Dogs...again....
Submitted: Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 06:24
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Chris (W.A.)
Already asked this question before but asking others of their experiences.
If you have been to the
Mitchell Plateau area put your hand up!!
Whilst there how many encounters did you have with CALM rangers?
Despite the fact that I have a dog what is the penalty for ignoring the "national park rules" despite the feral donkeys, cats, dogs, goats, horses etc.
I've been quoted $400.00 to board muttley at the
Broome Kennel for three weeks.
According to the
Kimberley map majority (90%) of it allows dogs, very little prohibits them eg.
Tunnel creek and 'actual'
mitchell plateau areas otherwise they're fine.
For dog haters you can go to the next post because this question is not for you.
Figuring that if you're up on the Plateau innocently walking you dog on a "lead" what the fine is. If it's a hundred bucks...keep going and it's worth it.
AGAIN...HOW MANY PEOPLE HAVE ENCOUNTERED RANGERS IN THE
MITCHELL PLATEAU AREA? and don't spin the garbage that station owners will shoot your dog because they can't if it's on a lead!!
Gibb River in July.
Chris
Reply By: Chris (Yarra Valley - Vic) - Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 09:36
Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 09:36
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).
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Chris (W.A.) - Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 13:53
Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 13:53
Chris,
Our dog's 8 months old now and never realised how many
places don't allow them until we went away the first couple of times.
Have you seen the 'life be in it' book called "holidaying with dogs"?
It's a fairly informative book and lists all the different types of accommodation that allows dogs.
Unfortunately it mainly targets caravan parks and the like, not bush areas.
This is what cracks me up......You're allowed to stay at a site at a 5 star resort with a dog -
El Questro station, but out of the 5 or so caravan parks in
broome only one allows them and it's 5 kms out of town.
Talk about flattering themselves.
regards
ChrisGibb River in July.
Chris
FollowupID:
16539
Follow Up By: crowe - Friday, Jul 11, 2003 at 12:03
Friday, Jul 11, 2003 at 12:03
chris, if you think
broome is good wait until you get to
kununurra, from memory none of the caravan parks allow dogs and that people with dogs camping have to stay at the showgrounds where facilities are limited and the couincil still charges you a hefty rate, this may have changed in the last couple of years but
check to be sure.
The funniest thing about this is that there are dogs always wandering around town through the parks and the
ranger at the time didnt seem to give a bleep .
FollowupID:
16610
Reply By: Member - Alex B - Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 14:14
Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 14:14
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
AnswerID:
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Reply By: bruce.h (WA) - Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 14:28
Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 14:28
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
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Follow Up By: Member - Errol (WA) - Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 16:28
Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 16:28
Chris , i think that a lot of us will be interested in what you can find out . I myself will be going to the kimblerys next year and would like to take my Lil Bill with us , he,s usualey only about a meter behind me most times and if we,re out somewhere , he,s always on a lead . I also carnt understand there reasaning at times . Please put up a post about it when you finish your course or e-mail me at forge@avon.net.au Thanks ERROLWhy go overseas when you can ExplorOz
ERROL
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Andi - Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 17:19
Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 17:19
Bruce, I would also be very interested to see how you go. I am in total agreement with your reply & having toured extensively through the Victorian Alpine National Park, I would hate for it to be spoiled by one thoughtless act. Laws are laws people. They are generally there for yours,
mine and everybodys protection. Do we like them all NO, do we abide by them YES, because that is what responsible grown up people do. Our circle of fourby friends ALL have dogs and we agreed that if a National park visit is involved then we make arangemnets for our four legged family member to stay elsewhere. If all dog /Four-wheel-drive owners thought "My little (insert dogs name here) is always on lead and so
well trianed he/she will be ok just this once." Then the National Parks would potentially not be the same beautiful, quiet, teeming with Native wildlife
places they are today but just another Sunday outing with the kids and the dog caravan park scenario.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Chris (W.A.) - Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 18:26
Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 18:26
Cheers Bruce, that would be good. I would have thought with the abundance of feral animals already running rampant in the
Kimberley combined with all Hudson's vaccinations he would'nt pose too much of a threat.
Let me know what you find out.
Cheers.
Errol, I'll let you know how we got along with the dog when we get back. He says g'day.
Gibb River in July.
Chris
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: bruce.h (WA) - Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 19:43
Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 19:43
Chris
no probs will let you know what i find out ,but what you have to remember all the laws are not aimed at hounest people, the problem is that we all consider ourselfs to be honest ,so the laws have to catter to the lowest commen denominator,so while most of our scruffies are probably vaccinated how does a
ranger tell which are & which are not ,you sure as hell could not rely on peoples honesty.
Regards Bruce
FollowupID:
16553
Reply By: Truckster (Vic) - Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 22:36
Thursday, Jul 10, 2003 at 22:36
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!
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Reply By: Allyn (Pilbara) - Friday, Jul 11, 2003 at 08:45
Friday, Jul 11, 2003 at 08:45
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 !!!
AnswerID:
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Follow Up By: Chris (W.A.) - Friday, Jul 11, 2003 at 11:24
Friday, Jul 11, 2003 at 11:24
Hi Allyn,
I'm probably not so worried about station country as the main areas we're staying is
Kalumburu and if need be just outside the MP boundaries if it has to come down to it, anywhere else will most likely be on the side of the road and some of the many roadside stops in Ron & Viv Moons book.
Fortunately there is a dog minder on Windjana road which will allow us to leave him while we xplor
the gorge,
tunnel creek etc.
It's these little conveniences that make it almost possible to explore the whole GRR without dog problems. I know it would be easier to leave him at
home but he's part of us and when you meet him you'll know why -not being a snob, just dog stupid - six weeks of not watching your pup grow is alot.
In regards to the shooting of him even on a lead, I'm looking at the more technical aspect that any bloke that's got the balls to discharge a firearm in close proximity to members of the public will be looking down his own barrel, whether it's his land or not.
Only 8 bloody days to go.
Making up that anti sandfly stuff right now.
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Chris (W.A.) - Friday, Jul 11, 2003 at 11:36
Friday, Jul 11, 2003 at 11:36
Of course in regards to station owner's, if I was advised before hand by them not to bring the dog on their land, fair enough, I simply wouldn't bother otherwise you'd be asking for it.
Gibb River in July.
Chris
FollowupID:
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Follow Up By: Allyn (Pilbara) - Saturday, Jul 12, 2003 at 08:01
Saturday, Jul 12, 2003 at 08:01
doesn't sound like he'll be a problem and you've obviously thought it through.
Mine would definitely be different, as
well trained as they are they love to roam the countryside without their owner(s) and I can't take my eyes off 'em.
See you soonso many
places, so little time !!!
FollowupID:
16656
Reply By: Member - Royce- Saturday, Jul 12, 2003 at 16:00
Saturday, Jul 12, 2003 at 16:00
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
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