mita

You were bored & visited the RSPCA to relieve that boredom? And 'connected' with a little dog.... whose adoption was denied you on the basis of non-residency as a student. Did you tell the RSPCA that you'd already ordered a Cocker pup.... thus meaning there would be 2 dogs to transport back to Singapore? But fortunately their policy in not adopting to students without permanent residency, kicked in before that. Frankly, I'm leaving you at this point. Your belief that 'fate' has somehow been prevented by the RSPCA is irrational. 'Fate' brought on by being 'bored'. Interestingly, you've made no response to the fact that lovely pet dogs needing new homes and needing their lives saved via sponsorship.... are already in the country to which you will return. And where you have permanent residency.

I said something similar to you, when I referred to a sense of entitlement. None of us has entitlement to adopt a pet. Any of us can be turned down by those charged with making a call about adoption. For all sorts of reasons. There are alternatives in this case, tho'. Both in finding ways to spend time with dogs while in Australia... and in later adopting a dog needing a home in the country where the OP has permanent residency. There's even ways to save lives of dogs in that country before return. Having said that, I can emphasize with falling for a dog in another country where I'm not a permanent resident with associated citizenship. But what happens next is the tricky bit... which may need a dose of reality. And I understand Australian dog shelters & rescues acting on actual evidence that it's too high risk to adopt dogs to people who don't have citizenship.

He's free from pain & distress that had no place to go, but worse. You gave him peace in a better place. I know that feeling... it takes every shred of love to do what's the hardest thing. Hugs.

Gorgeous pups and dogs for adoption from Action for Singapore Dogs (ASD) rescue (just for starters, Conrad, Caspar & Chris...). As you'll be returning to Singapore... some lovely doggies there! And that is the place of your permanent residency. So no problems on that score. http://www.asdsingapore.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=blogsection&id=8&Itemid=108 Also a particular dog in Singapore can be sponsored to save its life. You've said saving a life is one of your intentions. So you could start here: http://www.asdsingapore.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=246&Itemid=69

The RSPCA did the right thing, in my opinion. It has nothing to do with discrimination nor any personal antagonism towards you and your girlfriend. You are not permanent residents in Australia and, while you may say that one day you intend to take an adopted dog back to Singapore, there's no guarantee of that... in the present moment. I adopted our cat from the adoption program at a leading university. Students who were not permanent residents of Australia could not adopt in that program, either. From experience, there'd been many problems flowing from overseas students adopting pets (from various sources)... most of which were dumped when they returned to their countries of origin. Of course, you might say that you would not do that... and that you'd take your dog to your country of origin. But that's something that can only be proven, or not, in the future. The risk factor has been gauged as 'high'. By the way, in the same adoption screening, there were many searching questions about if a potential owner & home would be suitable. Even tho' I'm an Australian citizen, my application for adoption could've been turned down on lots of other grounds. It's the right and requirement of those overseeing pet adoptions to make their own call. If I'd been turned down, I would've accepted that. The adoption is about the best interests of the pet... not of me. Same when I've adopted from registered breeders.... I've accepted their call, too. There's no entitlement when it comes to adopting a pet.... and that includes me and others as well. I can understand your love and need to enjoy the company of a dog. When I'd take our dogs across the campus to the university vet clinic, they'd soon be surrounded by overseas students who'd tell me about their families' dogs back home. So I've met enthusiastic and experienced dog lovers among the overseas students. It was great to see them interacting with the dogs. Is there another way of doing that while you're in Australia? Dog walking for a rescue? Foster-caring? Making contact with a registered breeder who has links with the Singapore Kennel Club? Doing some pet-sitting?

What Persephone said. MsDani, I've been there, and when it's impossibly hard for our pet... I'm thinking of you.

I wondered if cattle dog had got lost in translation from Australia to the USA. Downgraded to a cow. :)

I've got an American magazine here, where there's an article about a couple living in a rural area. There's a photo of the wife with their dog, Oscar.... who looks very close to the p/b Australian Cattle Dog, Harry, that my sister-in-law owns. But the American woman describes her Oscar, seriously, as a Cow Dog! :)

That was so like our Sheltie, Shelley. She'd been very gradually deteriorating... but then came a look in her eyes. The essence that was Shelley was dimmed. It was so hard, but I then knew. Very true, too, that when they are given their wings, they stay always in our minds and forever in our hearts.

It's such a hard time for you. And I've been there, myself. Best advice that has carried me thro', came from 2 different vets. One said that the bottom line is what is best for our dog's best interests, not for ours. So if there's considerable pain or distress which has no hope of getting better, our dog's best interest is to provide peace and no more suffering. The other said, about his own much loved pets, he'd never regretted that he'd had one given eternal peace too soon. BUT he'd regretted in a couple of cases that he'd not done it soon enough. I've found it can help if you have a vet (or a mobile vet) who will come to the home, so our pet is in a familiar place surrounded by the people who love him/her. My thoughts are with you as you make your decision.

