Mags

We have lost most of our dogs between 14 & 15 yrs - breeds were ACDs x 2; Gordon Setter; Lab; Border Collie x Kelpie. The only dog we have lost young was an ACD we had to PTS last yr at 6yrs old.

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LOL I seriously understand this. I was working in an office and there was a client that came in with an hysterical screaming infant that she totally ignored until she had finished her business when she turned her attention to the child who continued screaming. After what seemed like hours she and screaming infant finally left and there was a sigh of relief from everyone, including the other clients. Our boss was standing there looking at all of us and commented if that had been a kitten or puppy you would have all been over there making sure it was OK - we all looked at each other and realised he was dead right at which point we all laughed and he shook his head and walked back into his office.

Totally agree with the above post. If they are naming dogs they should be stating why imo - and I hope the vet knows the breeds (how often do vets with little knowledge of a breed make comments that do not take into account breed characteristics) and has made sound decisions would hate to be him/her if the decision they have made is challenged and found lacking after the KC named the dogs - the issue of compensation rears its head when you are naming specific individuals as being unsound (without even detailing why) given the damage that does to a breeders reputation. Vetting at cat shows is totally different all animals are checked and animals are put out for pretty obvious things that could potentially affect any cats and may be contagious and have the potential to be transmitted to other cats at the show.

We do a bit of breed rescue - cat not dog - and we took on a cat last june. Was told the cat wasn't affectionate didn't bond with them etc. She had to be quarantined until we got her healthy and had all her tests so was in one of our big outside pens and since she was not staying we tried really hard to not get too attached to her (she was going back to her breeder) once everything was done. She is the loveliest little being. She is sweet, gets on well with everyone and wants to be with you though is in no way demanding. I can not for the life of me understand why they did not bond with her. However it did take her a long time to start really trusting again and for us to see just how special she is. She did come from a good breeder so was very well socialised before she went to her first home and that certainly helped her recover from being ignored/neglected. I just wish the people had asked for help sooner as she did not need to go through what she did. This is a rescue dog - he comes with baggage even is you don't know what that is, he needs time to settle and start trusting again. He may not have been reared/socialised in a way that makes it easy for him to fit in to your friends family. They need to give him one on one time if they want him to bond with them, you only get out what you are willing to put in. They need to help him learn to be the companion they want. Have to say if they aren't willing to put in the work and time he would be better off homed with someone that will give him the help/time he needs - he deserves to be where he is thought of as special.

Agree with this and am not surprised by Steve Austins's response - of course they would be happy if they are successfully training dogs to find so they can humanely destroy ferals. Sure as hell beats the use of 1080 baits or traps which cause anything but kind/quick deaths. I find this photo far less afronting then all the pics/tv shows relating to recreational fishing where it is seems to be totally OK to be cruel and let animals suffer.

OK wasn't going to comment but given it might take it to 30 pages here goes. I don't dislike kids but I do dislike the behaviour of some and do actively dislike parents that hold the view that whatever their little darling wants has to be given to them even if it impacts adversely on other people. I go to shows to spend time with friends and to listen to judges comments on my cats. I do not go for the public though I am happy to talk to people and show off my animals to people who seem genuinely interested and have basic manners (be they child or adult). I do not want kids with food in their hands or disgusting dirty hands touching my cats, I do not want kids who are clearly sick touching my animals (same goes for adults) I do not want kids sticking fingers or their toys into cages poking at my cats. I don't want their cages opened by parents so their little darling can get a better look or touch. And when I am out walking my dogs I do not want kids running up to them screaming, slapping at them or hitting them with whatever toy they have in their hand whilst their parents laugh at their antics. If parents don't want me to tell their child not to do something that is inappropriate, politely the first time and less politely if I have to say something again, I would suggest parents learn boundaries and start to realise that whilst their world might revolve around their child mine (and probably all those other people out there that they think dislike children) certainly doesn't. And I am so over kids in supermarkets whose parents just let them wander off to harass others and destroy property. Seriously think the stores should follow some of them around with a trolley and make the parents pay for all the product the kids have ruined often whilst the parents look on saying nothing or worse making the child put back a pack and get one from the back because their kids have drop, smashed, crushed it.

What a stunning dog so glad he is now OK, can't fathom people who would leave a guy like this .......and for a puppy????????

Woohoo congratulations

Pet Owners bring healthy pets in to be PTS every day too, are you suggesting that we sweep all this under the carpet and protect those that find it hard to deal with. Chances are if you frequent Vet Clinics then you will witness something gut wrenchingly sad. Accident victims being rushed in, elderly much loved companions making their final trip all very sad and often confronting situations. Totally agree with Crisover - have seen lots of death and injury at the vets. Have offered support to owners that needed it and have been given support in turn by strangers. Have also seen vets get owners to agree to surrender perfectly healthy dogs they no longer want to them rather than PTS. One of our current dogs we have because we wandered in on Christmas eve 2010 to say thank you and leave a card/wine and met a little dog who was so joyous about life despite his appalling condition. He had been brought in to be PTS as he was aggressive. We have had to deal with a reactive dog and he was not one - so he came home with us so we could get him back to health, give him some training (he had none was not even toilet trained). Its clear from this thread that others have rescued from the vets waiting room too. And IMO taking a pet to the vet because you no longer want it is an improvement on dumping it as there are worse things than death. Would prefer we lived in a world where this didn't happen at all but it does and it needs to be dealt with the best way possible. We also have a rescue grey and she is a wonderful dog who was thankfully rescued by greyhound rescue when she was dumped in a pound. I don't want to see the end of greyhound racing anymore than I want to see the end of horse racing, though I support neither and when younger did retrain several ex racehorses all of whom came to me in bad condition, but I do wish the bad trainers/owners could be weeded out.

