Little Gifts

I had to rush both my dogs to my vets last week sans bra or shoes, still wearing pyjamas that were covered in water and blood. I had to transport the dogs in 2 separate trips (had to even carry one heavy fur baby) and in my first trip the place was full of clients who obviously knew an emergency was coming in so there was nothing discrete about my arrival. Second time the place was empty thank goodness. $2300, lots of grey hair and my dignity, thank you very much.

Come on Zig! Get better! We're all worried for you and your mummy!

I hope it is just from eating something a bit too far gone. I'm a worry wart like that - some dogs are rarely sick so you really notice the change. I'd have a bed on the floor next to him tonight so I could do regular tummy and temp checks if it was me (unless of course he sleeps on your bed already!). Good luck sleeping and fingers crossed there are no vom bombs indoors!

Ams and I made contact with Logan Pound about a pei with bad skin - me by phone and email, but of course they never contacted us back and it was likely he was pts rather than given a chance with people who were interested in taking him on. Anytime I am out there you can tell there are loads of dogs out the back but rarely more than a couple in pens up the front looking for adoption. Sad.

It always shocks me just how many sets of hands a dog can go through before making it into rescue, even if they are still only puppies! We are truly blessed that dogs are so forgiving and willing to trust us terrible humans again so quickly. I struggle to look on Gumtree because I want to contact the people and have a reality chat with them. No your blue staffy is not rare. Your purebred dog should not be on sold undesexed. The fact your large bitsa escapes is your fault, not the dogs. That unwanted litter of pups was no accident given you have an entire male and female dog sharing a yard!

Has anyone here been rejected? I must fess up to not having done anything about Tempeh because I'm terrified they will tell me no. We have had 3 dogs here for years but my sister's dog was always registered to mum and dad's place just around the corner from us. She only got around to changing it early last year when I think she decided she was staying with me for good. It would be just my luck if they said no to Temp given she stayed with us because she didn't want to live with anyone else!

Lisey I recently sent a birthday card to a DOLer and accidentally wrote my old girl's name on it (along with the other dogs). I was shocked when I realised what I had done without thinking as it is almost 2 years since she left us. She is clearly still close by in my mind. I was also looking at her collection of dog coats thinking I'd better give them a wash, ready to wear now it is getting chilly at night. I'm not sad when this happens now but it still surprises me. She was just such a huge part of our life. Hopefully you will get to the stage of thinking about Lola Bear without the sadness. XXX

I'm a little bit speechless and she is clearly off her rocker. How dare they threaten and intimidate people to do their bidding! Who made them the Rescue Gods? Dictatorship anyone? The only positive thing I get out of this is that they have so much anger inside them they probably lose sleep every night trying to come up with ways to dominate the world. That's got to be giving them all frown lines and dark circles under their eyes at the very least!

Tempeh has been here since last September and I am yet to need to cut any of her nails. Stussy on the other hand has nails that grow overnight and she had a bad nail cutting experience a couple of years ago so cutting them now is a nightmare. She (and her talons) were booked in for a bath and a nail clip last week but then she ended up having emergency surgery before the appointment and the vet's did it while she was out. I was so embarrassed they saw them so long. We have concrete paths and walk on the road and paths but it doesn't seem to help. I've tried filing and desensitizing her but as soon as you touch her toes she flinches and runs off.

YAY! Problem solved!

Would it be worth putting out a call for another mum to feed these pups and just let Gnarla heal herself? How stressful would it be for her to lose the puppies and have them raised elsewhere? Plus it might enable you to focus solely on Gnarla? Just an idea as the health and survival risk for all of them still seems so high. T I remember that girl. Sometimes I hate people when I see what they are capable of doing (or rather not doing). I just don't get it. Surely a hungry dog would cry and once starving would be looking visibly ill. How can sane human beings ignore this? How can neighbours or extended family or other visitors to such houses not notice? If I saw that going on in the yard next door to me I would become crazy lady and make their lives an absolute misery (after retrieving the dog of course). If they have money to drink and smoke, go out, buy new clothes, own a mobile phone or even hire dvd's then they have money to feed their dog and provide suitable shelter.

