Little Gifts

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.

RIP beautiful boy.

That is a terrible loss to the animal loving community and of course his family. RIP Dr Yates.

ItsMeg here on DOL used to make the 4 legged jammies and has given some to Pacers to sell. Go and look in here first as you will be helping out dogs in need by buying from here as well as getting a great product: http://www.dolforums.com.au/forum/68-pacers-fundraising-auctions-general-fundraising/

I am using a pattern I made up for large staffy sized dogs off a Doggone Gorgeous fleecie. Remember to make your ribbing 3/4 of the length you are stitching it to get a nice stretch. I saved time by not sewing rib to the part that goes under the belly and over the back. I just did it on armholes and necks. If you are looking at buying a couple of patterns to make coats for rescue my advice is Kwik Sew 3260 (coat A is very quick to sew), Kwik Sew 3357 (coat A) doesn't even need to be sewn but the ties are long so could get tangled in the industrial washing machines and Kwick Sew 3076 (coat D) is 4 legged jammies. I tried to make a pattern for these myself (I have pattern making experience for humans!) put I struggled to get the length and angle of the back legs right so was very excited to be loaned this pattern! All these patterns are from XS to XL, which is great. Remember you do not need to overlock or zigzag fleece fabric - it gets fluffy but does not fray. I just hem those areas that I don't attach ribbing to with my overlocker. If you were looking to buy a pattern you could look up these numbers online first and see what you like best.

Pics are compulsory!

BJ it is hard when you lose an old one as they have been such a major part of your life for so long. I'm thinking of you. RIP Barney.

Do you have any coats yourself that you could trace around? You can pin each 'shape' to greaseproof type paper, get the basic shape and then add seam allowances. If you are not used to making patterns then using online ideas it could be hard to get neck, armhole and back shapes right. Where do you live though as I do have a number of dog coat patterns that have been loaned to me that you could borrow if you are in the Brisbane area?

I discovered another love of Domino's today - he likes to help clean the house. Now when I say 'help' I mean he gets totally in the way, chewing on the broom, rummaging in the piles of fluff and dirt ready to be picked up, licking the face if you bend down and jumping on the mats you are trying to straighten. He has also mastered the 'walk in Puppy Sniffers way' as she carries baskets of washing, etc. At least he has given me a reason to be a slob!

Thinking about you Rach.

Fingers crossed for the girls!

Congratulations Reuben!!!

Good on you Lisey! I foster for Ams who has posted above. She is bloody brilliant to foster for! Like has been said start with the dogs how you want to continue from the minute they step in the door of your house. Your dog will love some of the dogs you bring home, will be indifferent to others and may even hate the sight of one or two. Having routine and rules for the foster dog from the get go is useful for you and your own dog and I think it helps the new dog settle quicker and understand you are the pack leader and that you will keep it safe and its belly full. I find it is really easy to find something to love about every foster dog and I see it as my job to nurture that dog and bring out its best while it is with me. I want to turn around its fear or reluctance so it can go into its forever home with confidence and excitement. I like to also try and identify its weaknesses and see if I can address them. Sometimes a dog isn't with you long enough to fix/change everything but at least it is on its way and you can pass on what you have been doing to the adopter in case they wish to continue with it. The other thing I do which is probably different to other foster carers is that I give the foster dog a massage when it is sleepy (usually at night in front of the tv). I start from the first night and I want them to become comfortable with my touch as well as feel pleasure. It doesn't take long before you are going from massaging a tight ball of fur to one all stretched out wanting you to do their belly area. This helps when you have to check them over and medicate eyes or ears and trim toe nails - they don't fear your hands. And I talk to my foster dogs a lot and I use their name when I do it.

I can actually see the other side of things and why there is a need to restrict dog access. Unfortunately not all dogs are well behaved and if you add a bit of excitement to the risk like kids running around, then an easily exciteable dog could jump on a child, not even intending to attack, but if the child becomes frightened and the dog gets more excited then the child could be injured or psychologically harmed. Not good for the dog or the child as it wasn't either of their faults. The other thing I think we forget is that some people are allergic to animals and some people are just plain terrified of them. We have to live comfortably together in our communities so I for one am prepared to travel to beaches and parks that are known to be dog friendly so I don't have to worry about any issues arising. I would however be livid if someone ostrasiced my dog from a dog friendly/accepting venue based on breed. Nope. Unless my dog has actually done something wrong and I have been given the chance of rectifying it then that is not on. Large dogs do not equal unreliable behaviour any more than all small dogs equal good behaviour.

