Nepean News 29 July 2022 Issue 334OWDIG
18
local COLUMNIST
A Dogs Day Out S urrounded by open spaces, friendly owners and lots of happy wagging tails, dog parks are growing in popularity in suburbs across Penrith. However, sharing a public space with unfamiliar dogs, and owners comes with its risks. Dog owners are responsible for ensuring that dog parks remain a safe and welcoming environment for all. Ground rules Not every dog will be suited to a dog park. There is no screening process, therefore the onus is on dog owners make an accurate judgement as to whether their dog will be at ease in this environment.
The DOs of Dog Park Etiquette
DO be realistic about your dog. This may be difficult to hear but it’s important to be honest with yourself about your dog. Even the nicest pet can be a menace in the park. Dog owners need to be confident their dog can interact with other dogs without becoming fearful or aggressive. Dog parks are very stimulating environments, with lots of new sights, smells and friends to meet, so dogs need to be well-socialised and calm in the presence of other dogs.
DO make sure your dog is up to date with their vaccinations (including Kennel Cough) and parasite control. It’s essential that all dogs are vaccinated, have up to date preventative care (such as worming and flea control) and are in good health before visiting a dog park. This is especially important when dogs are interacting with each other, as there is an increased chance of transferring disease or infection via play, sharing toys or communal water bowls. DO keep your dog on-leash until they’re in the designated off-leash area. It is good doggymanners to keep your dog on a lead until you are within the fenced park. It allows you to control their initial introduction to the park and other dogs, and stops them bolting straight over to unfamiliar dogs and people. DO choose the appropriately sized dog park area. If the park has sections for large and small dogs, respect them. Even the gentlest big dog can accidentally injure a smaller dog during play. Also, a smaller dog that feels threatened or overwhelmed can easily lash out. DO pick up your dog’s poo. Say no more with this – it’s a must.
The DON’Ts of Dog Park Etiquette DON’T get distracted. Your dog is your responsibility, so owners need to remain focussed on their dog at all times Don’t take a puppy to the dog park. Until your dog is preferably 16 weeks old, and had all their vaccinations, they need to stay away from areas where they’ll come in contact with other dogs. Discuss alternate options with your vet. Don’t use it as a chance to socialise a dog with behavioural issues. Dog parks are not a place for dogs to start socialising to help them work through behavioural issues. Dogs that struggle with other animals need focused, expert behavioural training. We cannot expect our dogs to instinctively know how to behave in these stressful situations. If pets are showing signs of stress, it is up to owners to step in and take their dog’s home. For more information on taking your friend on a dog’s day out, contact the team a Greencross Vets Coreen Ave on (02) 4731 3055.
Greencross Vets | Phone 47 313 055 Units 2 & 3/117 Coreen Ave, Penrith NSW 2750
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The G Spot
o you remember growing up and ya mum used to say “wear clean undies” just in case we got hit by a bus and needed to go to hospital? Mums were so caring in those days…. No seriously they were. Now, I am no rocket scientist or brain surgeon, however I am not sure what condition your undies would be in after you have been hit by the 478 heading to Sydney on the fastest route on a time schedule from hell, but it isn’t going to be pretty, that’s all I am saying. Having said that, I had the enlightening, wonderful, exuberating (big word attack with no idea of the meaning but it looks good for the column) day of riding on a Sydney bus - oops sorry buses (Plural)….. I swear to friggn God the driver was a frustrated wannabe retired racing car driver in a previous life. He felt compelled to drive up everyone’s tail end and then slam on the brakes every 15 seconds, placing my neck into whiplash. I was seriously considering sticking my OPAL card where the driver’s sun didn’t shine with a couple of round house kicks and an upper cut thrown in. Anyway, sigh, getting back on track, one of the many many things I
did notice was the amount of people on social media, smartphones, ipads, laptops you name it, they were friggn on it. I reckon I could have done a nudie run up and down the aisle, and no one would have noticed. The great thing was that I was able to actually see what people were viewing. One lady was actually transferring funds through her online bank account and had quite a healthy bank balance, I must say. I was also very blessed to have viewed her account details and work out the password. Pretty scary…. I was trying to work out if she was a bonehead or just complacent? At least it took my mind off contemplating my navel for the trip. Oh and here’s a hint, if you are going to watch, well let’s just say….18+ educational movies (Cough Cough) make sure your headphone jack is all the way in the computer socket and so the rest of the bus can’t hear it. At first I thought that two wounded hyenas had entered the bus. I also saw a few selfies and emails being sent out, with one bloke pulling a face on every word, I guess he thought that it would make it easier pulling a duck face, poking his tongue out or
With Gina Field, Nepean Regional Security
looking like he was in pain. I was lucky enough to attend a Cybercrime training course and whilst I am no expert in the field, one of the many things that I learnt is that the online scammers are pretty darn advanced. I saw so many people on emails that morning and all it takes is one click on an attachment and bingo, whammy or whatever you want to call it, the scammers are in. Click! that quick. Be very, very careful of what you open. Its mind-blowing how many people really believe that a Russian Heir has left them millions of dollars in a will and click the attachment and get the ball rolling. Rule of thumb if you don’t know who the email is from … delete! If it is legit they will contact you somehow. These scamming mules, and I will call them that …Mules, because they are usually working for a syndicate group and leader, send out hundreds if not millions of emails, hoping that someone clicks open an attachment in an email or someone responds. Some of these mules, feed off the more vulnerable folk, ones looking for love or down in their luck in life needing companionship. Some people have
lost millions on scamming dating sites thinking that they are assisting an online love interest (whom they have never met) when in actual fact it is just a mule, that in many cases are doing it to feed a family in a poverty stricken country. Many of these cases are not reported because people are too embarrassed to report that they wired $500,000 to a person that they had never met, in the hope of (one day) returned love and got ripped off. Whilst we can judge and be astounded, it happens daily and is happening right now as I type this. I often wonder, if technology has helped us or stunted us as humans? When mothers are now SMSing their children in the same house when dinner is ready and ringing children in the same house to get them out of bed or speak to them in their rooms. So to close off, it is okay to ride a bus naked, no one will notice anyway. The bus driver survived his trip, my OPAL card doesn’t need sterilising, the guy watching his educational movie had a great day and its okay to look like a constipated duck whilst sending emails. Roger that? Over and out!
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