Little Gifts

By Gizzie - you were a special little man!

I have often used handyman from the Grey Army here in Beenleigh and I know they do other suburbs. Basically they are retired tradesmen. They can take a little longer but I have found them more creative in solving problems and cheaper. Kind of like getting your dad to do it! I have used them prob 4 times for building work, plumbing and electrical work. Only had one guy who was painful to manage. 13 11 98 or check out www.greyarmy.com.au

I had a foot sitter. I always felt it was a connection thing - she just wanted to be as close as she could given the position her human was sitting in. If she'd thought of jumping on laps she probably would've preferred that. When I used to meditate I had to learn to ignore her fat hairy butt sitting on my crossed ankles. I think she thought she was standing guard while I was 'busy'.

Happy Birthday for tomorrow Bubba-Girl. I still think of you all the time and miss even your snoring! I hope wherever you are that your day is filled with cake and birds to chase. XXX

We had to pts my stafford girl in late May this year. She would've been 17 tomorrow and was an active part of this family right till the end. I wish they lived as long as we did because the longer you have them the longer it takes to accept they are gone.....

I've said before that I reckon an advertising campaign regarding the basic cost of keeping a pet would deter lots of emotional pet purchasing. If those paying the food and registration and health costs could anticipate what that beautiful puppy in the pet shop window was going to cost each week over its first year they may think twice about buying it in the first place. Same with unwanted litters - they could compare the cost of desexing to raising a litter of puppies and that would also deter some. I also reckon that some comparisons between buying a puppy from a breeder and pet shop or back yard breeder might educate some as I am continually shocked at the prices on pet shop windows for dogs that come with no history and even more shocked that people are buying them!

Have you ever done any sledding with yours Rach? We did it a few times with my sister's dog and what I loved the most was how excited the dogs would all be, howling in the dawn waiting their turn to run. Of course it was through a green forest and the sleds and bikes all had wheels. I never saw one altercation between the dogs either. So I can't imagine how exciting it would be to see it happening on the snow with all the teams lined up busting to go.

That was a truly beautiful story. You will be sadly missed mandarin girl!

Sonia I had to put my girl to sleep 2 mnths shy of her 17th birthday. It has taken a lot of getting used to. When you have them for so long they are interwined with every facet of your life. She will live on in your memories and it will get easier to remember she is gone from your house but never your heart. Alyson xxx

What an awful experience for you and your wife, particularly on top of the loss of your other fur baby. It's been a crappy year for losses for a few of us DOLers unfortunately. Run free Denzil and Max.

Kirty you are so good with cats and kittens so if you couldn't save them it wasn't meant to be. In their next life they will come back healthy, strong and always loved.

If anyone is wanting to go to the Brisbane show but is not flush with funds then go to the 97.3 Facebook page and 'like' it, then go to the 97.3 website to enter their contest to win tickets.

I still call my old girl and go to prepare her special food and it has been almost two months now. They have been part of our lives for such a long time that it is hard to let go of what is so familiar and normal in our day. Time is starting to lesson the pain for me. I realised that part of the feeling of loss for me is that it is the end of an era or period of time in my life. She reminds me of people and places and events. I had a certain care role in relation to her specific needs that is not needed now. How I lived my life revolved in part around her. I have been in limbo a bit now she is gone. I'm sure it is the same for you. Having three less dogs to care for is a major change, let alone missing them physically and emotionally. Gypsy also reflects a certain phase of your life that is now over. All that you have are the memories and they will only fade if you let them. Non-dog people must think we are crazy.....

My youngest stafford was a nightmare child. I used to take show and tell in to work everyday as they liked to see what she had done after initially not believing my stories of her destructions. In particular she loves anything stuffed and jars of vaseline. My mother once left two bean bag filled doggy beds outside that of course got trashed. I came home to find her trying to vaccuum the little white balls out of the lawn. I've had so many destroyed pillows and doonas that I've washed and kept the stuffing and made new dog beds with it. And as for garbage bins - our kitchen tidy has lived in the laundry sink for 3 years now to keep it safe after she actually chewed her way into a metal bin. Nothing in our house is lower than bench level as she really will attempt to eat anything. She has cost me a fortune in ruined mobile phones. Even my work ID has teeth marks in it. None of my lounges have arms on them anymore. But I love that naughty dog to bits! One of my other staffords (RIP Bundy) once tried to chew his way out of the laundry and by the time we got home the chewed gyprock had dried all over his face. He pooped white for a couple of days. It was kind of funny.

