Little Gifts

I've got two to own up to. Years ago we had our dog of that time with us down the beach near a place called Fisherman's Wharf. We called in there after the beach for a drink, with the dog and no leash. A wedding party turned up and the wet dog went over for a look and gave the lovely bride a few nudges for a pat. She screamed. We pretended we had no idea whose dog it was. A couple of years back I had a very good looking male friend staying with me for a couple of weeks. I'd mown the lawn wearing matching but old underwear. My lovely heart girl decided to drag my sweaty, old undies out of my dirty clothes basket and leave them crotch up in the hallway outside his room so he had to step over them. We both just pretended it never happened....

What an amazing age! The oldies leave behind so many memories but also a big hole. Take care of yourself. Run free Rex!

I also remember reading about Banshee and always felt if I come back in my next like as a crestie, even a really ugly and messed up one then I want to go and live with Yellow Girl because I know she will find something to love about me. Run free Banshee!

That's great news about Chance. When you are up to it I think pictures are in order!

We had an SBT who practically used to pin my mum down for a good licking when she came to visit. What mum did was to put some eucalyptus oil on her knees before she came over. The dog would go up for a lick and the smell would be at face level, she'd snort and back off. I don't know where mum got the idea but it worked - the dog didn't like the smell.

My old girl regularly wore nappies for poo and pee probs. I bought toddler sized nappies for her (she was an SBT) and since she had a large tumour on her tail I folded the nappies in thirds and cut a large cross for her tail. I then put nappy on over her tail first and then stuck the sticky tabs down. We rarely lost a nappy and you could always tell when it was full - it would sag! I actually bought some of those PUL covers from Cheeky Butts and was going to overlock a hole and add pads to them but never got around to it. I can tell you that she got used to the nappies, never pulled them off, never seemed uncomfortable sleeping and without them she would've been either put outside or pts. You do what you have to do no matter how odd or cruel it sounds to some. She couldn't help it if old age was confusing her toileting habits.

I bought a great christmas tree outfit just today for Stussy to wear xmas day but sadly it doesn't fit her and it was the largest size there. Stuss was as sad as me - she had it half on and was practically begging me to make it fit. There were also great xmas pudding outfits there as well but they were even smaller.

FFMan I know someone interested in possibly giving this dog a new home. I will PM you for the ladies details as I looked on FB and didn't see anything there.

Coming home and finding my dog poisoned is one of those fears I've always had. Not because my dogs cause trouble but simply because there are some absolute nutters out there who still think this is a way to 'fix' an animal problem. They are usually the same a*holes who beat their wife and kids, keep their own place looking like a junk yard and deal with even small neighbourly issues with threats. What a horrible and unnessecary way to die.

What a cutie patootie! I lost a special boy almost 4 years ago and I still go to call him sometimes. I lost his mum in late May this year and I'm still needing to look at her pictures and touch her tags and other things I've kept. Never washed her socks after she last wore them either. I don't go sniffing them but just don't like the idea of getting rid of that last little bit of her. Her dish is still in the laundry too. We do whatever we need to to cope without them. Big hugs to you Daveri. XXX

Are you or the lady on FB? Best Friends Rescue often advertises missing/found dogs on there for South East QLD. If this lady can't keep the dog they might also be able to find a carer and take her on themselves as they don't get many wolfie types and she is a cutie! I agree that she could be a sibling to the other missing dog - so wierd!

What never makes sense to me is that most pounds have overnight pens and the ones that don't often find dogs just left tied to the front gate anyway. And if it belonged to an old relative and you weren't in a position to take it on then that would be all you'd need to say and staff would understand! But I think this fella was left on the side of the main road through Gympie which is the main north-south highway from memory so hardly a very safe place to leave a dog even if it was easy to spot. If he was accidentally left behind after a roadside picnic his owners would've already found him. However it happened at least he is somewhere safe now.

The paper said his age was based on his general wellbeing. Usually they can tell by the teeth can't they? But given he doesn't have many that may have been a problem. He looks like an oldie from the 4 pics in the paper. I am surprised that someone even noticed the tiny fella by the side of the road!

Megs, I'm glad your dog and my dog weren't housemates or there would've been nothing left!

One of my previous SBTs was scared of loads of things and one night he was in the laundry while we went out and he tried to chew his way through the wall. By the time we got home the gyprock on his face had dried into a grimace. He pooed white for a few days. We also thought we had a mouse problem with our chook food (also stored in the laundry). Nope, he was helping himself to snacks throughout the night. Another time he ate a 4.5kg bag of Hills WD (again stored in the laundry for another of our dogs) and his belly was swollen up like he'd swallowed a basketball. That stuff is full of fibre so I think his bottom got a good work out. I still miss that silly boy.

