Baby Dragon

I think he still looks really cute :D

:D

Roxy looks like a lovely pup :D

Tonight

Jasper traumatised after saving owner Holly

May 14, 2010 8:27PM

JASPER is more than a lifeline for vision-impaired Irene Submera. He is a lifesaver.

The guide dog prevented Ms Submera suffering more serious injuries when he pulled his owner back as a car was about to hit her on a pedestrian crossing.

But the trauma almost cost Jasper his job.

Ms Submera was badly hurt when the car came around a corner and knocked her off her feet.

"I felt him move in a different direction and pull me back. I do believe he saved my life," Ms Submera said.

She suffered several serious fractures requiring surgery and spent five weeks in rehabilitation after the accident in early March.

Ms Submera will require further treatment, but she is just as concerned about the psychological effect on her much-loved labrador, and fears he may longer be able to work.

"He is such a sunny-natured dog. He's very flirty, he loves people," Ms Submera said.

"He has always loved working - you would pull his harness off the hook and he would bound into it, as if he was saying 'Oh good, another adventure'."

But after the accident, Jasper shied away from the harness and showed signs of stress.

While Ms Submera remained in hospital, five-year-old Jasper returned to Guide Dogs Victoria for an intensive assessment and some retraining.

Justin Marshall, of Guide Dogs Victoria, said Jasper had obviously been shaken by the accident, but responded well to retraining.

"We have been able to boost his confidence back up," Mr Marshall said.

Jasper returned home to Ms Submera when she was discharged from rehabilitation three weeks ago.

But Mr Marshall said the retraining would continue to ensure Jasper had no further anxiety issues.

"We will be taking Jasper for another week soon so that we can walk him through different travel routes, including the intersection where Irene was hit," Mr Marshall said.

"It's better for us to do that with Jasper, because if Irene feels any anxiety at that intersection then Jasper will pick that up - the bond between the two of them is so strong."

Mr Marshall said he expected Jasper, who was not physically injured, would make a full psychological recovery.

Ms Submera said she was extremely grateful to the organisation and wanted to keep working with Jasper, who has been with her for four years.

"We have such a good rapport, we are a team," she said.

Ms Submera has received a payout from the TAC, and her lawyer Stuart LeGrand, of Slater and Gordon, has urged motorists to show greater viligance.

Mr Marshall said it cost up to $30,000 to train a guide dog, and Guide Dogs Victoria then provided support for the lifetime of the animal.

"But what a dog like Jasper provides is priceless," he said.

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/victoria/...x-1225866988334

140 now

I don't know if this article is written by some one who has not done much research but in Greece unless a stray is dying anyway they will not euth the strays and instead vaccinae, flea treat, desex and leave food and water out for them. They put special collars on them and they tend to belong to the community, ts really sweet.

Wow!! That's really lovely

Baby Dragon, I hope you don't mind me asking, but what is your exact definition of "all natural"?

Most things are "natural" depending on your interpretation of it (they all have a source from somewhere). Just because something is "all natural" doesn't mean it is safe either - there's a number of totally 100% natural things on this Earth that will kill you quite thoroughly dead

I suppose when you twist it like that, almost anything can be classified as 'all natural' because like you said, everthing has to come from somewhere

What I was meaning was that there's quite a difference between a product containing hospital grade disinfectant and synthetic fragrances and a product with natural disinfecting properties and natural fragrances such as essential oils. I would consider the second product to have natural ingredients, but not the first

Obviously both products would be useful but for different things

I heard back from them.

They said Penetrator Plus has a disinfectant in it, it's a surface spray and they said it's not recommended as an airbourne spray. They didn't specify if it was all natural or not, but it sounds like it's not

They said the Ozona Odour Neutraliser spray is an air freshener and doesn't contain disinfectant. I'm not sure if it's all natural or not, they didn't specify.

That video was so cute!!!

Thanks, I just had a look Some of the covers on that website look really nice!

I must have a really weird sized trampoline bed because the width of those covers are still too small...

