mita

The photo in the lap, is priceless. I hope his adoption profile reads....'Suitable for home with large lap.' He's adorable + awesome.

Do some specific research & you'll find you've over-generalised. You need to match your good intentions about a petition re RSPCA NSW, with accurate information on the nature of the problem. It's not just a case of 'too many dogs'.... it's degree of risk factors around their being bred, raised & homed. At lower risk for developing behaviour problems & being dumped, are those puppies bred & raised, with much thought & planning, by breeders who socialise their dogs well (in a more home-style setting, where their efforts are not commercial). This tends to fit registered breeders.... as UQ research actually sussed out. That same research showed that these people also tended to have better control over number of litters. Diva posted an excellent example of this. It's for that reason that RSPCA Qld.... in one of their newsletters, urged people buying puppies/dogs to go to breeders who socialise their dogs well....or to their own shelters or to responsible rescue groups. Higher risk dogs.... that is, those more likely to develop behaviour problems (like timidity or aggression)... tend to come from unregistered breeders like backyarders & the puppy factories. US research, not surprisingly, found that puppies homed from petshops are more likely to develop such problems. Because their source is not those that tend to socialise well.... but like backyarders & puppy factories. With a next possible pit-stop being dumped in pounds/shelters.... like the RSPCA run. So the dogs they finish up with, are slanted towards those who were born/bred/homed to be at higher risk. Which means that behavioral testing & rehabilitation are critical. As Aphra posted, some pounds respond by being innovative. So numbers, alone, do not tell the whole story.

Great to read your updates.... & not only from the sheer delight of seeing these babies. But we all learn so much from these 'journeys' to save specially vulnerable little ones. And once again, bless Dymama. I don't know the process for appointments with the Uni vets in Wagga. Here in Brisbane, it was just a matter of making an appointment at the Uni's vet clinic. Best wishes for whatever you & Dymama decide on. And huge hugs for the Little Aussie Battler, Bazza. You couldn't have given him a better name that suits. :)

Yes!!!! After what I've seen of GAP here, you're with great people. And they'll welcome your willingness to discuss Roo & whether it's realistic.

But I liked the dog caravan on the same site. http://dog-milk.com/modern-pet-camper/?utm_source=dogmilk&utm_medium=thumb&utm_campaign=bestof

Very well said.

Some good news about Kingston the Staffy.... taken by a lady who said he was another dog. The real owner put a sign in the spot where the witness saw her put him in her car.] Seems the lady found he wasn't that dog.... & returned to the spot where she'd picked him up. And saw the sign. Immediately called real owner & there was a happy reunion. Owner posted: 'My faith in humanity is restored. Very, very happy.' And she wouldn't be alone. :)

I checked the AWL Qld Facebook page.... no happy update on the young staffy picked up by a woman claiming to know him. Happened Saturday & if she'd been genuine and discovered mistake, there's been time for his microchip to be checked & real owner found.

Yet another good reason never to give a dog access to your front yard, if you're not there to supervise it. I have also seen dogs tormented by passers-by, and of course the whole issue of passing dogs and barking issues. It is hard if you have a corner block - but most of us have backyards and that is by far the safest place for the dogs to stay, when they can't be inside with us. In terms of why they would steal these dogs - I presume for breeding. They would know that rescue dogs would be desexed. Yes, I agree. We've always had side fences that don't easily allowing passers-by to see into our backyard. The police info at that time, was that these small attractive dogs were being stolen for selling on. By coincidence, at same time, a couple who owned a tibbie for a pet used to go markets in rural, near Brisbane area every weekend. They saw a woman there, every week, selling.... you guessed it, small attractive dogs. They sell very well. Tibbie owner asked her where did she get this 'regular' supply of adult dogs from. The seller said that she got them 'from our family'. The pet owner remarked, 'Well, you must have a mighty big family!'. She started to press on with questions because she thought the whole thing 'suss'. And remarked that maybe police should take a look. But her husband pulled her away, thinking a brawl would start. Next week, the seller was not there & didn't return (in the couple's best knowledge). BTW, this was before microchipping became more common in Qld.

I was ready to be critical of the Tibetan Spaniel entry. But it proved a reminder to me to approach things with an open mind. :) Because it basically was the same as the information supplied on the tibbie international breeders' website. Frankly, it looks like it was borrowed from there. Only quibble.... a qualifier, really .... the info on PRA could be updated. There's just been great research in the UK which has improved hugely how that can be tested for.

Well, there's currently a plea for help on the AWL Qld Facebook page. Owner of a young Staffy that got out.... has witness saying a woman picked him up & put him in her car, saying she knew him & would return him. She said his name was something like 'Mossy'. But the owner said her dog is Kingston. He wasn't wearing his collar & ID because he'd had a bath. But he is microchipped.... At this point, poor owner doesn't know if the lady had the best of intentions .... & will discover a mistake. Or if her dog's been stolen. Owner gives her mobile phone number for anyone who can help: https://www.facebook.com/AWLQLD

I know it'll be up to Cheza.... but this sounds so, so good. As I said, it was to the UQ we headed when there was a puzzling problem .... because of the collaboration, access to specialist research areas & interests in sharing problem-solving with students. Like our rescue Sheltie had odd eye condition developing which defied local diagnosis. Off to Uni where the examining vet said she thought it might be a rare condition. And, by chance, a vet eye specialist was currently lecturing to students, so she'd pop in & ask him. Within minutes, our Danny was up on the lectern-table with the specialist asking him why did a fine Scots lad like him have an Irish name. Lovely man put the Sheltie so much at ease. Then with the technology which allowed sharing with the student class, he diagnosed it as a certain rare eye condition. And explained to the class (& us, in the doorway!) treatment options & prognosis.

