Boronia

I like these stories so have posted another for your enjoyment http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-08/births-deaths-and-the-human-factor-in-vet-practice/8596328 Births, deaths and the human factor of country vet practice ABC South East SA By Kate Hill Posted yesterday at 11:29am Photo: "It's time." Alex Cape shares a last few minutes with her cat Mischa. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Related Story: A day in the life of a country vet Related Story: Why losing a dog can be harder than losing a relative or friend Map: Mount Gambier 5290 On the long line of chairs in the waiting room of the Mount Gambier vet clinic, Alex Cape sits alone with a cat carrier carefully placed besides her. The high school teacher is upset. At 14 years old, Ms Cape's much-loved cat Mischa's health is failing and today, she knows he may not be returning home with her. Vet Ms Skirving gently lifts the cat out of the carrier and examines him, noting signs of dehydration, anaemia and further weight loss in the week since she has last seen him. "You just look tired, don't you mate," Ms Skirving said. Photo: Alex Cape with vet Rebel Skirving in the clinic waiting room. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) His tail switches weakly under her touch, another sign the elderly cat is fading fast. Normally, the vet has to restrain him from leaping off the table. "This is the right time, isn't it?" Ms Cape asks. "I do think it is." Ms Skirving gently explains that any treatment from now on will be a band-aid solution and only buying time, not quality time. "As tough as it is, I think it's a good time to say goodbye." Euthanasia is a subject many people find confronting, but the death of animals is a routine part of day-to-day life as a vet. Ms Skirving gives Alex the option of being with him during the injection and leaves the owner to her farewell. Mischa was rescued from the Port Lonsdale RSPCA as a kitten and was with Alex through a number of important life moments, when she moved out of home, started studying teaching. He has been a constant in her life. "He was family," she said, simply. Photo: The animal euthanasia drug. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Today is not an easy one for the vet, who has treated Mischa for over six years and has seen firsthand the time and devotion Alex has committed to her feline life companion. "It does get harder as you know people and their animals," she said. "It's the people side of it that upsets me more than anything. "As a young vet, euthanasia is a bit confronting. I always thought I'd get better and more desensitised as I got older but I think it is quite the reverse. It gets more challenging. After a decade at the Mount Gambier clinic, the same animals Ms Skirving first treated as bright-eyed puppies and kittens all those years ago are aging, succumbing to diseases and when their time comes, dying. "You see them when they first come in for their vaccinations right through to old age. It's the big picture." Before the euthanasia injection, owners have to sign a form showing they understand the procedure is non-reversible, resulting in the animal's death. The mundane words 'put to sleep' may be nicer, but can be confusing for children, who can be upset when the animal does not wake up. Photo: Last minutes: Mischa is given the euthanasia injection. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) "I don't sugar coat things," Ms Skirving said. "I avoid certain words like 'put to sleep'. "I say 'we're going to give him some medicine to stop his heart and he will die'," she said. Farewell The waiting room is quiet and the only sound is Ms Skirving's low voice as she gently explains what she is doing and how long it will take Mischa to die. As she slips the needle full of green liquid in the IV catheter, it takes just seconds before Mischa's eyes glaze and his heart beat stills. Weeping, Ms Cape is given a few minutes alone with her cat. Photo: Mischa's body is taken away for cremation. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) As his body is wrapped in a calico bag ready for cremation, Ms Cape goes back to school and teaches a year 9 class, then goes through a full night of parent teacher interviews. Anything, she explains, is better than going back to a home where reminders of Mischa are everywhere. Two weeks later, as she collects Mischa's ashes, she said the emotion she felt about the loss of her cat knocked her for six. "I didn't think it would be like grieving for a person," she said. Photo: Alex leaves the vet clinic without her beloved pet. