From the Dogs Around the World Category...

The big news in the UK is that, starting this weekend, if you lose your dog, your dog may be lost to you forever. At least that is the concern. Seems a brand new law was put into place this weekend that has relieved the police from any responsibility to take care of strays and placed it squarely though not definitively on the shoulders on the local authorities. UK animal charities, like Blue Cross (not be be confused with Blue Cross in the US which is designed for humans who only feel from time to time that they are treated like dogs), Dogs Trust and the http://www.rspca.org.uk/ are worried. See news article.

Seems that the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs has faith in the local authorities (and, it would be helpful if someone from the UK could help translate this term to me, because back where I come from, the local authorities are the police) will do a good job of tending to local strays. Taking care of one's own, so to speak. Seems that the DEFRA unloaded £4 million pounds from the police budget to local authorities as part of this recent change of law. Still, the animal charities don’t think this will cover the expense, pointing out the enacted law was vague. They note that the law requires local authorities to create 24-hour drop-off points for the dogs “where practicable” but, then again, what’s your definition of practicable?

The charities think that, when £4 million is divided up, this will be less than £10,000 per local authority. Huh? How many dogs are escaping from each UK hamlet every year? What are fences and leashes for, anyway?

Of course, the greater concern is that “stray dogs may be left wandering the streets during times when dog wardens are not available, such as weekends” or, worse yet, local authorities have the right to destroy dogs after seven days, according to the charities. (Isn't that what police do? All this goes to show that we may think we speak the same language but we don't.)

Yet, wanting to end today on a happy note, sometimes one person's stray dog is another person's life saver. The Daily India reported today from Chennai that Julie the stray dog is saving lives at Marina Beach. Seems Julie has been assisting the patrolling policemen (local authorities, perhaps?) by keeping a watchful eye over children and barking and preventing people who are practicing unsafe beach and water use from running into the water. “The regulars on the beach say that they have been noticing the dog for the past one month rendering extraordinary humanitarian service to the society.” Now that Julie is around, no one drowns at that beach. So, the police are now training several more strays. Won't someone bring them home? What more do they need to do to earn a nice place at the foot of the bed?

Doggies around the world – we love them. Ta - and have a great weekend!