Pollywaffle

I got my two today and it actually brought tears to my eyes to be a part (albeit tiny) of something so special..so good to see people rallying behind a common cause and doing something constructive...well done to all who coordinated these cookbooks!

what an adorable little girl...she is absolutely lovely!

Any dog makes my heart thump - no matter the breed....

I just had to vote..she looked so excited....

My gosh my girl (tailed aussie shepherd) can wag.

She wags if you accidentally make eye contact with her. She wags if our other dog accidentally makes eye contact with her. She wags if you say her name. She wags if you say the other dog's name. She wags if she sees a bird. She wags if she sees a toy. She wags in her sleep. She wags if you walk past her. Sometimes she wags for no reason at all.

What a wag!

So, last night OH and I got back from work, after an hour commute on the train like everyone else, exhausted after a long day at work. We noticed a stray dog running around the train station car park (peak hour with approx 200 cars in it) which is also next to a busy main road. It was black with GSH in him I think, extremely thin, terrible coat condition and suspected fleas as he was scratching horrendously. Sooooo friendly, came bounding up to me, tongue lolling out and tail wagging, and promptly sat down for ear scratches. He bounded off again (wouldn’t keep still for me to hold on to) and kept approaching lots of other commuters. He would wander and follow them to their cars. To my shock, everyone ignored him. One man tried to check for a collar, but upon seeing he didn’t have one, just walked off. He followed one lady to her car, she jumped in and reversed out of her parking space almost hitting him. I had to frantically wave and shout at her to stop otherwise she would have hit him. Clearly no one else was going to do anything, so I rang my usual vets for advice. They gave me the number for the local RSPCA centre. After 15 minutes on hold I finally got through to a guy who asked if the animal was hurt, I said I wasn’t certain but I didn’t think so, so he said well we can’t do anything, we could only come and get him if he is hurt (that’s after 15 minutes on hold listening to them offer assistance for lost or found animals). I was so angry but clearly not going to get anywhere. He offered no advice whatsoever. He said he could give me a local council number but they’d be closed and the nearest one open that he had was the Gold Coast. I rang off and decided to call our local police station. The dog was a hazard – he had almost been hit by vehicles and at one stage had jumped onto the train tracks. After again “please select option blah blah blah” and sitting on hold, I got through. I was told that they are extremely short staffed, had no available cars and they wouldn’t be able to send someone out, and that actually, they were Petrie Police Station and Narangba isn’t in their jurisdiction (10 minutes drive apart). He asked if I could take the dog home, to which I explained , no we already have a max of two dogs, one of which is fear aggressive of other dogs. He then offered me the number of Moreton Bay Council animal department. I said not only did I not have a pen on me but I was almost out of credit on my mobile. He said he’d ask someone to call me. 10/15 minutes later they did and said the ranger was on his way, had been given my details and that he’d call if going to be delayed. Phew! Sigh of relief.

In the meantime, two vile teenagers turned up shouting “hey, you found our dog”. I explained the ranger was on his way – they would need to speak to him because:

a. The dog had no licence.

b. He was entire

c. He was neglected and in poor condition, with a large lump on his stomach

d. Was abandoned by them at the station (they admitted) whilst they caught a train to see friend and then came back and hour later

The kids went on to explain that a friend of theirs had found the dog two weeks ago, but decided he didn’t want to keep it anymore and so had left it with them. They had no money to feed or care for it and didn’t see overly fussed about doing so. As they stated “they ain’t paying any money for it”.

By now, almost two hours have passed of standing at the train station, in the dark, our own dogs at home alone. I decided to retrieve the rangers number and find out how much longer he thought he’d be.

I explained to him about the kids turning up, and his response was “well, I’m going to be quite a while so you may as well just let them take the dog”. It turns out the ranger wasn’t even on his way and hadn’t even been given my name and number, just told a stray dog was at the train station. I explained the condition of the dog and he said well if I come and get it he is just going to be put down anyway. I asked what about the fact that the dog isn’t licensed, he said, oh well, we’ll catch up with them eventually. I said, but the kids can’t afford to look after him, get him registered, desexed,any vet care or anything and he said well if they say the dog is theirs, there is nothing legally we can do and we should let the kids take him.

I walked away in tears.

What the hell has happened to the world? When did people become so cold and uncaring? More importantly, how did the very people who are meant to care about animals welfare and are even PAID to assist, not give a rats ass. I’m devastated and I know in my heart that dog is not going to have a happy ending......

Can anyone tell me what else I should have done?

Good on you for making the effort..that's what is so sadly lacking nowadays..people who care. You've shown by your actions that you do and I personally commend you (for what it's worth) for not just walking away..that's the far easier option.

they're too good looking to be guilty of such wanton vandalism...must be the cat...

my two are as thick as thieves..they stick together..yesterday (and for whatever reason) one of mine peed in the lounge (tiles)...but when I asked them who had done it, they said nothing....

your comments have reinforced what I've known all along..we all have the bestest dogs in the world..what are the chances of that sort of luck!

Cheers

I couldn't deal with the envy..if I posted the evidence...

I just thought I should 'come clean' and state the obvious...and yes, I'm being very subjective!!

As I was leaving for work this morning I looked at my two and thought how is it in this wide world that I not only get the best dog in it, but the TWO best dogs in the world..what are the odds of that happening…am I lucky or what?

Apologies to all other beautiful (but unfortunately not "best" ) dogs...

it seems the minute they are put outside, our two are at the backdoor looking in - all forlorn and despondent...heaps of don't you care about us 'mummy' on their faces. Can't take the mood so in they come. They've got us wel-trained.

OH and I are getting on a bit and our two seem to mirror us, despite their ages. Our boy's absolute favourite pastime is doing nothing...I've asked lately how it's at all necessary for him to sleep so much and when he's awake, he looks as though he's had a hard night and will need to sleep shortly. Weekends the four of us have been known to relocate to the bedroom for an afternoon kip...we all have one! Not good I guess in this world of being out there socialising/interacting and the such like..but we're all happy!

whatever she is she is GORGEOUS!!!

I should say..well saved!

I blush to admit that both of ours are pet shop bought..I've certainly lived and learnt since joining DOLers..and will not make the same 'mistake' again..that said, I wouldn't replace my two for anything or anyone! Whatever their pedigree..their love is totally pure-bred...

we had exactly the same situation...a little boy alone all day..and then we got his 'sister' and it's been the best thing..they are so good together and when we go off to work and see them both sitting at the window - ready to bark at the next 'loser' going by...we know we did the right thing.

Unable to have children, Polly has come to me to show me that I can be a good 'mother'...

disgusting..

that's why we've decided to not have a life..while we have the dogs..the worrying about what is happening to them while we're away is not worth the going away!

But they're worth it...(I think)

I've got a maltese who likes to bark..only solution..wear him out!

Anything I can do to further the cause, irrespective of the initiator, I will do ..and have now done for this petition.

very sensibly dressed!

Agree with others...Not only is it best for the dogs..as they have company etc, but it helped OH and I get over the guilt of leaving our little boy alone..now we know each has got the other.

a very worthwhile cause..my pleasure!