Mila's Mum

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/crime/4137...rs-cruel-attack A Waitara man who admitted bashing a puppy so badly it needed a leg amputated will be jailed for his cruelty. New Plymouth District Court heard yesterday that Kereama Joseph Phillips, 33, had been arguing with his girlfriend and in his anger attacked the puppy with a metre-long piece of steel reinforcing rod. The badly hurt puppy was taken into the care of the SPCA after the attack but vets were unable to save its severely damaged front right leg. The story hit a note with readers across the country and the SPCA has since been overwhelmed with people wanting to adopt the six-month-old border collie cross. Phillips, 33, pleaded guilty to one charge of ill-treating the puppy, causing it to be seriously injured on August 22. The court heard how police arrived at Phillips' home after being alerted by alarmed neighbours who witnessed the incident. Phillips had earlier fought with his girlfriend and was angered with what she said to him. In his fury, he had gone outside and attacked the dog, smashing it at least twice over its shoulders with the iron rod. When police arrived, Phillips admitted hitting the pup but did not know how many times. When asked why he did it, he replied, "because the dog was a mutt". Police prosecutor Lewis Sutton called for reparation of $840 to pay for the vets' bills and asked that Phillips not be allowed to own a dog. Phillips' defence counsel, Grant Vosseler, said his client did not oppose the order. Mr Vosseler said Phillips had significant health problems, including addictions, and would be aided by anger management and relationship counselling to help avoid future offending. Phillips had not previously appeared before the court. He was deeply remorseful for his momentary act of stupidity, Mr Vosseler said. He asked that his client be allowed out on bail under strict conditions at his parents' home prior to sentencing. His parents were in court to support him. Judge Allan Roberts told Mr Vosseler his client was being remanded in custody prior to sentencing. "He's going to jail for this," Judge Roberts said. He called for a full pre-sentence report covering all options, remanding Phillips in custody until November 3 for sentencing. ____________________________________________________________ Families line up for pup http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/4133469/Fa...line-up-for-pup Families from all over New Zealand have offered to adopt Jimmy, the brave bearded-collie cross puppy which had a leg amputated after being attacked with an iron bar last month. SPCA area manager Andrea Collins said the response to Jimmy's plight had been overwhelming since the story of the attack ran in the Taranaki Daily News and was posted online. "We have had over 20 people wanting to adopt Jimmy after reading the story on Stuff and inquires have come from as far as Auckland to Oamaru," Mrs Collins said. It has been just over two weeks since the attack left Jimmy needing his front right leg amputated and the six-month-old pup is now hopping along without any problems. Shelter manager Vanessa Gee is pleased with how quickly Jimmy's wound has healed. "It's been a remarkable recovery. He's just full of life and he clearly loves people and other dogs too, despite what he has been through," Mrs Gee said. SPCA staff are going through the candidates to find him the most suitable home. Mrs Collins said they needed to take into account whether the family could give him lots of attention and whether there were other dogs he could play with. "We are looking for a fenced section as well. He is a working breed of dog so naturally he will want to chase sheep which could be an issue for neighbours," Mrs Collins said. Jimmy's operation cost more than $800 and the public is welcome to donate to the puppy's cause by contacting the SPCA on 06 758 2053. Kereama Phillips, a 33-year-old Waitara man will reappear in the New Plymouth District Court today to face charges related to Jimmy.

Which parts are supposed to be 'junk' ?

Yes I think it's worth the extra - both for myself and my dog - we both eat 99% organic. Often the organic option isn't that much more expensive than the regular option - depends on where you source it from. There is an organic range of dry kibble (and also a vegan range) - I haven't tried them but for those who might be interested, here is the link http://www.biopetonline.com.au/index.html

This is a previous thread on Brisbane boarding - http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=188952

If you put this in the General Rescue section you would likely get some takers - a wonderful offer

You may be interested in this dvd - http://www.laughingowl.com.au/7days7dogs/howitbegan.htm Below is a quote from the link "The story of "Seven Days with Seven Dogs" began when Suki, our 13-year-old border collie/kelpie cross created a huge lump on her throat. The vet suspected a tumour. Surgery was out of the question as she had a severe heart murmur. We needed to make every day a jewel. As an animal psychic, I communicate with animals on a telepathic level. I asked Suki what she needed, as I believe that every dis-ease has an emotional causation. She said, "I need more outings." Outings made her happy, she said, and while we always took the dogs out in the car, she didn’t get enough “real” outings. She suggested a holiday, and suggested I film it. As I didn’t know how much time we had with her, I immediately went into action, organising a doggie holiday of a lifetime and a shoot. We also gave Suki a hefty dose of immune boosting herbs and supplements. I believe the emotion of joy is paramount to the healing process, and I was going to make sure that Suki had the best time of her life." ETA - I'm not the animal psychic mentioned in this link