I may not make the hoodies till just before next winter but can take a pic of the coat I will take the pattern off? I bought it off ebay for $8 (bought 2 actually) and while the fabric is only light the style is great. It even has a little pocket on it like my hoodies do at the front. I also scored 3.85 metres of thick cream fleece which is 2 metres wide for only $4 from Lincraft! It was a remnant. Cream is not the best colour but I thought I could jazz it up with black top stitching or even some coloured braid. My stuff will also be for larger sized rescue dogs but just because they are rescue dogs I don't think they deserve cheap and nasty looking things. Mine will go to dogs with carers so there should be less damage than if they were pound/shelter based. I'm also knitting and plan to just keep at it over the coming year so I have a pile to donate for next winter! Pic of hoodie I'll be using as a pattern added below.

It's ok to feel so bad. She was a major part of your life and your losses have been more than anyone could bare. The other dogs want you to know they share your loss and are there for you. I wish there was more I could do to ease your pain.

Lincraft have half price on all their fabrics for the next 11 days. I went in tonight and got 4 metres of lovely fleece (funky colours) for $20 to make hoodies for rescue for next year (leftovers make tuggies and pom-pom toys). Only one was a print but it was a really nice one! There was some really heavy stuff there for $12.99 ($6.50 half price) that is very wide and would make fantastically warm dog blankets too. It's also getting to that time when you should keep your eye on your local Kmart for kids and adults fleecies to be marked down. I buy these to re-cover my dog beds (can usually get some great colours and designs in the kids section) but this year will buy the larger ones and cut them down for dog blankets for rescue. I already bought a marked kids one that is lilac with pink and purple hearts on it for only $8 that will make covers for two large beds (after I stop using it myself in front of the tv that is....)

I have no idea how you are even staying upright but if it helps you to talk on here about her then do it all you want. I can't believe that you have been hit with three major losses in such a short period of time. It is just not fair and nothing I can say to you will make it better. If it was me I'd be thinking at least I was there when it happened and I didn't wake up the next day and find her gone and worry if she'd suffered. It sounds like a stroke to me and if it was I doubt she had pain - it would've been something that happened quickly that couldn't be fixed even with immediate medical attention. Obviously Jay Jay and Whitey were calling her. And I can feel for you about the birthday celebration. My old girl would've been 17 early next month and I still struggle with thinking she could've made it. Since she left us the strange thing is my sister's very aloof and cat like husky/shep cross has become my smooch buddy. Always on my bed and always wants to squeeze in next to me on the couch and give me morning kisses. She's 8 now and getting grey on the snout and I know my sister is not going to cope at all when her time comes. Maybe that is why dogs live in the moment and can cram so much fun into a day because we don't get to have them for long. They leave us a life full of memories though. Big hugs to you Rach and to your boys and hubby. I know your entire household is really suffering right now.

Lavendergirl I can't help with the kennel info as I haven't used one for years but go onto your council website and look up their dog parks - they should have details of what is in your area. I am down Beenleigh way and haven't seen one with a seperate area for small dogs. There is a small agility park in the Eagleby area and you can always easily see if any other dogs are there before using it. We've often been the only ones there and can always see if other people and dogs are arriving if we want to leave before they get to the fenced in area. Edited - I just went and looked at Logan City Council's info (my council area) and there are small dog parks listed! I suppose I've never had one so didn't know!

