Little Gifts

Well I have just shopped all the fleece out of Spotlight so if you need new inside beds before Spring just let me know and we'll work it out! Some of the new fabric will make vey funky beds - I was thinking I should do some for here except I already have loads. We also have to sort out the pei-jays for Bart soon. As for outside beds - a friend gave us all the old seat backs from her outdoor furniture - perfect for the dogs outside and easy to hose down and hang on the line! Maybe you should check out garage sales for something similar? I used to buy kids sized mattresses for $10 from Ikea for the dogs and cover them but cleaning them was painful. Even worse was when someone decided to eat them.

It is the oil type that is good for their coats. The tomato flavour tastes nice but doesn't give the same benefits. I'd stick to the basics - the dogs love them regardless!

Because the pei I fostered ate sardines with their kibble (good oil for their coat/skin) I started our others on it as well, including our pied SBT. They LOVE them! I only buy the no name brand but only in oil - not the tomato one. Also at Woolies you can buy tinned mackerel in oil and that is also great for their skin and coat. Also no name brand and it works out far more economical (esp if you have multiple dogs). The other thing all our dogs get is greek yoghurt on their brekkie kibble. Not sure of the benefit (probably good for the gut) but it also started with the foster dogs and everyone goes crazy for a dollop on their kibble now! Everyone here has beautiful skin and coats and clean eyes and ears!

OT but what is a wilbooker? A few of you have it showing up now. I googled and found nothing. PS Sorry I haven't called Noisy - been flat out.

ENABLER! We need an emoticon for people like you...

I thought I'd update my old post. I've seen Oscar quite a few times now since he left and he couldn't care less about me! I don't even think he remembers me at all! He is so devoted to his family, and in particular the kids, that I don't rate a mention! The last time I saw him was only a couple of weeks ago and his dad was telling me he has had some recent treatment for skin flare ups (his butt hair was growing back and he'd dropped a little weight) all matter of factly like it was no biggie to them. He was always going to be a boy that needed extra care (because he has enough skin for 3 pei) so couldn't have gone to a better or more accepting family. Nothing is too much for them in regards to his care. Even better they have fostered another of Ams's peis with a view to it being a FF. Oscar treated the new girl like he does everything else these days - all chilled out! Good luck Staffyluv - was Zig with you when she was there before? I'm sure he will help her settle back in.

STOP IT! I can't take it anymore!!!!! No seriously, I would get absolutely nothing done with all those cuties around! For the boxer pups I was thinking Big Ears 1, Big Ears 2, Big Ears 3, etc. The one with the smallest ears can be Noddy. You might need to get out a tape measure.

She's now playing up a storm over the bridge with the rest of the gang. Run free beautiful girl. I'm so sorry you weren't with us longer.

It wasn't the news I was expecting so soon so I am so very sorry for you and the kids and the other dogs. You have had more than your fair share of loss so it is good you are taking time out to regroup, just live in the moment for a bit, take stock of your losses and be there for each other. That's really all you can do. There is no magic wand for what you are going through. I'm sure your other fur babies were waiting at the bridge for Blacky. She is not alone. You are not alone either - we are here thinking of you, knowing how painful this must be and sending strength your way to get through this. There's not really the right emoticon for this so all I can do is send you my virtual love and hugs and hope it isn't too long before you can think of Blacky without sad tears. XXX

Stussy is a sleep suckler, Wolf was doing some serious air running while lying on the lounge room floor fast asleep earlier tonight but Tempeh does nothing. For a pei she doesn't even snore! She saves all her silliness for when she's awake! All her talking and attention seeking thievery of dirty clothes and ballet stretching and gecko chasing and making sure you know her dinner time is due (usually an initial 20 minute warning on that). It's when she's not making a noise and it is daylight I'm worried!

So it sounds like the tattooers are a bit like an ear piercing gun - one click and it happens simultaneously? I must admit my branding experience goes back like 30 years to a very remote farm and techniques must've changed over that time (like freeze branding rather than fire branding). I've spent time on my sister's goat/sheep farm since then but never during branding so admit I have never bothered to ask how they do it these days. It may just be all ear tags. I must ask next time I'm down there. And Pers I hadn't thought about what was under the skin either and how the heat is absorbed by the physiology of different species. Do ears in general have less nerves on most species (inc humans). I know one of my now deceased SBT's lost a chunk of ear (from up near the point) in a fight and it didn't bother her one bit. Maybe that is why the desex tattoo goes there and why some livestock are tagged through the ear area?

