westiemum

I think my July house guest just lost one of her pillows!!! I washed them after getting them out of the box where they've been for almost two years and put them upright next to the gas fire to completely dry - Mr Mac decided he needed to try them out so he pulled it over and plonked himself on top!! So much for his dementia!!! Oh well - I'll just have to buy another one!!!

Guys Amuse is pretty sensible (I've known him since we were teenagers ) - so please jump in with your thoughts and opinions and help him out. Of course he's had the westiemum view of the world already tonight! Amuse you might want to check your link - it doesn't seem to be working. Also consider posting in General - you might get more exposure there.

Amazing - and scary at the same time...

Oh and you're a wretch Mrs RB - now I'm really balling watching Zip the border collie do agility in her wheels... beautiful girl...

Thanks everyone. But I can't take credit - its all Matt's hard work. I'm just doing my bit in spreading the word. And yes its soooooo good to see happy doggies mobile again... that Bella... gorgeous little moppet - I tear up watching that too... happy tears...

Thanks Snook - not a patch on yours of him though which I treasure!! I want to have one blown up of each of them when I get around to it. And the fire is actually on! It just doesn't look like it is in the photo!

Thanks denali - and yes of course I'm biased - I love terriers and want a Tibetan at some stage too - but I'm also becoming a big dog fan as well and would love to foster Greys when this lot go to God. In the meantime here's a photo of Andy and Mac next to the gas log fire just now - its a freezing day here in Adelaide. You can see as Mac's back end gets wobblier and wobblier that he sleeps in what looks like the most awkward positions... he may eventually be a candidate for wheels as well - but that time hasn't come yet!

Thanks denali - goes without saying I'm a westie fan.

Thats fabulous Mrs RB - yes Hailey's Wheels is based in Mount Barker but they have an arrangement with 'Walkin' Wheels' out of the US who ship all over the world - and who Matt first got Hailey's wheels from when she became immobile. He saw what a difference the wheels made to Hailey's last 12 months or so of her life and wanted to make sure other disabled doggies have the opportunity that Hailey had. So he started 'Hailey's Wheels for Life' which essentially provides subsided and unsubsidised wheels to disabled doggies of all breeds including mixed breeds. Doggie wheelchairs if you will. The level of subsidy varies from zero to full depending on ability to pay and a vet letter. So he fund raises so he can subsidise the wheels for those doggies whose owners can't afford to pay or pay in full and simply assists those who can pay to get their wheels. There are also re-cycled wheels from doggies that no longer need them that can be lent to those in need. When the time comes have your friend get in touch with Matt - I'm sure he'll be happy to help and advise .

Yeah me too DD - I think fostering greys is in my future as well - but my current pack has to go to God first too. And I'm not sure I'll handle that at all well.

Thanks Snook - as always I appreciate your posts and perspective. Even if you work there you can't be 100% sure IMO. And I won't keep banging on about it either but its essentially all about risk - everything is - and theres always risk in absolutely everything - and my risk tolerance will be different to yours and yours will be completely different to others - and thats absolutely OK. I find daycare at my daycare an acceptable risk, particularly in my circumstances whereas others would not. And that's OK too.

Thanks Mrs RB - I've fixed the link - I hope!

Thanks Snook - and I'm so sorry that happened to Justice - but that is exactly my point. No place is completely safe. I said very clearly, it could still happen at the dog park, at daycare, on a walk, at the groomers or at home so you weigh up the risks and make the best decisions you can. I said very clearly that I understand it could still happen to my westies - but it could happen elsewhere too. In my case a young builder's contractor at home managed to let Andy and Sarah out recently while I was at work and Andy was headed for Fullarton Road! And that was at home. So daycare is safer for Mac than being at home on his own and is safer than the dog park or the groomers for that matter. And as I said 'it is' well run - not 'it appears to be' - and yes I've done more than my due diligence on the place. Yet that doesn't mean accidents might/do happen. To ensure trained staff and that a place is well run is the best you can do anywhere with any service if you aren't going to be so risk adverse that you don't go anywhere or do anything and stay at home with your dogs every second of the day. No place is completely safe - home included - and its a case of risk management.

