Swizzlestick

A tad off topic, but I know many families who have bought a Labrador because they are so calm and quiet and don't jump up. Many people see guide dogs/seeing eye dogs, and just assume they come trained and well behaved. They have since learnt the hard way, and sadly, so have some of their dogs.

Made me very very dizzy! Very cute, and he eventually grew into those gigantic ears of his.

Very sad indeed. Although, unfortunately it doesn't suprise me either. At work today we euthanased a lovely dog because he killed a chook. The chooks free range in the yard with the dog, and he decided to kill one for the first time yesterday. No attempt at all to try and separate them, just PTS the dog to "fix" the problem.

So pleased your girl has made a new friend. Might I add too, whippets are the BEST (no bias at all here )

The poor old fella, hope he recovers from this traumatic experience. I know the man was 83yo, but I think saying "he lost a significant amount of blood" is a bit of an exaggeration. A blood donation is 450ml and he is estimated to have lost 1/2L. Not what I would call significant. edited for spelling.

Clean Run, oh how I love thee..... Last time we ordered from Clean Run (a few months ago) we went a little over the top. I am addicted to their products, and their website too.

Isn't there a DOLer who had their GSD die on the way to the vet with a ball stuck in his throat? Can't remember if it was a Kong or a tennis ball though. I once saw a dog with over 1/2 of his tongue missing. He had his favourite ball at home in the backyard for months. One that had a hole in the middle (like a Kong, but was a different brand), and somehow he managed to get his tongue stuck in the hole. It must have been there for sometime when the owners got home from work and found him, as the circulation to the tongue was cut off and it was already black in colour. So there was no other choice but to amputate the dead part. He recovered very well though, and the owners are just thankfull he lived.

Many thanks to everyone who replied. Will take everyones comments on board.

Hi folks, Just wondering if anyone would care to share feedback on Vern Ryans Pet Resort (both as a boarding facility and trainer). Thanks in advance.

Correct. I've seen numerous videos of alive animals being skun. One of the most shocking was a raccoon. And also a dog on a pile (a pile of animals all who had been skun alive) who lifted his head and was looking around.

It's sickening. I can't imagine what these poor animals that get smuggled go through. Just awful.

I also just came across a scary ad. Person looking for male husky to mate with their female. The bitch was booked in to be desexed, but then came into season. The owner saw this as a sign the bitch really wanted to have pups, hence the looking for a male.

These dogs are incredible. I've watched it about 5 times in a row now. They look to be enjoying themselves too which I love.

To be honest, no I don't think he needs to go to the vet. As you've said above, he may have a bit of diarrhoea over the next 24hrs. Let him drink water, but I'd not feed him anything else tonight, and wait until this time tomorrow night to feed him a small meal. Then if all is fine, a normal dinner for him on Thursday night.

Poor bloody dog. I just don't get how someone could do this. One might choose not to feed a premium diet to their dog, but it really doesn't take much food (even the cheaper stuff) to keep a dogs meat on his bones. I want to strangle some people!

I worked in the Canine Blood Bank for 5 years. The greyhounds used donate once a month, and retire through GAP if they are suitable. Most private practices bleed greys that come in for euthanasia, so they have blood on hand when a dog needs it. The clinic I work in now does. Each greyhound is sedated before the procedure, one unit of whole blood is collected, then the dog is euthanased. In the whole time I've been a vet nurse, I've never seen a dog bled to the point of collapse (as mentioned in a previous post). Just one unit (450mls) is collected, then the dog is either euthanased or goes home with his owner. Hope that explains it a bit more. Feel free to ask more questions if you like. Sir WJ, you'll be very pleased to know that things have changed a bit out at W'bee :-). All the greyhounds now only stay in the colony for a limited time. Six weeks before their time is up, students are allocated a dog each and are required to put the dog through a sort of fostering program. The dog will be taught basic obedience, good social skills, how to walk up and down stairs etc. He will then come to GAP. Every single greyhound that is in the colony at W'bee now ends up at GAP :-). Really?? Oh that has really made my day. So pleased to hear they all have a second chance. I miss working with the hounds.

Sorry to butt in on your thread, but just wanted to say to fiona mills, your three whippet is gorgeous. What an adorable face he has. :D

Thank you for the compassion and sympathy you show to these dogs, a small kindness that they deserve but often dont get. I think it is a far more fitting end to a noble hound than being shot and dumped in the bush, at least it is not completely pointless. Thanks for you kind words Robbi. It's hard enought to end any dogs life, but it used to be so much harder having to euthanase a long term blood donor who wasn't suitable for GAP. I'd spend every day with them for a 2-3 years, then have to euthanase them. Sad thing was, they trusted me to do anything to them. Then one day, they'd come in for a donation, and not leave again. I'd cry for days after having to euth one of them.

I get sad too. Each one that comes in gets a can of yummy cat food before they leave for the bridge, and a quiet talk and cuddles. This might sound corny, but I say a little thankyou to them too, for their donation. I think the reason there aren't more blood banks is the huge cost to run it. As well as the APVMA fees etc. Canine Blood Products are registered just like any other veterinary drug these days, and to say this is time consuming and expensive is an understatement.

I worked in the Canine Blood Bank for 5 years. The greyhounds used donate once a month, and retire through GAP if they are suitable. Most private practices bleed greys that come in for euthanasia, so they have blood on hand when a dog needs it. The clinic I work in now does. Each greyhound is sedated before the procedure, one unit of whole blood is collected, then the dog is euthanased. In the whole time I've been a vet nurse, I've never seen a dog bled to the point of collapse (as mentioned in a previous post). Just one unit (450mls) is collected, then the dog is either euthanased or goes home with his owner. Hope that explains it a bit more. Feel free to ask more questions if you like.

Question for those against the practice. Do you object to a dog being used as a blood donor before being euthanased?

I'm a bit shocked anyone would even consider debarking a pup that squealed for 1hr a day. Just a tad drastic IMO.

Deleted.

Not sure what the fuss is really. I didn't say they bought a 6wo pup and put him out all night etc. I was just trying to give an example of what "some" people do, and that not much surprises me anymore as a result of all the things I've seen.

They can still blow in the time it takes you to move the animal if they have friable veins. I know they can, but the chances of this happening are very low (if taped in correctly) compared to blowing the vein during venepuncture.