Loving my Oldies

How utterly devastating and traumatic, @Rebanne. My deepest and sincere condolances.

I wouldn't know where to start. My first dogs as an adult were two Maltese, male and female from different breeders, both of whom died young: one at three and a half of congestive heart failure and the other of cancer at eight and a half. I eventually became involved in rescue and so have had so many dogs I have lost count (not really - I remember them all), but all have been small/toy breeds. The biggest, if you can use that word, were German Spitzes. I simply couldn't tell you my favourites, but I still go a little weak at the knees over Pomeranians and Toy Poodles. I have only ever had one Dachshund as a foster dog, pitch black and just gorgeous. The German Spitzes had glorious temperaments.

Stunng, Griz. And many many best wishes for your new venture

Caramel was his name . If you could find one like Caramel, he would be a match for any dog. He was one of the best dogs I have ever met. He and his mate (a little Maltese cross) came from a pound.

My first thought was German Spitz. I have rescued/fostered a couple so I will see if I can find photo. Caramel - German Spitz. Bit blurry (to say the least) but it shows you his full body. He was the most glorious dog in personality and looks imaginable. Danny (little red man below) is a Finnish Spitz Cross.

That is so right, but good to see something most of us do instinctively put into words by another. Helps to reinforce and encourage. As for those who think another dog is not a good idea, as a person who has not intentionally ever had one dog, I have to disagree. That said, of course it depends on many things, but mostly that the owner knows her dog and knows how to select another. And it certainly appears that the poster does. As many DOLers know, I have lost count of the number of dogs I have fostered and adopted over the years and, although the poster's situation is vastly different from mine, but in her situation, I think she is on the right track. People talk about how hard it will be. Well, that can be said about getting up in the morning, but we have to do it. LOL.

Lexa is a very lucky dog as they should all be, of course. I am very interested in the laser pen tool. Have never heard of it and would be fascinated to see of video of it in action. Continue telling us Lexa's and your stories, please.

Aside from the veterinary side of things, he spent many years battling the developers around him and the council, of course, was interested only in the developers. He had his trees poisoned, he had his and his staff's cars deliberately parked in, his electricity was cut several times - it was endless. He was told by one executive that "someone should bomb your place." Although I hated losing him as my vet, I was frightened for him and was relieved when he retired. On the veterinary side of things, one story that I can impart that will make people angry, but not sickened ........ I visited him at the clinic one day and was wandering around looking at the animals in their runs and there was a beautiful Dalmatian there. The dog was very sick and despite being told on several occasions not to, his stupid owner would sneak him a big feed of peanuts. Naturally the dog always threw up after her visits. I have forgotten the details now, obviously over a couple of decades ago, but I think they had to make her leave her handbag in the office. And there was the never ending stream of clients who would complain about the cost of appointments and that was 20 years ago. Anyway, the human race seems to be getting worse and worse and the few people trying to make a difference are being ground down.

My brother used to have his own Veterinary Hospital. He has been retired for nearly 20 years. Some of his stories still give me the horrors and he was a big confident man, not a 5ft nothing young woman. His wife called the police on a few occasions. And who could forget that stupid thoughtless woman recently bemoaning the fact she had to sell a few designer handbags.

I thought so too.

I wish I had a few designer handbags that could pay for the eye surgery Beatrice and Bunches have recently had. Actually, I do have a Louis Vuitton that was a parting pressie from the company I worked for nearly 20 years ago. I would be more than happy to sell that LOL. It is hardly used. Any takers? POA.

Those photos are very special . Too cold for me LOL.

The Boss must have had a terrible fright. Good Clive, though.

I might try this …… in the dead of night!!! Actually, I could probably gather enough wondrously scented rags from just my front footpath, so many people walk and walk their dogs past my place. Actually it is very interesting. I have often witnessed any number of my dogs racing downstairs to go to the toilet, stop dead in their tracks to sniff something, and that is in a yard they spend time in everyday. In fact, I saw Bunches do it just a couple of days ago even with her Velfast collar on. And, of course, if people visit with their dogs, those dogs spend so long in the back yard that the owners get nervous thinking they have gone missing, not to mention the workout my dogs’ noses get afterwards .

Yes, me too. Lots of very strange videos of cheating Asian men with even stranger translations

That’s for sure Beatrice is getting rather vocal in her displeasure !!

This statement made me scratch my head as well.

A long time ago, I used to be a morning runner and I was always very careful when I saw dogs (long before I had any in my life). One day when I was out, I saw a Golden Retriever lying on the footpath and so I stopped running and walked by at a casual pace. To my surprise, just as I passed him, he jumped up and bit my leg behind my knee. I think he got a bit of a surprise too because he obviously didn't mean business. However, my leg in that area was all colours of the rainbow for weeks afterwards. I can't even begin to think what these people who have been "seriously injured" look and feel like. The pain must be horrific and the fear when it is happening would be unimaginable.

