Loving my Oldies

How funny. It must be that I have a soft feeling for the "underdog" because I was going to say, Flint for me. I love the big square heads Rotties. :laugh: :laugh: What's with the "F" thing. I was dreaming a little while ago about having a Rottie in my old [er] age to plod around the neighbourhood with me and I was playing with the names Flirt and Flaunt. :D :D :D

Grumpette - you make it look so easy. You are such a tease

Precious beyond words, Clyde.

Probably the only thing better than a Rottie in your situation would be several :laugh: :laugh: Good luck in finding a dog who is perfect for you and you are perfect for him/her.

As if it were ever in doubt :laugh: :laugh: . I was lucky enough to meet Teddy and, despite years of phone calls and internet correspondence, K9Angel IRL. We drove out to Camden and, despite noticing a few things that the prospective owners needed to fix to make their yard safe and escape proof, we could see that it would be a wonderful home for Teddy. The cat (I've forgotten his name ) took one look at Teddy, gave a hiss, and Teddy was cowed. We were all pretty sure though that, with Teddy's lovely nature, the impasse would very quickly be breached. Well done Teddy, Mel (and family) and K9A.

DOL is part of the world in general, hankdog, which means you are damned if you do and damned if you don't :laugh: :laugh:

I haven't seen it, but from what I have, I wouldn't be surprised.

The town of Cairns isn't a good example because a lot of people pronounce it CANz :laugh:

Me too - and mostly that is on my lap and if that is mollycoddling, well I am a proud proud mollycoddler :laugh: :laugh:

Not sure what curiosity has to do with manners, but the rest of your post is pretty hysterical. The whole world is a filthy filthy place; your trips (if you make them of course) to shopping centres and playgrounds must be a total nightmare.

What's with the name change? HazyWal ????? I hope Stan isn't too upset.

Write on shopping list: Teefies brush

I use Thursday Plantation Tea Tree Oil Antiseptic on my cold sores which can (those who suffer them will know) be excruciatingly painful. It doesn't sting them. I occasionally have a mozzie bite and will dab a bit on them as well. No sting. :)

A vetinerary clinic is hardly someone's lounge or dining room. My chin is dropping and my eyebrows are disappearing into my hairline --- I can't believe that some people find it so offensive. LOL - me too. Exactly. Some cats are incredibly sanguine at vets, but I imagine the majority would find it pretty damned stressful to be at eye level with strange dogs, people, and have no way of escape. :laugh: :laugh: Voice of reasons This sort of crap really annoys me too, Rascal. I can't imagine not comforting a person or an animals if they are upset, sick, hurting. Are you well? :D :D

We sure do get it! I'm sitting here with a Bonnie grin on my face. Well done Bonnie and Michelleva and family and not to forget, Georgia the Barking Teacher.

Super updates, Dave73. Jazz has healed so well! The attachments formed between animals, particularly when one has been seriously ill can be nothing short of inspiring. Your Zeus is obviously taking his new role vey seriously.

Yes, K. She is an old girl, about 15, called Gussy Cat. I've started a few threads about her in the cat forum. I'm taking her to the vet tomorrow or Tuesday (depending which day "my" vet is on duty) because, although she seems happy enough, she isn't eating enough to keep a sparrow alive http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/253380-recipes-for-home-made-cat-food/ Quite a few photos in this thread, K, which was started over a year ago. It has been a bit of a roller coaster year with her. http://www.dolforums.com.au/topic/244282-my-gussy-cat/

Excellent news, Dave. Poor Ridgie Bro :laugh:

Gussy wasn't in the bedroom and, even in this dreadful heat, she seems to like to spend a lot of time outside. I went looking. I found her wrapped around a bush in a large planter. She was sound asleep, but because I wanted her to lift her face or at least open her eyes, I gave her a little tap. She immediately jumped up:

I didn't say that, either. Read what I and others have said from an objective point of view rather than rushing in to tell of your experiences. I didn't say to rehome her to an elderly person either, just a person who wants a constant companion which does not arbitrarily mean an elderly person. Mia's home is a very tense one at the moment - having to move, car written off, coming up to Christmas. A lot of anxiety producing events are happening all at once to this family through no fault of their own. For an anxious dog to be around all that can exacerbate her problems. Again, through no fault of the family. I agree with what Clyde says. On the other hand, there may be a rescue group who has a carer who could foster Mia and with the experience to assess, manage and diffuse her problems. Bellacody, DOL has a vast membership, but it is not the be all and end of the rehoming and rescue world.

Well I was thinking exactly that, that maybe an older person just wanting a constant companion would be perfect....but I wasn't thinking about her stress levels completely. Part of me thinks her anxieties would be better if she had that special someone who wanted to be with her all the time...it's just so very hard, isn't it. I have a few rescue places to hear back from and one to call so maybe it will be ok...I hope. Actually this isn't always the best option, everyone thinks it is because the dog needs company it seems. The dog I just mentioned in my post had an elderly owner who spent most of their time with him. However we all have to go out at some point - shopping, doctors etc unless we are housebound. When his owner went out, the dog I had was put outside. His distress was enormous and he climbed trees and a 6ft fence and took off. In the end his owner would leave the gate open so he didn't injure himself in his stressed out state. Weaning the dog off the need for constant human company is the best thing ... We are all aware and in awe of your vast experience, Dogmad, but my response was not made in the context of Mia's need for constant attention: it was made in the context of her being a vey small Staffy and a vey loving playful little dog. AND, in the knowledge which I am sure that you also have, that dogs can change in different household. Owners, despite their very best intentions, can make a dog anxious and wary and, perhaps, even dog aggressive. In another home, Mia could just as easily settle down, curled into a comfortable ball and wait for her owner to come home.

I would continue to go very very slowly, Michelleva :laugh: . As you say, she has now found her voice and the great strides you and she have made haven't taken very long. In your situation, I would be starting to put some rules into place to nip in the bud behaviours that could become a problem simply because, in the early stages, we can be so worried about upsetting the dog and/or falling back a few paces. Bonnie is obviously an intelligent and loving dog and is learning the ropes very quickly.

I would have thought that a staffy of only 8-9 kgs would be quite easy to rehome, actually, even taking into account her other issues. Find someone who wants a small loving dog and a constant companion and she'd probably have her ideal home. That home needs to be found, of course. Advertising in the local paper and getting information from a rescue person as to how to check out the calls and the potential home would probably be the way to go.

And Merry Christmas from a member of the Bee Gee's Appreciation Society.

You can't have it both ways. The insurance company is a business answerable to its shareholders.