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) The human factor "I think a lot of people come into the veterinary profession with a romanticised idea that you spend all day working with animals, but you deal with the people first," Ms Skirving said, President of the Rural Vets in SA. "Eighty per cent of what I do each day is working with and managing people." To the many students that pass through their clinic, Ms Skirving instils in them that they also have to be good at listening, counselling and managing the human side of veterinary medicine. Ms Skirving said vets saw all ends of the spectrum, from practical farmers driven by economics to highly emotional companion animal owners and everyone's relationship with their animal was different. Every day in the veterinary industry is different and some are more challenging than others. "You have good days and bad days and the bad ones can be really tough and they can be emotionally and physically challenging," Ms Skirving said. The mental health of staff in the veterinary industry is a topical and timely issue, particularly as a number of studies have shown the suicide rates in vets is four times higher than the general population. Although Ms Skirving loves her job, she makes sure herself and her team of staff get ample downtime, away from the clinic. Photo: "One day, I'll get that Mustang." Vet Rebel Skirving with her V8 vet-mobile. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) After a rough day at work, you will not find this vet bombed out on the couch immersed in television. Ms Skirving is far more likely to be out driving her beloved V8. "Most of my relaxation techniques involve fossil fuels," she laughs. "I love my cars and I love my power tools." A Friday calving Then there are the good days, where you get an unexpected win. The next call-out for Ms Skirving is to a farm at Weepar just outside of town, to see a cow who is struggling to calve. Recalling all the times she has had to pull dead calves from cows, the vet is not optimistic about the calf's chances. Photo: Feel here: Vet Rebel Skirving shows the farmer the cow has a broken pelvis. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) "The best outcome is a live calf with no caesarean-section," she said. "Cows don't do as well with a caesarean-section as with a natural birth," she explains, pulling on waterproof clothing and hefting a 5-kilo tub of lubricant from the car. As farmer Wally and his son Peter watch, Ms Skirving tries in vain to deliver the calf naturally, giving the tired cow an epidural and using a purpose-built pulley system. At one stage, she puts her full weight on the ropes connected to the calf's legs, trying to get the leverage needed. But the cow's cervix is not dilated enough, risking tearing her cervix and to make matters worse, Ms Skirving says she has a broken pelvis. This calf won't be coming out the usual way. "Your call" she says to the farmer and he nods. Photo: A bucket scrub before the caesarean section begins. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) For the casual observer, a caesarean on a standing animal is a fairly eye-opening procedure, but these farmers have seen it all before. Injecting the anaesthetic into an animal with just a few bars between them, Ms Skirving is aware this is the optimal time to get kicked. "Are you happy to pull and I'll cut?" she says to Wally. New life Around 20 minutes after her first scalpel cut, Ms Skirving is able to cut through the layers of abdominal cavity and uterine wall and pull the calf out, back legs first. "We're winning," she exclaims, as the body slides out of the gaping hole in the side of the cow. Photo: "You pull and I'll cut." A caesarean section on a cow. The calf collapses on the ground, covered with blood and birthing fluids and gasps for air. After such a difficult entry into the world, there is a high risk of the calf being brain dead. Struggling to breathe, he makes a pitiful sight and Peter gently rubs his chest to get him started on his own while Ms Skirving is busy stitching up the incision with a neat row of stitches. Photo: Struggling to breathe, the calf's chest is gently massaged by the farmer. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Sometimes, calves born by caesarean have been so bright eyed and eager to feed, Ms Skirving has to push them away as she hurriedly sews up mum. Expecting a more sombre outcome, the farmers are surprised and delighted to see the calf alive. Untangling his long, unsteady legs, the newborn calf takes in the world from the dirt-covered floor of the stock yards. Ms Skirving's face and clothes are covered with blood and muck, but she is smiling. A live calf and a healthy cow is a welcome surprise on a Friday afternoon at the end of a long week at the practice. Photo: Welcome to the world: a newborn calf at Weepar. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) It's a good day after all, says Ms Skirving, as the calf shakes his head. "I love it when they flap their ears. That's a good noise." Enjoyed this story? The country vet series continues on June 12 on ABC South East.

