Little Gifts

Have you tried asking a community page on FB? I discovered a swimming spot for dogs and another for dogs and humans within 10 mins of where I live after someone asked the question. I had no idea both spots even existed. I'm in QLD so no point telling you about them.

I reckon he will be one of those dogs who starts glopping his bits next to you on the bed as soon as he wakes up everyday. And then wants to give you kisses.

I've now been relegated to wound inspector and scratcher. He tries so hard to pretzel and get to it still so I try to help where I can. I think the cone will have to stay on till tomorrow night to be on the safe side (we are applying Neocort to help things along) . He's coping fine in it. Normally I'd take off for meal times and when we were directly supervising but getting it back on him when he's in a licking mood requires a battle plan and more soldiers than we've got. The force is strong with this one!

To me the main purpose of a fine is to bring a breach of something you did or caused to your attention. Authorities over time have identified that hitting people where it hurts most is the best way of doing that. I've worked for both local govt and state govt and its just a job. Noone is busy rubbing their hands with glee over finding more ways to raise revenue, but on the flip side a lot of time is spent trying to resolve resident and community problems. And loose dogs are problems. Noone is going to know whether your loose dog is friendly or not going to cause any harm or havoc until they get close either. I've owned staffords for most of my life and can tell you if ANY loose dog came racing over to me (particularly if I was walking my own dogs) I would be on alert. Even a docile dog could have a trigger. So is it worth pursuing in court because a detail of the fine is incorrect or is it worth accepting your dog was out and it did potentially cause a problem and council was merely trying to get you to take responsibility for that problem the best way they know how? I personally would prefer to know my dog was out so I could fix my property because emergency vet bills for a dog fight or car accident while they were out is a whole lot worse.

Yes I can see it now! Thank you Dogs!

It's only dog neck size. I don't know the purpose of the extra bit.

In rummaging through my supplies to find a harness for a new foster I found this collar. Just wondering what type it is so I can google how it works on a dog? I have no idea where I got it from of course or how long I've even had it! Thank you!

The cone had to go back on last night. He ate away all the scabs and just would not leave it alone. He chewed off the t-shirt too! Getting the cone back on was like a 10 person job but he forgave me enough to spoon last night. If it was easier we'd just take it on and off but yeah, nah. Training will have to wait till next week when it will be safe to take off again. Oh Albert!

Well Mr Alberto Magoober got his tummy stitches out today so no cone! He is so happy! And he was brilliant at the vets too. Long car rides as well but he loves the car so no issues there. He has put on some muscle tone since he was so ill but still needs to get weight back on him. He can eat kibble again and we will do 4 full meals a day rather than 2 full and 2 medium. We will start training him on some basics tomorrow. To tell you how poor he is on a leash he actually swivelled me in a 360 degrees manner like I was Neo in The Matrix. I know I'm going to feel it tomorrow! Oh and in typical boy fashion he has not stopped licking himself since the cone came off so now he is wearing a t-shirt because we don't need any infection in that still healing wound! Here he is after we got home from the vet to a cone free life!

When you've got your appetite back but noone will share their sausage with you! I don't think that soft cone is going to last much longer. It was brand new last Friday but he constantly pushes the boundaries of it. Looks like the heavier Kong soft cone might have to make an appearance soon.

Fantastic news!!!!! I'm so happy for them!

Monday morning and he slept with me the entire night and was so good I didn't even realise he was there! We got up early and a quick wander around the yard and another poo! No discomfort and still looking like a good poo should! After breakfast it was time for his morning massage of course. He followed that up by trying to steal some clothes and shoes. I guess we are going to be a lot tidier with him around! We decided no training until after his stitches come out and he has the all clear on Friday. We're happy to just see him happy and healing. He's developed quite the following on the rescue page too and made the top banner this morning! Exciting moment for a foster carer!

Sunday morning we got up early and Albert pooped! His first since the surgery. No discomfort and it looked pretty good. Very happy! While I was sharing the news he got up on my bed to look out the window (there's a ramp at the base of my bed). He's also a fan of a good massage. He's taken an early shine to my sister so was very happy to receive a morning massage. Eating well again today and some of his puppy personality is coming out already as he's feeling better (he's only just over 12 months the vet thinks). He started dragging pillows and beds around the house and humping. We were watching that episode of Boy Swallows Universe where Teddy's dogs bark ferociously and with his poor eyesight he thought they were outside. Then he kept seeing his reflection in the glass door and he was certain they were out there! And we have a neighbour and her daughter who visits regularly. Seems Albert likes children - they didn't meet directly, but through the window he was very excited she'd come to visit! You have to wonder how such a lovely young dog ended up in such a shitty situation. And I am grateful that he didn't get so sick while still in the pound - that would've been the end of him.

So we picked the lovely Albert up last Saturday and he was calm the whole trip home. He loves to sniff so we wound the window down for him as we got closer to home. Based on his mapping of our house and yard I don't think his eyesight is great. Apparently he is dog reactive, which is very understandable for a young dog unable to see. He's come home with a bag full of medicines and luckily we were able to get him to eat a couple of small meals. He was actually ravenous on Saturday night but is pretty good about stopping when he has had enough. He slept through the night in the lounge room. We just let him do whatever he wanted. He's such a happy boy despite everything he has been through.

