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trinabean

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Posts posted by trinabean

  1. Oh, poor little one. I see no reason why Petplan wouldn't cover it. We have a gastro- intestinal exclusion on our policy, due to GI illness treated by a vet before we signed up for pet insurance. So unless you have a GI exclusion, I think Petplan will cover it. I've found them to be very good at covering other conditions. Good luck and I hope she doesn't need surgery.

  2. If she is a registered breeder with the canine association in WA will they cancel her membership ?

    From the DogsWest Regulations:

    A9. REFUSAL OF MEMBERSHIP

    Notwithstanding that any person, firm, company or association may satisfy the conditions of

    eligibility for membership, the Council may at its discretion refuse any application for

    membership or terminate any membership provided that Council is satisfied that the applicant

    or member has a history of cruelty to animals, without assigning any reason for such refusal.

    Perhaps they have already? There are no registered Borzoi breeders in WA according to DogsWest's website. Nor any WA breeders listed on Dogzonline.

    Pretty sure I've met this Borzoi at a specialist clinic. She had been brought in by RSPCA officers. While waiting for my bill to be processed the receptionist mentioned that she was a cruelty case. This was about 12 months ago. Poor girl, I hope she goes to an excellent home soon.

    Edited: Just found a post I made about it at the time. It was a year ago, not 6 months. Time flies!

  3. A friend of mine is a registered breeder (and DOL breeder/member) who very rarely breeds a litter. She will, as many others here will, take back and re-home any dog she has bred. In all the time I've known her there is only one of her own pups she has had to take back, and she stays in touch with all of her puppy buyers.

    However, she has assisted countless other dogs of the same breed, mostly BYB, often needing expensive veterinary treatment and months of care before re-homing. She has taken on old dogs, dogs from pounds, and even a heavily pregnant bitch (then raised the puppies and found good homes for them all). She often organizes fund-raising for breed rescue too, both here and for resource-stretched breed rescue interstate. Quite frankly, she's not one to blow her own trumpet, and she barely has time to be on DOL anyway.

    Breed rescue for my breed in WA works very hard (run by a registered, ethical breeder too). So I think it's unfair to tar all breeders with the same brush Leema. I do understand that you must have had some incredibly frustrating experiences, and might be feeling despondant, but all is not lost. There are some very good people out there too. :)

    Edited: bad grammar and spelling.

  4. Picked out breed and sex for my next one. All going according to plan that shouldn't be for a few years yet though. I usually have a list of names written down that I like then choose the one that suits the pup best after I've brought it home. I did this for my last one but my husband who was working away when I brought him home took one look at the pic I sent to him and declared the pup looked like a "Richard". As far as I was concerned no dog looks like a Richard but there you have it, I had to give him some say seeing as he had no say on breed. So now I have a poodle named Richard. :o

    :laugh:

  5. Maybe more of us should take the time to provide an occasional bright light in our vet's day by sending a thankyou note of some sort.

    Please do. I have every (personally addressed, not a thankyou to the practice) card that I have been given tucked away in a box. I pull it out occasionally when I've had a bad day and someone or something has made me feel awful. I do remember each of the patients too, and I have a collection of photos to go with the special notes. As much as I appreciate these tokens, they are mostly for patients that I have euthanased, some after a long course of illness, some that I had never seen before the day. It would be just as nice to get a card with a silly photo just for taking care of your pet after a routine surgery :o

    With your feedback in mind Rappie, I did just this today. I took some morning tea for the vet and vet nurses and a thank you card for all that they do in caring for Bruno. Thanks for the card idea Sandgrubber, and wow Harley what a thoughtful gift you gave!

  6. For us, as it's usually for an ongoing condition, I wait until I have a few paid invoices to claim. I download a claim form and fill in my portion, attach all the invoices plus a stamped, addressed envelope, and leave with the reception staff. They are very prompt at getting the vet portion filled in and mailed off for me. :)

    I take a copy of anything I'm claiming, just in case it goes missing in the post.

  7. I don't really believe in dog training school. If you're going to get a dog, research the type to suit you and your house, if unsure about how to train the dog you're getting, Google. I train all of my dogs and that's the way it should be. You wouldn't let some stranger raise your children their way instead of yours would you? Pits aren't the kinds of dogs you want someone else training; if you aren't a dominant person, don't get a power-breed and save the rest of us having to fight against the idiots who buy and neglect their dogs until they're restless enough to get dominant over you.

