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The cushion plotters and the pooch index

May 5th 2010 03:26

Life has been complicated here of late, and I am blaming certain “fans” of this blog who suggested that Scratchy, convalescing with a broken leg, would enjoy the comforts of a heated dog cushion.

“Yes!” barked Scratchy.

“I demand one too!” barked Daisy. “In two-toned sepia shades, stripes on one side and closely-spaced polka dots on …”

“Shut up!” barked Scratchy.

The intentions of these blog fans, whom we shall identify only by their first (okay, only) names of Heidi and Clyde, may have been caring and honourable, but my simple refusal to acquiesce has led to Daisy sulking and Scratchy giving me long, cold stares which suggest I am a manic plotter of mass exterminations of sentient beings.

All of which leads to the news, published in local media today, that Australians spend an average A$2,452 a year on “pet luxuries”, or more than $25,000 over the life of a pet.

The figure, which comes from latest annual Family Pooch Index published by Bankwest, includes all food, but it is still astonishing. The second-biggest item, veterinary outlays, came in at an average $450 a year.

No doubt the dogs will claim it is as statistical support for their demands, but I’m not giving in on the heated cushions.

images: wooforlando.com, thesun.co.uk, images.businessweek.com, www.zimbio.com

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Posted By: Chris Champion - Category: Greyhound, Dog accessories, News, Pampered pooches, Pet issues

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A case of animal rights taken too far?

March 8th 2010 19:47

Most of the clients of Antoine Goetschel, a lawyer in Zurich, Switzerland, are animals. Goetschel represents mostly dogs, cats and cows, although in a high-profile case last month he represented a dead fish.

Goetschel is at the forefront of Switzerland's animal rights movement, and Switzerland is at the forefront of the global animal rights movement.

Well, it was until Sunday, when voters rejected a plan to allow all abused animals the right to legal representation.

Sunday's referendum needs some historical perspective.

Two years ago, Switzerland put into practice animal protection laws which, according to some, led the world and, according to others, took animal rights to untenable lengths. According to the Swiss law, for example, it is an offence to keep just one pig or one goldfish — you must have at least two so they can keep each other company. And dog owners have to attend an accredited training course to learn how to care correctly for pets.

Despite these elaborate provisions, animal rights advocates said the Swiss laws did not go far enough. They said the laws in place were not being sufficiently strictly applied, and they wanted to expand nationally a law existing in Zurich since 1992 which allows the appointment of special lawyers to represent the animals in animal abuse cases.

The Swiss government decided that was a step too far, but instead of vetoing the idea, agreed to conduct a referendum. The result: 70.5 per cent of voters cast their ballot against stricter implementation of the code and addition of the special animal lawyers.

Public opinion may have been significantly influenced by Antoine Goetschel's dead fish case. A Zurich court heard the case of a fisherman accused of cruelty for taking 10 minutes to land a pike. Goetschel was in court representing the dead pike.

The court found the angler not guilty. The nation found the case for more such prosecutions unproven.

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Posted By: Chris Champion - Category: Animal cruelty, News, Pet issues, Politics

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Where's Solomon when you need him?

February 12th 2010 10:43

A teenage boy in New Zealand has done entirely the wrong thing — or has he? — by stealing his own dog from a veterinary surgery where it was about to be humanely euthanised.

The five-month old puppy, named Buck, was taken to the vet after being hit by a car. Buck was diagnosed with a broken leg and his owner, Bronson Stewart, 18, was told he had two options: pay NZ$2,500 to have the leg pinned, or pay $800 to have the leg amputated.

Bronson said he didn't have the money for either option, and the vet said that the dog would therefore have to be euthanised because it was in pain.

Bronson then asked to see his dog, at which point he grabbed it and ran.

``I just knew I had to get my dog back. He's like my brother. I need to have him. They can't just kill him because I haven't got any money,'' Bronson said.

Now the SPCA has weighed in, threatening to prosecute Bronson unless the dog's injuries are tended to.

The story became national news in New Zealand, and the SPCA found itself with another role: fielding phone calls from people who want to help, and taking money from a steady stream of people marching into its offices to donate money towards saving Buck.

Stewart's father said he didn't entirely approve of his son snatching the dog from the clinic, but he knew something had had to be done.

``I love my son dearly and I love my grand-pup dearly too. He's stolen my heart alright. It's a story about a dog that deserves to live.''

And it seems Buck will live. At last count the donations totalled $900.
Wanganui Chronicle

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Posted By: Chris Champion - Category: News, Pet issues

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