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Yaaaaay for Grace! Gorgeous little old lady Don.

I saw that, looks like trouble contacting the pound? But she has quoted the contact details and instructions of what to do which written in the first line. :) So I assume she worked it out or got in contact with someone else.

Thanks Sas, that is very very helpful. The NCTM is the only one I've spoken to because they look the most legit. And I was really impressed after speaking to them. It helps to have your input. Sounds like it could be a good thing to do. I'll make sure we organise a visit to you before enrolling.

There are plenty of rescues who just need a call and will drop the dog off at your door, collect the fee and disappear into the distance. I'd rather ask questions, they are my dogs not 'nobody's dog' as people have told me they are. And I have the right to decide where they go, making the best decision I can make and not ping-pong them in and out of homes. It's also with the adopter in mind so that they get the right dog. If we don't have the right dog then we refer them on. We have a lifetime return safety net. Any age, any time. I promise you, if I made carers hand over dogs to poorly checked homes they would leave us in a flash because that's not what they signed up for. Adding: we've had several dogs come through that have been poorly placed by other rescues who do not want them back.

That's so nice :) Quick question: I was looking at the myofuctional therapy course, thinking it might be good for our seniors. What benefits have you seen in small dogs?

Yes. Humans can be pure evil.

omg, all the urban myths ...... becoming reality.

Would your old boy fit in a pram? :D I've seen them locally. Mum is in the same situation with one of her dogs so I advised a month of weekly cartrophen injections and replace walks with driving the girls to the park, one can exercise and one sniffs around. She is also using Joint Performance. It's working really well but I understand the park drive part isn't practical for everyone. hugs to your old boy xxAnna

Some McDowell's we ordered were too foul tasting to give the dogs. But I swear by their Maritime Pine Bark. Dogs apparently get a good seratonin boost from a long bone chewing session. Works for my own nervous boy, he gets quite dreamy. Haven't tried acupuncture but one of my adopters loves it.

Awesome! What a great result :) he's so happy and clearly adapted well. xx

Same animallover :laugh: but I can't imagine my littlies being too happy getting pushed off the sofa. I understand the adoption fee thing but the other full vetwork pounds have a flat rate $300+ and have been having great results with direct adoptions of senior dogs.

That's them! Sally, she has been rescuing forever. :) Hope she has some good advice for you.

I think leaving the 'puppy-farm' stuff behind and getting xrays are a great idea. :) There is a rescue in Grafton who might be able to send you to a vet that has been very knowledgable in the past when they have had a wonky dog. Our foxy boy Speedy a complex surgery. His bones were deformed in his hind legs, his patellas were off doing their own thing. And to just take look at him .... to me it honestly looked like his hips were the problem. Because they had very little muscle and he was looking a bit pigeon toed. Obviously that was incorrect. Anyway, the specialist repaired him in two surgeries and he's now a normal happy little dog who has also grown muscle where there was none. But without those xrays being taken and looked at by his vet and specialist we would never have found out he had a rare condition that could be fixed. If he was not repaired, he would have been a wonky dog unable to enjoy a run, risking painful injuries and very early arthritis. Sorry to not be explaining things in medical jargon bones aren't my strong point. lol It was just to say that all is not lost, you just need a diagnosis before worrying too far ahead. Have a vet do the xrays and if it looks like you need a specialist (or if you just want to see one anyway) they will do a referral. xxAnna

If anyone hasn't seen this: Gumtree Guide to Responsible Pet Ownership

Because certain nutjob "rescue" groups give all of rescue a bad name by encouraging their supporters to harass trainers, spreading misinformation about the industry and treating everyone involved in the industry as if they were all monsters. It got so bad that even just being neutral on the racing issue is enough to get you abusive messages and death threats. If you were a greyhound trainer, would you invite someone onto your property to collect a dog if you knew they were probably packing a hidden camera and preparing resources to later raid your kennels and/or home? You can't call someone a murdering monster and then expect them to be willing to work with you. Absolutely spot on.

It's just one place to advertise and since they first began, gumtree has tried hard to put a few rules in place. They do respond to the report function as far as I know. Gumtree is owned by ebay. Pet sales are banned on Australian ebay (not on Ebay Classifieds in countries such as the US) so they will always be on Gumtree as far as I can forsee. If they are ever banned then the other sites will do fine. The sellers won't be at any disadvantage whatsoever, google can find you pups anywhere. I get it that it's got a bad reputation but people need to remember all the other places pets are advertised, including the local shops and telegraph poles. And why do paid classifieds not have petitions out about them? It's nice to hear breeders and rescues have been successful with their advertising but I tried it years ago and omg I just couldn't deal with the nutcases incl the rescue ones who message you to say 'how very dare you use gumtree!!!!!!!!'. The only thing that will work against disreputable sellers/breeders etc is helping people make the right choices and avoid being lied to or ripped off. Don't badger them or abuse them for making their choice, we just need good pet owners, not alienated ones.

Mojo looks so good now! :) Love the goofy grass roll.

As above :) And 4 months is not that long for a girl who if the info is correct, had multiple litters and very average care. Some girls shrink up tighter than others and some take longer. It can take quite a while for skin to repair. Even on the boys, I've had some who have taken forever to shrink that little empty coin purse left behind after a desex. :laugh: One of whom is upside down next to me proudly displaying his wares. Problem with females is that you will find it difficult to get a vet to perform a nip-tuck because the canine mammary setup is hugely complex in comparison to ours...and a tuck would be cosmetic. The pronounced nipples are attached to the mammary tissue (like women but we only have the one on each side) which runs in a chain, a continuous line extending from the 1st nipple to the last. Virtually the entire length of the bitch from the armpits to groin on both sides. Making a canine boob lift not as simple as hoisting up the excess skin. Yes, skin is involved but so is the chain of actual mammary tissue and circulatory system and lymph nodes etc. Bitches with mammary cancer that has travelled up the chain need a 'mammary strip' a complete removal. Which has to be done in two separate procedures so the healthy skin doesn't die from lack of circulation. It's painful and sad to see but it saves their life. Feed her a raw natural diet, natural supplements like coconut oil etc. I love the Vet's All Natural Health Booster. And daily rub some vitamin E onto those poor overworked boobs.

Has she been desexed?

I agree with this. The notice boards of the local shopping centres would be a good place to start. Absolutely. Nobody enforces anything because they aren't provided with extra resources to do so. And the BYB's know that. Better to legislate against sitting ducks like people who have already bothered to do their paperwork. THere's less and less encouragement to do the right thing.

Google is your friend. You have 2 breeds to begin with and a region. To avoid outright identification they generally scatter ads over the net in different places. Paid ads in trading post for a litter of desirable 'pedigree' pups gets customers interested. Generates calls and sales leads. Frenchies and Bostons are the latest bait. And anything teacup or using the word RARE. Then they spread free ads across petlink, locanto, gumtree ... with varying numbers and email but you should be able to piece it all together with patience. You'll need to stalk FB Puppies For Sale & Buy-Swap-Sell groups etc Sad really. Good luck. xxAnna

Thank you so much. They are all the most darling little souls. It's incredible how many senior dogs have been deprived of medical attention and how well they do with a whole lot of TLC and some very good vet care. :)

GAP :)

Not really a post that fits in but senior fans may want to check out the sweeties we have in our retirement program for the ones staying in care while they are happy and enjoying life. http://www.seniorsandsilkies.org.au/cherished-treasures.html There's another one to add but not today. :( she is too young and perfect. It's not fair. Don't scroll too far towards the bottom, that is where the memoriam is.

Adorableness!!!!