I tried to message Rach but I think her in-box is full. I just wanted her to know I'm thinking about her and Blackey (as I'm sure others on DOL are). Does anyone know how things are going? She's had far too many losses in a short period of time. She must be struggling with the unfairness of it all. Alyson

Oh T! OHHHHHHHHHHHH! I can't even work out which one I like the best! I was however thinking that the pei may be lab crosses just based on coats and snouts. Ams would know better of course but they reminded me of a little black peilab she had last year. He grew to be a big boy but has a lovely nature.

double post

Dear Dog, you can imagine what some dogs would look like if tattooing and piercing them was legal! I think Huck House's link to that art work is spot on! No white dog would stand a chance and any of the tougher looking breeds would be sporting studs from every orifice! Based on Mixedupup's post I'm going to be a little controversial here but it is an honest quetion. Having grown up on a farm I've seen the calves and adult horses branded. All done as quickly as possible to reduce stress but certainly they were restrained (temporarily) and did not get any anaesthetic or pain relief. Never seen it done to a dog but I would not be surprised if it was on some farms at branding time. Pain wise would there be any difference between what a dog and livestock physically feel? Would livestock hide be thicker? Given a relationship between man and dog I'm sure there would be an increased fear and distress at being retrained and exposed to pain but then horse and man can also have close relationships based on trust. Is the branding of livestock just something then that we have come to accept because it has been happened for hundreds of years or is it really different because of their hides and level of pain they would feel? I was just thinking about branding pigs as well - from memory they have skin like/similar to humans. They get branded don't they? Oh and I do know that tattooing is a prolonged process so not the same as branding. I'm thinking pain wise branding would have to be worse because the skin layers are being burnt?

I've not had a bin on the floor in this house for at least 10 years. Jealous....

He has very lively eyes! I know we give the pei sardines or mackerel in oil on top of their kibble as it is good for their temperamental skin/coats. I just buy the name brand stuff and all the dogs gobble it up. I would also recommend you continue with the malaseb baths until his skin and coat are better, rather than try other shampoos.

So sorry Anna. Herbert was a special boy and I'm glad you had each other for so long. XXX

Amazing news!!!!!

We had this discussion not long ago. I've seen them snap so have never been a fan of them unless they are used on small dogs who don't have a lot of pull/strength. Some people do use them very successfully but I personally feel better with a strong harness and leash combo on all my dogs (one of who pulls to run back to the car or house while the other pulls forward to get the show on the road quicker). I like the idea of having a strong hold on a leash and of being able to pull on the slack if I need to rather than zipping a cord in and out. I suspect some people choose their retractable leashes based on prettiness and price rather than appropriateness for their specific dog. I see lots of little kids walking dogs on retractables too.

Gorgeous - Harper Mini-Me!

What a lovely story! Dogs are so resilient and it is wondeful Roxy ended up in the right home!

Happy Birthday T! I too love hearing all your stories about your fur kids and the foster bubbas! Plus the pictures! When I first joined DOL your puppy pictures were always the first thing I would go looking for! I still have a pic of fuzzy little Milo saved somewhere. I think there was a daisy waving in his face or something. I just thought it was the most beautiful picture and I don't even really like fuzzy dogs!

Councillor I think rather than scuttlebutt this has been an open discussion with people raising their concerns based on current or previous experiences with either the organisations involved or just rescue issues in general. If the investigation finds AWL lacking then we would all be talking about solutions, because the bottom line is we want animals able to be rehomed to continue to have that opportunity. If AWL have missed the mark then we can all learn from that. If they haven't then they will need support and acknowledgement of their achievements to rebuild their confidence and networks. Thank you for taking the time to come in here and post information - I hope you will continue to keep us updated as this does have a flow on effect for other rescue groups in SEQ. For myself (and many others on here) this remains about the animals, but it is vitally important for relevant organisations to be on the same page and work together where possible to keep addressing the never ending cycle of animal homelessness, rescue and rehoming. Alyson Dean (Beenleigh)

They are gone and we wont get anymore photos!