Albert has been on a huge journey over the past month. He was in a western NSW pound covered in fleas and ticks, blind with untreated entropian. Shar Pei United QLD through Precious Paws rescued him. The fleas and ticks were immediately treated and he was desexed (possibly as part of his council release, I'm not sure). In that first photo you can also see some blood on his face and a tick on his chest. Due to how severe his entropian was he had surgery for that and was recuperating with a lovely vet tech/nurse from the same surgery. He became ill and tested positive for Coccidia AN Gardia. Then things got even worse for this poor boy and last week he needed major emergency surgery for Intussusception, a condition in which part of the intestine telescopes into itself. He had to be tube fed and has lost a lot of weight. He was finally well enough to leave the vets last Friday and we picked him up Saturday afternoon from the amazing vet tech/nurse. She and her family have dedicated themselves to this beautiful, strong boy. I never share Go Fund Me's but my rescue group never raises them either and they have spent far and above what they are hoping to raise for his vet care. They just need a little more if anyone can help? And let's face it - spending that money has saved his life. I'm also attaching a pic of his surgery scar so people can get a sense of what a big surgery it was. https://www.gofundme.com/f/albert-needs-our-help-for-emergency-surgery?utm_campaign=p_lico+share-sheet-first-launch&utm_medium=social&utm_source=facebook

I am picking up a foster today from Rossmore Boarding Kennels in Chambers Flat. The lady I have been dealing with is Helen and she is a trainer who works there (she doesn't own the kennels or work for the rescue). The boy I am picking up is dog aggressive and she has been working with him while he's been staying there awaiting a foster spot. Chambers Flat is in the Logan area of SEQ. Could be worth a call? https://rossmorekennels.com/

Imagine if that could happen at more prisons for more dogs! It would be a great outcome for both!

Yes there was a recent anniversary for him. Two years maybe? The not knowing must be impossible.

This is in the UK but could it be the same out here? It's a Community Drone service too. Also what struck me was the dog's leash had caused it to be stuck in place so searchers on the ground couldn't locate it. We had a case in QLD a while back of a grey getting scared on a walk and getting lost in bushland still wearing a leash. Dog was never found. It was heartbreaking and I think they tried to get a drone but couldn't. https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-beds-bucks-herts-67892869?at_link_origin=BBC_Family_%26_Education_News&at_ptr_name=facebook_page&at_format=link&at_medium=social&at_link_id=B0A2EB54-ADF6-11EE-BAE9-E24987A28522&at_campaign=Social_Flow&at_bbc_team=editorial&at_campaign_type=owned&at_link_type=web_link&fbclid=IwAR3Br2B3Bxzx0f2VnfM5VQelaXZ_VtD390p-2CL8cdzN_xW2KXGOtBF-TTU

That is huge!

I feel their is a huge cost of living and housing accessibility issue affecting animals in need at present. I don't know a single rescue that hasn't been calling out desperately for help in all ways for months. Not enough carers, not enough money and obviously all the strategies out there to address unwanted pregnancies isn't achieving all it hoped. At least the RSPCA has money in the coffers to cover the vet bills and has a shelter base. For every RSPCA shelter there could be 5 to 10 unfunded small rescues working just as hard from people's homes on no money.

Oh dear!

I've never had pet insurance. My two oldies both got sick last year requiring major specialist treatment and surgeries (one had chemo too). I nearly sent myself to the wall covering it (living on food vouchers type poor). They were both healthy otherwise and I've spent very little on them over the years at the vets. I have no regrets about spending the money for these life threatening illnesses. I got myself a second and then a third job and now one much better paying job. I estimate it will take me 2 years to get back to where I was financially and one has since passed of old age and the other passed of a whole new condition. But the time I got with them - good quality, healthy time for them, was worth it. I'm unlikely to get insurance for a future dog either. I accept quality vet care costs money and have no plans to shop around to get things a bit cheaper because I value the relationships I have with my long term vet (who are reasonably priced for a hospital type vet). Plus I have a breed prone to genetic issues and that reflects in insurance rates whether they have the condition or not. Just personal opinion of course - I also regret getting health insurance in my 20s (now 60). The amount I have spent on it versus what I have claimed doesn't even compare.

I think it is the general public causing some of their own problems too. So many people these days claiming any old dog is an assistance animal. I adore my pets and they give me a great deal of comfort but they aren't trained for any of it. All I expect of an animal with a job is that it is capable of the task under a range of conditions. So if you fly with your support dog, for their sake and yours, in a confined space I want to know it is safe, you are safe and and the passengers and crew are safe. I don't think that is too much to ask. And those of us who know the breeders behind Tapua Labs know the work that goes into those pups from the minute they are born to prepare them for a range of roles and how they identify which pup might be suited for what role. Some of it is the dog's natural abilities and some of it is their conditioning and training. That's why I'm also for formally assessing the capabilities of approved assistance dogs. Once they are working they have an enormous responsibility.

I just noticed this! He came to the attention of the pei community up here when this pound post first went up so it has been spread far and wide. Hopefully his circumstances have changed by now. It's a terrible circumstance for an oldie to find themselves in.