LINK

Try this rescue group http://www.dogrescuenewcastle.com.au/

STORY LINK Take Your Dog to Work Day - 24.6.11 THERE are plenty of studies which show that dogs act as social catalysts, helping their owners forge intimate, long-term relationships with other people. But does that apply in the workplace? Christopher Honts and his colleagues at Central Michigan University in Mount Pleasant were surprised to find that there was not much research on this question, and decided to put that right. They wondered in particular if the mere presence of a canine in the office might make people collaborate more effectively. And, as they told a meeting of the International Society for Human Ethology in Madison, Wisconsin, on August 2nd, they found that it could. To reach this conclusion, they carried out two experiments. In the first, they brought together 12 groups of four individuals and told each group to come up with a 15-second advertisement for a made-up product. Everyone was asked to contribute ideas for the ad, but ultimately the group had to decide on only one. Anyone familiar with the modern “collaborative” office environment will know that that is a challenge. Some of the groups had a dog underfoot throughout, while the others had none. After the task, all the volunteers had to answer a questionnaire on how they felt about working with the other—human—members of the team. Mr Honts found that those who had had a dog to slobber and pounce on them ranked their team-mates more highly on measures of trust, team cohesion and intimacy than those who had not. In the other experiment, which used 13 groups, the researchers explored how the presence of an animal altered players’ behaviour in a game known as the prisoner’s dilemma. In the version of this game played by the volunteers, all four members of each group had been “charged” with a crime. Individually, they could choose (without being able to talk to the others) either to snitch on their team-mates or to stand by them. Each individual’s decision affected the outcomes for the other three as well as for himself in a way that was explained in advance. The lightest putative sentence would be given to someone who chose to snitch while the other three did not; the heaviest penalty would be borne by a lone non-snitch. The second-best outcome came when all four decided not to snitch. And so on. Having a dog around made volunteers 30% less likely to snitch than those who played without one. The moral, then: more dogs in offices and fewer in police stations.

LINK They leap from helicopters or speeding boats, bringing aid to swimmers who get into trouble off Italy's popular beaches. For these K9 lifeguards, the doggie paddle does just fine. Hundreds of specially trained dogs form Italy's corps of canine lifeguards, are deployed each summer to help swimmers in need of rescue. These "lifedogs" wear a harness or tow a buoy that victims can grab, or a raft they can sit on to be towed back to shore, and unlike their human counterparts, they can easily jump from helicopters and speeding boats to reach swimmers in trouble. With millions flocking to Italy's crowded beaches each summer, the Italian Coast Guard says it rescues about 3000 people every year - and their canine helpers are credited with saving several lives. It takes three years for the canines to reach expert rescue status, and 300 dogs are now fully trained for duty, said Roberto Gasbarri, who co-ordinates the Italian School of Canine Lifeguards program at a center outside of Rome in the seaside town of Civitavecchia. "Dogs are useful in containing the physical fatigue of the lifeguard, to increase the speed at which casualties are retrieved, to increase the security of both the casualty and of the lifeguard," Gasbarri said. "The dog becomes a sort of intelligent lifebuoy. It is a buoy that goes by itself to a person in need of help, and comes back to the shore also by himself, choosing the best landing point and swimming through the safest currents," he said. The Civitavecchia center is one of a dozen around the country for the school founded more than 20 years ago in the northern province of Bergamo by Ferruccio Pilenga, whose first trainee was his own Newfoundland. The school will train any breed, as long as they weigh at least 30kg, but Labradors, Newfoundlands and golden retrievers are most commonly used because of their natural instinct for swimming. Each dog works in tandem with a human lifeguard, who also acts as the animal's trainer. "Being retrievers, they set out to pick up anything we tell them, be it a human being, an object, or a fish, and they bring it back to the shore," said lifeguard Monia Luciani. "They do not associate it with a physical activity, but it is rather a game for them."

