Taking a dog to the Cape?

G'day Scoey,

I don't think you can take them to the NP's (I know there is some debate about just passing through) and some traditional lands may have rules as well. I guess it depends on where you want to go and if you are prepared to take the risk. I have seen guys pig hunting with dogs in Lakefield, don't know if they were official or otherwise, I guess the later as they were not keen to be seen.

Kind regards

Not sure about the rules in QLD but in WA you can't even pass through a NP with a dog in the vehicle (four legged that is) even if you are not deviating off the road and not stopping. I suppose thats because people say they won't stop to gawk at something then they do when they get in there and let to dog out when they are out of sight of the Ranger and stuff it up for all the honest ones:-) Make sure you take a supply of metho and check your dog daily for ticks. If you get any on the dog which you most certainly will, put some metho on a tissue or cooton wool and hold it on the tick for about two minutes and then gently repeat gently pull the tick and turn it 180 degrees until it lets go of the dog. Don't pull too hard otherwise you will leave the head and jaws in the dog. If you look at the tick with a magnifying glass you will know if you got it all out. The metho makes the tick want to let go after it has had a good whiff of it. Don't grab the tick with tweezers other wise you will force more poison from the tick into the dog before you get it off. Bit like when you get a bee sting. Good luck.

The ticks and rangers aren't your only concern up there.. be carefull when camping near the rivers etc as the 'snapping handbags/swamp gods" tend to like nibbling on mans best friend

Hi scoey

If you take your dog and go into any of the communities leave rover in the car. Some of the dogs in the communities have all sorts of yucky stuff you wouldnt want your pet exposed to. If you are going across to Thursday Island from the tip dont take him there either, cause after a dog has been in the Torres Straits it has to go into quarantine before it can come back to the main land. I'm not sure it the quaranitine area covers NPA/Bamaga as well. The Queenslnad dept of Primary Industries might be able to tell you more.

have a good trip

Ellen