Little Gifts

What an amazing outcome from some amazing efforts by rescue yet again!

My sister has a husky GSD cross that looks very much like Ollie - same ears, head shape, snout and even fur and colourings. My sister's has a very bushy tail and pants - I joke she looks like Basil Brush from behind. Her build is bigger than Ollie's and her personality is more husky than GSD. Huskies can be headstrong and have a high prey drive. I'm going with husky/kelpie for Ollie as he does definately have kelpie looks and size more than GSD for me.

Poor Toby was obviously in the wars as a youngun but hasn't he turned into the most handsome boy!

There are dog beds or lounges in nearly every room in our house so our dogs are with us (usually sleeping) wherever we are until we go to bed. My girl and any foster dog sleeps with me and my sister's dog sleeps with her. If either of us are not going to work the following day then the dogs all switch over to whoever is still in bed. Even the most active foster dog gets hit with the slug stick and slots into the same routine here!

Just re-read this. It was the most beautiful tribute to an amazing girl. I held out till the end with the tears, but only just. It also reminded me of an old song by Little River Band - "Oh pretty Emma, you sweet contender, why don't you stay around....."

Greyt I actually thought she was the CEO of the council - hence my offence at such a simplistic comment because I thought she was using it to defend the pound's actions. Not surprised I read it wrong given a CEO for a rescue group seems rather regal.

``If you don't want to be responsible for a dog for its entire life, then don't ever buy one,'' she said. Wow, that's a narrow POV that is not going to change one little thing. There would be lots of reasons a dog ends up in a pound. A good education program and working with local rescue groups might do more for the overall issue in that local council area than pointing the finger of blame after the event.

I used baby socks with the tread dots on them and attached them around her legs using surgical tape. An idea that didn't cost much. She hated them but they helped.

I should not have looked in here because all that is running through my head now is "I love my pony, I love my little pony!"

There were runners in there too. First we started putting all the clippings there and it nourished the soil as it broke down and the runners just took hold. We always have lots of runners from when we whipper snip (because we don't do it very often!) so they get raked and dumped with the clippings. Same if the dogs dig a hole. We put the soil back in and keep topping it with the grass clippings and whipper snipped bits and it all breaks down and the grass regrows. I am no green thumb so it all seems a bit magical to me! We may also be lucky to have good soil here. Generally the drainage is good so I know that also helps.

Rest easy beautiful old girl.

I have no idea about grass names but when I moved in here (3 dog house) it already had this great lawn. The grass strands are really fat - the kind you could easily cut with a hand mower and it grows in strands with little roots on it so if you have a bald patch you just chuck a bit down and it takes really quickly. The back fence area was bald where they used to throw old car oil and I just kept throwing all the grass clippings from when I mowed down and in no time I had a nice thick lawn there. It grows thick rather than very high but will send runners over the pathways if left too long. It is quick to mow but retains moisture if it has been raining so you have to empty the catcher quicker. Seems to grow better in full sun (patchier in fully shaded areas). I have a pied SBT who has been prone to garden itchies and this grass doesn't bother her. I could always take a pic of it if needed as someone here will know what it is!

Oh dear Zeebo is just beautiful! I could never let an old girl like that go. She looks precious!

I wonder if it is that whole black dog thing for poor Rusty? I personally love black dogs because their coats are beautiful and glossy and in shorter coats you can see all their muscle definition. Rusty also has lovely dark eyes. I think he is very handsome!

