Welcome
Meeting Dates
The next meeting date for The Whippet Association of Vic. Inc. will be February 8th. This is our AGM and at the conclusion a General Meeting will take place. Venue is KCC Park Skye in the number two Lyndhurst meeting room commencing at 8 pm. Those attending please bring a plate of something to share for supper. Thanking you. RCM.
Whippet Calendars 2012 - SOLD OUT
Dear Whippet Lovers
Our lovely Calendars have all been sold for this year however we still have plenty of Diaries left. I know a lot of people don’t bother with printed Diaries now days but these have lots of gorgeous coloured pages of our whippets and include details of breeders all overAustralia. Public holidays are included and plenty of space for notes. They are a great source of reference for everyone whether planning to purchase a whippet puppy in the future or even those who might be looking for an older show dog. All breeders who advertise in our Diary are most reputable.
It would pay to get your order in early for the Calendars next year as these do sell very quickly. They are available from the month of September so don’t leave it too late next time.
RCM
I have many email contacts in my address book that are out of date. If anyone has contacted me in the past and I have sent out details of any “special” events or “urgent” emails about whippets in dire straights and you wish to remain in my address book to keep in touch please send me an update of your address if you have changed it over the past couple of years. Thanks heaps whippet lovers. Rae Mitchelson
Dear Whippet Lovers
It is THAT time of the year again!!!! Where did 2011 go!!!! Summer is here and the hot weather is not far away. Please make sure your whippets have lots of cool water and shade and never leave them in the car even for ten minutes on days of extreme heat. There is a car sticker around at the moment put out by the RSPCA saying: “DOGS DIE IN HOT CARS, IT MAKES OUR BLOOD BOIL TOO” Our Fun Days are back next year. April, June & August. The dates will appear on our calendar of events closer to the month. We will not hold Fun Days in the hot weather. This is just plain stupidity.
Unfortunately of late I have heard first hand, “stories” of breeders registered with Dogs Victoria who are NOT abiding by the code of ethics set down by our governing body. You could say these breeders are literally “puppy farmers” breeding under the umbrella of Dogs Victoria. People ring me and tell me stories of puppies and their dams being kept in pretty appalling conditions. Be careful of the breeders not willingly let you the puppy buyers view their establishments or any of their other whippets. They will bring a couple of puppies along to a mutual meeting place. They will deliver the puppy to you “so they can view where the puppy is going”. Doesn’t this say that the breeders have something to hide? Alarm bells should start ringing and questions should be asked before proceeding with a sale such as this. If you have even the slightest doubt about the integrity of the breeder with whom you have made contact please do not hesitate to contact (preferably by phone) any of our executive or committee to discuss further.
If you are considering buying a puppy please go through the correct channels. If there are no litters available on our website at the time of your search please contact me or another of our members as there is bound to be litters being planned so please be a little patient. It will pay off in the long run. Registered Breeders do not necessarily advertise their puppies on our website but on other websites but be very careful. You may see puppies advertised “cheaply” in the Trading Post or other newspaper but it’s generally a matter of “what you pay for is what you get”!!!! The “puppy farmers” even have websites advertising that their puppies are “registered”. Ask the question “with whom, Dogs Victoria”? I don’t think so!!!! Check out all the pages on our most informative website. There is interesting stuff there for all to read, reinforcing the importance of what I have just said.
It angers me to hear about whippet puppies being sold through Pet Shops. Contrary to what some people think these puppies are not from registered breeders. A “Pet Shop” is not a “registered breeder”. There are “puppy farmers” out there “supplying” these establishments with puppies. The cost of a puppy through a Pet Shop is no cheaper than buying from a reputable registered breeder. Pet Shops should not be allowed to sell any live animals. This is impulse buying and unlike buying a toaster or TV you cannot return “it” after 7 days because it’s pooing on the carpet!!! Sometimes I pass Pet Shops and see in the puppy or kitten window, “Sale, price reduced” which means that the poor creatures are “growing” so are to some people no longer “tiny and cute”. I shudder to think what happens to these in the end. The vast majority of whippets that end up in pounds and shelters come from these sources and “puppy farmers”.
You don’t need to spend a lot to feed your whippet. Whippets really don’t need a lot of food to keep them looking trim taut and terrific. There are reputable brands of dry food available at supermarkets, some Aust owned and made. Wet food!! What about chicken necks? Chicken shops sell these very cheaply. Or for red meat, buy from a reputable pet supplies. NOT one that sells live animals!!! I know Vet bills can be very expensive but shop around, make some phone calls. You will be surprised at the difference. Speaking to various people I am shocked by the cost some folk pay just for vaccinations and neutering operations. Don’t forget that some dog shelters have Vet services available for a very reasonable price and, at the same time you are helping to support the shelters.
As I have said before if you are finding it hard to contact me during the week it’s because I work very strange shifts but please try the weekends or Wednesdays (my day off doing whippety stuff) as I am home most times then. I am more than happy to take your call on any of these days. If the phone is engaged I might be catching up on well earned sleep so please keep trying. Otherwise send me an email and I will endeavour to get back to you as soon as I can. The email might be the middled of the night but at least it won’t disturb YOUR sleep.
Thank you for your patience lovely people; cuddles for all your whippets and until next time “HAPPY WHIPPETING”!!!!!! WISHING YOU ALL HAPPY HOLIDAYS & BEST WISHES FOR 2012. STAY SAFE & TAKE CARE!!
RCM
Memberships
A reminder to all members
Our financial year now ends on December 31 st of each year. Memberships are due and payable by January 31 st . This should be easy to remember now. Put a note on the final day of your calendar. If you miss out on the first newsletter of the year (or any newsletter for that matter) please check you membership status with me, preferably by email: raemitch@hotkey.net.au or else call 03 9725 0486.
Dual - $35-, Single - $25-, Junior (up to age 13) $7-
Please make cheques payable to The Whippet Association of Vic. Inc and post to: Secretary, Rae Mitchelson , 44/79 Bayswater Road , Croydon, 3136.
We thank you sincerely for your continued support!!!!! Without you, the members, our Club could not continue!!!!!