sorry, I can't copy and past the article so you'll need to click on the BBC Scotland link http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-scotland-40132057

Hi Gabby and welcome to the forums. I had Henry, my Westie, castrated a couple of months after I bought him (he was nine then) and apart from feeling sore, which is to be expected, he was fine. He has settled down more. A month before buying Henry I bought bought Saffy, as an older desexed bitch, and they both get along fine. Unless your bitch has pedigree papers, and is an excellent example of her breed, it would be best to desex her as well, less chance of an 'oops' litter...too many unwanted dogs in rescue already so it's not a good idea to add to it. There are some members here who can help with managing your dog's competitiveness or you can ask on this Training/Obedience forum as well https://www.dolforums.com.au/forum/9-training-obedience-dog-sports/

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-06-01/a-day-in-the-life-of-a-country-vet/8569614 One-eyed pugs, cat attacks and the case of Bailey's genital bean: A day with a country vet ABC South East SA By Kate Hill Posted yesterday at 10:22am Photo: Gelding Bailey gets a 'willy wash' by vet Stuart Skirving. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Related Story: Images of overweight show dogs online 'normalising' obesity: study Related Story: Convenience food blamed for making household pets fat Map: Mount Gambier 5290 Rubber-gloved to the armpits, vet Stuart Skirving disappears under the back end of a heavily sedated and swaying horse and fiddles about. Gelding Bailey, although practically asleep at the end of his lead rope, gives a noticeable jerk and the vet emerges triumphant. "That's the biggest I've ever seen," exclaims the vet, proudly displaying a large waxy object on his gloved palm. "You'll be able to pee better now mate." Extracting a 'bean', or a lump of hardened smegma from a horse's penis, is the kind of job only a country vet can get excited about. Photo: A bean, or hardened smegma extracted from a horse penis. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) At Gambier Vets, a large practice in South Australia's south-east, husband and wife vet duo Rebel and Stuart Skirving never know what emergency or creature will pop up in the daily appointment book. A wombat off his food, a cat with a blocked bladder, and pigs with pneumonia are all on today's list, along with the nuts and bolts of daily vet work — desexing, vaccinations and consultations. A complex desex Today's most complex case involves young female kelpie Sheebah, in for spaying. Although it's a routine procedure Ms Skirving has performed thousands of times, this dog will be no easy operation. Twice before, Sheebah's heart rate has dropped dangerously under anaesthetic and vets have had to put off her surgery. Today, the dog is being monitored on a state-of-the-art anaesthetic monitoring machine to ensure she's not 'too light', which could mean she wakes up under anaesthetic. Photo: Third time lucky for Sheebah, a young kelpie in for spaying. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) The dog delivers an ominously dirty look sideways at Rebel as the vet tries to inject a pre-med sedative. As a preventative measure, Rebel slips a muzzle on her to protect both her and the assistant holding the dog. The words "she's never bitten anyone" are treated with a certain touch of irony today, considering Rebel's weekend battle scars. A cat with paralysed hind limbs rushed to the clinic for emergency treatment had decided the vet's digits were fair game. "Without warning, the cat sunk it's teeth into the fleshy part of my hand right up to it's gum line," she said. Suddenly, the vet was the one dripping blood all over the surgery floor. Photo: "Every day is different," says vet Rebel Skirving. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) After euthanasing the cat due to its injuries and dealing with another emergency case, it was 2:00am. Although her arm was aching and sore, Rebel chose a few hours' sleep instead of a doctors opinion. But in the morning, the throbbing bite site was looking grim and there were angry red lines spiralling up her arm. Her doctor sent her straight off to hospital where she was told she had developed septicaemia, or blood poisoning. After a short stint on the IV, duty called and Rebel discharged herself to go and look after her animal patients with a little help from her children and one thoroughly amused husband. "After 16 years as a vet, it was the first time an animal had put me in hospital," she said. A one-eyed pug Photo: Uno the one-eyed pug gets his nails trimmed. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Today, a steady procession of canines are streaming into the clinic. Two elderly father and son pugs, Sam and Uno, come in for their six-week 'mani-pedi'. In some dogs, it's easy to confuse the tough nail with the highly sensitive nail bed and clip too far in, hence the reason for their regular visits. Uno, who has broken his hip twice and is minus one eye, is nicknamed the $9,000 dog by his owner Beverley as they have spent so much money on him during his nine years of life. "At one stage he even had his own credit card," she quips. Photo: Racing greyhound Mike comes in for draining of his wound. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Rebel drains a vast pool of seroma from a large wound on the side of prize-winning racing greyhound Mike, who takes the needle in his side without so much as a whimper. Although this owner is a regular, the Skirvings have noticed a definite rise in the number of owners bringing their racing dogs in for treatment during the past year, after the industry was rocked by the live-baiting scandal last year. One reason may be due to Greyhound Racing South Australia, which has introduced a Track Injury Surgery Rebate Scheme, which reimburses 80 per cent of surgery costs for injuries sustained in the running of races. In further good news for ex-racers, those injured greyhounds in the scheme are given priority entry into the Greyhound Adoption Program after their rehabilitation. Companion and supersize pets Purebred toy poodles Mocha and Mia are led into the examination room with Marilyn Gribble and her daughter Heidi. Photo: Mocha the toy poodle gets an examination. