2 November 2011

Mishka finds a home!

| johnboy
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This good news in from the RSPCA:

700 days, 1500 meals, 1100 walks, 1 dog

CEO of RSPCA ACT Michael Linke today proudly announced that Mishka, a tan wolfhound that first came to the animal shelter in Weston in December 2009 will be going home today at 11.00am.

“It’s been a long and tough road for Mishka, but a road that today ends with a home, a home living on 200 acres in western NSW where he can stretch his legs and run and jump, two of his favourite things.

“Mishka first came to the RSPCA through the inspectors. He was originally only supposed to be in care for a short period of time as his owner underwent treatment for chronic disease and our Pet Support program had space to support Mishka for a month or so. Sadly Mishka’s owner died during this time and RSPCA was asked to find Mishka a new home.

Being a wirehaired wolfhound Mishka was going to be a tough dog to find a home for.

Michael explains “He is a big boy. He can easily stand on his hind legs with his fore paws on my shoulders. He can jump eight, ten foot fences with a single bound. So we knew we were looking for a special family with a back yard, or property that could both afford Mishka security, and also allow him to exhibit his natural behaviours. He loves to chase, he loves to run and he loves the company of people and we have been able to find a home for him. It’s taken 700 days, but we know that each and every one of those days we gave Mishka the best chance at finding a home and we never, ever gave up on him. This success is what RSPCA ACT is about. We are absolutely committed to animal welfare, we are absolutely committed to saving lives and Mishka will forever remind us of that.”

Mishka is the 36346th animal we have found a new home for since we started using computerised records in 1995. On average we find new homes for 2200 animals per year.

mishka

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Jethro said :

I remember when we had a dog who went to live on a big farm, where my parents promised me he could run around and chase rabbits.

and probably chased my dog who was on the same farm.

I remember when we had a dog who went to live on a big farm, where my parents promised me he could run around and chase rabbits.

maybe its semantics. 🙂 sometimes the dog touched the fence on the way up, and they all scrabbled with 4 feet to get over the top. But it still was “a single” bound in the sense of 1 jump got them up and over…. *winks*

EvanJames said :

Some dogs use the fence as a springboard to get over, others climb. .

This is my point, its not a single bound then. 🙂

Some dogs use the fence as a springboard to get over, others climb. We had a chihuahua whose father could climb out of a full-sized commercial dog run.

This dog did 60 inches (5 feet) & is a blue heeler, a breed bred for their agility:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-vaUNnR9V_g&feature=related

Guiness Book of Records, 68inches, 5 1/2 foot:

http://www.guinnessworldrecords.com/highest-jump-by-a-dog/

All done by agile dogs. Many dogs can escape from yards with fences that high but not in one bound. Generally the larger the dog the less agile they are.

Not trying to be a dick Canardly but do you have any results from these competitions? I have seen many dogs jump fences & all have used the fence at some point to help it over.

many agricultural shows have dog high jump competitions. I have seen plenty of dogs get over 7 and a half foot and 8 foot fences. I guess while they do have a run up, they get over it in one single bound.

i still don’t get why people buy a purebred *cough* jug (Good Lord – its a crossbred mutt) for $1200 from a pet shop that can have as many genetic defects as any other cross bred dog. “Oh but they’re sooo cuuuteeeeee” bouncing around in the window.

RSPCA trains the dogs in its care to the extent resources allow, so I bet Mishka will be a great pet. The new owner is getting a real bargain when you think of the time and money invested.

What can we do to improve adoption from the RSPCA? Maybe sales at breeders and pet stores should be taxed based on the number of animals of that species currently awaiting adoption at the RSPCA?

20 birds looking for a new owner right now? $20 extra for pet store birds this month.
200 cats looking to be homed? Add $200 to the price of a pet store cat.

KB1971 said :

Well done to the RSPCA but to claim the dog can jump 8-10 feet fences in a single bound is a bit much…………

I believe it, because I’ve seen dogs about half Mishka’s size escape from a yard with fences over 6 foot high.

Well done to the RSPCA but to claim the dog can jump 8-10 feet fences in a single bound is a bit much…………

I hope the dog has a long and happy life terrifying rabbits. Which is what ‘exhibit his natural behaviours’ must mean. Big dogs are the best; I just wish they lived as long as yappers.

Well done RSPCA.

Nice outcome. And what a nice face that dog has.

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