Little Gifts

Don't give up hope. We had a similar issue in a 3 dog household when the youngest decided at 6 months to keep challenging the oldest (13 - both SBT's) and they would go at it to the death but only ever when us humans were around. We got an Amichien Bonding person in and it changed our pack's behaviour immediately. We took back control and were able to remove things that triggered the younger dog's behavior to challenge. The oldest dog passed away last year at a very old age (still having never lost a fight with the younger one!). The younger one now helps us with fostering and does a great job of providing certain skills or natural behaviours she has that we have encouraged as part of the AB process so she has an important place in the pack whilst knowing that the Alpha role is never going to be available. This worked for us but is not for everyone. If it had not worked I would've sought further advice like from a good behaviourist before pts. I could never rehome a dog I knew was DA, especially knowing professional assistance did not work.

Is this really as simple as numbers? One in four households in Australia owns a dog and yet on the other hand it is increasingly difficult to rent with an animal. The outcome from this would have to be more surrenders and rehomes being necessary. We could also include the fact we have an ageing population and the elderly who move to nursing homes can't take their animals with them. So two ways of addressing this is having educational programs in place educating landlords and encouraging pet bonds and programs in place for surrendering/rehoming dogs who belonged to the elderly (inc networks with hospices, nursing homes and senior citz). In other words get the word out there about alternatives to reduce pts of healthy dogs already used to home environments. The next numbers issue is related to the fact we have high pet ownership in this country which has to be feeding the breeding for profit industry (puppy farmers and byb's - I have a great deal of respect for good breeders). If pounds and large organisations are maintaining or not reducing their kill rates that has to equate to either the same number of pups or more being bred each year. So don't we need to reduce the number of pups being born each and every year too if this figure is ever to reduce? Less puppies this year become less adults with behavioural issues next year that end up in pounds. Less unwanted litters of puppies this year also mean less puppies ending up in poor condition in pounds and shelters. Obviously compulsory desexing in some council areas is not addressing the overall problem so we simply have to look at the bulk breeders and limit those (if we can't stop them altogether). Less being born has to equal less being unwanted and killed at some point in the continuum. Why can't the RSPCA get real about 'animal cruelty' and do more with their education programs? If they can make a weekly national tv show surely they could add some important messages in there or do special topic educational programs too? Network with rescue groups already running programs that help the elderly rehome their dogs or do some control group work following the life of a puppy farm puppy or even show some realistic stats comparisons about what you get for your money for a dog from rescue, a bulk breeder or a registered breeder. It seems like they don't want to offend anybody but the animals they are supposed to be protecting.

Not bad! They actually look like pei too!!!!

In the media world any attention is good attention. There were so many aspects to the issue and so many different players. It is an utapped area for other programs like Insight to tap into or for Insight to even do another show on. Things have to start somewhere and it would be great if the show last night was the catalyst. I think even for Joe Public there was some interesting information to get you thinking like Tabby talking about how they reduced kill rates, the positive changes to the Geelong facility and the details given by the ex-RSPCA behavioralist on temp testing. I think people at home would be thinking about some of those issues in relation to their own pets. As I posted on the other thread in general none of my dogs nor the 3 adults I have fostered this year would've survived if they had ever come through the RSPCA. I also hope some people were shocked at the idea that people commonly spent $1000 on a puppy from a pet shop. That is just ridiculous!

I didn't feel that Sheridan - I just felt she showed another side - someone who had done her homework on the type of dog that would suit their lifestyle. I thought they had a broad range of owners and issues, ones I agreed with or understood and ones I didn't.

