Dust Angel

I second taking lots and lots of photos and video of him doing the things he loves and make yourself a slideshow or montage (i would be happy to do this for you if you need help). Even if you hate photos (like i do) of yourself get lots of photos of the two of you together. Try the alternative medicines. Try not to be sad around him or think about the limited time frame, he will sense this on you. If he isnt allowed on the furniture/lounge/bed let him. The beach is lovely and i have yet to meet a dog that doesn't like it. If he like the car take him driving just for the hell of it! Play his favorite games and give him his favorite food. Spend every minute you can. I wish you much quality time together

There is no way i can watch this. The last one i watched of animal cruelty i still have nightmares about. It devastates me how people can have so little empathy for another creature even if they do not "dog" people.

We have only ever done rescue on a very small scale, i know that there are countless people across the country and indeed right here on DOL that do so much more and today i found this and it brought a tear to my eye. I am sorry if it has been posted before. Author: Joan C. Fremo Published on: May 16, 2001 I want to quit!My health is bad. There are days I feel so terrible that I can barely move. My phone bills are outrageous, and I could have replaced my van with the funds I have spent these last 3 years---on animals that were not my own. I want to quit!I spend hours and hours emailing about dogs. There may be 500 messages when I start---and at 4 AM, when I finally shut down the computer, there are still 500 emails to be read. I want to quit!Gosh, I haven't the time left to email my friends. I can't remember the last book I read, and I gave up my subscription to my local newspaper---I used to enjoy reading it, cover to cover, but now it often ends up in the bottom of the squirrel's cage---unread. I want to quit!I've spent days emailing what seems like everyone---trying to find a foster home, help for a dog languishing in a shelter---but his time has run out, and the shelter has had to euthanize to make room for the next sad soul. I want to quit!I swear, I walk away from my computer to stretch my legs---let the dogs out---and come back to find another dog in desperate need. There are times I really dread checking my email. How will I find the funds, the help, to save yet another dog? I want to quit!I save one dog, and two more take its place. Now an owner who doesn't want his dog---it won't stay in his unfenced yard. An intact male wanders... This bitch got pregnant by a stray... This 3-month-old pup killed baby chicks... The dog got too big... This person's moving and needs to give up his pet. I ask you, friends---what town, what city, what state doesn't allow you to own a pet? I want to quit!I just received another picture, another sad soul with tormented eyes that peer out of a malnourished body. I hear whimpering in my sleep, have nightmares for days... I want to quit!Many of the "Breed People" don't seem to want to hear about these dogs. Breeders either don't realize, or just don't care, how many dogs of their breed are dying in shelters. I want to quit!I just got off the phone. "Are you Pyr Rescue? We want to adopt a male to breed to our female." How many times do I have to explain? I have tried to explain about genetics, about health and pedigrees. I explain that rescue NEUTERS! I usually end up sobbing, as I explain about the vast numbers of animals dying in shelters across the country, as I describe the condition many of these animals are found in. I wonder if they really heard me... I want to quit!It is not like I don't have enough rescues of my own to worry about---but others have placed dogs improperly and aren't there to advise the new owners. I want to quit!There ARE some unscrupulous rescues out there---hoarders, collectors, and folks who will short change the care of the animals to make a dollar. The save them all, regardless of temperament, putting fellow rescuer's and adopters at risk but not being truthful. I want to quit!I have trusted the wrong people--- had faith and heart broken... I want to quit!AND THEN... My dog, Magnus, lays his head in my lap, he comforts me with his gentle presence---and the thought of his cousins suffering stirs my heart. I want to quit!AND THEN... One of those 500 emails is from an adopter. They are thanking me for the most wonderful dog on earth---they cannot imagine life without their friend---their life is changed, and they are so grateful. I want to quit!AND THEN... One of my adopted Rescues has visited a nursing home. A patient that has spent the last few years unable to communicate, not connecting---Lifts his hand to pat the huge head in his lap, softly speaks his first words in ages--- to this gentle fur child. I want to quit!AND THEN... A Good Samaritan has found and vetted a lost baby, "I can't keep him, but I'll take care of him until you find his forever home." I want to quit!AND THEN... "Jamie took his first steps holding on to our Pyr." "Joan, you should see this dog nursing this hurt kitten!" "I was so sick, Joan, and he never left my side..." I want to quit!AND THEN... I get an email from a fellow rescuer, "Haven't heard from you in a while---you OK? You know I think of you..." I want to quit!AND THEN... A dozen rescuers step up to help, to transport, to pull, and to offer encouragement. I have friends I have never seen, but we share tears, joys, and everything in between. I am not alone. I am blest with family of the heart, my fellow Rescuers. Just days ago it was a friend who shared her wit and wisdom, whose late night email lifted my heart. Sometimes it is friends who only have time to forward you a smile. Often, it is my friends who forward me the notices of dogs in need. There are Rescuers who see a failing transport and do everything they can to find folks to pull it together for you. Rescuers who'll overnight or foster your Dog while you seek transport. There are Rescuers not used to or comfortable with your breed, but who put aside their discomfort to help. There are Rescuers whose words play the music of our hearts. Foster homes that love your Rescue, and help to make them whole again---body and spirit. Foster homes that fit your baby in, though it may not be their breed. Rescuers whose talents and determination give us tools to help us. Rescuers we call on for help in a thousand ways, who answer us, who hear our pleas. Rescuers who are our family, our strength, our comrades in battle. I know I cannot save every Pyr in need. I know my efforts are a mere drop in a sea. I know that if I take on just one more---those I have will suffer. I want to quit!But I won't. When I feel overwhelmed, I'll stroke my Magnus's head while reading my fellow Rescuers emails. I'll cry with them, I'll laugh with them---and they will help me find the strength to go on. I want to quit!But not today. There's another email, another dog needing Rescue. This piece is dedicated, with love and gratitude, to all my fellow Rescuers. Perhaps next time we have a little money to spare - or have an old coat/collar/lead lying around or are thinking about a road trip somewhere we might drop into our DOL rescue thread and see if someone might need a helping hand

