mita

Yes, the claim for a dog to be a 'purebred' can only be made when papers are sighted. Without papers, I agree, it's anyone's guess....as in 'looks like'. And being a dead ringer is not a guarantee of being a purebred. Friends in SA had a little dog who came from generations of mixed breeds in their small country town. By sheer chance, she came out looking like a purebred tibbie. In an added twist of fate, she needed an operation on her front legs which left her with that slight 'bow' that's characteristic of the breed.

I've had a couple of examples in the opposite direction. Rescues have advertised dogs from the pound (background unknown) as Tibetan Spaniel X or Some Other Small Fluffy X. In these cases, each dog had the look of a purebred. I've got knowledgeable people to look at the pic....& they've said the dog has the features that'd make you think 'purebred'. When I've told those rescues, they have quite rightly said that in the absence of actual evidence, they won't claim a dog is purebred. So I now think it's fair enough for a rescue to state that a breed label is only their best guess. But because of no actual evidence, they will make no claim of purebred. When there is any evidence, like the papers have been surrendered with the dog, then they can state 'purebred'. In both cases, the rescues changed the label to Tibetan Spaniel......but they made no claim that the dogs were purebred. They did the right thing, IMO.

I couldn't agree more with all the comments so far about the actual benefits of adopting seniors. I've adopted 8 and 9 yr olds....& they sure came with all those benefits. I think that actual stories of 'senior' adoptions would be a great 'advertiser' on a special 'seniors' page' on your website. Particularly as they bear out the benefits to a range of people in real life. A settled, mellow senior dog can be a boon for a busy working person... for people who don't want to start with a young puppy or active young adult..... for retired & senior people, too. Little Paws Cat Program in SE Qld has a Long Term Companion Cat Program-Seniors for Seniors which places mature cats with senior people & people with disabilities (meeting certain criteria). If anything happens to the person, the Program looks after the cat. They have volunteers who'll help the person get the cat to a vet, too. I've wondered if something similar could be set up, placing senior dogs with senior people as a long term companion. With all the necessary logistics in place. This Program may have been partly due to the fact that mature age adult cats don't rehome as speedily as kittens. http://littlepawskittenrescue.org.au/our-goal/foster-care/draft-only-long-term-foster-care-program-seniors-for-seniors/

If I lived on the Gold Coast (or within reasonable driving distance), I'd be going.

From AWL Q'ld notices: GCCC are holding a 'Dog Day Out' at Ernie Tebb Park on Mountain View Road, Miami this Sunday 15th from 2pm-5pm where you are invited to go along with your four legged friend and enjoy the company of other doggie people and their pooches. AWLQ will be there so come along and say hi then if you feel like sticking around there will be a free screening of the movie 'Red Dog' at 6.30pm so bring your flask and your blankets too!

Is watching TV a greyhound 'thing'? Our neighbour who owns racing greys & loves them, tells us how every greyhound he gets in, loves to lie on the sofa watching TV. Fingers crossed for Raymondo. Sounds like his prospective owners have discovered that greyhounds make wonderful pets.

I'd always ask an owner before giving any dog a treat. First, it's plain courtesy. Having got the OK, & depending on the circumstances I'd then give someone's dog a treat. Second, I've had a dog with food intolerance, who'd suffer bowel upsets after eating anything with grains in it. And I've also had a dog with severe pancreatitis where anything the slightest bit fatty, could cause an attack. So I'm aware there could be other dog owners who've put dietary restrictions on their dog for medical reasons.

We used to have 2 Shelties, 2 Tibbies & 2 cats. It made 24 paws to wipe dry in wet weather. :) I used to call 'Shelties!' when I wanted them to come. And 'Tibbies!' when I wanted them to come. Visitors used to say, 'They know what breed they are!', when the right pair would respond. We now have 2 Tibbies. They're an easy breed to live with, so I'd have no problem owning more (but can't). Sometimes 2 other Tibbies used to come to stay.....& the 4 of them just 'bonded' like a little pride of lions and looked after each other.

That's an excellent way to make donations, via the treating vet. It also serves as a legitimacy check. BTW, I'm a great fan of greyhounds. We've lived next door, for many years, to a man involved in greyhound racing, but who really loves his dogs. I've never known a greyhound to be in his care that wasn't the sweetest natured dog & a delight to have as a doggie neighbour.

AWL Qld has a gorgeous looking Staffy for adoption. His name is 'Mr President'. You might see Mr President's pic here: http://www.facebook.com/AWLQLD

Well done, Sam, & also to the people who helped you to safety.

You are not wrong!

Thanks. It didn't occur to me to look at Staff. Gee, he must be busy, with his GC Vet Practice & also doing the mobile service up in Brisbane.