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill ) As Ms Skirving examines them, she listens patiently as Marilyn explains how the dogs have not left her side after Graham, her husband of 48 years, died suddenly last year. "They follow me everywhere," she tells the vet. "I think they're protecting me and watching that I am okay." "They're not just dogs or companions. They are family." The position of many animals in society, be it a horse, rabbit or cat, is vastly undervalued in many cases, the vet believes. "If that animal is someone's companion, there is so much more to that animal than being just a pet," Ms Skirving said. "It's someone's life. Those animals have personality and character and they hold a lot of emotional significance to people." Impervious to such matters, Mocha lifts his leg and slyly pees on the table leg. Photo: Around two or three dogs a day are desexed at the surgery. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Of course, then there are those owners who spoil their companion animals a little too much, one of Ms Skirving's bugbears. "Obesity is the most common form of neglect I see," she said. Just like their human counterparts, supersize pets can suffer from serious health problems such as heart, liver and kidney complaints, diabetes and a reduced life span. Not surprisingly, the incidence of obesity in pets gets higher the fatter their owners are and Rebel said most people are not keen to hear they are the reason for their pets widening proportions. "I tell them overfeeding them is just as detrimental as underfeeding." Blood, guts and gore On a mild and sunny Sunday afternoon, a farmer snaps a few shots of a blood-spattered Rebel and fellow vet Teagan sitting in a paddock. Rebel is pulling bits of a dead calf from a cow and Teagan is dealing with a prolapsed uterus in another cow. Deciding to introduce their Facebook followers to the delights of a 'fetotomy', a fancy word for cutting up a dead calf inside a cow, Ms Skirving said she was surprised to see the graphic images become one of their most popular posts. The Skirvings have never shied away from showing those keen to see an accurate and honest look at daily vet life. Photo: "You need a very good washing machine," vet Rebel Skirving says. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Many a starry-eyed young student has come to the clinic on work experience and has been shocked by the amount of "blood and guts and vomit and diarrhoea" the vets deal with on a daily basis. "I like to be really honest with them about what to expect. There is a lot of cleaning involved," she said. "Especially being a country vet, you need a lot of changes of clothes and you need a very good washing machine," she laughs. "It's mucky and filthy and smelly, but by the same token rewarding and challenging." Stuart Skirving, who was once told to "stick to animals" by a doctor after suggesting that a client's broken foot was not actually broken, takes particular delight in grossing people out. "If he gets to deal with a big abscess that explodes, he loves it," Ms Skirving said. Love and bad smells It takes a strong relationship to endure the odd smells that a vet brings home and it is here where Rebel and Stuart Skirving count themselves lucky they've married into the profession. The awful smell that lingers after dissecting dead calves in utero is particularly soap-resistant, Ms Skirving says ruefully, but her husband understands. "When you come home smelling like something terrible and rotten, he's not offended, because it has probably only been a few days earlier since he came home smelling the same," she said. The pair met while studying — a "first-year vet school romance" as Ms Skirving dubs it. Twenty years later, their flock includes three children, a dog called Mo, 40 bantam chooks, 20 breeding cows and a bull. "If you take an eyeball in a jar to a class of kids, it is amazing how many of them are genuinely intrigued to have a look," Ms Skirving says. The pair are often invited to career days or schools and have a golden tool in their vet arsenal — the surgery's pathology collection of curiosities. Photo: The surgery's pathology collection includes bladder stones, cancerous lumps and aborted foetuses. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) The strange assortment of objects floating in formalin-filled jars includes maggots, cancerous lumps, bladder stones, an aborted kitten, and malformed foetuses. Among the horrified faces, a junior vet-in-the-making is quickly spotted. "Some are fascinated, some are revolted," said Ms Skirving, laughing. Rex's legacy As the day ends, Sheebah is recovering nicely from her operation, Sam and Uno have gone home freshly manicured, and Bailey's genital offering has been much admired and added to the collection. As the phone stops ringing and the plaintive howls in the recovery room quiet for a moment, Ms Skirving is able to reach for her ever-present coffee flask and tell a story. Although vets aren't supposed to have favourites, there's always one animal, owner or tale that grabs your heart and sticks fast. Photo: Rebel monitors Sheebah's heart rate on an ECG machine. (ABC South East SA: Kate Hill) Rex was a feisty wire-haired Jack Russell who had been coming to the clinic for more than a decade, a much loved 'only dog' of a couple. "He was certainly a character around the clinic and we developed a stronger and stronger bond with the dog and his owners," she said. As vaccinations and health checks on a young Rex gave way to illnesses and age-related injuries, the day came when Ms Skirving had to explain there was no more that could be done to keep the elderly and cancer-stricken dog alive. Ms Skirving says the day Rex was euthanased was "heart wrenching" for both her and the owners. A short time later, a gift from the couple. They donated a large sum of money to buy a state-of-the-art anaesthetic monitoring machine for the clinic, vital life-saving equipment to be used to help other pets. It was a thank you for the many years of looking after their Rex. Enjoyed this story? The country vet series continues on June 7 on ABC South East.