    Experienced reputable dog trainers know more about dog training than the average person. My Rottweiler and I had one on one training lessons with a brilliant trainer. I doubt my dog would have responded instantly to my commands had we not learned everything together. I wouldn't rely on Google to teach me this.

    We send our children to school to learn, so yes we do rely on strangers to teach our children. We don't rely on Google.

    Dog training has nothing to do with whether or not you're a dominant person. It's about knowing how to train and working with your dog.

    I don't know how to respond to your ^ bolded comment, words fail me.

    I wouldn't rely on Google either, if that's what you're implying however to see how others have done it if you don't have friends with Pits who else do you ask, hmm? It doesn't hurt to look up tips and tricks for those who've never worked with dogs in that way before.

    I was raised around Pits and Rotti's and Boxer's German Shepards etc I've seen how to train them and what ways work best. It's my opinion that I've gotten from personal experience so if words fail you then I'm sorry but it's not my fault. I don't use trainers no matter how reputable they might be because my dog's will learn from me and I'll work on commands until they get it right or until I do. Have you worked a lot with these kinds of dogs up close?

    And when I said specifically "a stranger raise your children" in no way did I mean school. There are a lot of things school can't or flat out won't teach - RAISE not EDUCATE.

    How does training a dog work if you're stammering and nervous and acting like you're afraid of it? Sorry for voicing my opinion but it's what I know and it's not let me down once.

    What leads you to believe that CavNrott was "stammering and nervous and acting like you're afraid of it?" :confused:

    Going to dog training is not about the trainer training the dog. Rather, it is about them teaching the owner how to best to teach/work with their dog. I'm more concerned about people who 'know it all' than those who seek some good-quality training help.

    Is everything I post going to be taken out of context or what? Before you go snapping at me re-read what I said. At no point did I even marginally imply I was describing CavNrott's training. It was a question. READ.

    Oh yeah, snapping, that's me. :laugh:

  8. I don't really believe in dog training school. If you're going to get a dog, research the type to suit you and your house, if unsure about how to train the dog you're getting, Google. I train all of my dogs and that's the way it should be. You wouldn't let some stranger raise your children their way instead of yours would you? Pits aren't the kinds of dogs you want someone else training; if you aren't a dominant person, don't get a power-breed and save the rest of us having to fight against the idiots who buy and neglect their dogs until they're restless enough to get dominant over you.

    Experienced reputable dog trainers know more about dog training than the average person. My Rottweiler and I had one on one training lessons with a brilliant trainer. I doubt my dog would have responded instantly to my commands had we not learned everything together. I wouldn't rely on Google to teach me this.

    We send our children to school to learn, so yes we do rely on strangers to teach our children. We don't rely on Google.

    Dog training has nothing to do with whether or not you're a dominant person. It's about knowing how to train and working with your dog.

    I don't know how to respond to your ^ bolded comment, words fail me.

    I wouldn't rely on Google either, if that's what you're implying however to see how others have done it if you don't have friends with Pits who else do you ask, hmm? It doesn't hurt to look up tips and tricks for those who've never worked with dogs in that way before.

    I was raised around Pits and Rotti's and Boxer's German Shepards etc I've seen how to train them and what ways work best. It's my opinion that I've gotten from personal experience so if words fail you then I'm sorry but it's not my fault. I don't use trainers no matter how reputable they might be because my dog's will learn from me and I'll work on commands until they get it right or until I do. Have you worked a lot with these kinds of dogs up close?

    And when I said specifically "a stranger raise your children" in no way did I mean school. There are a lot of things school can't or flat out won't teach - RAISE not EDUCATE.

    How does training a dog work if you're stammering and nervous and acting like you're afraid of it? Sorry for voicing my opinion but it's what I know and it's not let me down once.

    What leads you to believe that CavNrott was "stammering and nervous and acting like you're afraid of it?" :confused:

    Going to dog training is not about the trainer training the dog. Rather, it is about them teaching the owner how to best to teach/work with their dog. I'm more concerned about people who 'know it all' than those who seek some good-quality training help.

