_PL_

She's gorgeous Maree :)

No way outside and in the garage. You may have grown up that way but ideas of what a 'happy' dog is have changed. Allowed in for a couple of hours when you're home + the 30 minute walk. How much human contact do you realistically think a companion animal needs. Add to that, you've got no ties to home like children or a work-from-home setup. Your dog would be alone in the backyard, you get home late and go straight to bed... that's 23hrs if you minus food time. Like the dog near me who cries itself hoarse all day then all night on weekends. Non shed and small breeds: put one outside and see how long it takes for your neighbours to complain! :laugh: Perse I use the exact same link as you but if people have their mind made up what can you do. Then people contact me to get a friend for their lonely dog or to surrender a dog because they can't live with the barking and nuisance behaviour. Or decide they can't spend enough time with the outside dog and 'it's not fair on the dog' when the whole thing was avoidable in the first place. Put a dog door in or get an indoor cat. Cats are (mostly) wonderful dear little things :) and I wish people who hate cats would try living with one instead of putting a dog into the yard alone.

I have to agree. You get some people who want to take on a special needs dog, thinking it's going to be all sunshine and rainbows and happy feelings (and, let's face it, the admiration of others). Anyone who thinks dogs can't be the victims of Munchausen by proxy Syndrome needs to only search the internet for evidence. Dogs with disabilities can attract a certain kind of attention seeker. I was only talking about that the other day! A rescuer or two definitely have something seriously wrong. Seriously disturbing. Photos and flowery stories of being such a wonderful person to an ill special needs dog nobody wanted, dogs are dragged around for photo opportunities. Then it follows the same pattern, ill dogs are put to sleep when the praise and donations run out. (Cue the outpouring of sympathies) Or are given away to people who also crave the the attention. And people eat it up. I can't understand how they can't see it. eta yes DD I think there was! Forgot about that one. I'm pretty sure there's been a fair few by now.

If they had signed a contract wouldn't that apply? When I got my dog from rescue we had to sign a contract saying stuff like if we encountered any problems during the 4 week trial we had to notify them and if they suspected mistreatment of the dog they could take it back. It also said that if for any reason we could no longer look after the dog it must be given back to them (not sold or privately rehomed). Personally the last one makes me feel a bit weird as I'd like to have a say in where my dog ends up (not that I ever intend to rehome my puppy) and I'm not sure how much weight the contract has to it but rescues do seem to put a lot of stipulations and conditions around adopting dogs these days which I suppose they have good reason for but still seems a bit much. Terri I had a looong post written with all the dramas that can happen as well as foster carers doing a runner with the dog. I hope someone can prove me wrong but I've never once seen getting an animal back successfully done unless it is willingly handed over. Sometimes the dogs just disappear altogether. A lot of people think a microchip will help. Or that the police would be interested, which is not the case unless you commit trespass or are threatened with a restraining order trying to physically take the dog back. You do however need all those clauses and conditions so that both parties know where they stand upon adoption. Most conditions are also there for the benefit of the dog. But it only works if both parties are honest, including the rescue who promises to take their dog back ;-) you'd be surprised how many there are that won't. oops: correction, I have seen one dog handed back in a civil case but it cost a bomb in legal fees and then more money to settle the claims such as 'expenses' the dog had incurred while being held by people who wouldn't give it back. It would have cost more in legal fees and court fees had the real owner refused to pay at all so there was no choice but to settle.

I had to use it one year because the fleas suddenly stopped responding to Advocate (I guess they finally got resistant) and started to get on the dogs. I did the entire grassed area with it ... food grade.. in preference to the sprays like coopex. And all the grooves in the concrete. & spots where my cat snoozed in the day (yard is cat proofed). I have frogs and fish ponds so anything toxic was out of the question. I didn't do the garden beds and kept my fingers crossed that it would offer the good bugs somewhere to live. I made a little compost spot so the baby frogs would have vinegar flies to eat. Anyway, the yard looked like a weird snowstorm :) and of course it got tracked inside which was most annoying. Seriously. Thank god I don't have carpet. I changed fleas treatment, mopped indoors with eucalyptus in the bucket, swapped everyone to plastic beds (no polyfil etc) and bedding I could swap out daily and do a hot wash. We've got leather lounges and wooden floors so no places to incubate eggs. By the end of all that I got rid of them all and now I just use Advantage during flea season. Without the diatomaceous earth I think the rest of the flea extermination mission would have failed. eta: I DON'T recommend it indoors if you have carpet or rugs (or indoors at all really). It's like a heavy fine dust, get it damp and it goes grey like pumice. You'd need to flea bomb indoors.