no pink embarrassed man in my bunch of emoticons either

I just love Malcolm ❤

this site (it's Australian) may have what you are looking for https://www.alphamobility.com.au/ https://www.alphamobility.com.au/shop/balto-dog-hock-brace-bt-hock/

http://www.greatdanerescue.com.au/nsw.htm

I know that Westie rescue were happy to take the nearly-full-bottle that I had left over, maybe contact your favourite rescue, I know that Puppypaws ( https://www.dolforums.com.au/profile/14416-puppypaws/) uses Vetmedin but she has a Shih Tzu so maybe not the ideal dosage (she does get hers made up by a compounding chemist as well)

My three died in August last year, some days they don't visit my heart and then some days they all visit at once and I am gutted once again...not crying-gutted, just so sad. Thinking of you

I am sorry your best buddy has passed away Madcat. If you Google 'Bull Mastiff Dog Urns Pet Cremation Urn For Ashes' there are some nice urns/boxes listed https://www.google.com.au/search?client=ubuntu&channel=fs&q=Bull+Mastiff+Dog+Urns+Pet+Cremation+Urn+For+Ashes+Xlarge&ie=utf-8&oe=utf-8&gfe_rd=cr&ei=o0QnWcKfN-bc8weNi5eQAw

What LG says

woops, I also posted this in the 'News' DogsAndTheMob, never mind, between the two of us we should be able to get the message out

