Little Gifts

Thank dog that state is finally seeing sense! I'm sure it is all about the money it is costing them to fight these cases and kennel the dogs. They don't really give a shite about public safety and dangerous dogs.

Obesity is the worst thing you can do to any dog. It can lead to so many other serious health issues. And I love how some people rationalise the shite they feed them 'but she loves cheese!'. Of course she does but she'd hardly know it even existed if you hadn't fed it to her first.

Only in America would a dog be so obese it needs skin surgery! So happy he has lost the weight and gained a life.

Hey, the fact he is even ready to be considered for his forever home is an amazing achievement! I really didn't think the outcome was going to be good for him before you took him on Nekhbet.

Oh my goodness! How freaking excmazing (that excited and amazing all at the same time)! GO ROCKY! Best DOL story of the year so far!

As usual, so many cool shots Huga! I can't believe how many people are on the beach watching and how cruisy about the whole thing the dogs are! Love it!

I will nearly always comment if I see an oldie out and about or even at the vet because I've been there myself and I think they are wonderful. I do remember being at a doggy event and seeing an old lab in one of those carts you usually pull behind a bike. I was so excited to see him out and about in public like that because why wouldn't he want a bit of an outing even if his legs didn't work so well? But his owner was telling me that people used to say awful stuff to her about if he couldn't walk on his own he should be put to sleep. People who say stuff like that have obviously never owned an oldie whose will to live and still make the most of life was hindered by a tired elderly body.

I was thinking about Jonah when I wrote this CT. And Mbili. And my nephews SBT who has just done his second one. I've heard of so many pei in particular that have had the problem in young, healthy dogs. It's worrying. Tempeh is a jumper (on furniture in and outside but not on people) and she never actually uses the steps in my house (prefers flying over them up and down) but she is also big on stretching and having her muscles massaged and stretched out, so I'm hoping that helps. She likes to run around a lot at home but not so much on walks - she prefers to stick by my side rather than follow scents like the others. She is very lean - all muscle really. She seems like a risk factor but what to do to avoid it?

If I am ever in this situation I will be doing the same thing. I know a DOLer chronicled some special events of this nature with her boy last year and I just thought it was a magic thing to do because dogs live so in the moment. http://www.buzzfeed.com/rachelzarrell/this-story-of-a-womans-epic-bucket-list-adventure-with-her-d#.xwmqvkVM9

Gruf I had to check and make sure I hadn't named the thread wrong! I felt it was 'crucial' too!

Thanks for that Labadore. I just re-read the article because I initially thought it was saying nothing had happened, but I can see it was quoting from the petition made just after the tragedy, not a current one.

What a great name for a dog and what a cool concept! Looks like Jumpy has quite a few other clips showing off his skills.

That's very true about more people seeking vet treatment rather than just taking a 'she'll be right' approach.

Cutes AND smarts? Holy Smoke!

I thought there was going to be an inquiry but it sounds like it still hasn't happened or been arranged? It's easy for us to speculate but as I've said before that for the sake of the safety of all the animals, regardless of a disaster looming, you would think an adult with a license was on the premises at all times. What if one of the animals got injured and needed vet care? An owner probably expects it would be noticed and treatment sought fairly quickly. You would also assume with that many animals that it would take multiple people every day to feed, water, clean and exercise the animals there. You would assume those activities were happening in the day time too. I think it is great one of the owners was a volunteer fire fighter but there was a duty of care on the entire business to ensure someone capable was there and attending to the animals and from comments made by the owners themselves it sounds like that wasn't the case. Without an independent inquiry no-one will get the truth and learn from this terrible disaster.

This kind of injury seems to be becoming more common. In all my years of dog owning I've never had a dog with the problem. So am I doing something differently with my animals to negate this or have I just been lucky? None of my current dogs are into extreme sports (besides zoomies) but I have previously had big time jumpers. My current pack are more in to gentle jogs so they can stop and sniff but I've also had marathon bolters that you have to drive after in the car to round up. I haven't always been as knowledgeable about quality diet but would say I've only ever had one slightly overweight dog. I've owned mainly medium sized dogs, with a couple of large breeds thrown in. No giants. One thing I have always done though is regular massages. Rather than just pat my dogs I use the time to massage and stretch out limbs or spines or whatever. Could this be making a difference? Two of my current dogs are big stretchers but I wouldn't say any of my other dogs have done it as much. So could there be a reason or is it just luck? I know numerous dogs of the same breed as two of mine that have needed this surgery at a youngish age and I'd love to avoid it for mine if there was a way to minimise the risks. Thoughts?????