They are doing well, thank you. Beatrice has been fine from the start and, after her re-stitching episode, Bunches is fine as well. Poor things are going stir crazy though. They are not interested in going for walks, so I generally have them out the front with me so they can watch the world go by. Their discharge sheets said no running or jumping and when they are out the front they race up and down and through the garden. I am sure they would be fine with the running now, but they push in through the bushes so they can stand on the low brick fence (against which I have high plastic mesh). I can just see them being stabbed in their faces by the bushes !!! It is so hard for them and, I confess, I nearly weakened today when they were at the front door looking back at me with pleading eyes. Commonsense prevailed. Their check up is on Monday, so still a while to go. I have to be strong for them LOL. It is getting cool now, so I might try a short walk or to to give them some interest. They have finished all their tablets, just the eyedrops now and they have three several times a day. They are still in the Velfast collars which I take off for them to eat, but they are able to drink with them on -- and get up and down the stairs which surprised me. So that makes life a bit easier.

Yes, I've heard this too. Also "Oodle" bought from breeder.

We are home, Bunches seems okay and quite bright. Obviously anaesthetic wasn’t nearly as strong as last time. Surgeon still didn’t have the courtesy of coming out to see me.

OMG DRAMA !!! I went looking for Bunches to give eye meds and she was downstairs, sunbaking in a patch of sun on the pathway. When I walked towards her she turned her head to look at me and I nearly fainted. The whole wound had opened, all the stitches had given way. Mad dash to the Eye Clinic where, although he was there, the surgeon didn't even deign to see me. While I was reception prior to leaving, someone came out and went into another room, but stopped in the doorway to chat to the receptionists. I couldn't see who it was and, because my hearing is so bad, I did not hear what was being said. After this person went into the other room, I made some comment to the receptionist and it turned out the person had been the surgeon. So there he was, about six feet away from me and could not even pay me the courtesy of speaking with me. I am so angry. I comment to the receptionist that he could have at least said hello, and she said how busy he was, etc etc. The specialist I did see said that he would put a larger cone on her and I commented that I had been wondering if the seam of the cone had been rubbing against her eye. Poor little Bunches, she is so tiny and defenceless, I hate that she has had to go through this. At this rate, I will need more than a bit of valium. I've just had a call from the Clinic and she will be ready to be picked up by 4pm. I am so sick and tired of arrogant, compassionless people.

@Little Gifts, I’ve been scoffing the girls’ Trazodone !!!! LOL - not really, but when sorting through all the old medications I came across some codeine tablets and was very tempted. I stayed up very late last night and so was able to witness Bunches bringing up all her dinner (about 3am) . She seemed okay afterwards and we had cuddles in bed. This morning, She took herself downstairs and then claimed a patch of sunshine on the deck. Small breakfast. I am supposed to give them a hot compress before their ointments, but I am worried that will start Bunches bleeding again, so to be extra cautious, I think I will take her to the vet who should be able to ascertain whether or not one of the stitches has popped. As for Beatrice …. if you didn’t know, you wouldn’t know .

Well I am very happy there are Chook Influencers on this forum Meals have never been done and dusted so quickly. We have had a bit of drama tonight. I have to take their VelFast cones off so they can eat, then I left them off for a little while so they could drink if they wanted to. Went looking for them to put the cones back on and I couldn't find Bunches. When I found her, she had obviously knocked her wound and it was bleeding. I rang a friend who lives a couple of streets away and then started gently compressing the wound. I was so worried that she'd broken a stitch, but after a while the bleeding stopped and I am pretty sure the stitches haven't been compromised. She seems okay, just me who is a wreck. Vet first thing in the morning, if it is still oozing. My friend was great support and has just left.

I am feeling pretty low at what my girls have had to go through. Beatrice has sailed through, recovered well and you wouldn't know she'd been through anything except for the Elizabethan collar. Bunches isn't doing as well . I have been in touch with the Eye Clinic this morning as she is very low and I am pretty sure she is in pain. She has had her first meds, but they are supposed to given with food, but she won't eat, even though I tried her by hand. I am off to Woolworths to get some BBQ chicken. I should have thought ahead and had it on hand, of course. One advance that helps enormously is that the E-collars are those that fasten with velcro and don't have to be threaded through their usual collars. Because of their flat little faces, they can't eat with them on and the old sort used to be a nightmare for this fumble fingers to get on and off. Thank you for your best wishes everyone.