Signs of the times.

I thought a lot before making this post. I am, after all, only an accidental and mostly happy dogblogger, and not the kind of person who likes making waves.

But recent events in the peninsula have me outraged.

I am, of course, talking about the incidents of dog poisoning in our local parks.

Over the weekend, I was still meeting dog owners who hadn't heard a thing. This puzzled me as it is after all only a tiny suburb that we live in, with one main street that binds us all.

So this morning, I decided to take a walk and see how much warning is out there.

The answer was dismal.

I met 4 people. Number 1 was at Mort Bay. Her dog was running around off the leash. Yes, she had just read the signs but that was days ago, wasn't it?

Number 2 hadn't heard of the Birchgrove poisonings.

Now I was confused. Hadn't there been any after all?

Then I met Number 3 who knew one of the dogs that had been poisoned at Birchgrove. Alright then.

Number 4 had only heard of the dog poisoning problem this morning. Oh dear.

On my walk, I saw only one warning sign on the streets.

This one, outside Simply Anything 4 Pets on Darling Street. Good on them.

I have to assume this apathy has to do with the fact that it is only dogs that are being poisoned.

I have been told to be alert but not alarmed, to quote some old government propaganda.

Well, I'm afraid I AM alarmed.

I'm alarmed that 5 days since it all started, there are still dog owners out there who aren't being alert because shock! horror! they haven't yet been alerted.

At Mort Bay, the shit that started it all.

Signs from dog owners at the park. If you'd like to read what they say, clicking on the images will enlarge them.

The really conspicuous sign from Council. 

So here sits Mort Bay Park, bathed in this morning's Spring sunshine.

 

Nice and quiet.

Somewhere, no doubt close by, a madman [or woman] is having a good laugh.

P is for Poison in our Parks

We heard this morning at Mort Bay that someone is poisoning dogs in the area.

Quite a few dogs [about 10] have already ingested the poison which has been found in pieces of meat/mince left lying around. The area that the poisoned meat has been found [so far] is on the walk from Mort Bay to Ballast Point.

A graffiti message has also been found suggesting the perpetrator's annoyance with finding dog poop in the park.

I would have to say there are worse things than Poop in parks. Poison would be one. People committing criminal acts would certainly be another.

We understand the police and council are already involved.

For the time being, it might be best to be extra vigilant if your dog likes scrounging around and picking up food. If you see any food [especially pieces of meat] lying on the ground, maybe bag and bin them.

And, of course, spread the word to anyone, living or using parks in the area. 

The weekend is coming up. These parks are popular picnic areas for families.

It might be a good time to remember that it isn't just dogs that eat things off the ground.

+++

Saturday, 4 September

An afterthought: If you're reading this and have more information, or would like to share an update, please do leave a comment here. Thanks : )


Sunday, 5 September

Poisoned meat also in Birchgrove:
http://balmain-village-voice.whereilive.com.au/news/story/dogs-poisoned-in-birchgrove-parks/

More info and pictures here:
http://balmaindogblog.com/2010/09/04/warning-for-mort-bay-park/

Wow-wow and woo-woo.

Yesterday was the first day of spring. I'd been looking forward to it a long time. But it didn't turn out exactly as I'd planned. 

When the alarm went off, it wasn't even 5 yet. It was still dark outside.

Mr Thumper and I got bundled into the car and taken to a park. Since it was dark, I couldn't tell you which one. We stumbled around a bit, then hurried back home where we found our breakfast waiting.

This was unusual since we're big chested big dogs and aren't ever allowed to eat immediately after our walks.

Before brekkie had even settled in my tummy, I got bundled back into the car again. Mr Thumper was nowhere to be seen. I really didn't like the way my day was turning out so I started to cry. 

I cried a lot.

Maybe for about 4 hours.

Wow-wow. Wow-wow! Row-rowr!-rowr!!!-wow-wow*!
 

Finally, the car stopped, the door opened, I looked out, and I realised I wasn't in Kansas anymore.

The grass was brown, the trees had no leaves, and there was a blustery wind everywhere. My ears couldn't stop flapping and they were cold.

My humans disappeared into a big building with big black gates. Dogs weren't allowed in. So they left me by the car with a little bowl of water for company that the wind promptly blew away.

I was nervous, so I cried some more.

When they came out, I was very relieved. We all got back into the car and went to look for a dog park that just opened 2 months ago.

The People In Charge Of These Things had kindly put fences all round the park so dogs couldn't run out and get rolled over by cars [which is sadly what happens where I live]. 

The park also had a fancy water bowl that was designed so snakes couldn't drink from it. Poor snakes. They must get very thirsty.

 I wasn't allowed to drink from here. The water flowed into the doggie bowl on the ground which always empties out.

I didn't get to meet any snakes but I did meet a few other locals. 

Some of them were happy to just hang around and didn't want to play.

2 of them were dogs that don't bark.

Oooo...Basenjis.

I had a kerfuffle with 1 of them because he came up to kiss my face without even trying to chat me up first. I don't like being kissed by strangers. And that was that.

After the dog park, we went for a picnic where everything got blown about some more. Lots of ants invited themselves to lunch.

Then we went for a quick drive to a famous place where my out-at-work human refused to stop and my stay-at-home human ended up taking a picture through the car-roof window.

My stay-at-home human thought we might see Ms Gillard walking about but we didn't. She must have been too busy trying to sort out who'll be the next Prime Minister of the country. Something important like that.

All too soon, it was time to go back to the big building where my humans abandoned me again.
 
I was too tired to cry anymore, so I just curled up on my travelling bed and went to sleep.

When I woke up, HURRAH! I was home! I could smell dinner cooking from houses on the street, the trees had green leaves, it was warm, and there was no wind. 

I was so happy!

Mr Thumper was next door with Indie and Millie. He saw us and started to run up and down the house and howl. Woo-w.o.o..^... woo-w.o.o-ooo-ooo...^...

He was very upset and sulked all night because he thought he'd missed out on something special.

I don't think I'm going to tell him it wasn't a very special first day of spring at all. 

Only very, very strange.

AND I'm definitely not telling him I cried for 4 hours.

*Thank you*

Irene, Michael, India & Millie for looking after Mr Thumper!

HOW TO GET THERE:
Weston Off-Leash Dog Park, corner of Brown and Banks Streets, Yarralumla, Canberra