Loving my Oldies

I don't envy your position, but certainly sympathise. Plenty of stories in the Rescue forum about "the one that got away" and the regrets people feel at rehoming particular dogs. If you suspect there might be difficulties with your husband if you decide to keep this dog, why not just wait until he comes back? In the meantime, just keep going as though she is still up for adoption and if the right home comes along, well then make a decision. I recognise that after 3 weeks of waiting until husband comes home and the dog is still with you, the idea of adoption will be even more difficult :) . Rebanne's suggestions seem to be on the money (except for rehoming your oldies).

LOL, loving the stories about the greyhounds in new homes and hopefully the 75 year old will get a perfect companion. Although I note that OP has said the lady was a "little dog person", I was going to suggest a greyhound to the OP, but thought I'd leave it to those with actually experience :) . I can relate because I would really love to have a big dog and love to look at them and dream, but then I see a little dog out walking, playing having a lovely time and my heart melts. Just something in one's make up, I suppose.

I'm glad you think so :laugh: This mid 60's old lady who is going to die soon has 5 dogs and one cat LOL. Laughing aside, totally gobsmacked that anyone in the rescue business, referral service or actual group, could respond in such a manner. They need a good clip around the ears, only figuratively speaking, of course.

I want the address of the @#$%^%$%^&&^ who let her get into this condition. Some crimes deserve an eye for an eye. Lock them in a small cage, no food, sleep in their own wastes ........... How else would you get through to those sorts of people?

It takes courage, persistence and energy to pursue these sorts of people, and I hope Chera and husband will have all of that. You will certainly get cyber support here.

LOL. Lovely outcome and beautiful photo

I hope so too pattycake and I will be speaking with my boss in the morning re charges. I couldn't read the story, but I can tell from people's response that it was very very bad. More strength to you and your husband to get Gnarla and her pups through this and please please take it to the people with everything you have. . Donation made.

I'm always intrigued that people think that elderly people = little dog. I would be inclined to go for a medium sized dog that the person will be more aware of. Have a look on PetRescue at the medium sized dogs would be my suggestion. And suggest to the lady she gets a set of doggy stairs for the couch and the bed, so the dog can join her with needing to be picked up :)

http://email.whitepixels.com.au/t/ViewEmail/r/E3E8425B2B97B4CB2540EF23F30FEDED/F94A19EA4F61D9464FB5D4CAE8F50064 The rescue starts tomorrow morning

Out current behaviourist taught me to praise and reward Justice any time he does an action designed to bring his stress levels down, including shake offs, as it encourages him to deal with his stress in a healthy way rather than using reactive behaviours to cope. :) oh that is brilliant Snook thanks for sharing it :) Yes. How interesting is that. Jeune does that quite a bit when we are out walking, but because she pulls back to constantly stand and sniff (she'd take an hour to go 50 yards, I swear!) I've always thought it's because of the harness . I'll be taking more notice as well to try to work out whether it is just to get comfortable or she is actually stressed.

I agree with everyone who says that many pet dogs are overweight. Your dog, Blackjaq, looks beautiful andI can't see bones sticking out LOL. I also know that it is better in humans to be a little bit underweight that overweight. As I said before, talking about and observing SHOW weight, in my opinion, is just as bad as pet dogs being overweight. To have an ideal where a dog's bones are all showing is, in my opinion, doing the dog as much a disservice as is over-feeding it. Just because someone has a dog who eats twice as much as other dogs and is lean does not disprove the rule. It is an example of one dog. I have a brother whose weight is still the same as what is was when he was in his twenties. I am about 2 stone overweight and probably eat less than he does. Same parents different shapes and metabolisms. I also have a dog who is probably 2 kilos overweight, yet I have him on a strict maintenance diet, he walks everyday with the other dogs, does not have access to treats as no food is left out in this household. So my point is that, yes, dogs differ in how they keep and lose weight, but to have a show standard where dogs are looking emaciated is doing them a disservice. Just the same as pet dog owners who overfeed their dogs are doing them a disservice.

I always get a bit upset when people talk about breed standards and a good weight, etc etc. Just looking should be sufficient. Sure some people are naturally lean and from my experience, so dogs differ in their 'natural' weight and physic. As I said before, there is a difference between skinny and lean. Underweight leads to all sorts of problems mental and physical...... as dogmad has pointed out.

"If" is the word here. Please see another vet or specialist. This is a much OVER diagnosed condition. One of my vets who ran his own practice and employed several vets called it "tantamount to mutilation". Sorry to be so dramatic, but just telling you the experience of a vet who practiced in England and Australia and went to Seminars all around the world over his 30+ years of having his own hospital.

Please get a second opinion before doing anything.

Well speaking as someone who goes by looks, I would say there is a difference between skinny and lean. Skinny means too thin. I cannot believe that someone could find that anything but unattractive and worrying. Sorry. Sticking out bones?? Nope.

Whether you should be worried or not, you will be :) . Keep a very close eye on your dog and as MUP says.

That is true. As long as there are humans there will be cruelty, as well as legions trying to address it and stop it.

OMG!! She is so skinny. Poor little thing. Such a beautiful face and colouring. I know they are "sleek" as I said, but jeez, that's just skinny. Not for long now she has a loving home and a mate.

The problem with most of those do-nut styles is that they don't have a removable cover & you have to wash the whole damn thing Agreed. I also bought some for about $8 at Bunnings. Dogs love them.

Yes, LG. I hate to see dogs being dragged around environments where they are obviously uncomfortable. I know when I adopted my first dogs (two little Maltese), I had visions of taking them everywhere with me. I soon learnt where they were and weren't comfortable and, because I worked full time, I often wouldn't go out at weekends, just so I could be with them. Many people are not connected with their dogs and from what I've seen over the years, a lot of people aren't even prepared to go to any bother to try to understand them and their needs. Most dogs put in the environment of Corvus' photograph, would soon learn to be "bullet proof" and to have a good time. But would the owners? How people don't understand that their feelings, attitudes, reactions, emotions, etc all transfer to the dog.

Reject Shops are great for that sort of thing. I popped into the one at Hornsby a couple of days ago and although I didn't see any of the plastic ones, the donut styles were there in abundance. And cheap. Because I have enough bedding to run a pound, I dragged myself and my skinny sad wallet out of there. :laugh:

What about leggings? I don't have anything like that and could probably get something because the dogs don't care if it is raining, but I do. LOL

Such lovely stories of chooks having a second chance at the good life. So heart warming.

Most dogs like "caves", but have to say the Cardboard Box Cave and Whippet inhabitant is just about the cutest vesion.

Poor little things. I'm so glad you were able to take them. Do their beaks ever grow back? Fantastic That would be the ideal of course, but, hey, a cage the size of an A4 piece of paper is plenty big enough. And the consumer has a right to cheap eggs, doesn't matter how the chooks suffer.