Every dog has his (or her) day out

By KATHLEEN RAYMENT
RETRACTABLE leashes were at full stretch, twisted around tree trunks and in between legs. As car boots opened, the dogs escaped, dragging their owners along for the run directly towards the liver treat and dog biscuit stall. A sign adjacent to the entrance read: ‘Caution: Event in Progress,’ and so the Dogs’ Day Out was in full swing.

Held on the shores of Lake Ginninderra, Dogs’ Day Out is a government initiative designed to promote respectful treatment of animals and provide a social and entertaining day out for the whole family.

After a messy dig in the dirt, some owners chose to pamper their pooch with a dog washing service that raised money for ACT Animal Rescue and Foster. Dallas Burkevics, a dedicated foster carer, was proudly parading her foster-pooch, Jersey, around the event.

Jersey was found severely neglected and abandoned in Bungendore, starving and suffering a severe infection of the eyes. Jersey was sitting patiently by Burkevics’s side, her burgundy coat shimmered in the sun and her trusting nature was surprising. She was one of the lucky ones.

“We rescue dogs from euthanasia and the pound. These days they only get seven days to find a home and then they’re put to sleep,” Burkevics said.

In Jersey’s case, she was most likely abandoned due to her expensive medical condition. She had what is known as entropion of the eyes where the eyelids roll in and rub on the eyeball.

“It’s a very painful condition and normally surgery would cost about $2000, that’s out of range for a lot of people…so now that she’s fully recovered we’re just looking for a good home for her.”

Events like Dogs’ Day Out are vital to raising funds and awareness for rescue dogs.

“There are so many beautiful dogs that are being put down every week in pounds across Australia. It’s really important for people to learn about rescue and how they can help.” Dallas hoped to find a suitable home for Jersey, who was well behaved on the day.

Dogs’ Day Out was held just days after a lewd photograph of Raider’s player, Joel Monaghan, was released that revealed the football star in a compromising position with a dog.

“Not only has he let people down, he’s let the dog community down as well as the pet community and that’s really unfortunate,” Burkevics said.

Also in the media recently was video footage of a British woman purposely throwing a cat into a garbage bin. Burkevics suggested acts like these are the reason Dogs’ Day Out and similar events are vital to re-enforcing the respectful treatment of animals.

Bobbie Eaton has been to three Dogs’ Day Out events. “This is a nice, controlled environment so you know that most people down here are responsible dog owners… I’d recommend it to all, even people that haven’t got dogs but are thinking about getting a dog to come down and have a look,” she said.

It’s hard not to be distracted by the giant, grey-haired Irish Wolfhound wearing a bandana and sitting at Eaton’s feet. This astonishing species would not look out of place in a Harry Potter movie wandering through an enchanted forest, but Vanessa, as Eaton had dubbed her, is as placid as they come. Even sitting down, the glorious, gentle giant comes up to Eaton’s chest.

They nearly didn’t make it to the event, “She just lost the end of her tail in the screen door at home! We’re about 3 vertebras shorter than we used to be….”

Even with the missing vertebras, Vanessa manages to clinch the title of ‘the longest tail’ earlier in the day.

As the afternoon approached and the temperature increased, a number of dogs and a few of their younger owners took advantage of the cool lake nearby. Owners threw sticks and balls out into the lake and clapped as the dogs returned the slobber-covered sticks back to the shore. Several dogs emerged from the lake and generously drenched their owners in murky lake water. Gradually the air smelt less of an appetising sausage sizzle and more of wet dog.

“Every dog will have its day,” Eaton said, referring to Monaghan’s punishment. Evidently disturbed by Joel Monaghan’s actions, she stressed the importance of days like this in educating people about dogs in order to prevent false fear and mistreatment of animals.