Loving my Oldies

Going to a park, kept on a tight leash on a blanket isn’t much fun for a lively puppy. What about taking a puppy pen so they can at least play with each other. I am not advocating letting them run around the park, on the contrary. But you want them to have a good experience. They don’t know you are trying to keep them safe. All they know is that their owners are tense and keeping them from behaving naturally. Have fun.

That attitude is certainly a change from so many attacks. I don’t have any advice, just wanted to express my sorrow that this has happened. It must have been terrifying for you and Ace and hope that it isn’t a long recovery for Ace. The daughter of a friend of mine went to a park with her three young children and little dog. The boys had run off to the playground, she was getting all their things out of the car. To cut a horrible story short, she ended up in hospital having micro surgery on her thumb and plastic surgery on her face. The owners took off, but someone got the number plate of the car. Needless to say, she is traumatised and can’t stop thinking about what might have happened if her boys had stayed with her.

Deepest sympathies, @Sashas Mum. Such a huge loss and a sad, difficult time.

Oh, poor baby. I always have a supply of Royal Canin gastrointestinal cans (from my vet) on hand for if/when any of my dogs get a bit of an upset tummy. Works a treat.

The “poor lady” was abusive in her opening post. She was the one calling people “disgusting & greedy.” I doubt she is even on the forum now as she didn’t get the sympathy and responses she wanted.

The last thing you should be doing is apologising. I was going to go on about COVID and market forces, too, but Troy’s servers might have run out of space.

@The Spotted Devil, 100% right. The girl we rescued and the girl we rehomed were chalk and cheese physically. Emotionally? Well she suffers severe separation anxiety, must know where her humans are all the time, but is the best snuggler in the entire world . @moosmum, it isn’t entirely the legislators’ fault, although they could wipe out puppy farms immediately if they weren’t so weak and, in some cases, involved.

TSD, earlier this year, I helped rescue a little dog running around the next suburb. She did her time in the pound and then came to me. After a week or so, I took her to the vet to be desexed only for him to discover she was already pregnant - we all thought at first she was swollen from a pregnancy. The vet thought she had a couple of weeks to go, but we were off by a day and she gave birth to four gorgeous puppies in my lounge room. She and the pups were taken over to the rescuer’s house where she’d set up the maternity suite and over the next 9-10 weeks those pups and mum were given the best care and introduction to the world you could wish for. AND the rescuer lives in a two storied house, the mum wouldn’t stay with her pups but wanted to be downstairs with her humans. So she would be up and down the stairs all day. I used to go over to give the rescuer a break and after a few hours I would go home exhausted from looking after the pups, ensuring the mum stayed with them, making sure they were properly “latched on “, etc etc. And this was an uncomplicated birth with only four healthy robust puppies. I can’t begin to imagine looking those litters of 10 and more and then coping with puppies with health issues or mum having difficulties. How would you measure that time, love, physical exertion in terms of dollars? Impossible. It seems to me that the OP probably posted in frustration and might, after careful consideration, tone down her assessment of “disgusting & greedy” …… I would hope so.

She is looking terrific

You have a name for all seasons, @Kirislin

And sometimes, So So.

Cupid

In another lifetime, I used to be a morning runner. I was miles from home and houses along a secondary road and stopped to look at some lovely birds about 50-60 metres away, two adults and a juvenile. Suddenly, a Stealth Bomber launched itself on an unwavering course straight for me. I probably could have won the marathon that day. I used to live in Brisbane and my run was mostly along Gympie Road. When I neared a school, I used to move onto the median strip hoping to avoid the Magpies. By god, they were terrifying. I used to carry a handkerchief and when I neared the areas where they were nesting, I’d run along waving the hanky over my head. I used to almost crack up laughing at how ridiculous I must have looked.

When are we going to get over this stupid nature/nurture debate? It is a combination. We all have our own examples and experiences. My eldest sister and I are four and a half years apart. Because we lived in small country towns in Queensland, when it came to secondary school education we all went to boarding school when we turned 14. My eldest sister was at boarding school for four years and then I went away. Therefore we didn’t live with each other except on holidays for six years. When I look in the mirror combing my hair, brushing my teeth, having a deep and meaningful conversation with myself, I see my sister looking back at me. We sound the same (if in the same house but people can’t see us, they don’t know who is speaking). Our mannerisms are the same, our facial expressions are the same. But we are very very different in personality. The ways we look at the world are like chalk and cheese. Nature/nurture? It is a combination and can be more or less of one or the other at any given time.

This. ^^^ I have one little dog who is generally pretty good, but a lot of the time considers the deck outside. She will go out, run around the deck and head straight for the mat the water bowl sits on and squat. ETA. She only wees on the mat. Has never done #2

@Megan MOrton, no rescue group has the resources to keep anyone in mind when dogs come in for rehoming. It is up to you to find their FB pages and websites and to put in applications when dogs go up for adoption. Due to all the Covid lockdowns you probably need to find rescue organisation in your LGA and follow them.

I don’t have any insights into what might be Daisy’s diagnosis, but while you are investigating, have you heard of “bitches britches”? Just search on line and you will find them easily. I was in your situation last year with the constant washing of bedding and washing floors and bitches britches and belly bands for my boy saved my sanity. Despite our loving the perpetrators beyond words, it does becoming very tiring and these doggy garments are worth their weight in gold. Many hopeful thoughts to you and Daisy.

I can’t help you, I am sorry. I just wanted to extend my sympathies to you and Ralph and to let you know that we hold you in our hearts. Such a tough time you are going through and I hope that you can get some answers.

2 months old. Definitely do not remove teeth. He is a baby. AND …. find a new vet.

It rings a bell with me, too, so I guess I must have seen it there. Beautiful people and I hope the dissemination of their story gets them some donations whether they want it or not.

I agree with Rebanne. Start the paper trail. I wonder if the council knows your neighbour is a puppy farm?

I am gutted for you, @tdierikx. You and Pickles faced challenges, but you both rose to these challenges. Despite her “disability”, you recognised Pickles’ joie de vivre and determined to let her live life on her terms. Deepest sympathies to you and wobble your joyful way over the Bridge, Pickles

5 weeks old. Ghastly and tragic at any age, of course, but such a fragile little being. You’d never recover.

[My embolding.] What a truly brilliant update. I am so thrilled and proud for you that you have turned this situation around to one where both you and Henry are happy and travelling along so well. Henry is a lucky boy to have a mum like you ready and willing to put in the time and devotion to ensure his happiness. Well done !!

A friend said she would help me wash my foster at Pet Barn Dog Wash. I was a bit hesitant, but he needed a wash and was too big for the laundry where I have always bathed my dogs. No photos, but it was great. Endless warm water and shampoo (under your control), ditto with water and conditioner. Only drawback and this can be overcome is that there wasn’t anywhere to put towels, handbag, grooming tools, etc. Next time I will take some little hooks as the “walls” are wire. Overall it was so easy and I will be using again. Just thought I’d put it out here because I always feel I won’t be capable of using some gadget or other; the expression “If I can do it anyone can” really applies to me.