This cat food has been taken off the shelves(Pet Stock) but just in case you have some left in your pantry ABC link has a video http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-05-20/weruva-best-feline-friend-cat-food-still-under-investigation/8540552 Weruva vows to stick with 'distressed families' as investigation continues into pet food and sick cats The founders of a US company behind a canned cat food brand removed from sale in Australia, after owners reported their pets becoming sick after consumption, have issued a video message to "families in distress". Key points: Best Feline Friend foods have been unavailable to buy in Australia since early May Tests of food underway following reports cats becoming seriously ill Pet Food Association of Australia and the Australian Veterinary Association also investigating It has been more than two weeks since cans of Weruva's Best Feline Friend (BFF) were pulled from shelves at Petbarn outlets over "potential product issues" and as a precaution, customers were warned to not feed it to their cats. Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) said it has received reports of sick cats displaying unusual neurological signs such as strange head or eye movements, wobbling, repeated circling or difficulty in walking since mid-April. Dozens of accounts have emerged on social media since, from pet owners claiming their cats becoming seriously ill after being fed a diet of BFF. Some said their cats were later euthanased. Testing is underway to find a possible link between BFF and the sick cats. Weruva founders David and Stacie Forman took to Facebook on Saturday to issue a message to "Australian families in distress" and promising to continue the investigation. "We just wanted you in Australia to know our hearts and all our thoughts are with you at this difficult time," Ms Forman said. "We're working tirelessly to get to the bottom of the issue we're facing right now." Photo: Best Feline Friend canned cat food have been off the shelves since early this month. (Facebook: Weruva Super Luxe Pet Food) Mr Forman said customers waiting for answers were right to feel frustrated. "We understand your frustration in Australia. You're out there in Australia and we're in the States. It does seem very far away but we are here for you as much as it may not seem that way," Mr Forman said. "You're looking for answers, you don't have answers. This can be very frustrating and confusing and you're right to feel that way. "We've asked you to be patient many times and we understand that's not what you want to hear, but we're working to get to the bottom of it." Tests focus on potential vitamin deficiency Mr Forman said initial tests showed heavy metals were not likely the problem, and that other tests were underway. "Further veterinary consultation has shown that thiamine deficiency may share many neurological symptoms with heavy metal toxicity," Mr Forman said. Thiamine, also known as vitamin B1, is a vitamin necessary for normal carbohydrate metabolism in cats. Important product advice from Weruva regarding Best Feline Friends (BFF) cat food. Please view the following URL link for details: https://goo.gl/Hgk8rL Stop feeding Best Feline Friends (BFF) and receive a refund in-store. If you have any concerns, please contact Weruva on 1800 108 382 or [email protected] Website Vetary says thiamine deficiency in cats is associated with vascular and neurological damage and can be a potentially life-threatening condition. AVA's head of policy and advocacy Melanie Latter said they have been looking into the matter in association with Weruva and Pet Food Association of Australia. "We continue to encourage Weruva to provide the AVA with analytical results to assist in our investigations," Dr Latter said. "This may enable us to provide vets with specific advice about treatment, and potentially help prevent more cases from occurring. We eagerly await these results." Dr Latter called for pet owners with cats exhibiting signs such as strange head or eye movements, wobbling, repeated circling or difficulty in walking to take them to their veterinarian for assessment. The AVA said it was unable to confirm how many reports of sick cats fed BFF they have received from veterinarians around the country. Topics: people, human-interest, brisbane-4000, australia Contact Patrick Williams

My two's stomach-clocks say 5.00 is dinner-time, Henry is the one who is most insistent on this time, then he then wants to go to bed as soon as it gets dark, he was an outside dog that had a cubby to sleep in so I suppose dark-time meant sleep-time. He is still puzzled that we stay up so late...8.30 is so late for him. We do get up at 5.00 though.

Pretty pretty dogs, the dark Hermione is a stunner!

In answer to your question DDD; YES!

I would like to have Benji! What a neat little dog ❤

Woollies Homebrand Mackerel in spring water is a good cheap alternative to tuna (and is a more sustainable fish). Here is a piccie of the Mackerel in oil; the mackerel in water is similar in appearance. It costs around $1.70 Henry and Saffy think all their birthday's have come at once when I put it in their bowls