I keep telling ya T that it's not there! I promise I'm not lying! There is no Paint in the Accessories area or anywhere else on my sister's laptop! She is very special with technology and is constantly breaking my good computer as well. She does have Bamboo and Corel on here which are graphical programs but since I have no idea how to use them I didn't open them. We also have some games, gatchaman stuff and some family tree programs but no Paint!!!!

My elderly parents have the spawn of Satan and his bride living next to them. They hate any bird, fish or animal besides crows. Serious. Satan actually abused my mother one day because feathers from her bantam hens blew through the rotten wire fence into his yard. He traps neighbours cats and dumps them so the neighbours are unable to retrieve them. I have seen him call a neighbours dog through the fence and then hand it over to the pound saying it was in his yard. He poisoned 2 of my parents fruiting olive trees in the belief the roots would crack his driveway. He put poison in their fish pond. He is constantly cutting their garden back so it doesn't go over the fence line. It goes on and on (lots of complaints to council about stupid things) and she is always the one behind the closed screen door screaming at him to do what he does. We have spoken repeatedly to the police, council and the RSPCA and nothing changes. Mum and dad have been going through the proper processes to get a colourbond 6 foot fence erected to hopefully reduce the problems but the neighbours immediately told them they wouldn't pay for half so dad has got his back up over it and is refusing to pay for it all even those he has the money. I just want them to sell up. In retaliation for the fence issue they trapped mum's cat (they had it in a trap in the boot of their car for disposal) but abused me when I went next door and asked for it back. When I said I would have to call the police for their assistance (we could hear the cat screaming) all of a sudden the cat magically appeared in his garage. I think he thought it would just run home but it was so traumatised we had to go in there and get it. I really had to stop myself from taking a hammer to him. They are truly evil people (the house is full of pictures of Jesus so there are some serious issues going on!). Mrs Satan's daughter actually owns the house and she is just as ugly inside as her mother. I tell mum and dad to keep a note of the dates and times of every incident. I don't doubt Satan could get violent so I have advised them to not talk to them directly about any issues but to take it straight to relevant authorities and the actual owner and do it by the book. My sister and I also intervene when my parents are uncomfortable doing anything. We always do everything calmly aiming to seek a solution and I think that actually confuses Mr and Mrs Satan as they only seem to know how to bully and threaten. But we haven't forgotten one single thing they have done over the years and if push comes to shove they might be a shocked just how far we will shove back. The stupid thing is Mr and Mrs Satan are quite ill people physically and guess who they run to in a medical emergency? They just don't seem to get it, but my lovely mother is better than them and has always assisted until an ambulance arrives. Why can't all these special neighbours just go and live in the same suburb and harass each other????

Paint is what I normally use but it doesn't seem to exist on this old laptop. I was lucky to find Powerpoint! This laptop belongs to my sister (purchased last century) and the programs she has on it are all rather odd/useless, which is why it is only used out of desperation!

Using Powerpoint lets see how we go! (Thank you Dogmad!)

Domino came to stay with us on 26/6. He is full of beans and a tad cocky! He took on poor Stussy after he found a ball and she thought he wanted to play, so we've had to change things a little round here to make him realise that us humans are the bosses and that he will need to learn some manners! I think he has been let do whatever he wants in his previous home but he is a smart cookie and is already learning what he can and can't do around here. Shar pei do amaze me though with their disinterest in the outside world and preference to just hang out with their peeps. Dom escaped from the house this arvo as we were bringing things in the front door and all he did was run around the car looking for an open door and when he didn't find one he run back up into the house! I have found one way to slow him down though - thigh massages - he turns into a statue! I do have photos to add but don't have a program to shrink them on my sister's old laptop at present. Our good computer is in the shop again. As soon as I can I will add some but he is of very moderate wrinklage compared to our previous foster boy!