All newspaper articles are scanned as PDFs. Please click the link to read each article.
TELEVISION
Channel 31's Hound TV has been filming at many DOGS Victoria events. They have turned that footage into fantastic breed segments, a section on the museum and a great description of how a dog show works. Visit the Hound TV website to see what was on each episode and then watch the show from the Channel 31 website.
New legislation passed by Victorian Parliament will have a significant impoact on dog breeding in the state, according to the Victorian canine association, DOGS Victoria.
NEWSPAPER
18 November 2009 - Pakenham Cardinia Leader - Clinton, a 109kg purebred Mastiff, was an instant hit with patient Jonathan when he visited Souther Health's Casey Adult Psychiatric Unit last week as part of DOGS Victoria's Therapy Dog Program. "When I pat him I feel much calmer," Jonathan said. Clinton's Emerald owner, DOGS Victoria volunteer Gabrielle Simmonds, said it was the first time the program had been introduced to a psychiatric ward. "The response has been wonderful," she said.
30 August 2009 - The Age -Breeders brace for howls of protest - quote from President Peter Frost and photo of him with his Irish Setters and quote from ANKC spokesman Peter Higgins. Also quotes Hugh Wirth from RSPCA.
Dr Higgins said ''backyard breeders'' and ''fly-by-night'' people were the problem. He said the overwhelming majority of registered breeders - those who belonged to the kennel council through state organisations such as Dogs Victoria - were responsible and ''trying to do the right thing''.
Also sceptical is Peter Frost, the president of DOGS Victoria. He blames irresponsible dog owners for not managing their pets.
"Raising dogs and raising children; there's a lot of similarities between them," he said. "You need to treat them fairly and treat them kindly but you set boundaries for them and if you don't set boundaries for children well, it's very hard when you let a child or a puppy run riot to try and pull them back in. "And right from the beginning, you start to train the dog to be responsible, to be a good little member of society."
23 November 2008 - The Age - Backyard puppy farmers just waiting for the next bitch on heat - quotes Chief Executve Elizabeth White The illegal supply of appealing, often fluffball, crossbreeds by unregistered backyard breeders is booming. Yet the State Government refuses to act against the practice, barely acknowledging it exists, despite pleas from animal welfare agencies.
5 June 2008 - The Age Green Guide Letters - Not the dog's fault(.pdf)- from DOGS Victoria President Peter Frost
In response to Four Corners: Dogfighting Undercover on ABC1, at DOGS Victoria we often use the phrase "blame the deed, not the breed". The deeds committed by dogs against one another in this documentary were certainly cruel but blaming the trainers is more appropriate for this situation. The pit bull is banned in Australia but there's no doubt fights happen here, too. Legislation to prevent dog attacks would be better focused on identifying and punishing the people who breed, train, fight and encourage aggressive behaviour in these dogs.
