Loving my Oldies

Experienced the shortest trial ever yesterday - 3hours. Rescuer and I took Stevie off for a meet and greet. I had previously said no to this party because they lived in a unit without even a balcony. They did have another little dog, the man often worked from home, the woman worked a few days a week for 4-5 hours. Their current dog is walked twice a day and in summer they spend every weekend at their house near Port Stephens. Even so, I did not believe Stevie was a suitable dog to live in an apartment even with owners dedicated to walking and taking outside to pee. Rescuer spoke to the woman on a few occasions and during one conversation she said that they hoped to move full time to their beach house in 12-18 months’ time. Eventually, I agreed that it couldn’t hurt to at least meet them. After we’d been there for a couple of hours, including a long walk with both dogs and lots of playing in the house, the woman asked if we could leave Stevie for the weekend. Now this is not something either I or the rescuer would normally do, but it did seem to be a good idea as the man was going to be home all weekend and the woman was working for just a few hours on Saturday. Their dog was a lovely little fellow and the house was full of toys, the dogs were allowed on the bed and the furniture. Less than three hours later the call came through: they just couldn’t cope, because, despite being taken downstairs every 1/2 hour, Stevie was peeing everywhere and after a while their dog (who was 100% reliable while they were gone) started peeing over the top. Please note that they were told over and over again, that this would happen, but I guess until it does, people don’t realise how bad it can be. Their house was carpeted end to end with lots of rugs and scatter rugs and I can tell you that, knowing Stevie, my heart did sink when I first walked into the house as I thought of the commitment and management required to make it work. Unfortunately, I didn’t check my phone for some hours and so didn’t see the message from the rescuer until much later at night, otherwise I would have gone straight away and collected him. Even so, the rescuer had to dissuade me from hopping in the car LOL. The man dropped him back at my place just after 9 the following morning. Pour little boy was soooooo subdued. Apparently he’d been sick and had had diarrhoea. So lesson learned, but hard on Stevie. I took him out with me yesterday afternoon to PetStock hoping to teach him that car rides didn’t result in his being left behind.

Very True I am amazed that you are worrying about the backlash some groups get. Several deserve it, of course, but if you feel you are doing the right thing, why take on the criticisms that other groups are getting?

You could try BM Animals in Melbourne or Clear Dog Treats in Queensland.

Oh that is fabulous

Trip to the optometrist, I think.

Spesh ....

Australia is really lagging behind other countries in terms of adoption of technologies (except those that enable us to bury our heads in mediocrity - phones, games, etc). Yet we have scientists and inventors who are nothing short of brilliant and world leaders. So hard to understand.

I was thinking about cannabis oil for dogs only yesterday, because I saw on ABC TV that a forum was being held in Melbourne to teach doctors et al more about cannabis; the fellow who’d organised the forum was being interviewed. Considering the TGA approves millions of alternative meds which have been proven ad nauseam to have no benefits at all, why cannabis derivatives which have been proven again and again to have changed people’s lives to extraordinary degrees, hasn’t approved is beyond me. Apart from the fact that it has been stated again and again that the “high” qualities of cannabis are not in the plant used for medicinal purposes, what on earth does it matter if someone who is in chronic unresolvable pain or having 20 plus fits a day gets a bit of a high? Ever the cynic, I cannot help but wonder how much the TGA is in the grip of big pharma. One little bit of healing oil taking the place of millions of useless pills and potions? Not while big pharma is in charge !!

Thanks Scottsmum. I still have foster failures from 2003 and 2004 living with me (Jeune and Tamar).

Many years ago on DOL when the Rescue forum was much more active, someone started a thread on emotions when foster dogs went to their new homes. I was pretty sanguine and said that I happily waved them off to their new homes. Someone else said they cried buckets. I certainly didn’t feel superior , but I did feel a sense of relief that I wasn’t a mess when foster dogs left me. Well the years have passed and many dogs have come and gone, my own have grown old and crossed the ‘Bridge with just the oldies Jeune, Tamar and Bunter still with me. On Satuday, Benji goes to his new home and guess what? I am already feeling very teary. It will be such a lovely home for him (another similar age, size and playful dog and people home all the time, several walks a day), but I will miss his gorgeous blocky face and the way he pushes his nose against my legs as he follows me around the house. I will miss his soft and warm body keeping me warm at night. And then Stevie has a meet and greet on Friday and a home situation that sounds very attractive. Soooooo things is changing around here . It has been only three months since I embarked on looking after dogs again (Stella in late March while her mum was in hospital) and then fostering Benji and Stevie the day Stella went home, but I think because they are all young and lively, I have invested a lot of emotion and care into them. Aren’t I silly? I know I will be fine, just rabbiting on.

This made me laugh . You never can tell what sort of dog someone is going to click with. Lurcher type dogs are here, too.

Totally unnecessary

Two dogs and their dad - having the best life ever.

Oh my goodness - a lot has happened to you and Miss Berry over the years. I will be interested in what your vet has to say and and any remedial suggestions. Good luck.

Not only is he a horrible person, but also is his defence lawyer and the magistrate. Yet again, “the courts” ....... totally out of touch and yet again, animals betrayed by them. This judgement is nothing less than obscene. If Luna was a danger, how on earth was that filth able to crouch down in front of her and stab her. Insanity - day after day after day.

Didn’t say whether they’d caught the dog. Those gashes look horrendous. If my experience from a single tooth bite in the same hand area is anything to go by, that could give him trouble for years

Sometimes the enormity of the loss just hits unawares @Scottsmum. My darling Tirra died over 8 years ago - he was a little black and white Chi x Pap. Tamar has a little black and white coat and when she is wearing it she’ll pass by me and, for a nano second, I think Tirra is still here. Still cuts deeply.

I’m in the “get both desexed” camp

Keep trying. Eye damage can become ulcerated in a very short space of time. Wrap your dog in a towel or sheet. You aren’t going to break her

Stunning. The wee dug has a large wardrobe of scarves and bowties

What was negative or judgemental? I was simply talking about my experiences.

Crikey! How old are you? I’m in my 70s and grew up in small country towns in Queensland. Plenty of young women lived away from home, particularly nurses where most hospitals had nurses quarters. School teachers were always being transferred as were bank officers and these women lived in either quarters, hotels or homes in which they boarded. My three siblings and I all went to boarding schools which could be termed living away from home.

Think your answer is here

Nothing is “easy as pie” for me when it comes to IT. Most of the time I don’t even understand the questions let alone figure out the answers . Apart from the fact that (and I hope I am not jinxing myself) I don’t need to worry so much about viruses, I still regret getting the Apple iMac. With my old PC I could do anything just about.

I’m going to check whether I can send the photos from phone to p/bucket direct. Persephone, resizing like that ruins the photo. I used to do that in the very early days before I joined p/bucket.