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All the dogs (x6) have free run of the house and yard during the day when I'm home - I work from home, so this is most of the time. If I go out, it's usually only for a couple of hours or so and they are locked into the house; the three seniors and the best behaved junior in the main part of the house and the two naughtiest juniors in another large room, but with a gate that they can all see and hear each other. At night they're all inside the house, only let outside for toilet breaks before bedtime, then inside to sleep until morning.

Oh, I am so very relieved to hear that news! Wish she could have come to us, but hope her new home treats her with all the pampering and love she deserves.

I so hope so and am sending all my positive energies towards her. I would desperately love to adopt her and give her a furever home, unfortunately I just can't afford the bust-out fee, transport and vet work involved at the moment after having taken another golden oldie out of the shelter a couple of weeks ago. It breaks my heart seeing the oldies in pounds/shelters. What the hell is wrong with people that they can just dump/not claim a loyal family member who has been with them for so many years? When our (10 year old) pom went missing in early August (RIP) we pulled out every single stop in an effort to find her - I would have paid all the money I had and more to have her back.

Didn't see your post when I was typing, you are obviously much closer, if it doesn't pan out, perhaps I could look at being backup?

I will, Rosetta. I didn't mean to sound cold and counting costs, just we took on another little senior rescue dog two weeks ago and have spent a fortune on him getting him back to health (also dental, plus skin problems) and it has left me rather financially strapped with mortgage due next week.

Oh Unfortunately that's just too far outside my budget for the next couple of weeks

I don't know if it's possible, but I would gladly adopt her. I'm in Qld, near Toowoomba. My darling 10 year old pom was lost to us last month and we miss her desperately. We have a 10 year old chihuahua girl who is also desperately missing her "sister" who she spent every moment with since she was a pup. I could give this little girl a forever home for the rest of her days, she would be an inside doggy and sleep on my bed. I can travel to Brisbane or the Gold Coast to collect her, if it's possible to get her that far?

Mobic is the human equivalent of Metacam. Yes, but we found it was a lot cheaper using Mobic than Metacam.

Our old GSD was on cartrophen, fish oil, glucosamine and prescription med Mobic (a human med, you can get it from the vet as well), plus ocassionally Tramadol during the winter when his hips were bad (also a human med). It made a world of difference to his mobility, so much so, he still wanted to play fetch right up until the end.

Very interesting discussion. We clipped our tiny little pomeranian every summer (SE Qld) and let her coat grow back for winter. It wasn't for a grooming issue (she was brushed every evening when her coat was long), but in an attempt to keep her cool in the hot summers. She was a very active little dog, always running around and loved playing fetch. She was a much happier dog with a short coat. I've always admired the husky/malamute breeds, such good looking dogs, but thought I would never be able to own one as it would be cruel to keep such a thick coated dog in a hot Qld summer?

Thank you, everyone, for your condolences. Her loss is very, very hard to bear. We also have our little 10 year old Chihuahua (her "sister") who is fretting dreadfully. They have been together since eight week old pups. So hard, because we now know what has happened, but of course Pixie LuluBelle does not. I am giving her lots of love and attention, and she is coming with me in the car whenever I can take her (i.e. if I don't have to stop and park anywhere), but she's still moping. I took her for a walk along the creek today (used to take her with Smudge most days and they loved it), but she wanted to go back home half way through. I guess only time can heal both our wounds.

Donatella, just wanted to let you know that we did go up to the RSPCA and it was the little dog from the pound that I thought it was. So at least that little one will be rehomed, hopefully soon.

RIP Smudge We went searching again today and found Smudge's remains. We believe it was the Dingo that got her. Without getting too graphic, there was very little left, but enough to identify her. We are absolutely devastated, but at the same time I am grateful to have some resolution and also the knowledge that it would be have extremely quick and that some low-life bastard didn't have her. It is so very bittersweet, because whilst I was in agony thinking of what she could be going through, at the same time not finding her meant there was still some hope of having her back. Now I know I will never again be able to cuddle my little girl Thank you so much to everyone who offered their kind wishes/advice/shared her on facebook. It really did help to know that we had your support and assistance during this most dreadful week.