Oh dog where do I start? RSPCA - we all saw your stats recently here on DOL and they were much higher than Coleman was quoting tonight. Also aren't you supposed to be our national body preventing cruelty to animals with your Australia wide legislation? Why do we also need AWL making millions of dollars each year and prosecuting? Isn't that what you are supposed to be doing? And why do we have an ex RSPCA behaviouralist saying we need a national body like an Ombudsman when we are supposed to have you? What purpose are you really serving this country anymore????? Haven't you just become an archaic and bureacratic institution that individual rescue groups have felt the need to replace? Puppy farmer - you have 300 breeding bitches and 10 staff. Say each of those bitches only has 4 puppies per litter that is a ratio of 1 staff member per 150 animals to care for and socialise at any one time. My sister and I currently have 2 adult dogs and 2 foster pups and we are struggling to keep it all under control and give them all they need so good on you for employing staff who clearly have super powers. PIAA man - hurry up and retire because you clearly have no clue about how your business contributes to the problem. Your staff spend a whole hour with a potential adopter before selling them the dog they wanted. Good for you! I'm sure you are not telling these people that they could actually buy a dog cheaper from a registered breeder who cares about their dogs and who they sell them too! And lastly back to the RSPCA. Neither mine or my sister's heart dog would've passed your tests. None of the three adult shar pei I have fostered this year would've either. That's 5 dogs who are adored by their current families because they didn't end up on your doorstep. I used to volunteer for the RSPCA and stopped because of my experiences with the staff and how the dogs were treated and how I was treated as a volunteer who wanted to do more but wasn't allowed. And I'm talking basic stuff like feeding starving puppies. If 1 in 4 homes in this country owns a dog then heaven help them if something doesn't change to reduce the number of puppies being inappropriately and unecesarily bred.

There is already a 3 page thread about this here in General and another in the rescue threads.

I took on a surrendered foster boy who was obviously well loved by his original owner. I just accepted that he was terribly sad and tried to meet his basic needs while identifying the things he preferred - type of bed, where he liked to sleep, what he liked to eat and when, where he liked to be touched. Little things I guess. I also talked to him a lot in the comforting tone we all use. He was uncomfortable about a lot of new things but we got through it slowly. My youngest dog also helped him learn how to play with other dogs and toys, which was beautiful to see as we don't think he had much to do with other dogs before. He and his quirks rehomed much quicker than we expected (to a family with kids who he adores!) and I still miss him and think about him a lot. I think it is a day by day thing and we shouldn't assume a dog wouldn't cope with a new home that can provide similar routines/lifestyle until there is evidence that it is not happening. Dogs have their preferences too I guess - some can be challenged to change and others perhaps just find it too stressful.

Yep I just saw this on my FB page this morning too. They have collars, harnesses and leashes that are in the colour of traffic lights with words on them so Green says 'Friendly', Orange says something like 'Be Cautious' and Red says something like 'Stay Away'. A great and simple idea that even kids could understand. Edited to add I think there is still a need for things like this for foster dogs and dogs being rehabilitated for behavioural issues. Not all dogs are fully trained when out in public - some are out in public to help them get to where they want to be.

I have an apron and a bag that says that but I don't think I'm really there just yet!

I'm intrigued to find out who the dad of those brindles with the crinkly noses was! They are all just precious - thank you for the photos!!!!!

So sorry MTD. What a great age she got to!

I had an SBT eat about 3kg of Hills Science Diet kibble and oh my lordy wasn't he a bloated beast. He survived the experience but I'm not sure his bottom ever forgot the after affects.

There was a thread on this in Off Topic and I remember discovering someone, who I never ever understood posts from, was a guy! He said he never understood what I was on about either when I posted. Good to have our miscommunication explained so simply!

I had a pack of Vivitonin left over from my old girl last year and it went to Seniors and Silkies. I think it is great to pass them on if you no longer need them.

See that's wierd to me Carlo because I would say on here what I would say to my rescuer and she is a regular on here as well! Even if we disagreed on something there would at least be a discussion and reasons that went with it. Plus I have to constantly remind myself that these are her dogs and all decisions are ultimately hers because in my effort to be 'helpful' during the adoption process I do sometimes overstep that line. Being able to have two way communication is so important and the human and dog relationships can only benefit from that.

