Little Gifts

I loved one of my foster boys so much that I'm sure his adoptive family thought I might be a borderline stalker type! Some rescue dogs need you more than others and some make such remarkable changes in your care that it is hard not to have a soft spot for them. A little bit of my heart goes with each and every one and what keeps me strong is knowing that these new families can offer them things I cannot. I don't have kids to play with and I am not a single dog household so you have to share me. I don't live near the beach or go for long walks in the bush and I can't take a dog to work with me everyday. The list of what I can't or don't offer goes on - that's why it is so great when a dog 'chooses' that new and perfect family and gets to live a life it always deserved. I've also been very lucky that nearly all the new families friended me on FB and I have at least seen pics of all of them since they left here. The one I had the hardest time parting with - his wonderful new family said I could pop in to see him any time I wanted. I haven't and I wouldn't but it is nice of them to acknowledge I was feeling his loss and make the offer. I have seen him a couple of times at events and he dissed me each time. He doesn't need me now he has them. As it should be. My work preparing him for a forever home is done.

I had a desexed SBT boy who started getting raging erections that wouldn't go down when he was about 10. Our issue seemed to be linked to a leap over a retaining wall that his boy bits did not successfully clear one day and it all started not long after that. From memory it always happened after rigorous exercise. His body would hunch over and he did not look like he was enjoying himself at all. My vet said either I can ease it back into the sheath with some lubricant (blerch) or I can hold something frozen on it, I'm assuming to dilate the blood vessels. So I had a pack of frozen vegetables with his name on them that I would put in a light towel and hold over him until it went down. I loved him but not enough to lube him up.

I bought my Lumix because I was on holiday with someone who had one and their pictures were just amazing! But in my useless hands I'm lucky if I get one out of ten photos that look 'ok'! Strangely I studied photography in high school (manual camera) and have also studied digital video and done quite a few productions so I do know the theory about lighting and quadrant positioning and all that but that doesn't mean I'm any good at it! I've read my Lumix manual back to front several times and made it my mission on holidays and at special events to try different settings to decide what works best but everything I take is still poo. I'm pretty sure my camera must be broken!

I care even if I don't post about it here. I tend to read the comments and links and sign any petitions. I do so because I think BSL is ludicrous. I am here in QLD, own an SBT but have family with ASTs so do consider we are at risk of being caught up in this nightmare. Besides the waste of council money and court time, the one thing that offends me about BSL is the unnessecary suffering of some of the dogs who have been caught up in this fiasco; dogs who have not hurt any other living thing to date or shown any signs that they might do so in the future. I believe these dogs deserve protection from the system and if the RSPCA had some balls they could see it fits their mandate and they should be mediating to ensure the needs of seized dogs are met while they are 'incarcerated'. How is it fair on the dog to keep it impounded and without contact with its family for over a year? Unnessecary cruelty is what it is and council's should be called out on it. And under what other legislation in this country is it legal to take a person's property when that property is causing no harm to another living being and is not participating in any illegal activity? This is why council's are losing cases. People who know their rights know this is unacceptable, regardless of the breed of dog. Meanwhile it is the innocent dogs who continue to suffer.....

Been there done that with an old girl. I bought kids nappies to suit her weight, cut a cross for the tail (easier than a hole) and put them on back to front (tab closure on her back) and when she piddled or pooed it was all caught and nappy was replaced immediately. She was wearing them whenever she was inside for the last couple of months and had no nappy rash or other problems.

You'd have to report me to the RSPCA for abuse if you saw the bath faces on display around here. I think I get wetter than everyone else too, even just doing the calendula tea rinses!

A work colleague came home to find something hanging from her rotties bum so called the husband to rush home and pull out an in tact footy sock. Hubby was keen on wash and reuse but wife said no. One of my dogs does embarrassing stuff and when she was a pup found a used tampon and was having a suck fest on it in the hallway. Owner of the item was mortified (it wasn't mine). Bacon Rind for Breakfast still wins!

BFR definitely take surrenders and have a huge network up here now, which hopefully includes foster carers for new intakes. I think they even have a surrenders coordinator. It will be on their webpage.