It's so sad to lose them, but you're right that nature knows best. Daisy's so fortunate to be getting to very best of help at NSWAR.

Yes, a good idea. Or put POA, Price on Application. Deters the 'grabbers for free', at least. Then, as you say, a suitable owner is told...'no cost to you.'

Those cross sections on the gate would be enough for a dog to get pawholds to then heave itself over the top. I'm with others that paling gates/fences can catch paws or collars on the way. When our small dog was getting out & we couldn't find anyway how, we went out on the footpath with treats and called her. Amazingly, she flattened herself in the boneless way a cat can do & wriggled under the tiny space between the bottom of the big iron gates & the concrete driveway. Solved that problem by blocking access to the front garden. So I like someone's suggestion of blocking access to wherever your dog's escape point is. And which you'll likely find with the video surveillance.

Thank you for posting that pdf file. The introductory statement in the first post caught my interest. Very interesting highlights in the section you posted, sandgrubber.

Lovely mums! Daisy looks so relaxed as if she knows she's in good hands.

It was just a person working from minimum information.... she saw what looked like a smaller dog being attacked. And bravely stepped in to save it. One person's 'brave' is another person's 'idiot'. I hope she's around if my smaller dogs appear to be in strife. But can also understand how the OP felt....even tho' having full information that the dogs were actually friends.... just on the spur of the moment, it's worrying to see your dog being kicked at. Just two people acting from 2 different sets of information. Pity there wasn't an opportunity to mend the communication glitch afterwards & walk away on good terms.

TJ, they're delightful photos of your Yorkie. What a brilliant little dog!

Here are some Tibbies in their very first agility competition. Tibs ought to be fine because their hare-feet give them confidence in climbing. http://www.seduhin.net/agility.htm One of the Q'ld breeders told me she took her Tibbies to lure-coursing activities because once again their hare-feet allow them to run like the wind. The tib boy next door was named Brockie, after Peter Brock, because of his speed in running.

All our Tibetan Spaniels have been adopted, as adults, from registered breeders who've treated them exactly as you do, with your dogs. Not all breeders make the choice to rehome adult dogs, but ours came from those prepared to place them as desexed pets in only well-screened homes. These adult dogs came from their breeders already beautifully socialised with people and other dogs, confident in going out in the car & into public places. I'd love to claim credit when strangers admire their personalities, but this is how breeders like you raise their dogs from the moment they're born. It's one option that the OP might add to the list.... adopting an adult of whatever breed they finally decide on. But, equally, the preference might be to start with a puppy.

We came the other way round. We own 2 Tibetan Spaniels who behave exactly like Helen & Miki described by ESCS. This breed was bred for centuries to be close companion dogs in the monasteries of Tibet. So they're lovely, easy mainly indoor dogs. We wanted a puss-cat to fit in with the Tibs. Got help from the UQ Adoption Program to pick one, Sarah. The staff tested all the cats with dogs... and Sarah came out as happy to have a dog around. Sarah gets on great with our Tibbies....but absolutely loves the playful Tibbie next door, Lily. They have happy chases around the house (doesn't matter who is chasing who)... the games end with a big kiss. Maybe you could look at adopting an adult of whatever breed you finally prefer? And you could specially look for one who already lives happily around a cat. Also it'd be evident if it was a barker or not. As others have said, that's a critical issue in apartment living. But, then, you might prefer to start with a puppy & train from the beginning. FAQ about Tibbies here. Also photos... one with a puss: http://www.tibbies.net/faq.html

Dogmad, I notice the Cavs at SOS are bonded pairs they want to rehome together. They also seem very gentle girls that need quiet homes.

I guess you want a meet and greet with any new Cav which is why you've specified Victoria. Though I'm in Q'ld, the adult tibetan spaniels I've adopted have come from NSW... and fortunately fitted in well with the resident tibbie. But interstate adoption is an individual choice.

Have a look at the Dogzonline Purebred Community page where registered Cav breeders list the adult dogs they want to place in pet homes. I notice 1 current listing is in Victoria. http://www.dogzonline.com.au/breeds/mature/cavalier-king-charles-spaniel.asp

Thanks for posting such a positive story. :) So good to know that Honey has a great future.

Crikey, people actually spent time and money to come to these (startling obvious) conclusions?? You say those conclusions were obvious to you. Does that mean you thought that from what you'd personally seen and heard...and heard other people say? That's called anecdotal evidence....what people believe (intuitively). Research tests such hypotheses using the scientific method. Sometimes the results bear out the anecdotal evidence, but quite often it doesn't (results are then said to be counter-intuitive.) The maths- based scientific method is also able to detect how strong a pattern is. UQ is one of the leading research universities in this country and is world-class. As a result of this research, there's scientific evidence backing an opinion that certain behaviours are statistically more likely found among registered breeders, but that doesn't predict for individuals. Reliance on what appears 'obvious' to people would take us back before the Enlightenment. It was once 'obvious' to most people that the world was flat and that women were less intelligent.... among many other things. ..