  9. The problem on the Gold Coast is that only two types of people own small dogs and that's airheaded bimbos who parade their Chihuaua's around the dog par and then yell at people when the stupid thing starts barking and snapping at bigger dogs "Oh your monstrous dog is scaring mine! stop it! get away!" a girl actually said that to me whereas my dog was only looking at it in obvious disgust. I think it said "Bella" in diamontes on the little beasts bright pink jacket that matched it's mummy dearest; and 2 are old people who believe it does nothing wrong and that when it bites your ankles YOU

    Me in Dec 13:

    I predict this study will get a good workout from the SWF haters in the months

    to come/

    Nice of someone to prove my earlier prediction correct.

    :laugh:

  10. I understand about that feeling of safety too with my other half working away quite a bit - a decent bark is really all I feel I need and my Dally certainly gives me that. HW made some excellent points but I echo "what breeds do you love." My advice is to get a breed YOU want to walk and train and toilet at 3am because you will be the one who does all the work!!!

    That is very good advice TSD. :)

  11. I do think Boxers are under-rated as a good family dog. They generally have a great affinity for kids and thrive in the hustle and bustle of family life. They love to be part of the family, so I wouldn't recommend getting one as an outside-only dog. Mine can miss a walk occasionally (eg. if I'm sick) and is happy as long as he still has some company, or one of the kids throws a ball for him in the backyard. Boxers can be boisterous, especially when young, so training is important. We got our Boxer when my youngest child was 4 and had no issues training the pup (or the kids!) how to behave with each other.

    The Boxer's short, single coat is very low-maintainence. I would only buy from a registered breeder who breeds for correct temperament and health tests. Most Boxers are alert watchdogs, who can look and sound quite serious when required. But in general, once someone is welcomed into the home, they are a friend for life. They will be greeted with great joy, and a helicopter tail.... :laugh:

  12. I love seeing everybody's photos. Some of them are the spitting image of their parent/s (Donatella's pom, Stan and his mum, minyvlz's gorgeous cat, Kdf's Aussie, and Maeby's pug photos especially).

    And SkySoaringMagpie I couldn't see the 'mini-me' on the ipad last night, so I've just spotted the pup now. Incredibley cute! :love:

  13. Mentoring program tackles high veterinarian suicide rate, but faces uncertain future due to funding

    By Lucy Martin Updated 3 hours 7 minutes ago

    Video: WA vets bring depression and suicide out of the closet (7.30 WA) Map: Perth 6000 Vets are four times more likely to commit suicide than the general public but a WA-led mental health program that is hoping to change that is facing funding uncertainty.

    A vet will take his or her own life, on average, every 12 weeks in Australia, according to the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA).

    There is more to the job of being a vet than spaying cats and microchipping dogs.

    Vets work long hours, they deal with death on a daily basis, and they have access to lethal drugs.

    Efforts to tackle depression and suicide in the profession using a mentoring system have resulted in significant improvements over the past two decades.

    In 1997, a local branch of the AVA set up a graduate support scheme at Murdoch University that saw vet graduates paired with mentors.

    No young vet in the program has taken their life since the mentor scheme started.

    Now, a larger WA-led project set up by the AVA that hopes to go national and educate vets about depression and suicide is facing an uncertain future.

    The project was only possible because of a $200,000 grant through the State Government's suicide prevention strategy.

    That funding has now run out and the State Government is assessing the results of the project, but cannot say when or if more funding will be announced.

    The harrowing suicide statistics are hardly a surprise to Perth's tight-knit vet community.

    Perth vet Paul Davey is all too familiar with the pressures faced by his colleagues.

    "There's a study that suggests we deal with death 17 times more often than a GP," he said.

    "We love dealing with animals and yet so often we have to see them die, see them suffer.

    "That is a difficult part of our job and it takes its toll."

    Long hours and isolation increase risk

    Dr Davey believes new graduates are at particular risk of developing depression, especially those working in rural WA.

    5505962-3x2-340x227.jpg Photo: Vet Will Powell, who is based in Manjimup, often travels long distances to treat animals.

    Will Powell moved to Manjimup, south of Bunbury in Western Australia, after graduating from Murdoch University three years ago.

    "You see some very, very sad things, things that are out of your power to change and if you don't have a good support structure that really can be heartbreaking," he said.

