New Home for Lara

Family, Education, Health and Pets
1
Pets Age : 3 years old

Advert Description :

Hello, I would like to introduce you to lovely little Lara and our sad story.

Excitedly my dogs and I departed the shores of South Africa at the beginning of Feb, to embark on an adventure to settle down in Switzerland with my girlfriend. After several months of searching and finding the perfect home - it was only once we had moved and registered at Canton of Zurich were we notified that Lara could not stay with us, due to her breed "Staffie". Hearing this really broke my heart and we have researched all avenues, including moving ourselves but due demands of our work, we are unable to pursue this avenue. And so we have two options left at hand - to find Lara a home in a Canton where her breed is accepted (Aargau ) or to send her back to South Africa - the foremost we would prefer as this would be the least traumatic for her, especially since she has settled down so wonderfully in Switzerland.

Now that you have insights into our sad situation let me introduce you to Lara in hope that you have a place in your heart and a place in your home for her

Lara is a very cute, friendly and playful little Staffie mix who loves cuddles. I have had her since she was a pup, she came to me as a rescue pup. She is incredibly affectionate, and loves socializing with one and all - dogs, cats and humans. Birds she finds an absolute fascination with and often you will find her running joyfully after one - my thoughts is that she thinks she can possibly fly.

Lara, has been vaccinated, micro chipped and have been spade. She Weighs 12 kg.

We are hoping you are able to offer a loving home for our little Lara

Given a bit more training - like all puppies need, Lara will become the most devoted and caring dog.

Thank you

Vanessa & Sven

2
When I look at the pics, she doesn't look like a staffie at all?! Are you sure you have the right breed?

3
She has the staffie colouring and markings but is clearly crossed with another 'fluffier' breed.

She does look very cute and I wish you every success in re homing her.

Are you sure that Aargau is the only canton that allows staffies? I know that a lot of cantons have strict dog laws and restricted breeds but I would be surprised if these dogs were banned in all the cantons except Aargau. I'm pretty sure there is a guy with two staffies who lives near to my son's school. I see him walking them every day. I must pay more attention to them next time I see him.

4
I too don't think she looks much like a Staffie. Did you send the canton vet office pics? Have you also investigated the option of taking a "Wesenstest" (temperament test) with her?

5
My heart is breaking for you. I hope you can find a home for her. But I

won't tell if Lara has to stay incognito.

6
I know that Vaud allows Staffies, for sure.

In some other cantons you need to do additional training to get a license to keep them.

7
I'm guessing it's a cross, as it's still wide-shouldered and the usual staffie colour.

OP, how long did you have Lara before you moved from SA to Switzerland?

8
Hi Everyone

We exploded all our options here in Zurich, But unfortunately she has Staffie in her and her paperwork states it too. She has been examined by the state vet in Zurich, but its not his call at the end of the day, its a group decision by the Canton.

She is very lovely, loves people and its a very sad day for us.

Thank you

9
She does look sweet. How soon did you purchase her before moving to Zurich? Its a shame the temparement checks cant work for crosses.

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I have had her from about 4 Months old, I got her from the Animal Shelter in South Africa.

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Well I for one am surprised that in your search for a perfect home, you did not look into the rules regarding the keeping of your dog. This information is well published. You must have an ignorant landlord/property owner as well.

Canton Aargau is not far from Zurich and I really don't see why moving is impossible.

You made a mistake. Lara should not be the one to pay for this.

If you want help searching for pet-friendly housing in Canton Aargau, I can do this for you....and for Lara's sake, I will waive my fees. You are her family, and it is not going to be easy to find her a new home.

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We were only made aware of the regulations once I landed here with my dogs and registered them with the Canton. Even though all the information was given to the Authorities before even leaving SA as they have requested it, breeds etc. I had no idea of the regulation nor was the regulation made aware to me before leaving SA.

Caught us totally off guard.

Your help will be greatly be appreciated.

13
We live in AG and commute to Zurich every day for work, it's 26 mins to the HB so not long at all. I hope you can find a resolution that allows you to keep her.

And thanks Mrs D for offering your services free of charge, how very very gracious of you.

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Hi Gonads,

I was a staffy owner in Australia so I feel your pain on this one.

There was an old thread from 2009 where a fellow South African brought his Staffy to Zurich, and could jump through the loopholes by applying for a "Wisentest", which basically tests your staffy against all signs of aggression etc.

....... Let me be clear at this point - the test is TOTAL BULLSHIT.

