Little Gifts

I've done it only once. I had to leave my OES when I went travelling and when the heartworm tabs ran out my parents never got any more. I got home and had her tested and not only did she have heartworm but she went downhill very quickly and wasn't well enough for the treatment options used back in the early 80s. I think the vet staff actually told me to wait in the waiting room and that they'd bring her body out when it was done. I don't even recall walking into the consult room with her or even being invited to do so - I think I just handed her over. I had no idea what to expect and she came out with the same blanket that she was wrapped in just loosely draped over her, so her legs were flopping out. I was in shock and it was all over quite quickly. They did carry her to the car for me. But since then I have always stayed and then left the room when I was ready so they could be wrapped in a plastic bag and calico. I always leave a bright coloured towel or blankie to be wrapped around them first. I don't know why. And I never bury them wearing a collar or tags because I want them to be truly free. Weird rituals but they make me feel better. As for a 16 year old dog being left, well I think some people are capable of simply owning a dog for that long without ever actually bonding with it.

Apologies - your response wasn't there when I typed mine - I must've taken a loooong time to write it. Glad you had a successful outcome (except for your poor cat).

I would wait till their dog is roaming again and tell them that the last time their dog was on your property you later found your cat mauled by a dog and say how much it cost at the vet. Tell them you can't prove their dog did it but that it is highly likely and that if they continue to let their dog roam you wont be talking to them about it anymore - you will simply be calling the pound. If they care about their dog and what it gets up to while loose they will make an effort to contain it and avoid any other animal injuries.

Oh this is heartbreaking. I know this was a concern when you took him on but you just didn't get long enough together. I'm so very sorry. Run free now Rupert knowing you were so much loved even if it was only for a short time.

My sister bought a Solvit two days ago for the three stairs to and from our loungeroom. They will be there permanently - there is enough room for us humans to walk down the other side. So far not one canine paw has set foot on it! I think we might have to get out the treats and make it an obstacle course kind of fun thing! Tempeh prefers to fly when it comes to stairs anyway so no point training her.

The lady who surrendered Tempeh said she was 3 months old but the vet said her adult teeth indicated she was 5 months old. I always forget the actual December date she became a foster failure (because doggy Christmas presents are not good!) but gave her her own made up birthdate (based on vet estimations) so I tend to remember that rather than her gotcha date. We were lucky with our other two - their original owners had at least given them their first vaccinations and the cards had their DOB's on them.

As soon as daylight peaks over the horizon Tempeh sticks a leg in the air and goes for it. It is a very special sound to be woken up by. I used to gently tap her and she would stop for a second but then she would start again from the beginning - like her automatic deep cleaning program had been interrupted. Given she is normally using me to lean against I've started to move away quickly and topple her and she gets the huffs and jumps off the bed. Poor Stussy has never been limber enough to lick her bits naturally so I have been known to hold her in position so she can gnaw on some pesky itch. It's what we do for those we love!

My SBT girl is the same. She's only caught three in 16 years but having your skull ripped from your head cannot be a nice way to die. She has perfect response to the leave command but it always happens when we are not home.

I never felt I would be a good parent so consciously never had children. I've always loved dogs so always owned one (or three). But I have never considered them replacement children. Having no children has just meant I can make different choices as an adult because I am not devoting time, money and space to raising any.

Don't get me wrong, Jessie is a lovely dog too but Jonah! I always just find him so stunning beside that red earth backdrop!

Coogie my sister is like this. If it fits it goes on the body. If it is the first leash she puts her hand touches that's what gets clipped on. Those named poo bag holders mean nothing! I lose minutes from my life every time I see what the dogs come home wearing from an outing with her!

But what you have all failed to discuss in this thread is what this concoction is actually for? Some of us have no clue but are getting the sense it is for joints and arthritis? Is it supposed to reduce pain or inflammation or just help with maintaining mobility? We have an oldie here on Sacha's Blend for arthritis. She's a big, furry dog so what's a bet she ends up smelling like pee!?

Where is that like button!

Do people also buy numerous dog tags so they can have the correct coloured one with each outfit? I'm guilty!

He's all growd up in the body department but the brain still thinks like a puppy! "Uncle Smoke stole our toooooooooy!"

Yep and our poo bag holders and collapsible drinking bowls and treat bags have to match as well! Tempeh has purple or red. Stussy has hot pink or red and Wolf has gold. I don't think that is necessarily her colour but just what my sister chose for her! Even the coats I make for my two smallest follow the colour guidelines! Tempeh can also wear muted tones but Stussy needs loud colours (to match her personality)!