Oh noes Ruger thats so sad I love your photos.

:D Awesome effort. We think we can pick up approx 300 - so lets aim for that shall we? So far i have 30 from FB + our 20 + your 60 + how ever many LC wants. So we are on our way :p Nekhbet i cant thank you enough for posting this ;)

I cant speak for these guys as i dont know, but the ones my gran got had plucked each other mostly naked and had there beaks clipped - feathers grew back pretty quick and beaks never seemed to bother them. Perhaps jump on FB and ask the people organising? I am assuming they wouldn't be diseased if they are going to go as pet food (that could just be me being naive).

My Grandmother rescued 21 from a local battery at one stage. One chook spat out an egg on the 15 min journey home - the rest of them lived long and happy lives and most kept producing for year - more eggs than either she or the family could eat. Maybe not the rule (and im not suggesting it is) for all of them but i know these ladies were very friendly and would follow you round for pats and scratches.

Ok i will take 20 (will contact them). We will also put some flyers around town and up at work. I would be happy to take the horse float down and transport if any locals or Canberans would like some?

Yup Pontiees are just the best all round (special of the German Shorthaird variety ;) )

Oh how simply devastating. My heartfelt sympathy to you and to the new puppy owner.

Our girls had Kennel Cough after some new fosters brought it with them from the pound. Being GSP's they are quite hard to keep quiet . We found that making sure thier water was not to cold helped and so did giving them spoon fulls of honey to suck on - soothed the throat somewhat and kept the coughing down just a little. Hope your girl is on the mend soon

Poor lass - look at the size of her pupils!

I am so very sorry for your pain. Perhaps it may help a little to think that she is not lost she is simply where you can no longer see her for the moment. Im sure she is watching over you from the bridge. When the pain of missing my loved ones gets too much i sit somewhere special i used to spend time with them and close my eyes, im sure i have felt the warmth of my old horse Duke blowing on my neck and gentle nudges of my dear k-9's on my hand. They will always be with me in my soul and i know we will meet again. Your girl was just gorgeous.

What a remarkable tribute to a gorgeous old soul. They do say that everything happens for a reason, Ray came into your life for a reason and you certainly came into his for a reason. How very fitting that you should recieve such love and dedication from a soul you saved from the ultimate fear and indignity. I bet Ray is watching over you now and hovering around Hannah willing you both to know that he is ok and will wait for you and oh what a joyous reunion that will be. Thank you for sharing his story.

I am so very sorry to hear this Ruth. Rest in Peace Ivan.

We have three GSP's and they are all very differnt personalities. They can all go full on and they can all switch off and chill completly as well. They are incredibly loyal and really love meeting new people and dogs (except the rescue girl but she has had a bad history). They are wonderful with kids and are very careful around smaller dogs and children (but then again i did teach them shhhh careful) I have only ever fostered a Pointer and found him to be much more reserved and nervous and standoffish. I would never be without a GSP. As for the drool factor i only have one that drools and it freaked me out because neither of the others do it - its pretty much only ever about food .

Ted has an online price match, you fill in the form and put the link where you found it cheaper and they price match. In my case i found a lense i was looking for for $410. I sent the request through and half an hour later they had already got back to me. They couldnt do the lense for that price as it was a "grey import" they explained the difference to me and told me the would do it for $490. Considering the same lense was on special at that time for $595 and normally $630 i was VERY impressed. Printed out the email and took it into a Teds store and they argued at first, when it was suggested that we would be in touch with head office they ordered it. Took two weeks to get there but considering the saving i was stoked!

We did not as close as last time though. The snow is about an hour away from us. Still havent got any here yet.

Oops must be the default. Im in NSW

She is a girl Both of them are.

Took the girls up the snow for a day of fun today :grin Prepare to be photo flooded

I cried almost all the way through this movie. Just gorgeous. My two would wait until the station doors closed then have been off raiding through bins or something - no such loyalty here

That was just fabulous Love the bit where he comes round with the bone and Vis shakes the head :D Thank you for sharing.