Thank you Jemmy and yes absolutely: I would never put any of my dogs into a 'free range' daycare. I checked them out to within an inch of their lives when I first decided to try them - in desperation to try to curb Andy's nuisance barking in the house-sit. And I received email updates throughout the day the first couple of times we were there and once when they had a query about one of them - I've forgotten which one now. It worked so well I put the other two westies in as well. And my day care has 4 - 5 staff on at any one time including the groomer and they work well as a team. I think Mac in particular is at less risk at daycare than he is at home on his own.

TSD she's wonderful - what a face!! Love her and her name!! Her name is a stroke of genius!!

Yes it does make you clucky doesn't it!! Here's Mac's Godmothers new westie puppy Willow at about 5 months just to make you even more clucky!!

OK - I understand that people don't like daycare and thats fine. But its also unfair to tar all of these facilities with the same brush. As people know daycare for me has been a Godsend during the new build when it looked like I was going to lose my tenuous accommodation due to nuisance barking. It breaks up the westies week while I'm at work and means Mac at almost 16 gets more supervision and much more care than if he is at home alone. He's safer and happier supervised at daycare than if he was at home alone. The dogs are separated by size and temperament and those with special needs like Mac get special attention such as naps in the staff room. Their groomer has also taken on his grooming after he got kicked out of his previous groomer. ('We're frightened he'll drop dead on us' and they said they couldn't groom him because they can't use a restraint because of his LP and he's become a bit grumpy as he's got older). Grooming for an old dog like Mac works well in this setting as their lovely groomer does him gently and in short stages during the day. The dogs are always supervised by trained supervisors - never once in the 18 months when I have been there unannounced at all hours of the day have the dogs been unsupervised. Its well run, the dogs are calm and happy and my guys are always really happy when I drop them off and pick them up. They are happy when I watch through the observation window - which is almost every time I arrive or depart unless I'm running late. And I haven't heard of any accidents or incidents - not one. Never once have I observed anything that has concerned me - and yes I know there is always a first time as Wags death shows (RIP poor little puppy). I weigh up the risk and I recognise that accidents may still happen. Yet I still find it interesting that accidents happen more frequently at other places where there is far less supervision like at home (rarely discussed in the same away as this) or at dog parks. And in the case of dog parks a far greater proportion of silly owners and uncontrolled dogs yet it doesn't create anywhere near the 'discussion' that daycare does. So just saying that those of you lucky enough to be home, or work from home with your dogs full or part time are in a different position to those of us who have to work long hours out of home. And those who have never used a well run daycare maybe should use one before lumping them all into the same boat. The well run daycare like the one I use is a life-saver. Flame suit on.

Thanks ari - yes she's the fastest dog on wheels I've ever seen - she's amazing!

Excellent post HW!

Wonderful - I never get tired of looking at the antics of these two amazing dogs... even though I adore my westies it really makes me yearn for a big dog... maybe one day when i have a bigger yard. Great one Y!

What I hope is a 'feel good' Sunday morning story... Here's Bella from the US - she's a very worthy recipient of a subsidised set of wheels from Hailey's Wheels for Life . It's thought that Bella was hit by a car and became paralysed and was then dumped in a high kill pound. She was rescued, nursed back to health and thats where Hailey's Wheels stepped in. A very handsome photo of Mac in his younger days and Hailey (RIP) using her wheels is under the 'wheelchairs' tab. And the wheelies club is fantastic. I never realised just how effective these wheels are. And a disclosure - this registered charity is run by a good friend of mine, Mac's Godfather and who I originally got Mac from. I couldn't be more proud of his brilliant work

Sarah and Andy right now... too cute...

In the new house, I have a walk-in shower. When I'm in the shower in the mornings Mac and Andy sit in the shower entry supervising making sure I don't miss washing any bits. It does feel strange having an audience when I'm a post menopausal over 50 year old with a body shape to match!

Yes he certainly does. Poor Wags. As most people here know I use doggy daycare and for me its been an absolute Godsend for many reasons. But I wouldn't put up with that situation either. Little dogs don't belong with big dogs like that. RIP Wags. Poor little guy.

OOps - sorry DD - have changed to Mr Mac so i don't give anyone else a heart attack. I call him Mac Attack without thinking!! Yes he's amazing for his age - and I love him to bits. Mac's Godmother and her new westie puppy Willow are coming to visit in the morning. Here's the youngun! She's growing like a weed even though she's only 4 or 5 months old! Ain't she a cutie!! And you should see her in real life! Heart shatterer!!!