The bed is 44" x 33" (or 111.8cm x 83.8cm)

I've just measured the trampoline bed and it looks like the Wooly Cover and Multi Mat won't fit anyway

The bed is 840mm wide and the largest size of their covers is 780mm wide I wonder if the cover could still be attached, or are there any good alternatives to Snooza? I'm after something that's a bit cushiony and/or soft, it's a present for my Lab for her birthday

I'm looking for a nice soft cover for a trampoline bed. I've heard good things about Snooza products and I was wondering if anyone has their Wooly Cover http://www.snooza.com.au/products/woolly-cover.shtml or Multi Mat? http://www.snooza.com.au/products/multi-mat.shtml

Also, if anyone has any Snooza product would you please tell me which sort of fabric you chose (eg velboa, mock lambswool etc) and whether the fabric 'sheds'?

It's a good move taking her to the vet, hopefully it's nothing too serious and the vet can put your mind at ease

Baby Dragon why don't you call them and ask them about it?

I emailed them

I still don't understand how it can be a "totally natural" disinfectant? Unless its disinfecting properties are white vinegar or something?

If it's not totally natural then maybe it's not such a great idea to spray it around indiscriminantly as an air freshener and use it as a rinse on dogs etc.

Also, I make things with essential oils and I don't understand how scents like talc can be totally natural? Essential oils come from plants and plant products.

Maybe all of these things can be explained, and if so great, because I'd love to try the product. I couldn't find my answers on the website.

Maybe somebody from the manufactoring company or retailer can join this thread and explain it, and other questions people have about purchasing the product? They're obviously reading this thread.

There's a video of Dr Chris Brown talking about this on The Circle. http://ten.com.au/the-circle-pets-in-cafes.htm

I'm not sure that boots would be the answer, it sounds like there might be an underlying problem... but I definitely recommend Ruffwear Griptrex boots if you're going to get boots! Make sure he has socks on too because they can cause blisters otherwise.

That makes sense, thank you I thought it was really unusual, but it sounds like it's a common thing.

Thanks for the replies

Leg cocking is often considerd to be a learned behaviour. Has he spent time recently with other dogs that cock?

Nope!! Only with my female dog who doesn't cock.

He doesn't cock at home, he's only started doing it when we are out.

Hi all

Is there a reason why my 4 1/2 year old desexed dog who has always squatted to pee, would suddenly start lifing his leg?

I think he was desexed at around 6 months old.

It's no biggie, but I'm just curious

Gidget gives dogs a lesson

Kylie Reghenzani

Friday, April 23, 2010

© The Cairns Post

INSTEAD of going to market, this little piggy has a much better life mingling with dogs.

Gidget, a three-month-old piglet, has been attending training sessions at the Association of Australian Assistance Dogs (NQ) at Mareeba for the past three weeks as a training distraction for the dogs.

And the pig’s owners and assistance volunteers believe it could be a worldfirst for a pig to help canines in training.

Owners Sarah Plowman-Ah Chee and her husband, Lester, said the piglet was flown from Gympie to be given to their son, Augustine, as a baptism gift.

Gidget shares her Mareeba home with a horse named Beth, a pony named Tony, silky rooster Ralph, Penny the hen and a goat named Mona Lisa.

The piglet will grow to the size of a small staffy and her favourite fruit is rockmelon as well as being fed on mixed grain and milk.

Ms Plowman-Ah Chee said the piglet understands she has rest and play time and slips into different modes when she has to work with the dogs.

“She’s really playful,” Ms Plowman-Ah Chee said.

“Augustine and her will grow up together and become really good mates.”

Mr Ah Chee said when Gidget was introduced to the other animals, they were puzzled as to who this new character was.

“Tony the Pony is quite old and set in his ways and Gidget comes along and thinks she can eat Beth’s food,” Mr Ah Chee said.

“She was teasing the pony and he came behind her, kicked her and she rolled sideways about five times then landed on her feet.

“She’s such a funny character.”

Director of training Liz Oehm said she had always wanted to train a pig and it taught the assistance dogs to work with an unusual distraction.

She said pigs had been used in training for other animals but in Australia it was definitely a first for a pig to be in training with about 10 dogs.

“They (dogs) just think she’s another one of them except she snorts,” Ms Oehm said.

“Pigs smell differently to dogs and are very, very smart"

http://www.cairns.com.au/article/2010/04/2...local-news.html

Gosh some of the comments on there aren't very nice

Hi Lexy's Dad, it's lovely that you posted. I'm so glad to know that you're ok!!!

Lexy must be such a wonderful dog

ROFL