Loving my Oldies

Some years ago I was driving along a pretty busy suburban road when out of a side street shot a Uni-cyclist being pulled at great speed by three whippets.

That looks like the best fun

Yes, this is the only way. And let the rangers know that you are interested in trying to help the dog if the owners don't collect and/or do something about giving him a better life.

I can't believe with all Hawkesbury's experience they would no let a member of the public adopt him. They must know that there are lots of people who love older dogs and that all they want for them to to give them the best life for whatever time they have left. He looks such a gorgeous old soul. Just ridiculous.

Leah82.

She looks a bit overwhelmed to me LOL. That will soon pass. Great news, Snout Girl. Many happy times ahead for Poppy and MIL

Very cool boss :) Great stories

Good to hear, Tazar. Only an owner can make the call because only the owner knows what the situation is. That is excellent news, Tazar. So happy for you both. Has the vet helped you with advice as to ongoing dietary requirements?

Hmm, my understanding is that it is up to the owners to train their dogs - you really can't blame the dogs if you don't teach them. :) :) :)

I totally agree with this. From time to time I read posts about all the avenues people are pursuing in an attempt to "find a cure". Sometimes I want to beg them to let their loved one go to peace. That said, it is never never easy and whatever action you take will bring with it doubts, recriminations, what ifs. There is only one measure and one you can take with your vet's advice and assistance: what sort of life is your little dog having. Most of us have been there and we know the heartache and turmoil you are experiencing.

This is a good list of issues to be considered - most of them pretty easily dealt with. When I worked I would regularly take my dogs into the office if I worked on a weekend - but that is a different scenario as no one else around. However, on the odd occasion when dogs had to have medications or eye drops every hour or so, I would take my dogs in and take a barricade with me so they were barricaded into my work area. They spent most of the time under my desk as that do at home, either under the desk or at least scattered around the study on their mats. If I need something done and I have a professional in to do and am told "well there is a problem", my response always is, "You are the expert, I don't want to be just told there is a problem, I want to hear how you intend to solve it."

Leah it sounds like a wonderful idea and well done you if you can get it up and running. As you can see from the first lot of replies, there are enough "rules and regulations" as to what you are" permitted" to say on a forum about dogs, let alone what is "permitted" in real life . Yes. folks, "Take Your Dog to Work Day" is fraught with possibilities of what can go wrong, but surely these can be put across nicely and in an educative way and not being sarcstic. And who knows, someone's mind may be changed about how dirty and scary dogs are. :)

LOL Persephone. If I were to use Nature's Gift, there is no way my other dogs would eat their usual. It is bad enough that they are constantly smelling Gussy Cat's food now that I am feeding her wet food and in the house. I swish out Gussy's little cans and pour the water into their food. Visitors tomorrow, so the Crabtree & Evelyn Summer Hill Room Spray will be getting a workout. I'm just knocking myself out worrying about these little critters of mine. I'm just so tempted to go back to canned food. My first vet (now retired) fed and feeds all his pets on canned food and they all lived to great ages. I just hate the thought of what is in it, because I just go into paroxyms of sneezing and coughing on the very rare occasions I have weakened.

That's great, gillbear. My thinking is that as much information as possible just might help tip the balance in Ubu's favour. I am firmly of the opinion that there is a home for every adoptable dog - it is just getting the information "out there" so that person can be found ...... and that is where you do such a wonderful service for these dogs.

Thank you for all the educative suggestions. Very much appreciated and have certainly given me a lot to consider. What I am trying to do is reduce Bunter's calorie intake, but ensure he still has all the necessary nutrition and give him low calorie bulk so he doesn't feel starved. This is why I asked about Kangaroo meat, because I know it is lean and probably would not provide all the necessary nutrients. The last time I looked, BARF patties were about $20 a pack and, frankly, I already spend huge amounts on my dogs (I have 5) and cannot stretch to BARF patties. I have discovered something Bunter won't eat LOL. Eggshells. I mashed a raw egg into his breakfast, but he managed to eat everything else and leave the shells. I'll have to use the blender next time. I've left them on the mat to see if he munches on them through the day :laugh: Bunter is approximately 13 and I have had him for just over two years. He was completely blind because of cataracts, but the wonderful surgeon at Homebush Referral Hospital gave him back his sight.

Just a thought ..... if Ubu has been kennelled for over a year (obviously he would have been having play and exercise sessions) how do you know for sure the he isn't good with other dogs. In another situation, with another person (particularly someone as experienced as baifra), he might be completely different from how he presents in the shelter. I do understand that it would take a huge leap of faith to try to discover that.

Good morning Bob and WP. Are you cuddled up with Pepe, Bob? :) :)

He is lovely and so funny. Ubu had a failed adoption recently where he was returned after a few days, poor babe has been depressed ever since. How sad Any ideas as to why? Just a poor choice by the adopters?

I hope medication can control it. Wasn't sure if you meant she slept on your bed or in her own. In either case, perhaps crating through the night would be the most convenient way to manage it.

Oh wow! What a beautiful sight..... coated up, warm, comfy, at peace. WP. Hopefully Bob will soon realise that Pepe is a friend - LOL.

LOL I had to google to find out what VAN meant. Can you buy it over the counter anywhere, or is it only On Line?

If the Central Coast has been anything like Sydney, he will have spent it curled up in the smallest ball possible next to a heater. But apart from that, yes, how'd it go :D? All good I hope.

He gets dried chicken necks from time to time and occasionally I'll put an egg into his food. I'll give the pumpkin and sweet potato a try. I really only give him so much vegetable to try to get the quantity up. He is the only dog I've ever had who demolishes his food in a few seconds flat.

That is why I started this thread :) He is walked regularly, most often twice daily, but he will not be hurried :D Food is warmed up but I've not thought of cooking it. They all get bones (dried roo tail) which Bunter chews on for days.

I have a little dog who would eat until he burst, I think . He is slightly overweight, but not enough to be overly concerned, but I don't want him to put on anymore weight. As he is from a pound, I don't know his breed except he definitely has Pomeranian in him and, I have often thought, maybe Corgi, because he is very solid with quite solid leg bone structure, nothing like the delicate frame of a Pomeranian. He is fed mostly raw mixed with vegetables. However, very often his poos are very sloppy and I wonder if it could be the vegetables. I buy mixed frozen vegetables from Woolies, steam them a little and then puree. This is mixed in with his meat. If I fed him Kangaroo, I could feed him more meat and not as much vegetable, but I am concerned that just Kangaroo won't meet his nutritional needs. Pic of Bunter below. Grateful for advice from the experts LOL.