Cape Woolami National Park.

Whilst staying at Philip Island recently I drove out to Cape Woolami National Park to walk around the tracks out to and around the prominent and photographic granite rocky point there which is its main feature other than being a Sea-bird Haven and popular nesting/resting point. As I drove into the Park entrance there was a sign that said, “No Dogs. Penalties Apply”. I remember immediately thing, yeah, that’ll work, Not! It was my instant estimation that not too many dog owners were going to take much notice of that, as I had already seen many dogs on this holiday where they were not supposed to be. But Immediately I thought that, I saw another sign that I believed would achieve the desired result of no dogs roaming around among the Bird Sanctuary.

What did that sign say that would make it so effective to all but the most stupid? It wasn’t wordy, humorous, or even legally binding. In fact it was a fairly simple sign indeed. The next sign simply, read, “1080 Poison Laid. Foxes.”

Yeah! Don’t know about you, but I reckon that sign should have the desired result of people controlling and keeping their dogs out.

People may disregard the first sign, as they think their chance of getting caught are low and even if they do, the price/penalty would be affordable if not totally acceptable. But with the second sign the risks indicated and probable for disobedience, are much higher all around with the death of the dog the ultimate price to be paid for disobedience.

We all have a price or limit on the risks we will knowingly take, don’t we? Yes we will knowingly take some risks if we think we can get away with them or that the penalties are minimal or reasonably acceptable if we do have the misfortune of getting caught. Yes we will often take what is called calculated risks, but not if the penalty is too extreme, and definitely think long and hard if it includes a strong possibility of paying the ultimate price, particularly for a much-loved Pet.

What about you? What dangerous , unnecessary , or even foolish risks are you taking today? And can you really afford the price if all goes wrong in the end? Have a think about that and look past the “NO dogs allowed” signs and see that the reasons may be because of Poison Laid for other reasons. Remember too, whether you are a Fox or a dog, the poison doesn’t distinguish. Poison is poison and death is the usual result. So what poison are you taking unnecessary risks with today?