Little Gifts

Well the kids and I were back at Ams today and they slotted right in with about a trillion pei of all sizes and colours AND Ams new baby - a 55kg bull mastiff! She is the most beautiful girl and I wish I'd had my camera with me as the pups were lying in the sun and there is huge Amnesty saying hello to them! I got to see mama Doxy and originally she was very intersted to see the pups but after that none of them expressed any specific interest in the other. Roxy is on the go the whole time - she was running here, there and everywhere like a much younger dog. Dimples is still with us - my sister will be so excited when she gets home later tonight. Both pups smell a little of rural life and because though they slept all the way home they now have their crazy faces on (while I'm exhausted!). Ams, when I got to your front gate on my way home Dimples got out behind me without me realising and the little toad was all confused about what to do, like she was going to get in trouble if she left the property so she just kept running around the kennel up there. Dweeb of course then started crying because he was all in the car by himself. Now its not really spoiling if I buy a doggy carrier so I can hold Dweeb while I type is it?

They have had so many visitors today oohing and aaahing over them. Nope, not at all spoilt! I was so exhausted this arvo that I ended up asleep on one of the dog beds with both arms stuck in the air because of dogs who wanted to sleep in my armpits. I tried to sneak away to my own bed but they ran after me carrying on like chooks! Needless to say I have a rather sore neck tonight! They are great time wasters! Oh and they both made some beautiful Peicasso paintings for us this afternoon that we will be selling at the GC Pet Expo soon. Dimples in particular has a special paw smearing talent but immensely dislikes the clean up afterwards. Damp hand towels are apparently quite dangerous to dirty paws!

Noisy, once Dweeb is allowed out in the big wide world I was going to check whether you want him to visit Woo for a play date as he is quite small - his head is about the size of my small hand. He's also a quiet and gentle boy (so far). I let you know when the time comes if he's still calm enough for her!

Sadly Dimples is the girl - thighs of a shotput thrower and the head of a rugby player!

I was trying to find out what the world's oldest bitch is (one giving birth to live puppies) as Ams has a shar pei and some of her pups and the mother is 15! Seems quite an incredible feat but I haven't been able to find out anything to compare her efforts to.

I temporarily have Dimples and Dweeb with me. It is likely Dimples will go to another foster carer over the weekend. Dude (the sable boy) has also gone to another carer. My sister and I picked D1 and D2 up last night (whilst also letting another escape but hey we found her and bought her back!). My sister has never been involved in the pick up before and during the trip home fell madly in love with Dimples. She is like me and wants them all to find their very own heart person but I'm sure D1 will retain a special spot in her heart - there is always one that does! Dimples is the larger of the two and from memory has a bull arab dad? She has some very cute markings and lighter colour patches. She is very adventurous and a chewer but wriggles her whole body when she sees us already. Agent Dweeb, well he is tiny but oh so smart! He already sits when I ask and make the hand movement and even though he shakes like jello from potential dangers such as blowing leaves he is going to be an excellent guard dog based on his alertness and bark. He's a mild snorer and already has a bed outside covered in toys (he likes tennis balls!). They both slept beautifully in a crate last night. They have checked Stussy a few times for potential milky goodness and she is still a little rough with them if she gets too hyped up. Wolf is also very interested but keeps using the paw-splat technique so we are discouraging two on two play given the size differences. The pups certainly need to learn when they have stepped over the line but it wont help them much if they can't even stay upright to do anything wrong! Everyone is currently having a mid morning nap (except me).

I always think "Guinea Pigs" when I see T's blankie shots of the littlies! So what kind of dad/s are you thinking for Blossom's babies? Looks like there could be some of those incredibly rare blue staffies in there!!!! They are all beautiful and looking forward to moving in with T when they no longer need their fur mummies!

This is what confuses me Lilli. If old mumma has been well cared for to get to such a grand age and this was an accidental litter why get rid of her and the pups? Why not just the pups? Jen it will be interesting to see what Dr Susan finds when she does the vetwork because you would assume Doxy might also have age vision deterioration that would have to cause some anxiety. I feel like I want to come out and set up a tent and do a camp out with her in her quarantine pen. We could make a fire and cook some sausages....

Oh poor old mumma. Having had a 15 year old dog I can't imagine how she would've coped away from everything familiar and on her own/outside for reasons she can't understand. Thankfully it will all pass soon for her. Thank you for caring so much for her Ams - she needs it.

If we (my sister and I) don't have 3 dogs here the house feels sad and empty. We currently have 2 permanents and are in between foster dogs so it is awful! That should be rectified very soon though! I recently house sat on my own for 5 larger breed dogs (one still a pup) and lets just say I was exhausted by the end of each day! Two adult labs lying on top of you for cuddles in a reclining chair is a health hazard!

You know what made me sad about this last night? Her owner gave up a 15 year old dog! I can understand 10 week old pups you can no longer care for but an old adult dog who I am assuming she has had for a while? How? Why? No point speculating I guess - at least they are all safe now and will go on to amazing homes. This is your legacy Ams whether you like it, wanted it or not. You are responsible for saving lives and giving hope and we love you for it! (yes I'm having a mushy day)

Very sorry for your loss May. Nemo sounded like a great dog who lived his life to the full while he was here. RIP Nemo.

