I lost my beautiful bitch (my dog) too.After 14 years of faithful service she passed away silently at my feet. I think Maremma's are the best companions a wo/man can have if you have the space. Search at Google will bring up a club where they look for homes constantly for this breed.Or join this Australian site: http://groups.msn.com/maremmasinrescue

How can you NOT love this look? http://groups.msn.com/maremmasinrescue/maremmasincare.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=222

Amen, dickie, amen.

>>The pound in my regional area picks up 100 stray dogs a month - pedigrees, bitzers the whole lot! Most are euthanased. The local pound is the dog's vision of hell! And yet residents continue to support the pet shop industry by buying a dog they can show off as a status symbol. What a shameful, callous lot we are!<<

It has always amazed me that perfectly normal human beings can think that this kind of behaviour is somehow... not just acceptable, but totally unremarkable.

At one end of the supply chain you have people breeding dogs to be pets.

At the other end of the chain you have vets killing off those that are in one way or another surplus to requirements.

Am I really the only one who considers this absolutely, incredibly bizarre behaviour?

But I suppose the defence is "they're only animals"

I seem to recall hearing that concentration camp inmates were referred to in similar terms, as they wer sent off to Dr Mengele's waiting room.

"To Mengele they were nevertheless not fellow human beings, but rather material on which to conduct his experiments.<< http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Josef_Mengele

Pericles

I've constantly advocated for a short term TAFE course for potential animal owners and stronger regulations for the desexing of animals.

I believe pet ownership is one area of society where owners should have accreditation as well as paying substantial fees before being permitted to own an animal. This may disadvantage the animal owners who have a genuine affection for their pets, however, it may also better protect our canine friends.

Hopefully, this would discourage many of the brutal pet owners we have in society from obtaining pets which they then happily neglect, terrify, torture and set about to make savage.

Oh....yes Mr Mengeles experimental laboratories continue to flourish......managed by "civilised" members and "leaders" of society. I am reminded of my current crusade against these fine upstanding members of our "free" society, who transport other poor critters to their Dante's Inferno on the ships of hell......but that's another crusade on another thread and besides, as you quote: "They're only animals."

And we who care are simply "pesky nutters" intent on destroying lucrative trades.

A view of Mr Mengele's modern day laboratories, same procedures - different species - and all in the name of humanity:

http://www.atourhands.com/vividogs.html

Crying is the same in every language!

I have had PC problems so been away from the debate but not the search.
In answer to a few questions, I have had many cross breeds, they are indeed great.
Skeeta may well have been one, however do not undervalue my intentions to get the same type of dog.
Such a dog will be as happy with me as I am with it.
Pet shops are out, no way anyone should buy a pup there, the phone has rang of the wall with outraging offers once they knew I wanted to buy, at huge prices.
Been to the pound, it hurt very badly, we humans should have to prove we are worthy to own a dog.
Breeding? can not get my head around the difference in mini foxys and tenterfield terriers?
Danger in cross breeding? some dogs live a life of discomfort hair in eyes ext just so they will look like a live teddy bear!
If your dog is your mate do not forget it is not yours forever.

While the thread sleeps the killing continues, by now I have found my mate was a Tenterfield Terrier.
Hard to find but the search continues.
I have found pure breeds, from $500 but non have any yet, so will wait.
But two male pups mentioned earlier are dead! grew out of the selling rang.
Phone has rang of the hook from my first search places pups from 250 to 490 all cross breed some sick in the pet shop cage.
My view is we have the laws to stamp it out but those paid to do it are not doing what they are paid to do.
Except the RSPCA we have few who care about animal welfare, but many who are paid to care and do not.