What do they mean by staff morale being low? All the press we got here about Linke when he was making changes made it sound like things were going great guns. Was this not the case?

a chi x malt outside on a chain all night in that dirty old kennel exposed to weather and predators. Shameful. Poor little dog whose name isn't even mentioned. RIP

If that had been my dog killed I'd be out for blood. But as has been proven before, 'rescues' get away with all sorts of things. Poor little Lucy. btw google tells me the behaviourist is a pack leader and dog whisperer. eta: if they think a rescue can force someone to hand a dog back after it leaves their custody, they're dreaming. And the only person who can enforce the 'on leash' clause is a ranger because it's the law anyway.

I'm so sorry, she is a gorgeous girl and I know how much you love her. I understand how you feel, it's a frightening time really. You start to feel grief way before saying goodbye. If you ever need moral support TD has my number or PM or email anytime. Hugs for Tess.

I'm just surprised at a $1500 umbilical hernia op. Is this normal for a rabbit? And yep, the difference in grants give to others is huge which wouldn't have made them popular IMHO. I admit to being surprised at the amount.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/leader/east/orphaned-olinda-rabbits-chew-through-up-to-3000-in-dental-and-medical-bills-at-nokill-shelter/story-fngnvlxu-1226829654834 Orphaned Olinda rabbits chew through up to $3000 in dental and medical bills at ‘no-kill’ shelter UPDATE: RABBIT-Free Australia says the State Government owes Victorians an explanation after spending $70,000 on saving rabbits — despite Australia facing the worst rabbit plague since 1995. This comes after an Olinda rabbit orphanage — which has divided readers after spending $1500 on fixing one rabbit’s teeth and another $1500 on a hernia operation - was given a $50,000 government grant to improve its shelter for sick and stray rabbits. >> Do you think they are spending too much money on rabbits’ medical bills? Tell us below or at [email protected] Rabbit-Free Australia foundation chairman Nicholas Newland said rabbits were Australia’s worst pest, causing more than $200 million damage each year to farming alone. According to the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, the damage is up about $100 million from 2004 — mainly through scores of wild rabbits eating crops. The DEPI has just awarded $355,000 to 24 Victorian animal protection organisations in its second round of Animal Welfare Fund grants. But almost one-seventh of the total grants — or $70,000 — has been awarded to three organisations for “rabbit infrastructure”, with 21 other organisations sharing the remaining $285,000. RSPCA Victoria was awarded $10,000 for “improved rabbit care infrastructure”, Edgar’s Mission got $10,000 for a rabbit enclosure, and Olinda’s Rabbit Run-Away Orphanage was granted $50,000 to convert a garage to house rescued stray and sick rabbits. The orphanage has a no-kill policy and last week spent almost $3000 fixing up a rabbit’s hernia and another’s teeth - these vets bills paid for by public donations. “I think that it may well be the people running this orphanage do not fully appreciate extent of the impact that rabbits have on other animals,” Mr Newland said. “Because what they do in the wild is, of course, remove native habitat, mainly plants, on which other animals rely. “I think the Department of Environment and Primary Industries really needs to explain to the community at large as to why its doing this, and why its not making these funds available for research on the next biological control agent.” Leader today revealed the Rabbit Run-Away Orphanage was struggling to keep up with medical expenses as it honoured its policy of keeping every bunny alive. The Olinda shelter spent another $1500 on another operation for a rabbit’s umbilical hernia. It comes as the dental waiting list for Victoria is about 16 months and 19 months to get dentures, according to the Dental Health Services Victoria annual report 2012. Rabbit Run-Away Orphanage president Judi Inglis said vet bills for the 2012-13 financial year cost $36,000. Vet bills for the first six months of this financial year have already hit $27,000, eating into the shelter’s public donations. It spends $20,000 a year on general supplies such as food and hay. The rabbit orphanage is also supported by the Department of Environment and Primary Industries, recently receiving a $50,000 grant to convert the garage used to house the rabbits. Several Leader readers backed the orphanage today, saying it supported animals that no one else would. “RRO do an amazing job and deserve all the respect and support they receive,” wrote Shannon. “Compassion over killing always. It’s a reflection of our nation,” wrote Stephanie. Karen wrote: “As long as legislation fails to protect these animals from abuse and neglect, there will be a need for organisations like the Rabbit Orphanage to exist.” But some readers were annoyed that state funding partially supported the shelter. “Yet again, taxpayers are the bunnies,” Rose said. “I love all animals, love that someone has taken the time to care for these rabbits and hate cruelty, but all of this is just a bit backward. The Department of Environment and Primary Industries has funded a rescue group devoted to caring for what amounts to one of our biggest pests?” Theresa wrote. “And yet they took away the dental scheme for people who had chronic diseases,” Jazz said. Dr Inglis said as the shelter was the first, and only, “no-kill” rabbit orphanage in Victoria, meaning the rescued bunnies were never put down, the costs to keep each one alive were skyrocketing. She said she hoped people eventually see rabbits in the same way that cats and dogs were seen. She said the no-kill policy meant the shelter got rabbits that would be euthanased at other rescues, because of existing health conditions. “The majority of conditions or illnesses in rabbits is treatable, but people see them more as a disposable pet.” As well as bunnies placed in foster homes, 20 special needs bunnies are kept under the vet care of the orphanage, which pays for any ongoing medical treatment. RSPCA Victoria manager Liz Walker said while the RSPCA did everything it could to save injured animals, it would euthanase if it was the most humane option. “The no-kill movement is gaining momentum in Victoria, but often leads to hoarding situations where too many sick animals are being kept,” Ms Walker said. The $50,000 grant will be used to upgrade and fireproof the rabbit enclosure, but the orphanage is still on the hunt for local tradesmen to donate labour to complete the project The DEPI has been contacted for comment. GRANTS BY THE DEPI ANIMAL WELFARE FUND RABBIT Run-Away Orphanage — $50,000 LOST Dogs’ Home — $20,469 CAT Corner Rescue Group, Inc. — $28,628 PONY Rescues Inc. — $10,000

