One year has gone, hopefully a lot more to come. A big bone as reward.



Although today the news headlines are not encouraging:

..."The Agriculture Minister, Peter Walsh, says council officers will have the power to seize and destroy unregistered dangerous dogs.

'Today is the last chance for owners of these animals to register them with their local council or face the consequences,' he said.

'Tomorrow it will be too late, when these dogs are found in the community by council officers they will, after due process, be destroyed.'"

Dangerous dogs are Pitbulls in the first place but I think it won't take long until Rottweilers are on this list too.

Today 32.2*C and 2 dead Brown Snakes on the road where I live! The dog of my landlord (a Rottweiler too) was killed by a snake bite. I will look for an antivenom so I'm prepared for the worst case.

"...The importance of acquiring a suitable pet is illustrated by the fact that due to behavioural problems the average age of dogs in Australia is only 3½ years. In fact the largest cause of death of puppies less than one year of age is euthanasia due to behaviour problems and is not due to accidents or illness. The selection of the right pet at the outset can obviate many problems..."

Source:

http://www.murraybridge.sa.gov.au/webdata/resources/files/Animal_Management_Plan_2011_to_2016_-_Adopted_by_Council_on_30_May_2011.pdf

Perhaps we will not survive:

Australian Government Bureau of Meteorology
South Australia Regional Office

TOP PRIORITY FOR IMMEDIATE BROADCAST

SEVERE WEATHER WARNING
for DAMAGING WINDS
For people in the Flinders, Riverland, Murraylands, Upper South East, Lower South East and parts of the Mid North and Northeast Pastoral districts.

Issued at 12:18 pm Monday, 19 September 2011.

A strong front is moving across South Australia and will move over eastern districts this afternoon.

Damaging north to northwesterly winds with gusts in excess of 90 km/h are possible across the warning area ahead of the front.

Westerly winds are expected to moderate behind the front.


Locations which may be affected include Renmark, Mount Gambier, Naracoorte and Leigh Creek.

Mean winds of 65 km/h gusting to 89 km/h, were recorded at Nullarbor at 11:50 pm on Sunday evening.

A gust of 91 km/h was recorded at Hindmarsh Island at 10:41 am.

The State Emergency Service advises that people should:
* Move vehicles under cover or away from trees;
* Secure or put away loose items around your property.
* Stay indoors, away from windows, while conditions are severe.

was euthanized 1 year ago. She was rescued by http://www.animalife.org in 2005 when she was 7 years old and spent her last 5 1/2 years with us. We tried to find a new home for her on a farm but she escaped and found the way back to us. So we allowed her to stay although we already got 4 other dogs.
Clare was born 11 days after the death of Carla. I hope some of Carla's spirit survived in Clare.

In August we visited the 'Mannum Falls' - a beautiful gorge which carries water in wintertime. It's like a secret spot, nearly no visitors.



On our way up the hill we noticed a pair of Galahs preparing a nest hollow in a big branch of a Gumtree.



Hard work, especially watching the partner working!



Water flows:



Great outlook:



Another view:



Time to decide where Clare can enter the water.



The result - like always: a mucky pup

Since a couple of weeks we two - Clare and I - are fighting a lot. She thinks the property of the neighbour is much more interesting than our place. So the neighbour is calling me to pick her up or is bringing her back personally. I'm desperate. I bought an electric fence: she is hopping over or crawling underneath the wire. I bought 50 m fence and it took 3 days to adjust it to the old fence: the neighbour picked her up hanging in the old fence. The property has about 4 ha land so it is nearly impossible to secure the whole area - especially because I'm not the owner. As a result I can't allow her any longer to roam around. She has to stay in the backyard or inside the house. We are both unhappy but this is the only way to prevent a disaster. The last time when the daughter of the neighbour brought her back I was told that Clare was playing with the lamb! The next time the 'play' will become more intensive and without supervision she will kill the defenceless creature. Tough time for us both.

The financial year in Australia lasts from 01.07. to 30.06. next year - so the Dog Registration Fee is now due. This time it is a little bit cheaper as reward for having Clare desexed. Of course she is microchipped too, so I paid $ 23.- (instead of $ 40.-).





A nice new red disc is included:

...but 'stubborn like a mule'. When she wants something she finds a way to get it. Sometimes it is really exhausting. Like fighting with a teenager - day after day.