PossumCorner

Oh yes, in Vic once a dog or cat is surrendered to the RSPCA they have lifetime ownership (even after adoption), that is not negotiable, and they are not obliged to adopt the dog back to the finder even if it passes all the temperament tests etc for adoption. In that way it is different to the council pounds. Sometimes a Council will contract/commission/pay the RSPCA to act as its pound if the council does not have facilities. But dogs are sent there by the Council, I think it comes under different regulation, and a different kennel area at the RSPCA. But probably their arrangement with Council is to integrate the dog into their system after the waiting period. It's a money raiser after all. Murky waters. Re the cat, I'm sure regulations are different concerning stray cats and dogs, for example no fine for having cats at large out of curfew hours (if they apply). Plus the RSPCA can be so overloaded with cats that they quite likely said that to your friend because they already had too many to re-home.

We used to pick up the odd lost/runaway dog around Sherbrooke Forest (Vic). and would ring the Council/Vets to see whether owners searching. Options offered were they could send Ranger to collect, or we could take to Pound. OR we could hang onto it for a day or two, if an owner described lost dog at Council or Pound they would direct them to us. Which would save the owner a fine and pound fees both. When Rheneas went missing he was picked up and taken in by a local. Council rang us to say where he was and gave contact details to phone and collect him. So I guess different councils interpret the rules flexibly or not. What is inflexible is the fine and pound fee if they pick up a straying dog. Theft is theft - lost property is never the legal right of the finder, even after reasonable efforts to find the owner have been made. Proper channels apply, responsibility is to notify and hand in.

I'd give anything to have Piper and Frodo back with us, breaking into the pantry, everything dragged out to the kitchen floor, floury paw-prints over all the carpets. Best memories.

When they stop bench surfing it's time to go to the vet and check for hip, cruciate, early arthritis - whatever real pain has held them back from jumping up.

I'm gobsmacked by the anecdotes here of dogwalkers using off-lead parks - or even actually allowing a dog that they don't own off lead, ever. How could anyone take responsibility for another person's dog and let it run around loose, anywhere? Maybe it is okay with the owner: in which case the owner needs protecting from his/her own stupid. 'Usually' having a good recall isn't good enough when things go pear-shaped.

That's a bit harsh though. Quite a few of us have been in business as pet carers. With professionalism, full insurance, clear contracts and a good name. A case of incompetence and negligence (at best) or the self-centred uncaring act this case appears to be shouldn't tarnish the dedicated people who do a good job.

Absolutely Rebanne. Another issue is the totally poor piece of 'journalism'. Like the car boot stupid terminology. Like calling the poor woman's dog a "pooch". We can do that between ourselves, but if my horse was killed horrifically and a news reported called him a "nag" I would take that as an insult to the core.

Beyond belief. I hope the guilty party has adequate comprehensive insurance, seeing it is an 'advertised' business (car door magnet thing). And I hope the dog owner gets quality legal advice not fb rubbish, and takes them to the cleaners.

I'm a little amazed at that poodle forum snippet. I thought one of the mantras of poodle people was never punish a poodle. For good reasons. And to frighten a dog, any dog, ever, is so negative in my book. Fear can never be unlearned.

Well it gets rid of scaly leg mite on chooks, so it does have other useful properties.

Be glad he is not Rottweiler height or more. Piper was never really proofed against bench surfing. After some training (thanks Croydon Club Vic) never ever when there was someone in the house. But home alone the temptation was too much. Young Rheneas just grew out of it: 'bedroom retail' was his method. Trotting out with slippers, socks, wallets, whatever he could find and carry. Probably until he was about 2 going on 3 years. Then stopped. It was lovely, a decision to suddenly see what was available was a dash up the hallway to the bedrooms. "Going shopping, Rheneas?" Yep, lookit I got, n it was free.

People using these lycra tubes on horses' necks to keep burrs/grass-seeds out of manes (and protect show horses from sun-bleaching of hair colour) have ended up with nasty skin problems on horses. Not always but sometimes. (I know dogs don't sweat like horses, but they do get hot-spots and other allergy skin probs). Brushing through with an anti-matting product from Horseland or Saddleworld (like No-Knots or one of the Cowboy Magic grooming products) as Pandi-Girl suggested is helpful. Doesn't stop seeds from attaching but makes their removal smooth and easier. Worked well with Frodo (seed magnet doggie) but still needs daily vigilance re ears and between toes, pads. Not sure about a close fitting coat in summertime - even the model in the blue outfit above is trying to lose heat by panting. Jodi if you go ahead with them, I'd be interested in how successful or otherwise you find them to use.