Click HERE for link Very cute

http://www.care2.com/causes/animal-welfare...nspires-others/ Funny how a serious and suddenly unexpected accident can alter someone's life forever, isn't it? A hit-and-run driver changed a dog named Piggy's life. Once a rambunctious pup, Piggy is now wheelchair-dependent. But that hasn't stopped her from loving life and teaching others how to cope with life's struggles. When April Hollingsworth went to South Salt Lake shelter searching for her AWOL cat, the last thing she expected to take home was a Pit Bull/Boxer mix. But the 10-month-old female pup charmed her way into Hollingsworth's heart by looking directly into her face -- and simply smiling. Full of mischief, the dog earned the name Piggy, and was a constant companion for Hollingsworth. Being an attorney, Hollingsworth logs long hours and Piggy helped her to maintain a sense of balance. Then Piggy and Hollingsworth's lives changed drastically. Almost four years ago, Piggy sustained serious injuries when she was struck by a hit-and-run driver. Paralysis was immediately evident when Hollingsworth picked Piggy up after the accident. But not willing to give up, Hollingsworth pursued every avenue of treatment for her beloved dog. The end result: a wheelchair that allows Piggy to walk on her own. One Sunday morning while walking Piggy in her wheeled cart, the two met Scott Williams coming out of a church near their home. Williams formed an immediate bond with Piggy. Having lost part of his feet from a rock climbing accident, Williams, too, lives life from a wheelchair. "I'd never seen a dog with wheels for back legs," said Williams in an NPR Story Corp broadcast. "And her licking my face ... and she was happy!" Williams went on to explain, "Most people I meet in wheelchairs aren't happy very often." It was then that Hollingsworth realized Piggy had the power to make a difference for others. The extraordinary relationship forged between Williams and Piggy spurred Hollingsworth to get Piggy certified as a therapy dog with Intermountain Therapy Animals. Piggy now visits Shriners Hospital for Children in Salt Lake City every other week, and the effect she has on the children is mesmerizing. Piggy is beyond gentle with the patients, but most importantly, she is a role model for the kids going through a frightening illness or injury. Piggy's attitude to just keep trying and be happy doing it is infectious!

I had the same problem - see my solution in post 5 http://www.dolforums.com.au/index.php?showtopic=202158

Francene Norton reports on a teenager who is trying to stop the sale of puppies and kittens in stores. Source: Stateline Queensland Published: Friday, July 30, 2010 8:14 AEST Expires: Thursday, October 28, 2010 8:14 AEST Click HERE for link

I've bought a couple of harnesses and leads (for tracking) from this lady http://cgi.ebay.com.au/Tracking-Harness-Do...=item53dcc1ff11 found them to be very good, and reasonably priced

http://www.muttsbeluvbarkery.com.au/Pages.asp?PageID=7 and all the proceeds go to help goldie rescue

My girl's over 10 and she's still going - we just have to have annual assessments now, instead of two yearly.

Not the premium product - it's all raw ingredients i.e meat, fruits, vegies etc

On his website it says this about the Premium product ... It has a proven track record of producing exceptional health and natural vigour in all pets that eat it, and it will actually help to treat, or control, many chronic health problems, like skin disease, and teeth and gum problems... Premium Choice is formulated using 100% raw, unprocessed ingredients. The meat is top quality, and free range. It is mixed with a blend of raw crushed and rolled cereal grains (but no wheat, flour, or fillers), vegetables, parsley, garlic, and a range of natural vitamin and mineral supplements. This is probably too much information but after my girl has eaten the Premium product, she has very good poops.

I've been dabbling in a raw food diet, and daily make up smoothies which consist of fruits and greens all blended together - they are so fast and easy to make, and my girl gets a share of what I make (she loves them) - I have noticed her coat is shinier, and those rough bits that dogs get on their elbows have reduced also. ETA - for her, I'll add maybe a chicken neck or wing, but for me the smoothie is a complete meal - and very filling.

And here's Suriya having a swim - and a bath ! Looks like Rosco is in on bathtime as well http://player.video.news.com.au/couriermai...GDYl_pfsuorSfPj

I've tried Dr Bruce's and my girl certainly enjoyed it with no problems. What about also trying Dr Billinghurst patties - they have fruits and vegies with meat, but come in other flavours e.g chicken, pork etc, not just red meat http://www.drianbillinghurst.com/ I avoid anything with wheat in it - gives my girl the runs. If you'd like to try some dog biccies without wheat, and with all organic ingredients, try these http://www.muttsbeluvbarkery.com.au/Pages.asp?PageID=7

I called in there on Saturday afternoon and was told they were booked out bec AFP were doing renos at the airport to the areas where the dogs are housed, and a lot of the AFP dogs were being boarded at the Boondall kennel. Apparently they will be booked out for a while. He recommended I try a place at Bracken Ridge called All Breeds. At the moment I'm exploring an option through this website - http://www.findadogminder.com.au/ I also checked out The Pines Pet Resort (mentioned earlier in the thread) - although I didn't book my girl in to this place, I got a good feel about it when I visited. There was no hesitation in showing me through, and I liked the layout of the kennel arrangement where all the kennels for the bigger dogs faced in to the middle.

I was visiting the Peninsula Animal Aid Shelter on Brisbane's northside this morning and found out that Herbie had been adopted from there 2 years ago by the Army - he excelled in his training, and excelled in his job. Here is a picture of Herbie with his handler I did some googling and found out that Herbie had also come home http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/news/auss...9-1225879935166 If anyone would like to make a donation to the PAA in memory of Herbie, I'm sure it would be greatly appreciated. http://www.peninsulaanimalaid.com.au/donate.html

Probably a typo and I'm guessing should read non profit charitable shelter