mita

I understand your concerns about the article, teekay. I'll have to read it again, because I didn't read it as Designer versus Pedigree. I just thought it was honing in on the novelty- name craze that's led to the growth of puppy farming which serves that trendy market. But I might've been reading it with the benefit of background knowledge. Oddly enough, I was going to post, just as an add-on & not a criticism, to not forget the 'full' breed dogs that are also profitable for those who engage in puppy farming activities ... with awful consequences for their physical condition and/or for their socialisation. I've just seen a rescue detailed on our international tibbie list, where 19 adult tibbies and puppies were rescued from such an activity in Kansas. Again, just my opinion, but I find that article from Dogs Today, intemperately written in that it adds to the emotional 'noise' surrounding the Designer v Pedigree issue. I have no problem with their making the case, that 'full breeds' are also victims of puppy farming techniques (by whoever uses them). But a bit more rationality, rather than indignant huffing & puffing. would have made it sound informative and persuasive, instead of picking a fight. As for your own comments.... again, my opinion... I think you fairly, squarely & rationally pointed out inaccuracies in the original article. That contributes to the debate.

Couldn't agree more, juice. I've just mentioned Denise at PAWS on the International Tibbie list, where there's piles of Americans. There's just been a big 'save' of 19 Tibbies by the US Peke & Chin rescue group from a puppy mill in Kansas. That rescue also saves Tibbies... & this is not the first time. People were praising those wonderful rescuers. I posted that Sydney Tibbies have many times been saved by our wonderful Denise at PAWS. And told Australians on that list they can see her on Bondi Vet tonight.

I'd say you're dead right. All based on a scientifically flawed understand of dog behaviour,

Double post.

Denise is a legend in the tibbie world. Latest of a line of tibs she's saved are Thelma & Louise. One alert that two little frightened girls needed rescue & fostering... and Denise was there. Once in her arms & care ... just look at the smiles in the pic. This is true of all the smallies she & her foster-carers save. No effort & vet work is too much, for her to turn their lives around. Donations to PAWS are well spent. Click to enlarge:

Unashamedly keep bumping it. Important for other states, too. If that anti-science stuff about dogs gets into law in Victoria... it ups the chances of some other state governments following.

Good on all involved with this petition & hoped for meeting with the authorities. From what I've seen of the Victorian draft code re BSL, it has nothing to offer for community safety re dog attacks. I hope loads of people sign.

Double post.

I rest my case. :) Sorry mita, exactly what case is that? I'm not sure if I am one of your 'no idea owners' or one that may have an idea??? Im sure mita means you're that you're one of the good ones :) Thanks, Aussie. You're dead right! Leec, you gave a perfect, good example of what I was talking about. Just because someone uses the term 'furbaby', it doesn't necessarily mean they mix up their dogs with humans. I should've give you a thumbs -up rather than just a smile.

I rest my case. :)

And the call names people give dogs are frequently human names. Our pets have had human names... Sarah, Katy, Danny, Shelley, Annie etc. One even became known as 'Grandma' after a nickname when she was 13 years old, turned into a name by the time she was 22. I think there's a difference between not liking the word 'furbaby' yourself ... & strongly not liking other people using it. I don't use it myself because it conjures up a baby covered in fur. I just find it awkward & can understand why some don't like it. But others might not feel like that ... and use it. Fair enough, IMO. Even if there existed some study which found that people who use 'furbaby' tend to have little sense of the dog being a dog ... it still wouldn't predict for every individual who uses 'furbaby'. Only way to find out their knowledge, & applied knowledge, about canine behaviour as opposed to human behaviour, is to ask them and observe their management of their dog. (And I don't know of any such study, BTW.)

Our rescue sheltie, Danny, would twirl in circles when he didn't know what was expected in a situation. But it faded away as he matured. I'm a great believer in low doses of valium for anxiety in dogs. It doesn't fog their brain so they can still learn. It relaxes the muscles so the anxiety is hosed down & doesn't feed on itself. That's excellent advice from the vet. I'd only add +the passing of time.

One of the most beautiful I've ever seen on DOL. Huge hugs coming down to your family.

Your photos are stunning.... as stunning as the gorgeous dogs in them. Truly, no one can lose faith in the human race when there are rescuers doing work like this. The looks on the faces of the rehomed and the freed doggie faces, say it all!

