Little Gifts

Bugger the dogs, I'd like one of them for myself to lie on!

What sickens me the most is the damage extensive incarceration might have done to these innocent dogs. I hate to think of my dogs even being kennelled while I go on holidays so can't even imagine the torture they might experience if seized and contained for so long. It's not like you can explain to them what's happening. If I was those owners I'd be out for blood once those dogs came home (well after I moved to another state with them anyway!).

Well what a lovely way to look at it! I'm all sobby and snotty now!

Hey I am not my dogs. What I think they will like and what they really like don't always mesh. So technically the surprise will be all theirs. My main issue was that you are asked about your dog when you sign up (like are they rough chewers, yes!) and I don't think the toys in my box were the best match. I'm pretty sure they will like the treats - they certainly smell tasty! And I was looking at the value of the contents and considering if I bought them from the shop would I spend $45 on them (the answer for me was no). But now I know that postage really forms one third of the overall package that changes things and yes I can see the value, even if the toys aren't quite right for my destructos. Again, this is part of why I did not accept the offer of a refund (contrary to what a couple of DOLers might still seem to think).

Over the years I've seen several other staffords that look like my girl Stussy. I'd probably be freaked out if she had passed on and I ran into one of her twinsies. The weird thing is there are thousands of dogs on Pet Rescue and it is not like you can even search for a dog exactly like Bella so to come across one by accident - well it has to be a sign from your girl!

People have strange priorities. If they 'lost' their car they'd be on the phone to the police and their insurance companies and spreading the word through social media for its urgent and safe return. But a living thing? Meh. It'll come home when its hungry.

I never asked for nor did I accept a refund after it was offered. I paid for a box and I got a box. The dogs will enjoy the treats and the toys will go with some other toys I have to a local rescue group. I decided not to pursue a partial or full refund on the basis that it would cost this business more to do that and I made that decision after learning they are a small business and because they have been very good in responding to my unhappiness.

Wow. Really? I've never been accused of that before. As for supporting rescues and small business I wasn't even aware till today that this applied to this business. Like most people I followed a link here on DOL, thought it sounded like a cool idea and spent my money (with a view to spending even more money spoiling my dogs if it worked out). I wasn't aware that a third of my money went to the post cost either (it wasn't mentioned anywhere). Nor was I aware of what to expect in the box (no pictures of Xmas boxes were provided). They made it sound all mysterious and exciting but for me it wasn't. So far I haven't seen a post by any other DOLer saying they'd be happy getting the same box for that price but feel free to ignore that and have a stab at what you think are my values.

Drewe and I had spoken by email before he posted on here (or at the same time really - his post came up when I posted mine explaining what I'd been told in the email). We've also had an email discussion since then as as well about a full or partial refund. I have acknowledged both the information he has sent and the refund offer privately. I did not respond to any of his posts as I felt he was entitled to have his say here too. So I wasn't being rude and ignoring what he had to say, I was allowing him the space to say it. I do appreciate what he has said and offered. I have expressed my disappointment. Their product is obviously not for me. I shared my experience on DOL because it was a recent thread on here where I found out about the product in the first place.

It was in a post bag (eparcel) and I guess they are paying a flat rate of postage on all they send out. Not sure of the overall weight but I figure it could be just under 500g. They are running a business so I don't expect them to hand deliver mine just because they live close by! I think their office base is further east from me.

I decided that I wanted to try the box and that is what they are offering and other customers are apparently happy with it but I'm not so it just means no more boxes for me. The dogs will love the treats and I have a bag of other toys to go to rescue so will just add the two in the box to it rather than have them immediately destroyed. Put it all down to a learning experience. Perhaps the boxes are good value for people who don't have access to pet shops or who only use boutique type outlets? They have offered me a refund because I am so disappointed and there is not much more I can expect them to do. But I appreciate your feedback confirming my thoughts/feelings. I guess us dog savvy peeps might have a different idea of what we consider good value. (I'm trying to put my first world problem into perspective!)

We had a foster pup (now foster failure) who used to do that. I decided it was time to stop when she got so tall she was actually able to lick my bum! Not a pleasant experience! I figured it was a pack grooming thing.

Yep, the treats are locally (QLD) made, which is good. And there was a postcard inside the box - it didn't look very Christmassy but it had a Christmas message on it. I got an email back from the company. It was pleasant enough but apparently Christmas goods are very expensive and the post of the box is $15. So basically a third of the value is in the delivery rather than the goods inside the box. They don't say that anywhere on the website. Plus I actually wasn't expecting Christmas themed goods, just value for money and dog size/age appropriate items would've been nice with maybe just a small Christmas themed treat or dress up item/toy. They could've stuck a Christmas sticker on the box to bling it up if they weren't putting them in actual themed boxes. The dogs will enjoy the treats but the toys will be destroyed in seconds so it makes them very expensive treats! I think I am also disappointed that I don't get to try out new product lines or suppliers by being a regular box subscriber.