https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2017/may/05/experience-my-dog-rescues-cats We needed a quick learner; one small enough to fit into the nooks and crannies cats hide in. Mostly, we needed a dog with no desire whatsoever to chase cats Colin Butcher 23.00 AEST 09.10 AEST Molly is the world’s first trained cat detection dog. Her job is to rescue missing moggies. We had been looking for a dog with a particular temperament and intelligence to join our team of pet detectives for 18 months. We had scouts out and had spoken to the country’s top breeders. We needed a quick learner; one small enough to fit into the nooks and crannies cats hide in. Mostly, we needed a dog with no desire whatsoever to chase cats. I came up with the idea in 2014. I had been doing the job for 20 years and my business, Pet Detectives, was getting around 30 calls a week about missing cats. When cats go to ground, they go into a comatose-like state and if they are not found quickly, within a fortnight, they often don’t survive after being rescued. One particular couple who called me had bought their cat after struggling to have children. We found it in a neighbour’s garden shed, but it later died. Seeing them so bereft was a tipping point for me. I worked in the police as a detective inspector for many years, and had seen dogs search for drugs and bombs and help with murder investigations. I figured, if a dog can be trained to find amphetamines, then it can be trained to find cats. We found Molly, an 18-month-old black-haired cocker spaniel, on Gumtree. She was a giveaway. The ad said: “Needs a good home, cannot cope.” If cocker spaniels are not stimulated they become uncontrollable. She had been passed from pillar to post and had three owners in under two years. I first met her in February 2016, at the home of Medical Detection Dogs, the charity that would help train her. We had already rejected 12 dogs without seeing them. Three others didn’t make it through initial training: one was too timid, one got car sick and the other was too inclined to chase. At first, Molly was anxious. But she had intelligent eyes and was a problem-solver. She was also hyper and fixated on catching tennis balls. She had the right temperament: a bright working dog from a breed with a natural disposition to search for game. We just had to channel that instinct into finding cats. She had to be “cat-tested”, so we took her to a farm with a dozen cats to see if she would chase them. She didn’t even bark. Her focus was on interacting with her handler.Her training took nine months with experts, including two doctors of canine behaviour. This had never been done before. She was a quick learner. The first phase was lab training, where we taught her to isolate scents. She then worked with a behavioural specialist who taught her to understand signals and commands. The final stage was teaching us to work together. On assignments, Molly is trained to pick up cats’ scents from their bedding. When she finds the missing cat, she lies down to signal success, so as not to scare them, but you can see her trembling with excitement. She gets rewarded with her super-treat: black pudding. Her first success was in February this year. A tri-coloured moggy had been sighted six miles from home on the roof of a garden shed. Molly quickly picked up her scent on the grass. I sent her across the back of 30 gardens until she started clawing at a fence. She charged across the lawn to a summer house and lay down. The cat was inside. The owners were over the moon and quite amazed by her. Molly has helped to rescue 11 cats so far, and our search success has increased by a third. She wears a fluorescent harness and has her own abseiling kit, which we once used to lower her over a 10ft wall. We’re getting special boots made to protect her feet in outbuildings where there may be nails or glass. Many people said that training a dog to rescue cats was crazy; that all dogs chased cats and it couldn’t be done. Nothing has felt quite so rewarding as seeing it work. People are fascinated when they watch Molly at work, but she’s not fussed. She still doesn’t know that those things with four legs that she searches for are called cats. To her, it is just her favourite game. • As told to Deborah Linton

Hahaha LG, that is so true DDD just doesn't realise it yet... she has always been a little slow on the realisation of the inevitable

For the first month or so the house smelt like a vinegar factory but Henry and I got there in the end. I had to explain to my neighbour what I was doing, she was looking at me strangely when I was down the yard saying 'good boy, clever dog' so often.

Oi Oi; stop the talk and just post those Pebbles-photos right now Phil!

Henry was entire when I got him, he marked on everything in the house. I made the effort to take him outside/downstairs every 1/2 hour or so. I also got him desexed a couple of months after buying him (he was terribly overweight and I was concerned with the anesthetic on a fat-porkie dog so he went on a diet until he shed 1.8kg) Henry grasped the concept of weeing outside though it took a couple of months, I think the desexing helped, I would have rather left him entire but he was 10 so I decided that he had tempted the testicular/prostate cancer nasties for enough years so we said bye bye to his boy-bits. Overall he would have taken 3-4 months for his brain to say 'hang on, it's outside I go' Poo wasn't much of a problem as he would do that on his walks. I gave him heaps of praise when we went downstairs and did his wee; treat them as you would a pup, takes a while but does work. When it comes down to it the only thing they want to do is make you happy with them.

That made me laugh Sars...they would soon find out what the ribbon meant when they went round the back