The highlighted bits above are why I am so angry with the authorities in that state, although a search said the Dept of Environment and Natural Rescources was the authority responsible for enforcing the act, not the RSPCA? The act is quite clear to me if someone could be bothered pursuing the areas of the act that the PF owner is breaching as per the section below. Even worse - the RSPCA have history on this place to build a case. I just don't get how they think this is ok. ANIMAL WELFARE ACT 1985 - SECT 13 13—Ill treatment of animals (1) If— (a) a person ill treats an animal; and (b) the ill treatment causes the death of, or serious harm to, the animal; and © the person intends to cause, or is reckless about causing, the death of, or serious harm to, the animal, the person is guilty of an offence. Maximum penalty: $50 000 or imprisonment for 4 years. (2) A person who ill treats an animal is guilty of an offence. Maximum penalty: $20 000 or imprisonment for 2 years. (3) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1) or (2), a person ill treats an animal if the person— (a) intentionally, unreasonably or recklessly causes the animal unnecessary harm; or (b) being the owner of the animal— (i) fails to provide it with appropriate, and adequate, food, water, living conditions (whether temporary or permanent) or exercise; or (ii) fails to take reasonable steps to mitigate harm suffered by the animal; or (iii) abandons the animal; or (iv) neglects the animal so as to cause it harm; or © having caused the animal harm (not being an animal of which that person is the owner), fails to take reasonable steps to mitigate the harm; or (d) uses the animal in an organised animal fight; or (e) releases the animal from captivity for the purpose of it then being hunted or killed; or (f) causes the animal to be killed or injured by another animal; or (g) kills the animal in a manner that causes the animal unnecessary pain; or (h) unless the animal is unconscious, kills the animal by a method that does not cause death to occur as rapidly as possible; or (i) carries out a medical or surgical procedure on the animal in contravention of the regulations; or (j) ill treats the animal in any other manner prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this section.

I'd also be writing to the CEO of the RSPCA in SA. Not good enough! They may not be able to shut the farm down but that doesn't mean they can't rescue any neglected animals at that property and prosecute.

Domino has a meet and greet this Saturday morning. Wish him luck!

A hitman might do the trick. Or maybe make sure the dogs are all out and invite an arsonist to do their thing on the premises. It makes me livid to hear there could be more dogs and he is continuing to operate. What does it take to have the RSPCA do their job? A dog only weighs 7kg but should weigh 25kg AND is pregnant, if that is not cruelty then I don't know what is. And letting the rescue world pick up the pieces without financial assistance and physical support of some kind is also wrong.

Farewell Riley. You will be sadly missed by those who loved you.

She's a lovely looking girl and I never thought pei would look good in a wide studded collar but it makes her look kind of regal! Hopefully she wont be there too long.

Just heard on the news Hugo has been found. Here's hoping for the same outcome for Lucy.

Terribly, terribly sad and unnessecary. I hate to think why they are crossing a koolie with a small terrier - Toolie anyone?

As a foster carer I've had a malnourished dog here who required high quality food and lots of it. It was paid for by the rescuer while I supplemented with other items. Good quality kibble is not cheap and my rescuer supplies it for all the foster dogs. My rescuer also supplies heartworm, worm, flea and tick meds for all her foster dogs. Not cheap. The breed commonly requires entropian surgery, desexing and often other types of surgeries and health issues (hernias, Shar Pei Fever, skin issues, cruciate ligaments). Rescue dogs can also do damage to property and car. Alternatively money might also need to be spent making a home rescue dog proof. On top of that if you have several rescue dogs then you are putting a strain on your washing machine or might need to upgrade to industrial strength. You might also need to purchase different cleaning products, replace bedding, crates and towels, pay for or buy your own hydrobath set up (SP often need malaseb baths regularly). The list goes on and on and on and on. Rescue bares the brunt of the cost but for every dog you foster you are also incurring individual costs. Very little of the overall cost for every cent spent is factored in to what a dog can be adopted for. If it was no-one could afford the dog. This doesn't even take into consideration people's time. Some people in rescue still hold down full time jobs as well to keep the money moving. There are some beautiful dogs that come through in shocking condition but with the right care (ie money) and treatment (ie more money) they go on to wonderful lives in forever homes. That is why the majority of people in rescue do this. Remember that some of the dogs we see were bought as very expensive but terribly cute pet shop puppies and when the owners realised what they might cost to feed and care for appropriately or when they were told their dog needed vet treatment to fix a physical or behavioural flaw from a badly bred and poorly socialised dog they get rid of them, leaving rescue to pick up the pieces.

I've also made pom poms out of leftover fleece strips, just knotting scraps together into long strands. They get destroyed pretty quickly but are fun for the dogs!

Stick to your routine, speak to him regularly in a kind voice and use soft hands on him anytime you do have to touch him and he will settle in. Some dogs take time to overcome whatever trauma they have been through. I never know whether it is worse for strays who were stuck in a cage in the pound or for those who were surrendered by owners they adored. There is so much they don't understand but dogs are resilient and quick to accept their new circumstances. Give Damon a kiss and a hug for me.