Well, we got a legit warning in our area some time back. Local police put a warning in the local paper. Some people were going around nicking small, attractive dogs from front yards. Pretty obviously for selling on. Back then microchipping wasn't mandatory. Police advice was for people to keep dogs like this, away from easy access by thieves, in front yards.

Well, further evidence that you are community minded people ... in that you care about the welfare of the dogs. :) And good on you for continuing to suss out options. My goodness.... the getting rid of one cat & now getting another ... really does show she doesn't join the dots. One more idea. Even tho' the RSPCA are not physically readily accessible, they do have a telephone HelpLine in Qld, staffed by people from their behaviour unit. Their focus is on pet behaviour and how human behaviour affects that. I've contacted them about a question, a while back. And was very impressed with their helpful attitude, support & information. Since then, I've passed on their contact phone no to others. I'll PM you this HelpLine phone number. Could be useful to discuss the situation with them.

Agree. We have well cared for & much loved racing greyhounds for neighbours. Never matters how many are there, the situation remains the same. They are the easiest dogs to live next door to. But their owner selects very carefully for his racing bloodline ... & twitchy, rattle-headed dogs are not suitable. He even goes to great lengths to socialize puppies. His neighbours' grandchildren & our small tibbies get used (most willingly!) in doing this. He's proud that he cares for them like this.... yet they still race at champion standard. You've nailed it, describing their calm demeanour, no matter what. There are small dogs in the adjoining properties, only separated by a chain-wire fence so the dogs can see thro'. And these greys treat it all, with calm, good grace....&, dare I say it, with sweetness.

It's from left field. But there's a Facebook page for the Charleville Dog Obedience & Agility. Seems that could be one community group the lady might ask for some ideas from. Not that her health permits actually taking part. But the group seems community minded. On April 12, someone posted if there was a dog missing .... because there was a small dog the poster concerned about. It'd walked from the RSL to the hospital... & said it was 'Maltese like.' https://www.facebook.com/CharlevilleDogObedienceAndAgility?ref=stream#_=_ As others have said. It's a case of being able to care for dogs when you're ill.... or to have a back-up who freely agrees to help.

Thank you Mita, I found it early this morning and had to go out so I posted in the Corgi thread as well. They were spreading the word but then the ad was removed. Here's hoping that means a good new home....

Yes, a lovely generous offer & very wise advice. I don't know if this will help, especially given I'm in Q'ld. But whenever we had any really puzzling problem with our pets & needed a 2nd opinion, we'd take them to the UQ Veterinary Clinic. There were a number of teaching/treating vets there & a puzzling case could become a talking point. Any clinic like that in Sydney?

The Corgi Club NSW doesn't have a specific rescue, but has a newsletter. Maybe they could spread word. http://www.wccofnsw.350.com/home.htm

Yes, it was GAP greyhounds in Qld that my little dog tested. By the time they'd got up to that test, they'd already shown themselves as calm and sensible. It soon dawned on me .... they only selected dogs like that, in the first place. The only grey which was twitchy & skittish.... stood out. Funnily, the little dog picked up something different when this grey was being led across the park to us. For the first time.... her tail went down. Turned out this was not a regular GAP grey, but one that'd been adopted from the RSPCA & needed to pass the GAP testing. As for the GAP sourced greys .... they are among the best dogs of any breed I've met.

I agree, absolutely beautiful dogs. We've lived next door to racing greyhounds for years now.... ones that their owner dotes on & treats just as much as pets. Best neighbour dogs anyone could have. Gentle, love a quiet life, snoozing and watching TV. Our small tibbie dogs adore them. One of them was asked to be the small dog tester for the greyhound adoption program here. But I said it wouldn't be much of a test because she loved the dogs. But that was fine. She had a great time going along each time & her only problem was that her new best friend would go away in another car at the end. I agreed with her. Lovely, lovely dogs.

Ah.... that explains why I momentarily went....'Tibbie in there?

Marion, I had a good look at that one, too. But too much facial hair for a Tibbie. I also wondered Shih Tzu X Malt or something like that. Anne, somewhere among the pics & videos I saw an unusual Pug cross (?). I'll see if I can find it, again. The Tibbie person in SA who's been trying to phone to see if any Tibs.... & also offer foster-care (of any dog)... hasn't been able to get thro'. Good sign, tho', lots of community support. ADDED: Anne, the gold/tan Pug-type is soon into this video:

There's more pics of little mother dogs, Foxy & Annabelle, who got straight into experienced foster-care. Annabelle had her babies last night. With good updated info on RSPCA SA's Facebook page. Great community support... https://www.facebook.com/rspcasouthaustralia

Pic that says heaps from OL Facebook page. One of the first of the dogs got into foster-care last night. After a bath & a good meal.... a relaxed start to a new life.