for these dogs to live out their days. Most were old and many required veterinary attention.

What were we to do?

With the owners permission, we cleaned and scrubbed. A vet nurse checked over the dogs who were all given coats and clean bedding. The owner is a good person who loved her animals but was not able to keep on top of the huge amount of work so many dogs involves. Instead of judgement and accusations we offered compassion and assistance.

In return she agreed to rehome 11 of her dogs to us. This included Sharon, the dog in the paper on Friday.

Here’s a film someone put together about the Meredith dogs.