About three and a half years ago I took on a 12 week old pied SBT that needed a home as I had lost my pied boy only a couple of months before and his mother who I also had was very sad by herself. I'd never met the pup before and honestly she was the naughtiest but funniest and sweetest thing and I have finally discovered what it feels like to have a heart dog. Her needs are very simple - love, play and food, pretty much in that order. Not long after I got her she caused me to have a fall which lead to me developing an abcess on the base of my spine which started to leak. I ended up having a couple of surgeries and basically being bed ridden for 3 months. Even though she was only a pup she wasn't demanding and didn't even jump on me hurting me. My sister moved in with her dog to care for me and she basically immediately adjusted to a changed household. I really paid very little attention to her that whole time given the pain killers I was on. All her training went on hold, but she did her best and really I am very proud of her for that. A year later I had some bad stuff happening at work that caused my depression to hit hard. There were days when I couldn't get out of bed and face the world. She seemed to know I wasn't feeling good and one day got on the bed and laid her favourite toy of the time on my chest. It was a beautiful moment for me. She has since done the same thing maybe another 3 times and it always makes me smile getting some manky tuggy or brainless stuffed toy. They make her happy so I guess she figures why wouldn't it do the same for me? I have definately re-learned to enjoy the simple pleasures of life with her in my house and heart. Even after a long and hard day at work I am excited to come home and get some welcome home snuggles and kisses before we deal with daily domestics like bringing in the washing and making the dinner. Dogs really make such a difference to our lives if we let them. Just edited to add - speaking of the simple things - she has just run into the cold front room where I am sitting at the computer to check on what I'm up to and her fur is toasty warm - she's got the rght idea being outside lying on her sun bed!

I think you need a few more posts to access the area Kiki? It is in Off Topic under Commercial Marketplace. She makes them to order and style. Excellent for the bigger furbaby! I was thinking about doggy coats only the other day. My old stafford (RIP Ricky) was thinning in the hair dept so she started wearing fleecies/jammies. Well you think I had just publicly humiliated her by the way she always acted after they went on. She hated being seen in her winter gear despite obviously being much more comfortable. Would refuse to leave the front of the house wearing anything. She was a tough nut to the end. My younger stafford Stussy has always loved dressing up so what started as fairy skirts and wings and silly t-shirts has progressed into hoodies and fleecies (despite her more than adequate hairy coat). Not only that but she also crawls under the doonas and is in the flow of the reverse cycle heater. She hates the cold weather like her skin-mother! The funny thing is she puts her paws up to get her fleecie on and then collapses into a sleepy heap - her limbs and eyes seem to give out on her the minute it goes on. She just becomes a limp mess who falls into a coma like sleep. The worst is when she passes out on my legs or somewhere uncomfortable for us humans as moving her dead weight is an effort. Anyone else's have some strange winter wear behaviours (besides the obvious humiliation at dressing up that seems common!)?

I really love your cross - it is beautiful! My sister bought me this ceramic heart container that is covered in sparkly angel wings. Everything I find of Ricky's (still covered in her dna) goes into the container. It's got things in there like her unwashed pink sock and well worn name tag. I used to swap between two collars with their own tags on them so one is buried with her as well (but no collar - don't like the idea of dog's being buried 'enslaved'). I did the same with her son's tag. Maybe in 50 years someone might come across them and understand it was their final resting place. I've also succumbed and let Stussy wear her winter coats. It feels ok now. I know you cremate - do you do something special with the ashes or put them in special containers?

That is so wonderful for Alaska! The start of a new life for her all thanks to you Rach!

Rach I've commented before about these visions I get and a few months ago I had a very strong feeling that Whitey had had enough and that it was only that you weren't ready for him to go that kept him around. I think I mentioned it to Cazstaff but didn't want to say anything to you because I think having hope is very important. So if you feel like he is still around banging doors and nudging you with his nose then it is his way of telling you he is ok, gone from this earth physically but never forgotten. He will always have a place in your family and he knows that. He'd had enough and had to leave his broken body behind is all. The rainbow bridge had been calling him for a while. He's where he was meant to be. Alyson

Mine is bad. Rescue pup (who never left) went under my feet while I was carrying a huge basket of wet washing. I fell butt first onto the concrete. I then developed an abcess on the base of my spine which started leaking. The most hideous pain I have ever experienced for 3 or so weeks. A bit like an alien trying to burst out of my body. I had late night emergency surgery and then drains in for 7 weeks before having more surgery to put some experimental pigs bits into the gaping hole the abcess left behind. I was off work for three months and could either only lie on one side or stand for the entire time. Even better it chewed through a third of my core body muscles and as I get older I will get incontinent from both ends! YAY! The dog in question is now heading on to 4 years old and she is my heart dog so I would forgive her anything!