mita

Good plan to have the security in place. Friends had a GSD girl who loved her squeaky toy with a passion, but she finally wrecked it & it made no sound....which frustrated her. So they bought her a new squeaky toy & wrapped it & put it under the Christmas tree with all the family presents. You know what's coming! They went to midnight mass & when they came home, there were ripped presents all over the place, but the GSD happily had the new squeaky toy in her mouth. Seems she'd been poking around sniffing at the presents.... & likely stood on the squeaky toy. And did some demolition work to find which parcel.

Trojka, I pass a house with yard like that when walking the tibbies. Two handsome border collies live there. Fences are very high with no gaps. But there's small gaps under the 2 separate gates.... just enough for the tips of their noses to come thro' The BCs run along the fenceline barking at the little dogs.... stopping only for nose tips to snort under the gaps. Just my reaction, but it's funny (given that they're well secured). My tibbie girls actually wait for the snorting noses.... & hurry around the corner where the BCs have beaten them to the second gap, trying to snort and bark at the same time. The little dogs are so used to this show & seem to look forward to it. Maybe they're feeling superior that all the rushing & barking & snorting can't get them.

I know what you're saying and I agree with you. It's not that you're going to report the matter, but it can be a bit uncomfortable with a dog or dogs going full bore along the fenceline. But they'd be on their own turf and guarding it as dogs do. Only times it gets more than uncomfortable is when it looks as if the dog could get over the fence . Could be a case for report.... based on question of adequacy of fencing. Speaking only for myself, we've always had side gates and don't leave our dogs in the front yard. Like we don't want them getting into the habit of barking at the passing parade, we want them secure from visitors (like meter readers) leaving gate open, ane we don't want them stolen.

Reggie's so perfect with the puppies. They all really love each other! Priceless pics. :)

ABC RN website has pics and comments posted. Great to see so many of them are about greyhound rescues and adoption. With loads of praise for these lovely gentle dogs. http://www.abc.net.au/radionational/programs/backgroundbriefing/2012-11-11/4355398#comments

The vet in the program's trailer, said the same thing as you. He said it was not a happy thing for him to PTS 'dud' racing greyhounds, but at least he'd be doing it humanely. The general public needs to know what lovely pets these 'dud' greyhounds make. Man at the back who owns racing greyhounds, rescued one called Boofy that was about to be PTS at age 3 years because he wasn't suitable for the track. Boofy finished up being adored by all the neighbours. He had the sweetest most loving nature. He'd amble out when he was called, to get pats. Our little tibbie girl, Angel, specially loved Boof. He'd lean down from his great height, so she could kiss his nose. Sadly, he died on the operating table when being desexed. His new owner and everybody else were shattered. He'd ambled into our hearts. Angel missed him terribly. She'd wait at the fence for ages, hoping he'd come back. Boofy a 'dud'??? He was the very best of dogs.

I like it when people say something just to make a connection on the walking tracks in the parks around here. Walkers, people with dogs, and people with prams usually say, at least, Good morning!' Lots 'speak' to the dogs or about the dogs they meet. You've got enough negative comments already... so no more salt in the wound! :) But, to me, the man was just saying something factual.. your hands were full. Not something judgmental, as in you can't handle the dogs.

I followed that link. Great information & pics about the Sarplaninac breed. Says also known as Yugoslavian Shepherd dog. History is fascinating as it also refers to the 'class' of dogs, the breed fits with. Good move to let those experienced breeders check out that lovely dog... in case. By weird accident ( I was googling images of totally different breed), when this pic came up.... traced back to DOL. In 2010, Nekhbet said she'd like a Sarplaninac... & posted a very nice pic: http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/208540-rare-dog-breeds/page__st__50

What lots of others have said. Great exposure of a lovely rescue dog, good treatment from the people in the house, under the watchful eye of a most respected rescue organisation. AWL Qld would have carefully selected Delilah for traits of sociability and adaptability. Adoptive family waiting in the wings... and their present dogs... would also have been carefully screened. To be fair to the OP, I also had a tinge of concern when it was first announced a dog would be in the house. But, as I actually looked at the situation further, it seemed an excellent move. My original reaction was largely based on my own prejudices about the BB program. And having to re-think about Delilah, made me realize that. :) The program mightn't be my cup of tea.... but there's nothing terribly awful about it which would make life difficult for a dog. Seems it turned out quite the opposite! Thanks, Delilah. :)

Excellent! I make a point of doing my pet supplies shopping only at pet stores with an Adoption Program. I wonder if there's a list anywhere.

Excellent. Great to see someone being proactive with double benefits. Final litter for the mother dog, and puppies whelped & raised by people who know what they're doing. Hope this service model catches on elsewhere, too.

They played a 'trailer' of the greyhound program on Radio National.... after this morning's Background Briefing program (which was about the death of that young man who was tasered). It sounded very good... they speak to a vet who says it isn't a happy thing to be asked to put down the greys who were not up to expectation.