Go about your business is my advice and make everything seem normal. It might take a couple of days but dogs do live very much in the moment and he will come around. Dogs do know when something 'bad' is happening for their owner and they can't help feeling as they do. When he is sleepy use that time to give him soft scratches in his favourite spots rather than overwhelm him with kindness. Also, if you know the owner used any specific terms for food or bed time then try those. Same with his bedding or anything that smells of the owner as Alkhe said.

Isn't this just a shocker? Old mumma will only be desexed if Ams wonderful vet thinks it is in the dogs best interests. I think there is already interest in a home for her where she can see out her days in comfort (and where she will be safe from further matings if desexing is too great a risk). We should know sometime today what condition they are all in once they arrive at Peiradise. There are some parvo probs where they come from so quarantine will be strict. I'll be at Ams next weekend so if she doesn't get around to adding any photos I'll take my camera and see what I can get. I'm secretly hoping she might let me foster a puppy or three when they are ready for that but I always love whichever pei comes here regardless. Ams do you know how many pups mumma actually had? Should we check this one with Mr Guinness in case it's a record?????

Obviously they weren't filming the RSPCA Ballarat or no expense would've been spared getting that poor kitty down! Now don't laugh, but one night we had a mouse hanging half out of a hole at the back of our upright gas stove. We discovered it when we went to make dinner. It was clearly stuck and we couldn't just make dinner with it hanging there! We got laughed at by the RSPCA people when we rang for help. From memory it was a wildlife rescue guy who advised us to wrap a teatowel around it and get as much of it in our hands as possible and wriggle/pull on it. Out it came in one piece thank goodness! We had takeaway that night though.

At the very least I wish people would think about animals in really basic terms like they would their car. You put cheap petrol, oil and parts in your car and it is going to run rougher and give you less mileage for your dollar. You neglect engine lights, leaks and bald tyres and it might break down and cost you so much money you can't even afford to get it back on the road. But if you care for your car, send it in for every service due, keep those tyres pumped up, oil and water topped up and use an appropriate fuel for the type of vehicle it is then it will reward you with years of hard service and be value for money. So if you can't look after a car don't even think of getting a dog!

I don't include a written list of commands but because potential adopters spend as much time with the dog as they want at my place I show them the commands and hand signals I use (or that the dog already knows) and I get them to engage with the dog using them (and lamb puffs!). I am also upfront about skills they still need to learn as some dogs need more work than others and sometimes their forever family comes along sooner than expected. The breed I foster can be a bit mouthy (and stubborn) so I have a technique for that which I show the adopters too. Plus they all have my numbers and email addy if follow up is needed, as well as contact details for the rescuer I foster for who knows oodles about the breed. I see the process as an organic one. Lots of adopters become part of the rescuer's extended family network.

Why does this matter? What's in a name? The suitability of the new home is what is important :) Of course it is Trifecta - I was just going with the spirit of the thread. I get quite attached to my foster babies and it is just one of those silly things that bug me - you spend ages getting the dog to respond to commands using that name, then they go to a new place where everything is different including their name! The dogs probably are in such heaven they don't care less though. The right match is far more important than a name.

4. The more flexible you try to be with potential adopters (ie meeting times, paperwork) the less reliable they will be with you. 5. Despite the foster dog already having a perfectly pleasant name the new family will rename it something else (that you probably wont like).

So exciting!!!!!

Good on you! My older sister is hoping to get a councillor spot on Cowra's council and I've been down there pretending to be her campaign manager! The most I did was make her buy some better clothes! (I'm an enabler from way back)

Yes, maybe once the grief and emotions settle he will return Angus to you. Make sure he knows you continue to be interested in honouring your friend by given her dog a new life with you. Maybe you can also offer to visit (supervise) the children with Angus in return? I know of a family who had two healthy and beautiful rotties PTS after their son died unexpectedly from an accident. They just didn't think (or couldn't emotionally accept) that they could be loved and cared for as well by someone else. And yes a resacue group was working with them closely to try and change the outcome. All very sad.

My old SBT girl (RIP) used to always sleep with her smelly bum next to my head so I invented the 'fart pillow'. It was a soft round pillow that wpuld be plonked against her butt in case I rolled over during the night that would buffer the odours. Mind you her snoring was so bad I had to wear ear plugs as well, but there is nothing worse than waking to a hairy arse first thing in the morning! My heart SBT likes to sleep on my legs and sometimes my back. I have had dreams where I was trying to run away from danger but couldn't, like my legs wouldn't work, only to wake up to several tonne of dog lying on top of me.

Elephants are such amazing animals. Rest In Peace now beautiful girl.

I've been through this three times in my life now. The last one (just over 12 months ago) had me questioning if I had done it too early but the risk to my girl of leaving another day, week or month was too great. We never have them for long enough. Enjoy your memories and have no regrets about doing what needed to be done for your boy. Loving them means also being willing to let them go when their time has come. Big hugs to you - there are a lot of us who know what you are going through.