The dog catcher in the country town I grew up in was an ominous character who drove around town in his beat-up old ute. Bags was his name. At the sight of a free roaming pooch he’d loom from his car, his tall body clad in clothes which looked like they’d not been removed for a week—or two. In one hand he held a home devised whip, in the other a long pole with a loop of rope at one end.
I remember one morning watching from the safety of the schoolyard fence as he parked across the road. Large dark eye-brows sat atop the scowling eyes that flickered our way as he reached into the back of his car to grab his tools. His innocent victim sat, tongue dangling, under a bush, unaware of his impending doom which we children were convinced was certain death.
But those were the days when dogs freely roamed the streets and mummy dogs often surprised you with a litter. But that’s a rare thing in most parts of Australia now. If a roaming dog is spotted you can be sure there’ll be a flurry of posts in local Facebook noticeboards searching for the owner, hoping to help them avoid the hundreds of dollars in dog-pound fees.
Are Australians a nation of dog lovers? Not only do we Aussies adore our canine friends, but that love seems to be increasing. Statistics reveal that 47.8% of Australian households have a dog, up from 37.5% in 1994.(1) That comes to a whopping 6.4 million doggies. That’s a whole lot of wagging tails and love.
I’ve had dogs all my life, and although Labradors— Australia’s favourite breed—are my favourite, I have also owned the next three favourite breeds—German Shepherd, Border Collie and Jack Russell.
My preference is for large dogs, but small dogs are twice as popular. Australians spend around $33 billion annually on pets, $20 billion of this on dogs. Despite this expense, around three million Australian households are considering getting a pet within the next twelve months.(1)
Although a small amount of people don’t get the benefit in having a pet, most people would agree that dogs in particular offer humans so much; unconditional love, comfort, companionship, mental stimulation, and their need for walks encourages us to be more active. I have a friend who would work a ten-hour day yet still found time to take his pooch out bushwalking in the hills three times a week.
Taking on the responsibility of a dog isn’t something to be rushed as it’s a huge responsibility and commitment. As the post-covid statistics from dog shelters across Australia are revealing, many people haven’t been able to give their dog the love and care they deserve. Sadly, many of these dogs surrendered will have to be euthanised—a very unfair ending for such a loyal animal.
Think carefully before making that commitment. Talk to other dog owners and learn about the characteristics of the different breeds before making your choice. The cliché saying ‘A dog is for life, not just for Christmas’, is very true. But once you’ve decided to add to your family, you can be assured, as millions of other Australians have found, that you have a friend for life. One who will love and adore you, and simply expect the same and a little food in return.
I’m not sure what Bags would make of how many dogs we now have in Australia. He’d probably roll his eyes at the amount of money we’re spending on our pampered pooches. But there is no doubt, Australians are definitely a nation of dog lovers.
Reference
- https://animalmedicinesaustralia.org.au/wp-content/uploads/2022/11/AMAU008-Pet-Ownership22-Report_v1.6_WEB.pdf