    Dr Powell is based at the town's vet clinic but makes house calls to farming properties up to 100 kilometres away.

    Midnight callouts are common while suffering and death are just another part of the job.

    Dr Powell credits a supportive employer with helping him handle the stress and occasional lack of sleep.

    But many of his peers have not been as lucky.

    "The lack of support has meant some of them aren't working in the vet industry anymore," he said.

    "They really got thrown in the deep end."

    Dr Davey has been mentoring young vets for almost 20 years, after losing family friend and fellow vet Gavin Barugh to suicide in 1996.

    The 24-year-old took his own life the day before starting work with Dr Davey.

    "It was very, very easy to put my hand up at that point and say I want to be part of a program that prevents this happening again," Dr Davey said.

    Vet graduates paired with mentors

    Mr Barugh's death shocked WA's vet community into action and, almost two decades on, WA now leads the way in vet mental health.

    A graduate support program was set up in 1997 by the local branch of the Australian Veterinary Association.

    Experienced vets like Dr Davey are paired with students on the cusp of graduating from Murdoch University.

    Mentors can give advice on challenging cases or simply provide a sympathetic ear.

    Eleanor Parker credits the program with helping her through a difficult first year out of university.

    You'll get a puppy brought in with a broken leg ... but if the client can't pay for the procedure you might have to end that animal's life and that does really take a toll on you.

    Vet Eleanor Parker

    "It's a real security blanket and it takes a weight off because you've got someone there who really understands, who knows what you're going through and can give worldly counsel and advice because no doubt they've been there," she said.

    Ms Parker graduated in 2010.

    Like most vets, she pursued the career because she loves animals, but she quickly saw the dark side of her profession.

    "For example, you'll get a puppy brought in with a broken leg that you know you can fix [so] that puppy can go on to live a happy and healthy life," she said.

    "But if the client can't pay for the procedure you might have to end that animal's life and that does really take a toll on you.

    "I did find myself becoming desensitised, which you need to a degree, but it was also scary because there were times I knew I should be feeling something and wasn't."

    Dr Powell also relied on his mentor during his first year out of university.

    "No matter where you are there's always a phone you can pick up to call someone and have a chat," he said.

    The program has had enormous success, with no young vets taking their lives, and last year Dr Davey was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for his contribution.

    It was a bittersweet moment for a man driven to help by the tragedy of losing a friend.

    "We all draw motivation out of [Gavin Barugh's] loss in that we see that if a program such as ours was available when he graduated we may have been able to help, not just at the time he was in a dark place but a lot earlier than that," he said.

    WA program faces uncertain future

    It is not just young vets at risk of developing depression.

    Brian McErlean from the AVA has spent the past two years trying to educate his peers about depression and suicide through a program funded by a government grant.

    "Retired vets have similar problems because they've devoted their whole lives to being a vet and they have poor work-life balance, so when they stop working there's a void," he said.

    He travelled to dozens of country towns meeting local vets and says their response was profound.

    "I think it was acceptance that there is a problem and when they opened up you heard all sorts of things about work pressures, not having had a holiday for 10 years, struggling with depression," he said.

    If we can treat the depression we can make lives better, we can save lives ... because everything improves when you improve mental health.

    Brian McErlean from the AVA

    The association has also trained vets to recognise signs of depression in their colleagues.

    "If we can treat the depression we can make lives better, we can save lives and we can make the lives of the people around them so much better because everything improves when you improve mental health," he said.

    The State Government is yet to announce whether it will continue to fund the program and Dr McErlean says it is terrible timing for the AVA.

    He says the association ultimately wants to set up a graduate program in every state and continue targeting older vets too.

    "It's not a very expensive program to run," he said.

    "Now that we've trained the gatekeepers, it would probably cost $20,000 or $30,000 a year to run it right around the state.

    "It is a matter of urgency - if you value life, it's a priority."

    The AVA plans to approach the Federal Government in a bid to secure more money.

    Dr Davey is determined to see every Australian vet graduate given access to a mentor.

    "We're very proud of what we've been able to achieve but we don't want to stop there," he said.

    "We can see the potential, we can see what we've got left to achieve and we'd really love the opportunity to continue the work that we've started."

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