Oh dear dog that is the cutest picture ever!

I have been honest and said yes I would allow my dogs on the furniture and bed because that is what they are used to at home and I would spend my whole stay trying unsuccessfully to keep them off. BUT, knowing this I would also be bringing my own furniture and bed covers and would not be taking any dirty or smelly dogs with me in the first place. Can't say if others care as much when they are breaking the rules? This issue is one of the reasons I don't travel with my dogs a whole lot. I want them to be comfortable as much as me if we are on holidays. People travel with their dogs all the time in the UK and I've been in rooms behind them and not found smells or pet hair anywhere. I'm assuming more is charged for accommodation that pets have used because a more thorough clean after they leave is required.

Based on that last colour photo showing his coat are you sure there isn't a bit of maremma in Smoke?

I just realised two things. That wanker of a pet shop owner will use this to up the price of the dogs he does have even more, telling customers how hard they are to come by and driving those impulse purchase emotions to get a sale. And second, I work in a fairly large store that probably needs 15 staff on but can't afford it. So if he can afford to employ 15 staff what does that tell you about the volume of dogs he has going through his business? All coming from puppy farmers, which apparently has nothing to do with his legitimate business. Nope! He's just the good guy giving needy puppies homes with people who have more money than sense! Is anyone else a little shocked to think people are spending $6000 on un-papered dogs? And where are they getting this money from? That's the cost of a second hand car or part of a house deposit!

Yep, where they won't be monitored at all. At least those out in the open can be inspected. And what difference are those inspections and all the rules in place making now? The shiny big farms are getting shinier on the outside and bigger on the inside. BYBers are still openly advertising online, in papers and on their fences. Even with monitoring so few are being penalised for breaching any regulations, yet we all know what is really going on. The next step is to hit them where it hurts. You cut off their biggest and easiest selling option. Trade wont cease but it will affect it. You stop people being able to buy companion animals without any thought going in to it. And you give companion animals a chance at having a good life by making them available through sources willing to assess the suitability of any potential owners. These are living things that might be here for 10 to 15 years. Some people put more thought into what phone they are going to buy. So if pets become difficult to impulse purchase I have absolutely no problem with that.

I was thinking she is getting close to that second fear developmental period too and maybe a branch landed on the shed roof or a possum or something that woke her from a deep sleep and frightened her? Not sure how you resolve that though.

You've all said what I wanted to say. That article made me laugh so much I nearly peed my pants! Gosh, it sounds to me like without those amazing puppy farmers and pet shop owners dogs are going to become extinct! I'd better rush out and stock up on them while I can! Excellent, factual and balanced news reporting as usual.

Every day I try to do this with my dogs. When I wake up (or get woken up) I try to give each dog a massage to start both our days off well. The touching of their fur and feeling their bodies spring to life as I loosen their limbs puts me in a good place and based on the ballet stretches the dogs do I'm sure they like being touched and their muscles stretched out a little before the crazy starts. Some mornings it is only one dog waiting their turn while others it is 3. So for 5 to 15 minutes we get to live in the moment, in each other's company. It's nice.

Stussy was a horror for the first three years of her life and how she didn't ever need surgery to remove anything from her stomach neither myself or my vet know - she has a gut of steel (and has also eaten some steel!). I think the scariest was one of those light bulbs that we all use now (or perhaps the packs of birth control and depression meds she ate in one sitting?). The most expensive was a 6 by 6 foot corner lounge suite. The saddest was my brand new, unwatched Powderfinger concert dvd that my friends and I were in (still haven't seen it). The naughtiest (and most regular) was her eating my doona from inside the cover while I was just having a shower - that has happened numerous times. I used to take show and tell to work frequently as no-one could believe what she was capable of consuming. But dog I love this naughty girl and will forgive her anything!