I can't speak for all branches but RSPCA Toowoomba just got kudos from me. They took, from the pound, 2 tibbie girls that had been found straying together. Owner didn't claim them. Up for adoption from RSPCA Toowoomba. Only young 1 yr +, they could be purebreds (to my eye), tho' the RSPCA honestly didn't claim that, not having seen papers. I sent them an email saying they looked as if they could be ... & would spread word if anyone looking for a rescue tibetan spaniel. RSPCA wanted to rehome them together. Today they were rehomed & I got a very nice email advising of that. And offering to answer any further questions about the girls. $199 was put on each, which would make it reasonable for adopting the pair. (That's country Qld with drought biting.) They did very well by these 2 sweet, good-looking little dogs.

Thanks for the heads-up. I hope the event gets the publicity it deserves. The Australian War Memorial has a great collection of archival photos of animals that were beside Australian service men and women in war ... working or as pets. Samples here: http://www.awm.gov.au/exhibitions/animals/ They've put a lot of it into a book called M is for Mates. Designed for primary children, it's just as great for adults. Well-researched pics and accounts of all kinds of animals, starting from WW1 up to the dogs that served in Afghanistan. http://www.awm.gov.au/shop/item/9781877007392/#.UwFEhhw_-yM Might be a good day to visit any state-based memorial, like the one to the Tracker Dogs who served in Vietnam. At Alexandra Headlands Qld. http://www.qldwarmemorials.com.au/Pages/MemoDet.aspx?Memorial=Alexandra%20Headland%20National%20War%20Dog%20Memorial

Necessity is the mother of invention, they say. Very creative use of a watermelon!!

Huge hugs to you & your husband, and gentle ones for Bella. You are such wonderful doggie parents. Even though your hearts are breaking, you're giving Bella what makes her doggie heart glad ...her favourite things. She will only know love right to the end.

Good suggestion.

Yes, the cute small breeds go like hot cakes. And Princess is very cute. Profile suggests she's in foster-care so she's also getting everyday- life socialization which is a good thing. I've got no problem with specially cute ones having a higher fee. And I agree the price is what someone is prepared to pay. Pet store puppies can be priced pretty high.

Be grateful, DD. :) Secretary at work was a large lady who owned a gorgeous Golden Retriever named Oliver. A carpenter came to replace a lot of her kitchen benches, while she was at work. Oliver was home, of course. She got home after a long day & went to the kitchen to talk to the carpenter. In the middle of the floor was a huge pile of her bras & knickers (of large size, too). Seems Oliver had 'brought' his mum into the kitchen... by raiding her underwear drawer & bringing it out, piece by piece. Not even washing takes away the owner's scent for a dog's nose. When the man next door went on fishing trips, his Tibbie Brockie who adored him, would raid his sock drawer. And build a pile of socks in the living-room, then bury his nose in them to get the comfort of his dad's presence.

That's one of the antidotes for separation anxiety. Giving the doggie things that strongly have the owners' scents on them. Gives the dogs comfort when the owners are not there. My apologies if you already know that ... but rub palms of hands over all her toys. And put old un-washed T-shirts of her day place outside & in her crate. Many times, like with Bonnie, the dogs 'arrange' to collect the owner-scenting items for themselves. Underclothing, socks,shoes are popular with the dogs because those items really absorb the owner's scent.

The reason I continue to vaccinate, even my senior girl, is in the event of an emergency & they have to board at kennels. The only specific kennels I'll consider for the tibbies, insists on current vaccination status. And this situation has just come up. It's a huge relief to know the girls will be going to a kennels I trust completely.

Yes, that's what I thought. Which is why the other matter of condition/behaviour of puppies observed by fostercarers not matching up with what they believed the later RSPCA decisions to be, should be reported to the WA State Administrative Tribunal. It's a separate issue. The Qld equivalent of that Tribunal, covers animal management decisions by government bodies.... & their agents. Seems the WA one does, too. Because the original owner's going thro' it, for her case. It'd be good if the matter were able to be heard by an independent Tribunal.

Interesting that the Taliban spokesperson is quoted as saying Colonel is 'alive and well' .... & his fate would be determined later. He added 'well'. Just speculating ... but I wonder if they're thinking they might be able to strike a deal ...for something they want ... to return the dog, alive & well. Not that I'd expect the US military authorities to agree to something like that.