This is just heartbreaking and without what you have done Cheryl there is no doubt this girl and her remaining pups would've died a painful and slow death. There are just so many people out there who should never, ever own a dog/pet/child. I'll look at my bank account and see what I can send your way - may not be till the end of the month though as I just had $2300 in unexpected vet bills myself last week. Oh and Happy Mother's Day Gnarla and Cheryl!

Oh he would look fantastic in a purple lycra bodysuit wouldn't he! Maybe look in the kids section for a turtle neck and tights in purple and some loud swimmers of undies that he could wear over them - maybe even try an op shop? If you manage it I think we need pictures!!!!

Snook I have started doing this arm shaking gesture now and making a 'brrrrrrr' noise now with my girl to encourage her and even do the arm thing and say 'shake it off' if we've done something stressful (like a vet visit). She likes me doing something silly and it totally shifts her emotions onto something more interesting. Such a great idea.

Hmmm, purple onesies with a hoodie? I've bought kids sized costumes for my staffy girl but I googled and didn't find those either. What I did see though was a white dog painted green like the hulk. If your dog is white could you consider painting it purple with black boots and the black eye mask? You could get some kids swimming briefs (cut a hole for the tail). What you wont get is the muscled arms kind of look though but it would still be cute!

Those fish schmakos that a lot of us got as freebies were fantastic! My dogs prefer them over any other flavour now!

I hope they are able to get themselves back up and running without too much problem again. I am thinking some staff may have found jobs elsewhere? Not everyone can afford to sit and wait for an outcome on workplace issues. Good outcome for the AWL at Ipswich. Sad for the animals they weren't able to assist while they were suspended.

I second that as a great idea!

Deals Direct has a special on heated beds with sides today as well as free shipping. Whilst I just spent at least $100 on some Snugglesafe heat thingies and a reflective mat Tempeh is still waking me and doing the shiver routine during the night. So I bought her a heated bed. Eventually something has to work - it is not even that cold yet!

Mine scratches at nothing and I know it is a stress thing but I didn't know about the shake off. She has a whip like tail and if it hits you while she's shaking herself down it hurts! She also does lots of greeting stretches. My other one is constantly flinging herself backwards on people so they can scratch her belly and inner thighs but she often yawn-talks. I always thought she was doing it to calm herself down as it is usually followed by a shake that starts with the yawn and talk but then follows through her whole body. I'll have to watch her closer when she does it next time.

BJ you do know that I am making custom coats and pj's this year don't you? All monies go to Peiradise - Shar Pei Rescue Qld. Info is in the Commercial Marketplace thread. I have no probs adjusting patterns (pei are hardly standard in the neck and leg areas) and would love to make your boy something. I'd give you a price before you commit of course but prices are ranging from $15 (smaller dogs) to $35 (giant breeds). Lots of pattern, style and colour options. Kelpiecuddles have you thought of making your own fleece beds? If you have dogs that like to snuggle I find a round shape better - smaller inner circle than the outer and the dogs kind of sink in to it and keep quite warm. There are also no sew options which I could find you a pic of and give you a link to instructions. I think they are very cute, cost effective, machine washable AND dry pretty quick!

I remember seeing brochures that Tapua had for training school kids how to approach dogs. It is where the learning needs to start - maybe even in child care!

I love the name! I got a fantastic and very lightweight jacket from Anaconda (on special) which is a bit longer so your bum stays dry if you have to sit on anything wet! Hood also comes off if you just need a wind breaker rather than raincoat type thing. I love technology - still remember having to wear a bright yellow plastic raincoat with separate, elasticised hat as a kid on wet school days!

Great point Corvus about small size and new environments sometimes causing anxiety and the owners being unaware of this. I've always hated seeing people dragging their dogs through busy markets in the heat of the day for this very reason. How could it not be unnerving to be surrounded by all those legs, strange activity and noises? But again this is about the owners being connected to their dog and understanding what response it is exhibiting and correcting it if needed, which could mean removing it from the area or calming it and introducing what is new in a safer way. Not all dogs are bullet proof.

If you don't want it we can definitely put it to good use!