Don't get a grey if you want a dog that doesn't take up much room Don't get a grey if you don't want a lap dog (well the front half sort of fits ) Don't get a grey if you want a dog that doesn't cover you in hair Don't get a grey if you want an independent dog as they love being with you Don't get a grey if you love your lawn Don't get a grey if you can't put things away (as they may vanish if left out particularly if its a treeasure like the car keys lol just ask my OH - keys were easily found where all the treasures are put - her bed) Don't get a grey if you don't like coating a dog in cold/wet weather Don't get a grey if you have a micro car

Poor girl - hope they can find out what is wrong and fix it. Doesn't sound like it has anything to do with her pyo and your right could have to do with the other injury she received. Thinking of you both and very glad she has you to check on her well being.

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Try posting on Cat World http://www.cat-world.com.au/forums/ quite a few Birman people on there maybe one of them will know some one looking for an adult cat or two.

Try your chemist we could get the oroxine much cheaper than from the vet. And our vet was happy to write scripts for us.

Sick to death of wandering cats (and dogs for that matter) killing every small animal that moves, peeing and crapping in inappropriate places, potentially being a vector for the spread of disease and parasites and adding to the feral population as many aren't even desexed in a timely fashion. Also not impressed that my cats and dogs get stressed by the wanderers. No more excuse for letting a cat wander than a dog, horse or anything else. You don't want to keep it inside fine then secure your yard so it stays at home. Also annoys me that we are getting limits put on the number of animals we can keep not because of responsible owners whose pets do not impact on others but because of irresponsible owners who let their animals roam, bark continuously etc. And I have taken wandering cats to the pound - and no doubt will do so again. These animals aren't lost they are continually allowed to roam the neighbourhood causing problems. They end up in the pound through their owners negligence. You want a pet you accept responsibility for it and you keep it under control.

Doesn't surprise me at all as its been going on for a very long time. Thirty years ago I was on a tour of an abbatoir and saw workers being incredible cruel in front of the people I was with so do not think cameras alone will work. Was very shocked that most just stood there and let it happen and I was told to be quiet when I made a fuss as the 2 guys involved might loss their job - seriously didn't care as I could not just stand there - foreman came to see what was happening and stopped it and sent the guys elsewhere. Most sickening part was the glee they were showing. Cameras will allow abbatoirs to target workers that can do with better animal handling skills and that would be a huge improvement. Also think some of the race and pen designs could be significantly improved to allow better movement of stock. Cameras would also allow those that just should not be left in control of anything that they can inflict pain on and get them out the door or in an ideal world get them the help they need.

I have had 2 dogs with hypothyroid issues - the first symptom in both was irratic/aggressive behaviour that was totally out of character. Some weight gain happened but poor coat/skin conditions did not as we identified and treated the problem. Is a full thyroid panel being done? Jean Dodds is very specific about correct testing for thyroid function as correct testing procedures are often not followed and incorrect results often result.

Jean Dodds has a book, released March 2011, called The Canine Thyroid Epidemic Answers you need for your dog. Really worth the read - if you have a kindle or kindle app on your computer it is immediately available for $9.99 from Amazon http://www.amazon.com/Canine-Thyroid-Epidemic-Answers-ebook/dp/B004XW9P8E/ref=tmm_kin_title_0?ie=UTF8&m=A24IB90LPZJ0BS&qid=1328702518&sr=8-2

We got a rescue grey from greyhound rescue http://greyhoundrescue.com.au/category/dogs-available/ in May last year - she is a lovely dog and ideal for us. We had a short wait for the right grey to be available but she was well and truley worth the wait. Wishing your friend well in her hunt.

From experience having a muzzle on a dog does not make people think twice before letting their kids run up to it screaming and try and hit it - go figure. And they are aggressively rude when the child is asked & then told to stop and they are told it is not OK to approach a dog like this. Its about what their kids want not what makes sense or is in the welfare of the child or the dog.

Woohoo go Alice - you must be over the moon with how those being shown from your last litter are doing.

Unfortunately unless you want your tiny dog torn to pieces in front of you what besides picking your dog up and standing your ground are your other options - my tiny man would stay with me because he thinks I will protect him. Really p's me off that it is no longer safe to go for a walk with a small dog - hope this poor girls sacrifice was worth it and her little dog made it through the attack. I have seen what two big dogs attacking a tiny dog do and its not pleasant as the little dog dies a truly horrible death and I can assure you it is not something you can ever forget.

Have you checked their thyroid function?

What a horrific experience - and what else would she do but try and protect her little dog. Standing still doesn't sound as though it would have stopped the attack happening I'm afraid, and I can't imagine throwing a treat would have helped either. I hope her arm does recover in the time frame they are talking about. And in my opinion her family should seek costs and lost income from the dogs owners. Makes you wonder how good the fencing was and if they were that reactive to some one walking passed with a dog it was a disaster waiting to happen - surely the owners knew they had issues? in which case you would make sure they were securely confined.