Is he in quarantine with the other boy you were going to see tonight perhaps? Mr Cherry Eye????

I used to have to do show and tell for work most days it got so ridiculous. Our house looks like toddlers live here because nothing is on lower surfaces still. I also forgot that she till loves toilet brushes and holders - we've probably replaced four so far and the current one only has a handle about 2 inches long.

Oh dear - my girl is now 4 so has finally slowed down on her eating habits. She has a cast iron stomach and fortunately has not required any drastic medical intervention other than my vet yelling at me (and me crying). I will try and list the more special items that I can remember: - a 6 x 6 foot corner lounge (stuffing and timber) - a mobile phone - bits off every remote control we own - my beloved Powderfinger concert dvd - tampons (used and not mine) - an entire packet of contraceptive pills - an entire packet of heartworm tabs - an entire packet of anti-depressants - numerous tubs of vaseline - numerous lip balms - no particular flavour favourite - family sized blocks of chocolate - the handles off every clothes basket we own - two backpacks - a wire waste paper basket - thongs - ear plugs (used and mine) - an energy saving lightbulb - christmas decorations - christmas gifts - two dictionaries - a dog stair (carpet covering and timber) - boxes of aloe vera tissues (only that type and certainly not toilet paper or paper towels!) - the arms off two brand new lounges - the clips off the bottom of every single doona cover we own - the usual pillows (lounge and bed) and doonas (stuffing lover) - stuffed toys that belonged to humans - bean bag beans - a feathered fascinator

I love the smell of puppies the same way some people love the smell of babies. HEAVEN!!!!!

There are two really important aspects of this tragedy and they are both directly linked to adult responsibility. You simply can't leave a child in the care of anyone other than another attentive and skilled adult known to the child and child's parents. If you own a dog and don't raise it to respond safely to a range of situations that it is likely to face in its life then it will always be a potential safety risk to people and property. There is so much loss and heartache related to denying or avoiding those two key responsibilities. The lives of dogs and humans are changed forever by the failings of adults. Killing the dogs convicted of a crime they didn't know they were commiting wont bring back the children who have been lost. Thank you for linking the article Bull Arab. I wish more people were willing to question the facts so that we could continue learning and changing.

I had a period of time when every time I went in to my vet to pick up dog food some poor person or family was there getting their dog pts. I still remember the lady who bought her large breed in and it had the strangles (not sure of the proper name) and the vet had to tell her in the waiting room that her young dog needed to be pts as it could not be saved and was in a lot of pain. Numerous times I have patted their dog and rubbed the owners backs while they waited to go in. I couldn't not get involved because I know from experience what an isolating time it can be. You go in with a dog lead in your hand and come out carrying wet tissues. Having pts three dogs from illness/age in my life I don't think anyone is ever ready to take this last step. So much shock and sadness comes with the finality of the act. If your vet staff are animal lovers and generally compassionate people then they can't help but be affected by either the loss of a well loved and cared for animal or the extreme sadness expressed by the owner. I don't know that there is much that can be done except to do your job quickly and professionally, respecting whatever the owners wishes are at the time and then leaving them to grieve. I have received cards and flowers from my vet and staff after the event in the past and to be honest I need them to hold it together because I know I wont. Even typing this I am welling up at the thought of how significant and final this is and it is all over so quickly. With my last girl who was very old with serious health issues I was a blubbery mess and they held the surgery open for me so noone else would be there and let me stay until I was ready to step away from the table and let her be wrapped so I could take her home to bury. My vet was actually a little gruff with me at the time of injecting a dissappeared very quickly and left me to do what I needed to do. She kept the door open and was probably keeping an eye on me from down the hall. I know it was her way of keeping it together given she had been Ricky's vet for almost 16 years, right back to the first day she came into my care and needed help. She'd been seeing her every month for the eight months prior to her passing and was preparing me for her time coming to an end. How can you treat a dog for 16 years and not be affected when they pass? That's why she will always be my vet.

Bye Ollie boy. You were a tough cookie and will be sadly missed. When you see my old girl up there please give her a big lick from me.

I have just seen this and the water is falling from my eyes yet again. This story is evidence of how many wonderful and caring people are here on DOL and the many amazing dogs who despite what they have been through give back ten times more than they get. One person can make a difference.

Fantastic effort to all of you!

My front door has even less fly screen still attached to it. I gave up replacing it and using it to keep bugs out - just dogs in. Best thing I did for my back door though was to get the bottom third made as a solid metal panel and only the top third as a security fly screen. It has lots of scratches on it but it has withstood at least 4 different dogs over about 9 years and is still going strong. The other thing I have is shields behind the actually door handle and my dogs don't seem to like the smooth feel of it and have never managed to open either door themselves.