Little Gifts

My story is slightly different. I had to take my dog to an emergency vet for an eye issue. When I rushed her in there, there were no people. When I came out to pay it was the same. I stood at the counter behind a lady who had a cat in a carrier. The cat was very quiet (as was my dog). The cat's precious mother went all crazy at me and demanded I move away from her and her cat. I did but she told me I wasn't far enough away. So I moved again to a seat in the waiting room. The receptionist was very, very slow and the cat's mother asked loads of questions. By the time it appeared they had concluded their business a huge queue had grown behind crazy cat lady. She didn't chastise any of these people and their dogs but did ask them to move back. My girl was in pain and needed to go home so I had to go up and try and explain to about 8 people that I was actually next in the queue. No help from the receptionist. I don't think they believed me but my dog was carrying on quite a bit by then so they let me. The receptionist was again awfully slow with me and I felt terrible for any emergency cases waiting in the queue that was getting longer each minute. So precious mums exist for animals too!

I'm a bit worried about where you're going to sleep after Miss Amnesty arrives given there's no space on the bed for you now! She looks very regal and I suspect she will probably grow taller than me....

YAY!!!!!!

Ams you constantly deny yourself for the sake of the dogs you take on. I don't think anyone who supports your group ever looks at what you do in terms of numbers. It's really about each and every dog you give a second chance to. I personally think the numbers you have been juggling are impossible for a single person anyway - it is burn out or bankruptcy material. Or it could even be your health that suffers and that is even more serious! You deserve personal satisfaction too. This is clearly something on your mind for quite a while and you don't need anyone elses approval to do it. The number of dogs needing help will continue to grow. New rescuers and rescue groups will appear while others will cease operating for various reasons. Life goes on. Just make sure yours is a happy and fulfilled one! PS I can bring the dog home for you if it is down this way!!!!!!

I'm currently doing my first stint as a house and dog sitter for a breeder interstate and I'm loving every minute of it! It's like having an holiday with lots of furry friends! Sandra as I normally live in Brissie I'd offer to do the same for you but my sister is going away at that time so I need to be home for our fur kids. Hope you sort something out that you are comfortable with.

I always felt really proud when someone would notice and ask how old my girl was because she was heading on to 17 but still wanted to be out and about with the rest of the pack and I wanted people to see that an old dog can still be an important part of a 'family' and enjoy walks and other activities. Our activities had to be adjusted of course but I dislike people thinking that an old dog doesn't need stimulation or should be pts just because they are old and blind and deaf and sprouting lumps and bumps. The reality is that not all dogs live to good ages and you should be proud that your GSD boy is one of them. If people make comment to you about his age I'd be more inclined to say "Yes, isn't wonderful he still enjoys his special walk time with me!" I love the oldies with their grey snouts - they really are precious!

There was a similar incident in Australia but there was an accident and the man was able to be rescued but the dog wasn't. He went back as soon as he could and got his dog. I think they had to be winched from a ledge. I also remember a dog that got trapped in a rock fall and a major effort was made to get the dog out by the owner including cameras down crevices and blasting/drilling of the rocks. Also here in Australia. I'd pay whatever I had to to get my dog out with me or as soon as possible after. Leaving an injured dog in the wild is plain evil in my book. The guy only had to post something about it on FB and I bet he would've had loads of people willing to assist.

I've been lcky to spend time with the potential adopters and talk to them about the dogs quirks or training/developmental work that still needs to be done prior to them taking the dogs. So when I get an update telling me there have been no probs with new sleeping arrangements or how much the dogs have bonded with the kids in their new family I am so grateful. I really do care about my foster babies and I think the adopters can sense that. I've even offered to care for one special boy should the family want to go on holidays and can't take him with them as he would shrivel emotionally in a kennel. I've also loaned other adopters some doggy stuff while they sort out their own. It does feel like the extended family just keeps growing but that's perhaps also because we are breed specific. It's been such a positive experience for me and I hope it is the same for the adopters (as well as the dogs!). Hopefully that helps spread the word that rescue can be a great experience.

It varies but if I've had contact by text or email I always send a quick follow up the day after to see how they went for that first night. I'm a worry wart and want it to all go well! I've got one couple who friended me on FB before they got the dog and of course they post pics of their new boy every couple of days so I am very lucky there. One boy was a bit of a special case and we had a lot of initial updates and the family will also come to future get togethers. But our first foster this year went to a family that have not kept in contact with me or the rescue at all. Boo hoo! I think after the trial period the amount of contact becomes up to the adopter as some seem to like to just get on with their lives while others are happy to share!