Takoda has grown into a very good looking young lady!

My rescuer provides all the food and medication for the dogs I foster. I do choose to supplement the kibble with other things I buy myself. I was also given a crate, dog bowl and harness and if I had've needed a bed I'm sure I would've been given that too. While the vet she uses is quite a way from where I live I have had no real emergencies. I did have trouble taking desex stitches out once and chose to go to my own vet for help (which I was prepared to pay for) but my vet is so lovely she took them out for nothing (even she had trouble with one) and also gave me some calendula cream for free for one area that was slightly infected. If I had a true emergency I would call the rescuer on the way to my nearest after hours vet and let her know what I was doing and that I would pay for it. It is her dog but I think she trusts my judgement on what is a true emergency and needs immediate after hours attention and what could be managed overnight until I can arrange to see her vet the next day. The one cost I'm not sure everyone is prepared for is the damage to your house and property. You have to expect some chewing of furniture (or your favourite shoes!), piddling on carpets and replacement of collars/leashes, doggy blankets and bedding. You also have to expect some injuries to yourself sometimes! If you are truly fussy or like your house in a pristine condition then fostering will probably drive you insane. My laundry constantly looks like a war zone full of dog paraphenalia and I have now become one of those people who has laundry drying on her front verandah for the world to see! Yes all the dog stuff goes out there now on a big clothes horse so the back under cover line is free for human clothes.

Stussy supervising a game of bitey face!

Our new guard dog doing his thing -

Well then this is MY blanket!

MY bed! MY toys!

Have a look at this thread: http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/239114-just-volunteered-to-foster/page__p__5882420__hl__foster__fromsearch__1#entry5882420 This is an issue that comes up from time to time. I am a foster carer and was initially going to foster for a group who took on a lot of staffies because that is a breed I love. However they were willing for me to take them straight from the pound with no quarantine or assessment; basically telling me I could choose whichever I wanted from pics or basic breed, sex and age info. Instead I am a foster carer for someone who quarantines and vets her dogs first and who listens to me about what I think would best suit our household and who is always available to answer any questions I have. They are her dogs and I respect her knowledge and wishes but they are also her dogs in my household so it has to be a two way thing. I want to do my best but I can't if I have the wrong dog or if I have concerns or questions I can't get answered or if I simply don't have the skills for that dog. I couldn't support a group who couldn't or wouldn't support me because the dogs always lose out. Even though I don't even own one of the breed I foster I still feel very much part of an extended family of the other foster carers, adopters and the rescuer herself. And because of that I also get involved in other activities to promote the breed, the foster dogs that are available and of course raise money. It's all very wholistic and is a nurturing environment for me. Don't let this experience put you off - not all rescue is the same.

Her eyes tell you that she will devote her life to one special person out there! She is just waiting for that right one to come along!

There are several instances on here of where an only dog fell in love with a foster/rescue dog and so a second permanent dog was added to the household. So that says several important things to me. Firstly, the human has to be in a position to permanently have a second dog and a desire to have a second dog if the circumstances are right. Secondly the new dog has to fit in with the first dog - in fact the first dog has to love and need the new dog. Basically a second dog has to be for both of you given you will be sharing a life together for many years to come. It's a bit like that old analogy of it being about the icing on top of the cake and not the cake itself. There are plenty of instances in rescue where people get a new dog and it doesn't get on with their existing dog so they get rid of the existing dog! They are certainly getting a second dog for the wrong reason and haven't factored in the needs and likes of their existing dog at all. I also want to add that even though we are a multi-dog household (currently have 2 foster pups as well) we have a solid routine we adhere to for the dogs which actually includes one on one time with each of them doing something they love, which could simply be cuddles or it could be playing tug or brushing them. Whatever they enjoy, but we think it is important that this special time is not interupted by the other dogs. I personally find this one on one time very relaxing for me as well. It keeps our individual bonds strong with each dog.