Dogs...again....

Chris,
Could be worth it to test the rangers if its going to cost $400 for boarding. I dont know what the maximum fine would be but its rare to get fined the max.

But what If????? the dog did get loose and got lost??? what if i ask again... how would you handle it knowing that your dog was lost and would possibly starve to death or worse still, shot by a Park Ranger, station owner or hunter out culling feral pests.

Its your pet/best Friend???

Wow! am I cute
Richard

Can’t comment about the Mitchell Plateau area, I’m from Victoria and I’m sick to death of not being able to go anywhere with my best friend - Mindy.

I lived in the UK for a few years, bought her in a pub in Aylesbury. She’s travelled all over the UK – stayed in hotels and B&B’s, she’s come to dinner with us in country pubs and even immigrated to the other side of the world on a plane. She’s only a small little thing (Jack Russel cross), soft as anything but she’s been more places, seen more things and is better behaved that most of the bureaucrats that have banned her from National Parks. I just don’t understand why? What damage could she cause?

I don’t mind having her on a lead and when she’s off it she’s never more the 10 metres from me. She doesn’t chase other animals and I always pickup any mess she makes. So someone please tell me the reason why I can’t enjoy 4Wding and the bush with my best mate (all be it she’s a bitch).

Like most rules and regulations – they tend to “punish the masses because of the few”. Unfortunately not ALL pet owners are “responsible” and many a dog has been dumped, got away , broken a lead or worst still been put onto native wildlife for a bit of a laugh by their moronic masters!

My (late) dogs have always been like family and only ever had one encounter with NPWS -entering the Kosciusko Nat park form the Cooma end – heading for Albury. They wanted me to backtrack and go around the Park (as if). But after some sensible non-confronting discussions (along with some major sucking up and my dog befriending the ranger) he agreed to let me through as long as I didn’t stop and camp in the park – fair enough.

I doubt that if you came across a ranger in the Kimberly’s or any other remote national park and you treated him/her with respect you would in fact get fined –but then again stranger things have happened

If you want to put your mind at ease - test the water- call the ranger and explain your concerns and that it’s just the last 20k’s, suck up, etc - you have nothing to loose, he won’t know who you are or when your going! But you will get a fair idea of how tough or otherwise theey are on the issue.

Cheers
Alex
PS Give Muttley a pat for us

Gday Chris
the bigist miss conception with the dog rules in national parks is that the dog will get off its lead & kill native wild life, the problem with domestic animals is the desease that they carry & leave behind in their dropings which our native wild life has little or no protection against so yes one dog can be devistating to the nation park population,the other thing to remember is that national parks are heavly baited for ferral animals & you could run the risk of your dog getting piosoned, so this is the reason as i understand them to date, but if you are truely interested , iam about to do a calm rangers course this week end & i will put the question of dogs in national parks to the instructors & get the facts for you
Regards Bruce

Let me know how you go , aswe will be going up there next year and would like to take Lil Bill with us ,so am quite interesred to know your resolts . You can put up another post or e-mail me at forge@avon.net.au Thanks ERROLWhy go overseas when you can ExplorOz
ERROL

beware ...the kimberley is lousy with ticks,,,so i am told

Dont forget theres BAITS out everywhere your best friend may die where you camp.

The other thing is, rangers are going to go
"ANOTHER bleep IN 4WDER NOT DOING THE RIGHT THING"....

I too have a 9mth old Lab that I would love to take everywhere, but at that price for bording, id look around! or give a mate $200 to look after him for yoU!

Hi Chris. We were at the Mitchell Plateau in May this year, A CALM ranger and Aboriginal helpers live at the falls camping area and patrol regularly during the tourist season.This however was the only place on the Kimberley trip that I thought a dog would have been a problem.We asked at some of the station stays and at Kalumburu, as one of our party had a pooch all said no probs.
Regards Ken.

Chris
At MP you will find several rangers during tourist season with a heap of volunteers to boot. All station owners in Kimberley will shoot your dog on sight if it's loose - lead or not (it's their station after all) but it's bigger dogs they're more concerned with. A high price to pay but it sounds as though Muttley is a home boy anyway whereas mine would be off like a shot.
From memory, Old Mornington, Bell Gorge, Tunnel Creek & Mitchell Plateau all will not take dogs, and that is just about the pick of the crop as far as places to see go.

I am assuming that the $400 includes three weeks worth of food, in which case this lowers your actual cost for calculations when assessing whether or not to ignore National Park rules or not.so many places, so little time !!!

So if I didn't like the thought of you taking your dog along... would I be a "dog hater"?

I have two working dogs. One in particular travels between the farming blocks and sometimes into town. She travels in the foot well of the passenger seat... happy ... and I'm glad of the company.

I would love to take her away with me on trips, but you know... I never consider it nowadays.

I have had a few bad experiences with other peoples dogs, so have you probably. My kids were baled up by a couple once and it was a close thing until the owner realized what they were up to and called them off. "They've never done that before" she said.

I'm guessing that your pooch is well trained and a good dog. The problem is that a heap of people can't control their dogs. They bark, craap, and wander where they want. Some people find it very uncomfortable to have a dog on the lead walk past them. My dad had a chunk the size of a billiard ball taken out of his calf by an Australian terrier on a lead as he walked past on a track when I was a kid.

So... Even though I would love to take my dog with me... I can't... because I'm considerate of others and I know that the laws have to be pretty broad to cover the idiots. Sad but true. Give your pup a pat for me and enjoy your trips. Cheers RoyceRoyce www.funshow.com.au