I'm so pleased there has been such a good outcome for him! And here's to several more happy and healthy years together!!!!!

I think this new award is a nice touch as not everyone can help out with the actual dogs, but that doesn't mean their commitment to rescue isn't strong in other ways.

Sounds like it was a fantastic night! Congratulations to all the nominees AND winners!

He's giving off some very disturbing vibes!

Look at all the tricks his tongue is doing! I love that last photo!

That second link for the coats didn't work. I didn't make the beds out of the jumpers but know of someone who was, selling them at markets down south and doing very well. There are patterns for how to make them on Pinterest but I've already got enough 'projects' on the go!

He's beautiful! Good luck Rocco!

I'll add this to my list! I'm trying to get a few made and distributed every week until I run out of materials. I keep picking up tracksuit fabric, ribbing and ties at op shops when I see it for this purpose. Boronia, if you or anyone you know or even anyone else based on Brissie southside wants to do some sewing I'd be happy to give access to my range of dog coat patterns which go from small to XL. They'd need to bring some tracing paper to copy them as they can't leave the premises!

Someone gave me 6 of these off their old outdoor furniture and they are fantastic! We use them all year round on our outdoor dog areas (I have one chewer who leaves them be) and because I have a big washing machine I just chuck them in for a wash when needed. So these will be great for pounds - hose, hang to dry and reuse. Good on you Gillbear!

Wow i HAVE to try that, my two are notorious for chewing all of my stuff including holes in my mattress right through to the springs. My only thing is, you'd supervise closely with that? in case they swallowed anything you put inside? it would be good to let them have their destructive moment on something i wouldnt mind they destroy haha It's no different to them destroying a stuffed toy or something they are not supposed to really but all toy use is supervised in this house for choking or fighting reasons. Toys are generally used in the lounge room when we are also there reading or watching tv so we can keep an eye on things. This ball is full of fleece fabric strands (which would also be the same as their tug toys and pom pom balls) and stuffing from toys, pillows and doonas they have already destroyed. So it is all tried and tested tasty stuff! I would never put any buttons or other small items inside it (ie no noses or eyeballs from stuffed toys).

I got the idea from someone else. My girl likes to murder stuffed toys (and human doonas and pillows) and this keeps her destructo desires in check. We haven't had anywhere near as much random snow falls since we got the ball and keep it topped up with fluffy tasties! Plus she doesn't drag the ball around so her mess is a bit more contained. Her eyes go wide whenever I bring it out - crack ball!

Happy birthday Tess! You sleep all you want young lady!

Ach was a major figure out at Peiradise. So terribly sad that he will no longer be at the gate greeting arrivals in real life, but his spirit will live on out there. You've suffered far too many losses Ams. I'm so sorry Ach was one of them. XXX

They best toy we now have is a JW Holee Molee ball that has all these holes in it that you stuff with things for your dog to pull out. Some use treats but I have a fluff monster so her ball is full of fleece remnants and doona stuffing. She gets it and pulls it all out and I pick it all up when she's finished and stuff it all back in again! She is so focussed on the innards that the ball itself is still in pristine condition after a year. We also have this long plaited lycra strip with a ball on the end of it that hangs off the clothes line. It is getting a bit faded in the weather but when I hang the washing on the line two of the dogs take turns to make it incredibly difficult for me grabbing the end of the plait and running until it drags them back. It is about a year and a half old.

I bought fluro night armbands/wristbands from Kathmandu when they were half price ($4 for 2?) and I snap one on me and one on the leash if we are walking at night so cars can see us. I don't have my dogs loose at night anywhere so haven't tried any of the clip on collar type thingies.

I've house sat for two DOL breeders and loved it because I find breeders know their dogs (and are honest with you about each dogs behaviours and needs) and have good routines and facilities in place. Seriously, if a house sitter is focussed on the animals in their care (and not treating the experience as a mini vacation) then the number of dogs (or cats!) should not be a deterrent. You get up early, do what you need to do, rest when they nap and go to bed early so you can do it all again the next day! It really can be an amazing experience.

Empty - can't commit to a thought tonight!