Clearly that tattooist needs practice, poor dog being a live test dummy. btw Proof+, that you should never get a tattoo when you're completely out of it. Never know what you'll wake up with. :p

I've been watching her Mum's story :) sent an email out just before you posted. I wish I could finally have my red kelpie girl. You're located in Victoria?

I don' think this is Daffy Duck's pup? When you google image walrus puppy this photo comes up from someone's blog.

Awesome :) best of luck.

We've desexed lots of older females and males. With pre-op bloods, fluids and pain relief, antibiotics when prescribed (a dental as well because most have feral teeth). Only one dog got into trouble on the operating table having a routine desex (no infection), the surgery was halted and she was fine afterwards. Just incredibly unlucky I suppose but we rescued 6 pyo bitches in a row poor little ladies.

Isn't she gorgeous! That photos just sums it all up, for me. It was also pretty hilarious how much energy she had to get out (you can see in the video) and then about 20 minutes later, after licking the kids all over, she was chilled out in the car, waiting to go home. She's such a wiggler! I can imagine there would have been slobbery kisses involved. That first night back home must have been amazing.

I'm here too! But I don't take my dogs near King St or any of the main roads (they are too little and I find it stressful). I've heard Vic On The Park is a dog friendly pub, have you been there?

My first very own dog (not the family dog or when I lived at home where we always had dogs, mainly due to me LOL) was a brindle staffy cross called Flea. :) In a breakup my boyfriend was the one who took her which I guess happens a lot and it broke my heart but you have to do the best for the dog even when things have gone to crap. He was the better choice for her and in hindsight I did the right thing despite the guilt. She lived to a ripe old age and he used to take her down to Robe SA for beach holidays which she loved. Since then I've been a small dog and Silky person except for English Pointers and the very occasional large black & tan which I seem to have a thing about rescuing.

THANKS !!!! will provide an update on progress You're welcome :) And if you're using supplements, the highest quality and most effective one I've ever ever trialled is from Joint Performance. Just call Georgina and have a chat, she sourced and blended every ingredient herself. It's excellent quality! ............and has a bacon smell which makes it popular here. :laugh:

Vet immediately. If you've never done this before and don't have an experienced mentor holding your hand, don't use guesswork via google. It's easy to lose pups and/or mum when things go even the tiniest bit wrong.

dogs in motion We've had a couple of wheelchair cart dogs. :) And I've tested some of the support sleeves that are made out of wetsuit material but haven't (as yet LOL) needed a leg cast mould done. You do need vet help to have the mould done but I don't think you need a specialist to do it. If I really needed to choose, the cast brace would be my preference because the sleeve things slipped constantly due to my dogs having hairy fine legs and me not feeling comfortable about having them on any tighter.

There most definitely a place in Melbourne, I can't remember the name but will try to find the link. You have a few choices depending on budget and severity of the condition. be right back

Thank you Ruth, I am a bit behind on new things: not being on FB. Amazing what a handful of people can make happen. Best wishes for step 2. I hope she is back with her family soon. Squishyface Ruby.

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