I didn't think about the smell! I guess that bucket would need to be a loooooong way from the house!

So what do you all do with your worms? I used to get so many of them from just my normal compost that I never got a farm. We watched this show about people living off the land a while back and one couple used to catch guppies from their ponds as a protein source for their chooks and they also had this plastic bucket with holes in it that they would put road kill or leftovers from fresh meat butcherings in, which would get infested with maggots and the maggots would drop from the holey bucket, again to be fed to the chooks as a protein source. If I ever get chooks again I'm going to try those ideas.

Yes I adore her - even her extreme naughtiness! Here is a pic of her with her first foster bro Clancy. He was so scared when he arrived that we had to keep a thin leash on him for the first three days so if we wanted to get close we'd have to stand on it to catch him. But this is him with Stussy in like the first week. She was his shadow, always reminding him he was ok, often sitting up guarding him while he slept in case he woke up in a panic. And when potential adopters came to meet any of these foster dogs she never got in the way or tried to protect the fosters from strangers or steal any limelight herself. Totally different to who she normally is (wanting everyone to love her the most). Fostering brought out a remarkable side to her - I think it is/was her calling! I've also got video footage of her teaching another foster bro to play tug. I don't think he'd ever owned a toy in his life and he certainly didn't have much experience with other dogs. But she kept throwing the tug in his face till he grabbed the end (usually running off with it) and she'd gently tug on the loose end till he got the idea it was a game they could play together. Makes me cry every time I watch it.

Pheebs, Best Friends Rescue have a Private Adoptions section on their webpage where they help people needing to rehome their dogs (see link below). They have a huge FB following now so I'm assuming their webpage also gets lots of looks. It might be worth getting a post up on their webpage to spread the word wider? Also as I am in Brissie with lots of other dog loving local friends, do you want me to put something up on my FB page and ask Brissie friends to share it? The only issue is I would need some contact info in the post in case anyone was interested. http://www.bestfriendsrescue.com/dogP.html

My pride in Stussy has been for different reasons. She is very loving and in tune with us humans, comforting when she thinks we are sad or unwell. But when we were fostering I saw a whole different side of her that made my heart swell and bought tears to my eyes. She was just the most loving and nurturing dog to other dogs too. We had a couple of very fearful fosters and ones who were broken souls. It took a while for them to trust us humans but as soon as they arrived I could literally see Stussy showing them around the house and yard giving them the low down - "this is how we let her know we want to go outside" "this is where our toys live" "if you want a treat you have to sit" "this is your crate". She would sit up and guard them while they slept. She shared beds with them to keep them warm. She taught some who had never had toys how to play tug. When we did formal training she was there showing them what the commands meant so they could follow but she never tried to get the treats. She encouraged them to keep moving when we went walking and they got scared. She was never pushy or demanding or irritated with them, even the ones who didn't seem to speak dog. She never got jealous or needy with sharing me either. And it didn't matter what age or sex they were. She really seemed to enjoy having a job and when one left she never mourned but welcomed the next one with equal enthusiasm. She really surprised me as she provided something to the rehabilitation of these dogs that I never could. We never know what our dogs are capable of till we put them in a new situation!

That's a hard one given it is early spring here and temps are already in the 30s! I'd say I would walk up to 28 degrees if we had a breeze and if it was early or late in the day. We can have a bearable hot and a stinking hot and humid. We also have shaded and minimal concrete/bitumen walk options which helps. Then there are places where water is readily available if anyone is getting too hot or even short walk options. I figure if I'm sweaty and struggling then the dogs have to be too. Oh and we also have a big furry beast (as well as the pei and SBT). Heat is no deterrant to them if they think something exciting is happening.

He's looking so purdy! You must be very proud of him!

Goodbye beautiful girl. There'll be lots to do again over the bridge.

We rearranged our laundry and bought a double cupboard to store all the coats, blankies, treats and miscellaneous items in. That's just practical! Then we bought a coffee table with sliding doors on it so their toys could hide inside one side. There is also a crate in the shed containing doggy dress up gear (mostly Stussy's and mostly for Christmas). The number of beds though - well they are hard to find hiding spaces for (on top of the ones already spread throughout the house). I make a lot of their gear though so don't really spend much money. And I am a firm believer in colour coordination. The collars, harnesses, tags, leads, poo bag holders, collapsible bowls AND treats pouches must match for each dog or we are simply not leaving the house!