Loving my Oldies

I found myself watching a fascinating show on SBS the other day. It was about people with hugely heightened senses. One was about a woman who, after some years of marriage, started to think her husband wasn’t washing properly and telling him he was smelly. This went on for a few years until he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease. At some stage they went to a gathering of people with Parkinson’s and when they left she said to him that they all smelt like he did. To cut a long story short, she was given all sorts of tests and was always right about who had or didn’t have Parkinson’s. The one time she was “wrong” was because the person had not been diagnosed, but eventually was. So there is now a smell test for Parkinson’s.

Many years ago, a friend of mine who lived up near Gosford thought it was as cute as anything that the little Chihuahua from across the road used to come and visit her Rottweiler. One day she was visiting me and said she had bad news. Don’t ask me how, but I just knew and said, “Tiger’s been killed.” She said in amazement, “How did you know?” I said that I didn’t, but I knew it was bound to happen. What adds to the tragedy is that the person who ran him over was absolutely traumatised, but imagine a tiny Chihuahua running across a street dappled by trees - she and Tiger didn’t stand a chance.

Yes. Danny, Jeune and Tamar were together for so many years. And Gussy Cat. They saw so many foster/rescue dogs come and go and generally took it all in their strides. All so missed.

You bet.

Thank you everyone. I’m a bit numb - at the beginning of this year, I had five little dogs and I now have only two: Mezza and Sooty, but elderly and health compromised. I have to go back about twenty years to when I last had only two dogs and Gussy cat. The house seems very empty, but Mezza and Sooty are getting a lot more attention. I keep thinking I have something to do and then I realise I don’t have to check that Tamar is okay. A few photos from happier and healthier times which I love so much: Danny and Tamar: Danny and Tamar by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr Tamar, Danny, Jeune and Rover 2008 Danny Tamar Jeune Rover by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr Danny and Tamar: Danny and Tamar 2 by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr

My dearest sweetest little Lion Queen has gone. Loved and treasured since Friday 2 July 2004. IMG_0496 by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr

This story was on the ABC News tonight.

That poor woman . I wonder how many more are in her situation? I know identity theft is rife; I mean other breeders. I hope people in Armidale are rallying around her.

Some of the best photographs I have of many of my dogs were taken by you, @tdierikx

Tamar had a check up with vet yesterday. She is definitely deteriorating and it is now a watching brief . She still eats, drinks and toilets without any issues and we all have a little walk along my street. It is an “interesting” job walking three geriatric dogs: Sooty who is blind and wants to channel a spring lamb, Tamar with her motility issues and Mezza who is never sure whether he wants to come or go. They all can spend an inordinate amount of time sniffing a bunch of grass around a fence post, which is what it is all about. IMG_1298 by Cynthia Waters, on Flickr

They could be mum and bub❤️❤️❤️

“Super cute” doesn’t come close

My dogs are 16x2 and 14. Tamar and Mezza are generally fine in the poop department, but Sooty is somewhat up and down. I always have cans of Royal Canin Gastrointestinal on hand and just mix it in with their normal mince. It’s lovely when they decide they are puppies again

Jaison, please go back and read the responses to your original post. Your plans are nothing short of a recipe for disaster. Desexing Buddy now is good, but only for his well being. It will not change the dynamics between him and Wilba. Hiding food and toys to try to make your back yard more entertaining for the dogs is just about the worst thing you could do. Please don’t do this. It is time to understand the unfulfilling, unhappy and dangerous lives these two dogs are living and to give them any hope of happiness, they must be separated by rehoming both or one of them under the conditions I mentioned in my first post. They present a danger to your family - this knowledge should outweigh any promises you made to the dogs. Conversely, you have a greater chance of fulfilling that promise by giving them separate lives.

Yes, there are cases which defy easy solutions. But I have rescued and fostered so many dogs over the years in terrible conditions which were resolved after a couple of baths and regular flea treatment. My little Pomeranian, Mezza, is one. His tail was like a rat’s, hairless, red and raw. And his back was similar taking three baths before I managed to get all the flea dirt out of his fur. All cured in no time. Wilba seems to have multiple health problems, but Jaison did say that his partner was “lazy” and would not bath him.