So our Christmas Olly's Box arrived and I'm very sad to say but it is pathetic. I am very disappointed because I was hoping it was something we could do regularly to spoil our three dogs. And given it was a Christmas Box I did expect it to look Christmassy to stick under the tree but it is just in their normal pale blue box. I have expressed my disappointment to the company. Contents are: 1 x snowman with squeakers in hands and feet, 30cm high and very lightly stuffed (wont last a nano second with the dog I registered) 1 x small rubber and rope donut toy for small dogs and puppies (I registered a medium sized adult dog for the box) 1 x 235grams festive cookies 1 x small edible Christmas tree I'm happy if anyone wants to disagree with me but I can see an awfully exorbitant mark up on each of those items to make a $45 box seem good value.

I appreciate that staff can't always identify genuine and non-genuine surrenders but it seems they failed to follow their own processes - Scruffy's info wasn't in their system (or staff were lying to the family who called about him) and he didn't fulfil his waiting period, which I assume is there to assist people who may have erroneously surrendered their pets or who surrendered under duress or during an emergency and that has changed. How hard is it to follow the processes in place even if you can't mind read the clients? I really hope this family pursues LDH legally and makes them pay in some way for their failures to protect this poor dog. Nothing will change while they continue to get away with preventable crap like this.

Since her first experience with the cone of shame last year Tempeh's little pei ears now play up from time to time. Our vet gave us a bottle of Otoflush to put in for the cleaning out part (squirt in, squish the ear to distribute and stand back while they shake) and some Apex PMP drops for the infection (same application process). I don't know why but Temp HATES the otoflush. Maybe it is colder or the consistency is different? Ams taught me how to cotton bud a pei's ears but if the gunk is just on the outer part (after the otoflush) I just use a tissue or baby wipe to remove it. Tempeh runs if she says anything in my hands but I found the easiest time to do it was when she was eating. She stands still and gets a little confused about whether to eat or run but the food normally wins out and it is all done very quickly and without stress while she chews.

He looks very handsome!

I got enabled by a thread here on DOL and got our three a Christmas Box from here - http://www.ollysbox.com.au/ It wont arrive for another couple of weeks so I can't tell you what's in it just yet! If it is any good I might get the box that comes every three months. I think that is reasonable when we have several dogs who get to enjoy it. I'll have to think of something nice for my vets and the staff there. Mind you I've spent enough money there this year that one of them could've probably got a free (small) car out of it already!

What a lovely bubba!

Oh DDD I hear ya sista! Although your doggy problems have been going on longer than mine. Last night I left Tempeh's cone off for a smidge too long to discover she had removed all her facial scabs and they were all over my bed linen. Blerch. I'm not having nightmares but wake at the shake of a cone and am constantly pretzeling around one dog or another who needs soothing during the night. Of course with my sister's dog being so old I wake if I can't hear her breathing too (she sleeps with us in the air cond). At least our situation will hopefully all be better next week and life will go back to normal. Big hugs to you and the wet ones! XXX

In all my years living in QLD we've always managed without having to leave the dogs inside and the air cond on. My house and yard are generally pretty cool. But this year is such a shocker already that it just seems too steamy some days to even risk it. My air cond is set at 24 and I have a split system in one bedroom and the lounge/dining area. I leave both on low and it keeps the entire house cool. The dogs generally all sleep in my room with the air cond blowing over them. We are careful to keep lights and appliances off so I haven't even noticed a big jump in my bills. My main fear is a power outage while no-one is home so I do leave windows in the wet areas open so the dogs could go there and be safe before one of us got home. If Summer is much worse than this Spring them I'm moving to Tassie!

I bet Arthur looked at them and thought "I don't know where they are going but they look like they can use some help!".

Wonderful story! Arthur the Invincible!

Very funny! That dog was like SCORE!

I have mixed feelings about this. It takes a lot of time, energy and money to run a rescue. Yes she had a history of doing it well for a while but when things go wrong they go really, really wrong and animals suffer. They don't deserve that. Where were all those local community supporters before? She could've used their help at least keeping the place sanitary. I hope they continue to support her and the animals now or she needs to stop rescuing. I actually think 60 is still a lot of animals to be caring for if she isn't running her rescue as a break even business with staff on the payroll. As for releasing cats outside the shelter that is really wrong and if it is/has happened shame on her. She is undoing any good work she may have achieved and if she has reduced to 'saving' animals using that technique then she needs to stop now because she is doing more harm than good in the long run.