GstaadLife

For all dog owners who are registered residents in Saanenland: the deadline for paying your dog tax is August 1 2009; the fee is SFr 90 (hmmm, wasn't that SFr 80 last year...), payable at the Gemeinde in Saanen or Saanen Bank in Gstaad.

We have always been huge fans of the Alpenruhe playground and petting zoo - a place which is simply fantastic fun for families with kids, with swings, slides, huge trampolin, climbing facilities, tunnels, pirate ship, water games, zipline, sand pit, table soccer, table tennis, little train rides and horseback riding on Wednesday afternoons, and a petting zoo to boot. And a couple of weeks back a new addition was installed - something even the normally bored daddies marvel about and spend hours trying to figure out. We're not sure what to call it, so we shall refer to it simply as a "ball thingamajig". Balls roll from one place to another, wheels have to be turned, step ladders mastered, ball elevators negotiated, and hydraulic pumps enabled. (see picture above). It is simply fantastic, fun and educational.

For all dog owners who are registered residents in Saanenland: the deadline for paying your dog tax is August 1 2008; the fee is SFr 80, payable at the Gemeinde in Saanen (Gemeinde Gsteig is August 31). Also, since January 1 2007, all dogs older than three months of age have been required to have an implanted microchip (or legible tattoo) and must be registered with the Animal Identity Service (ANIS) database in Bern. ANIS is an independent database for pet animals operating throughout Switzerland. If you imported your dog from abroad, you must present your dog to a veterinarian in Switzerland within 10 days after entry into the country. The vet will register your dog’s foreign microchip or tattoo number with ANIS. In Canton Bern, owners of “dangerous or potentially dangerous” breeds such as bull terriers, Dobermans and Rottweilers are asked to declare their dogs with the cantonal veterinary office; owners will then learn about dog-training requirements and authorization for possession.

The headline is ours, and we did it to get your attention. Why is it that as soon as there is snow on the ground, some dog owners think they don't have to pick up after their pets? Hanspeter Grundisch of Gstaad has some thoughts on the matter...

I enjoy my voluntary role as cross-country piste controller. Just like my colleagues I not only control the day-passes, but also the cleanliness surrounding the cross-country ski run. This inevitably involves us removing dog excrement with those convenient red or brown backs. So now my open letter to dog owners:

Dear (few) responsible dog owners: thanks for your mature behaviour towards addressing the dog faeces problem. Cleaning up your dog's excrement deserves our respect. Unlike those (many) irresponsible dog owners: it is time for a stark of improvement of your attitude towards your environment. Nothing should be stopping you - everything is clearly regulated, and the infrastructure is available.

The entire responsibility for this problem lies with the owners, and not the animal. It would be a shame if the authorities had to start using available legal instruments to hold culprits accountable. Meanwhile: I will continue to ensure the security and hygiene of slopes and hiking trails throughout Saanenland, and would be grateful if you could do the same.

Local laws on littering:
Since June 2004 new trash laws have been in force. The new regulations feature a catalog of fines for littering. Under these rules, if dog faeces are not picked up, the owner can be fined SFr 80. Just pick up after your animal...

A few days back, a couple and their two unleashed dogs were walking through a field on the Stalden Alp in the direction of the Niesen mountain, when a cow became aggressive and attacked their dogs. The cow turned on the couple, throwing the man to the ground and trampling him. It is thought the cow reacted violently to the dogs due to her instinct to protect her calf and her herd. Cows with young calves are known to fight dogs. The man was gravely injured and was airlifted to a nearby hospital. At a time when the cows are slowly starting to return to lower pastures, the agricultural department’s section for accident prevention strongly advises dog owners to keep their dogs on a leash when going through cow fields.

August 1 is coming, which means mountain-hut smorgasbords, mountain-top bonfires, and lots and lots of flags. It also means fireworks, and for our four-legged friends this is bad news. Although the law states that fireworks can only be let off on August 1 itself (without a permit), it's already started, and there are always a few idiots who insist on exhausting their supplies over the first days of August. For dogs, who have far better hearing than us humans, August 1 is a time of great stress. For some it can cause diarrhoea or the kind of skittishness that will make them do something unexpected like panic and run in front of a car. So GstaadLife.com has a few suggestions for you to try to minimize the discomfort for your furry friends. (1) leave them at home, close the windows, close the shutters and generally make the place look like it does 44 weeks of the year;

The Saanenland Canine Club (Hundesportvereins Saanenland) is putting on a series of puppy training courses. With non-dog owners becoming increasingly intolerant of unruly canines following a spate of headline-making dog attacks, these courses are a great idea. Remember, puppy training courses are as much for the owner as they are for the dog...and that these courses are a great way  to meet like-minded folks from all segments of the community. The nine class program begins tomorrow and runs through May 23:

• Wednesday April 18, 19h00–20h00
• Wednesday April 25, 19h00–21h00
• Wednesday May 2, 19h00–20h00
• Wednesday May 9, 19h00–21h00
• Wednesday May 16, 19h00–20h00
• Wednesday May 23, 19h00–21h00

Training takes place in Dorfrütti, Saanen (next to the trash depot across from the airport). The cost for the program is just SFr 60.–, and you should register with Daniel Aebli at 033 755 11 60.

He was missing for nearly two weeks, but thanks to an ad in GstaadLife sister publication, the Anzeiger von Saanen, Speedy, a nine-year old male sheep dog was found. Somehow, this naughty pooch was able to travel from his home near the Wispile middle station to Lake Lauenen. After the missing dog ad appeared in the local paper, various sightings of the dog were called in. Finally, a call came in from a farming family near Lake Lauenen that they had found the dog. Speedy was starving after his 12-day walkabout, but his owners were overjoyed to be reunited with their dog, as well as the ad's effectiveness. Ah, living in a small town is great! Where else do you get a reprieve from reading about shootings, robberies, and other misdeeds?

If you’re planning on booking your hound in at Gstaad’s “Dog Palace” this holiday season, you better do it soon…places at the Hundepension are likely to be scarce this yuletide. Since opening back in the summer, Walfred Conci and his partner Sonja Schmidt have been doing some bang-up business, often running weekends at or close to capacity. Not that that’s a problem, mind you, due to the superb facilities they have for our canine partners. As the GstaadLife print edition reported on July 7, the facility can accommodate up to 20 “guests”, with five star accommodation located in a barn renovated by Conci to cater to your dogs’ every comfort. Dogs are welcome for extended stays (2 months is the record so far) or even just an afternoon play-date while you go skiing.

Above: After a successful first summer, Sonja Schmidt and Walfred Conci are ready for the winter.

As we previewed back on August 25, a new vet practice and small animal clinic has opened its doors in Saanen. Under the stewardshp of Dr Neff, and featuring the small animal expertise of Dr Frohloff, what makes this practice unique is the sheer about of kit they have available for treatment; an X-ray room, lab equipment, a teeth cleaning machine, drips, surgical facilities, and recovery posts available for overnight stays were just a few of items we observed during our tour of the facilities. It is comforting for small animal owners to know that such expertise and facilities exist here in the valley without requiring a trip down the valley to Thun, Interlaken, or Bulle. Check out the facilities and meet the doctors for yourself during the open days they are having this weekend on October 21 and 22 from 10h00 until 16h00 (Chalet Thomethus in front of the Saanen hospital). Drinks will be served, the doctors will be present (English spoken), and experts will be on hand to answer nutritional questions. Drop by...

Above: Dr Frohloff consults with a patient, conversing easily and clearly in good English.