Because you used to mention her on another thread, and I have a maybe for sale hydrobath, so prick my ears up when I see the word. Not higher maths, just a memory flicker.

Katie of course. How is she going with her bath-or-hydrobath issues?

Vet recently said to me kangaroo meat not as wonderful as its promotors claim, and said if changing Rheneas to it, use human grade and cook it well, don't believe everything about it not being able to nurture worms and pass them on. Wasn't saying don't use it, but certainly not highly recommending it.

Rheneas always disliked 'going for walks'. And has reverted to his young way of being car-sick even on short journies, he just doesn't enjoy it. So being an old fellow and with vision and hearing not so great, he doesn't go off property often. Which makes pick-up so much less a choice of weapons issue: some waste-paper does the job. He is now making up for all those hundreds of plastic bags used in the past by being ultra green and eco friendly as an old doggie. He has even chosen a spot near the wheelie-bins as his personal spot, so is saving "waste miles" as well. Pick up, turn, drop.

Becoming extremely clingy seems to be part of the process when they are becoming really old doggies. It's like a change in them that has no connection with their previous life. Same with becoming fretful at 'thresholds' and reluctant to step through a doorway or from carpet to lino, or from the path onto the lawn. Frodo's quick transition to clinginess surprised me, he'd always been so happy to charge about, just touch in passing and off again. Suddenly I couldn't take a step and he was under my feet constantly, fretting for touch or acknowledgement. I sort of linked it to sight and hearing becoming compromised, as a confidence issue, but it seems to be part of the progress even with oldies whose sight is still pretty good.

Myxie or Calici will get them sooner or later: short term though, they bounce back. We have myxie through at the moment, it is awful to see but good to see the numbers reduce. A few around the house yards I don't really mind, the sheep have wrecked the garden anyway. And they do keep Ben company, he had one pet rabbit that just hung out with him, it was really cute. It disappeared (hawk, myxie, whatever) a month or so back. Now he has three little buds, not as chummy as the first one, but they help him eat his hay and he pretends to attack them, the dog keeps me sane.

Agree, although I don't see how foxes can think more than they do already - clever to the core (or is that bad to the bone). Yes Perseph, the poultry pages are full of references to wild foxes. It's sometimes easier there to say nothing because a/ nobody cares and b/ the topic quickly disappears forever (til the next reference). Driving home late last night I saw a very pale cream fox cross the road, really striking, off-white tail and all.

Mine will be for sale (delivered) just before or just after Christmas. It is a two-tank Fidos with heater (colour red), has the insert stand for smaller dogs. I'll post a photo when I take it out of storage this week. Fidos are quality hydrobaths, and Conmurra get good reports. Gumtree also has some hydros advertised In Melb. but I guess you will have looked at them.

I don't know if I could read it given the warnings in the review. I worked for a couple of years in Poland and had friends who knew more than I could talk about concerning the cage-fox fur industry. The life (and death) of the foxes is haunting. I get that this is not the main topic of the book, and yes the general interest of the research is amazing stuff.

That's been me for the past two years with the bad arm. Just getting the Nikons sorted out to use again, might have to start weight training. They are great shots Roova, very emotive the first one, and finding a phone, what's all that about, nobody finds their lost phone. I'll never catch up for this year, but will chip away. Arnold coming up from a drink "How you doin' little rabbit, you're up late?" Bunny: Well actually I don't feel too good. It is harrowing to see so many rabbits with myxie, this one isn't showing signs yet, except sitting out in the late morning when it should be in bed. Swallows. As the water dries they find the soft mud at the water-line just right for nest building. Seems late in the season, maybe repairs for next year. Little mud-filled bills as they load up and fly off. And there's always someone doing a "lazy man's load" and drops most of it.

Halloween morning, the full moon in daylight was superb, didn't do it justice.

Some alpacas missed out on shearing last year, so this year we have booked them to be done at a nearby stud so we don't get let down (twice) again. It was good in a way because winter has been bitter and they went into it with good cover, we didn't need to worry about the "Sheep grazier alerts". Hermione is a very don't touch me, leave food and don't bother me alpaca, she is not going to enjoy being caught and clipped one little bit. "Did someone say shearer: quick, stand in front of me kids, they mightn't notice me".

My singleton Guinea Fowl boy checking out an intruder in the pre-compost storage cage. He threatened and chased it until well off the property but didn't full-on attack it. They deal with snakes the same way, just pester them away. More efficient in a flock, but this one is a loner by choice, won't accept other Guineas at all, female or otherwise.