Dr John is brilliant. We have used him a couple of times including when my old girl had to be put to sleep one night and he came straight away to the house. He now works from the Gold Coast The Point Vet Thanks for that update. Looks like Dr John now only works on the Gold Coast. My tibbies will be disappointed that he no longer does the Brisbane suburbs. I'm pleased to see that your opinion was the same as mine. According to the website he still operates his mobile service in Brisbane and Gold Coast. I have been looking for a mobile vet for a while so thanks for this info - hopefully he still does the mobile route! Daisygirl gave a more up-to-date website for Dr John. It seems to say he only works on the Gold Coast now under a new name The Point Vet. http://www.thepointvet.com.au/ The website I gave refers to a change of name....& it still refers to Brisbane. So I honestly don't know what range he has currently. If you contact him & find out if he still does Brisbane suburbs, would you let me know?

Dr John is brilliant. We have used him a couple of times including when my old girl had to be put to sleep one night and he came straight away to the house. He now works from the Gold Coast The Point Vet Thanks for that update. Looks like Dr John now only works on the Gold Coast. My tibbies will be disappointed that he no longer does the Brisbane suburbs. I'm pleased to see that your opinion was the same as mine.

T, we might be going a bit O/T, but your first point is an issue. I'd always thought one of the strongest aspects of rescue, is how the foster-carers come to know a dog well. And how they can 'test' it in a number of situations....& even supply some remedial measures (like house-training, walking well on a lead etc etc etc). Quite a few rescue groups show how they've done this, in how they write up profiles. I'm forever showing prospective pet adopters profiles from certain rescue groups who do this brilliantly, so they can see that great benefit in getting a rescue dog. I've noticed, too, that numbers of registered breeders who advertise mature dogs on Dogzonline, do the same. These are the people to adopt dogs from.....those who know their dogs well! One of these rescue groups puts up dogs that they've just got in.....but, bless them, they say that their foster-carer is getting to know this dog. So a full profile will follow when there's good information. No surprise that this rescue also rehomes with care and much attention to matching. Which they can, when they truly know what they're working with.

I love Raymond's ears! What a sweetie. I can't understand, either, why such lovely natured dogs get dumped. Everything crossed for him tomorrow.

There's also a mobile vet who comes to your home. We used one whose service was called Flexivet when our 3 pets all needed their annual check/vaccinations and there were time constraints. I'd already come across this service's vet when he was doing some locum work for our usual good vet. He was just as good. I always have a list of questions ready to ask at the vet's. But this vet in his explanations covered all of them before I got to ask. My two tibbies adored him. He'd come into the waiting room to get them & they'd throw themselves into his arms. Little fat, short-legged Annie was a bit uncomfortable up on the high exam table.....so he'd sit on the floor with her happy on his lap. When I mentioned to the vet clinic's director how good he was, she happily gave me the contact details for his usual Flexivet service. So we got him to come to the home....& 'do' all 3 pets at the same time. The cost was extremely reasonable. http://www.flexivet.com.au/about

My Tibetan Spaniel was imported from Sweden by an Australian registered breeder. That's a popular breed in Scandanavia. I have copies of the paperwork. Another Australian breeder took her brother. Very wise move....as this year, that Swedish breeder's dog won Best of Breed at Crufts.

If only it weren't a few suburbs away.....I have an excellent vet at The Gap. Consultation is around $45. Many times I've thought she's made a mistake with the bill, because it's been so reasonable. But I go to her because she's so good and communicates so well. The reasonable charges are just icing on the cake. All our neighbours now go to her, too, even tho' we have to drive into the next suburb. Someone I know got an enormous quote for desexing a small dog, in that Indooroopilly area. She came over to my vet for nearly 1/2 that amount. And the vet even did some fixing of a tooth she noticed while the dog was 'under'....& didn't charge for it.

There's a lovely Persian cat called McDreamy for adoption from AWL Qld. http://www.awlqld.com.au/3724/3724/

Yes. And that's not an opinion....it's evidence. Best predictor of future behaviour is past behaviour. Kizzyneo, I'm sorry for the shocking experience you went thro' when the killing happened. I hope you'll be able to link up with another rescue that might advise and support you differently when you foster.

We adopted an ex-show dog whose pedigree name is Zena Warrior Princess. Call name, Zena. Something big that takes no prisoners? No, she's the gentlest natured little blonde tibbie, with a sweet face. So we put Nina in front of her name & she's become Nina Zena or NZ, for short (which makes people think she comes from New Zealand!) :)

I read in the weekend newspaper that actor, Sam Worthington, called his Cavalier, 'Bacon'. I don't know if he plans to get a second Cav named 'Eggs'. :) He was quoted as saying he loves his dog, 'like a son'.

Good thinking. I heard a police officer giving security advice to home-owners. He said that absolutely determined burglars can get into most places. But the trick was to slow them down. He said time spent breaking in meant more time to be detected. And really turned off the opportunistic thief. His other tip was....dogs that bark at strangers are good! Even if it's a neighbour's dog. Thieves know that a dog's typical 'alarm bark' is very likely to bring someone out to look or investigate.