The bloke didn't say snakes wouldn't slither across gravel.... he linked it with no bushes. Meaning they could be seen without anywhere to lurk. And creative use of chicken-wire to close gaps. Aloysha's got a good point that you try to make it harder for snakes to take easiest path... and also to lurk. As well as deter creatures along the food chain.

She's got the looks of a movie star & knows how to pose like a supermodel. :)

I heard a Q'ld snake expert talking about how to deter snakes as much as possible. Others have mentioned some of the things. First, he said to look at the food chain. .. like ponds/water features with frogs attract the snakes. And things like leaving external lights on at night, attracts the moths & bugs which attract creatures like frogs... which attract snakes. So leaving them off is good (until actually needed). Also check any places around the home and sheds which has chook food or bird seed or whatever...that attracts mice, which attracts snakes. He also said to avoid having piles of rubbish where snakes find security. And he said his idea of landscaping deterrent was to have a zone of gravel around the actual house, with no bushes in that area. And, like Alyosha said, use stuff like chicken wire creatively.

I didn't think there was much about dogs, either. Not a sparky night at all. I agree that so much depends on the topic & the guests. Stephen did a lot of just talking. Sometimes the guests looked more like bored kids in a classroom who are just there because they're there. The usual far wittier guests are always raring to go, with smart cracks.

Purdie, I wondered the same. But first thing about a Tibetan Spaniel relates to PA's comment about barking. A Tibbie tends not to bark mindlessly, but only when there is something unusual that needs the owner to check out. They were originally bred to be alert dogs. Our Tibbie girls have twice sussed out thieves at our place. But they're not nuisance yapper/ barkers. The Tibbie girl, next door, however, barks more than they do. So there's differences within a breed. Second thing would be that PA wants a dog that could be walked often. Tibbies are a bracchy breed so long walks are not suitable as they can't get rid of the body heat so efficiently. My girls only have 10 to 15 minute walks and never when it's hot. But Tibbies are very active in short sprints playing around the yard... where their harefeet give them speed & traction.

I sent Katdog's link to Gus's new family. They got back right away, with a report. And they're trying to get a new good picture to put his story on that ABC site. He's only been with them since last Sunday. Gus is a lovely boy, a real gentleman, very clever and loving. He likes to lie upside down on my knee (across my whole body) and have his tummy stroked. So much for a working dog but I say he's working on being loved. Apparently he got dumped on the side of the road so RSPCA guess he is 13 months. I reckon he maybe only 8 months or so...and he's been in foster care since then. He had cuts all over his head when he was picked up. And although we can see cattle dog, I think he is crossed with either a kelpie or border collie as he is very fast and very clever. Gus and Barry (p/b chocolate lab) are like best friends, they play all day and night and hopefully Guss's lovely manners will rub off on old piggy Barry. I took him to meet the cows and sheep & horses and so far it's just on lead so we will keep doing that till I think he is ready for more. He sits, shakes, waits, and does 'Down'.

That's a beautiful site. Thanks for the heads-up. I loved Boxie, snug and warm in his dad's jacket. I'll pass it on to relatives who live on 10 acres & have just adopted their first 'working dog'.... to be trained (& much loved). Here's Gus, who came from RSPCA fostercare and described as handsome, intelligent & with good manners (all dead right!).

Ages back, I bought Monika's Doggie Rescue Calendars as Chrissie present for several friends. They loved them. So every year since, they drop hints to get another one! :) They do. But one year, I picked a calendar from Hunter Animal Rescue. It was the hot favourite of all time, as they managed to design it so there were lots of little pics of dogs for each day (week?). I notice they're doing calendars again... & I wonder if they're still doing that. http://www.hunteranimalrescue.com.au/category/blog/

I agree with this. I first hesitated and hesitated when getting another dog after the passing of a beloved tibbie. I absolutely love the breed, but had a concern I might be trying to 'replace' one that was much loved. But, when I finally got a new tibbie, she had her own individual personality....as have the ones I got later. I think so long as that's kept in mind.... the new one will be an individual & not a mirror image... it's fine to stay with a favourite breed.

As examples. Go to the Paws website. First click on 'Rescued by Denise'... scroll down to 'Winston' (tho' others may catch your eye). Then click on 'Rescued by Rhonda'... scroll down to 'Norris' (or whichever appeals to you). Paws dogs, like many of the other rescues, have their dogs in fostercare, where the carers get to know them very well. Shows up in the descriptions. http://www.paws.com.au/

And when you have a firm reminder for Sammy, you can call him 'ST'. Our Nina Zena has a second name & she gets called 'NZ', for short.

Lovely story... with all the people involved amazing! Polar's beautiful & you sure were right that she was a very much loved dog.

I didn't mention the age issue, because I knew you knew the lady and her circumstances very well. So your judgement could be trusted. But I can't help asking....if Shirley DID adopt you, would her family & friends put up their hands to care for you, too? I'd hate to see you dumped in an orphanage. :)