Anyway, There are a few Staffies here in Zurich, but I'm equally unaware of the changes to the law that may have taken place in the mean time.

I've found the specific posts that you need to know about (the thread is quite long), but it has a pdf of the form you need to apply, and the other post basically runs through what you might expect from the said test.

As I said, I don't know if this still applies, but it's worth a shot.

The forms you'll need

The test procedure

If you click on Roostermikes profile, I'd recommend sending him a PM. He hasn't been on the forum for a while (but only for the last month) but I assume he's still here.

Also, I'd also advise listening to Mrs Doolittle, if she can set you up in a place in Aargau (however you spell it), I'd take the option.

It's not that far from Zurich (..... hell, Geneva isn't far from Zurich in my opinion) and the train options will get you into town on a regular basis without too much inconvenience.

Fingers crossed this works out. Good luck.

I hate this 'banned breeds' bullshit. It's 'owners' who should be banned.

15
Gonads,

To put this into perspective, I live in Zurich, and my daily commute is 40mins by tram.

16
Dog s , as in more than one? How many are there? What breed(s) are the others?

Best to send me a PM with your contact details, and I will get in touch with you. My website is no longer in my profile as I have changed the focus of what I do and need to revamp my website. Officially I no longer provide house search services for tenants. But I will try and help you.

17

Thank you.

18
This sad thread illustrates how very important it is to get correct information when considering a move to Switzerland - and how much bad information is floating out there.

For all readers: Dog welfare is the competency of the federal government, and at the federal level there is no BSL, only the TSchV. However, dog control is the competency of the individual cantons, and each regulates as it sees fit. About half the cantons have enacted BSL, called Rassenliste in German.

In most BSL cantons, it matters not if the dog is a crossbreed - if there is any of a listed breed in the dog, it falls under the ban/restriction. For instance, the ZH law states that if there is 10% or more of a listed breed in the DNA test, the dog is banned. (The faulty science behind DNA testing for breeds notwithstanding... but that is another discussion.)

I've said this many times before, and will keep saying it until I am blue in the face:

It is every dog owner's responsibility to keep abreast of the 26 different cantonal dog laws, as well as the federal law. These laws are not static, these laws can change as Swiss attitudes to dogs changes.

A summary of current law can be found at the Tier Im Recht website, here:

http://www.tierimrecht.org/de/tiersc...echt/index.php

Click on your canton for the summary - but also click on the link at the top of each canton's page for the actual text of the cantonal law.

You MUST understand what you are up against BEFORE moving into a canton, and even when you VISIT a canton. (Some cantons require a visitor's permit for restricted breeds, for instance.)

Added to the confusion, in today's Familienhund class we discussed the new national Hundegesetz scheduled for introduction and debate next parliamentary session. In 2010 the Nationalrat decided not to introduce a national control law, leaving it to the cantons as we see today. But that may soon change.

Sadly, despite the SKN courses, despite all the information out there it seems that there are still uninformed and or confused dog owners. (Not to mention the idiots who openly flaunt the law.) In response to growing concern and, sadly, growing intolerance among the population, there have been calls for a new Switzerland wide dog law. (Which I fear will likely follow the stricter cantonal models.)

A short article in yesterday's 20 minutes:

http://www.20min.ch/schweiz/news/sto...esetz-26561025

Hold on to your hats (or leashes ), fellow dog owners - we are in for another bumpy ride.

---

Again a plea:

The only way we who love our dogs will be allowed to keep them in Switzerland, to continue to be able to give them artgerecht happy lives, is to be the most responsible, respectful, skilled dog owners we can be. We need to ensure that no one ever has cause for complaint based on our actions. And we need to both understand and follow all the various laws that impact us at all times.

19
I really hope Lara can stay with you, she looks like such a character and how you describe her really makes me feel you guys belong together. Lovely of Mrs. Doolittle to offer her help - who knows, you may end up with a nicer place and more space for Lara to run after birds!

I agree that banning breeds is stupid and maybe even counterproductive, as the people who want the dogs for the wrong reason find a way around the law, while law-abiding, responsible owners favour another breed for the sake of simplicity.

20
Unfortunatly the Wesenstest and special permit is no longer an option in Zürich. That only applied to listed dogs who were legally registered as resident in the canton at the time of the introduction of the ZH law.

Since the introduciton, it is forbidden to import, purchase, breed, adopt or otherwise acquire one of the banned breeds in cantons Zürich. Any lilsted dog found living illegally in Zürich may be seized, and could possibly be ordered euthanized.

Lara's owners need to move out of Zürich asap.