Some dogs just deserve a chance and surprise everyone. RIP Maggot.

There is an old book called something like "Good owner, Great dog" which I borrowed from my local library and found informative about problem behaviours. Don't think it is still in print so would have to be sourced second hand.

Ams will probably come on here too. She is based in QLD (near Ipswich) and runs Peiradise - Shar Pei Rescue QLD. I foster for her and she has some beautiful dogs. The breed is not for first time dog owners though. Peiradise also holds 'Peinics' with the next taking place in October. It is at a leash free dog park on the north side of Brisbane and we have had up to 37 pei there in one go so it's magical if you love the breed and want lots of kisses and cuddles!

Rest easy now old fella. Know that there were many who cared for you and about you along the way and even more that hoped for a better outcome. Hugs and understanding to everyone personally involved with this boy. Some decisions are harder than others.

Oh Rach you are hilarious! We have to add party planner to your cv!

I have an sbt who loves dressing up - the only dog I've ever owned who has shown any interest in this kind of thing. It started with my old sbt who needed to wear fleecies in winter due to a thinner coat. The younger girl wanted one too - scratching at the coats and nudging them. At xmas I put ribbons around their necks and draped something festive on the younger girl. She wanted more so she got her first Christmas Fairy Frock and it all went from there! She gets this look of total contentment when she is wearing something whether it be for warmth in winter or silliness at anytime of the year. Her helicopter tail starts the minute the dress goes on. She doesn't like anything on her head though. I'll admit she looks like a trucker in drag in her frocks but I certainly wouldn't make her wear anything she wasn't happy with (last year's xmas dress had the thumbs down so came off) and dress ups would not have happened without interest from her in the first place. I was at the Ekka on Thursday and had to stop myself from buying a kids bumble bee dress that would've looked spectacular on her. I have an amazing Christmas tree dress for her this festive season that I know she is going to look great in!

I witnessed the FB attack on Ams and this was the crux of the argument from people who were horrified that a physically healthy dog wsa going to be pts for fear and anxiety behaviours. They were all 'give it another chance'. They didn't care what work had been done with it to date. They didn't care that the dog was an accident waiting to happen to itself. Nope they wanted the elusive 'somebody' to come along and perform a miracle with the dog. Of course they weren't offering themselves or money or even pursuable options. They just assumed that amazing 'somebody' would appear like magic and everyone could breathe a huge sigh of relief for that one dog. This is not the reality of rescue. Sure some dogs with personality quirks and health issues are successfully rehomed but there has to be a bottom line so these dogs experience happiness and safety on a day in, day out basis.

What a terribly tragic incident. Unfortunately I note the media states they were pit bulls while the pplice spokesman refers to them as pit bull-type dog. It will be interesting to see what breed they really are.

Dogs are colour blind aren't they? Maybe they think rugs and carpet are the texture closest to grass they can find indoors? Even though I have lots of concrete outside no dog has ever vommed on anything but grass out there that I know of so maybe they really do know about splashback!

What an beautiful man! That must be one very special bond the two have.

My old SBT (now passed) would do gagging contorsions that would make a Chinese acrobat proud but rarely produced anything (she hated to vom just like her mum!). But my youngest SBT just makes a 'kack' sound and there you have it! Doesn't give much time to take precautionary measures! Yes I learnt the hard way that pale blue carpet and dogs was a dumb idea!

I'm all teary!

I've used the same vet surgery since 1988! Dr Renate Atkins at Beenleigh Veterinary Hospital. She is not for everyone though - she is german and very forthright but I love her because she also does homeopathic stuff and thinks outside the square on tough cases. She once translated a special recipe for my dog from german into english! Our shar pei foster kids use Dr Susan Dawson at Kedron Anvet and I think she is wonderful too.

What a beautiful story and how wonderful that family decided to get a dog for their disabled children!

About 5 years ago my SBT boy was pts for $0 by my lovely vet. They were very fond of him and the next day they even sent flowers and a card signed by all the staff. Mid last year I old my old SBT pts and it cost $100 (same vet but I guess times are tougher!). They also kept the vet open for me so no other clients would be there. On both occassions they wrapped the dogs in their favourite blankies for me and then wrapped them in calico and sealed plastic bags so I could take them home to be buried.

Sleeping is also an olympic sport in our house. We have dog beds in several rooms plus our dogs are allowed on our beds and lounge furniture so they just sprawl wherever we are. Even foster dogs who come here get hit with the slug stick!