Hi Donatella, Thank you. I was at both the pound and the RSPCA this morning (as I have been every morning), and pretty sure I know the little doggie they mean (so glad it's out of the pound, horrible place for it to be), but I'll go up in the morning to check for sure. It's so heartbreaking visiting the pound and RSPCA, not just because they haven't got my girl, but I just want to take all the poor lost doggies home. The little ones especially seem so terrified to be in there.

Hi everyone, Still no news, no sightings, nothing. I went searching in the bush where I saw the dingo and could see lots of dog/dingo tracks, but nothing of Smudge and didn't sight the dingo. I didn't think to take another dog (I have other, larger dogs) - to be honest I'd be scared of them getting bitten by a snake, but I might take one over there tomorrow on a leash, then at least he couldn't go racing off and get bitten or attacked if the dingo is around. I'm not giving up hope, I put some more signs up today and will go out this evening again and put some more up. I was bashing them into the ground on stakes, but broke so many stakes I decided it would be easier to screw them to power poles, so have come home to dismantle them so I can go out later and screw them up instead. Thanks for the story, Dogmad, I know that dogs do get found months and sometimes even years later. I guess I'm just not very hopeful because she is so tiny and we are rural with lots of bush, snakes, eagles, and now I know, dingos. If she was a larger dog I would have more hope, but she is so tiny the only way she could possibly still be alive is if someone has picked her up. Obviously if someone has picked her up, they don't have good intentions or I would have her back by now, so I can only pray that it is someone who loves animals and will treat her well and perhaps a chance spotting might see her home. I will do some more facebooking this evening, by now if she was picked up realistically she could be absolutely anywhere in Australia, so now that most of my local area has been covered, facebook is probably the best way to reach a "larger audience", as it were. Thank you to everyone for keeping her in your thoughts. She is such a special little dog (I know they all are, but she was the light of my life, and such a little character). I miss her so very badly.

Hi everyone, Thank you for keeping Smudge in your thoughts. She is still missing. After the phonecall last night, I have been told by a number of people they believe there is a dog fighting ring operating in a nearby suburb, so of course I have been thinking the very worst. She is definately not on the property, I have checked and rechecked and rechecked. I thought I heard her again today, rushed outside and realised it was a magpie. Cried and cried. Late this afternoon I went walking along the road again, directly opposite from our driveway a dingo ran out of the bush and back again (we are rural). I think there is every chance the Dingo may have taken Smudge. I am going into the bush where I saw the Dingo tomorrow (have arranged someone to come with me) as even though I know she would not be alive, I am desperate for some closure if the worst has happened. I would rather she was taken by the dingo, which would have been very quick, than for these scum of the earth dog fighters to have gotten hold of her. The local neighbourhood watch lady, who is excellent, and the local police are trying to build some firm details about this dog ring, but when I went to the Toowoomba police this morning they said they had heard rumours, but basically weren't interested until someone gave them some firm evidence. I have plastered flyers, posters, at every pub, shop, stockfood store, vet, has a colour notice. I have put a flyer in every letterbox in our 40km long street and almost all of the sidestreets off it. I made 10 huge signs today which I am going to put on the major highways close to us tomorrow morning. I already have two massive signs outside our front gate. I'm not very good at facebook, but have been putting it up as much as I can. I see she is dropping down below on some of the facebook pages - is there anyway of bumping her up, or do I just "post" her again?

Thanks everyone, Still no news, unfortunately. Have been out again all day today, delivering more flyers, putting up more signs, listing on websites, etc. Had a couple of false leads, so difficult, gets your heart racing, then bitter disappointment. Had an awful phonecall tonight from an older fellow in a suburb about 20 mins away, also lost his small dog the week before, reckons there is a dog fighting ring in the area. I cried and cried after I hung up. It is so awful, I keep thinking I can hear her, rush to the door and of course she is not there. I will not give up and will keep hoping for a miracle. thank you so much everyone for keeping her in your thoughts and sharing on facebook, etc.

No, not at all ill, she is actually incredibly sprightly and puppy-like for 10. Because she is so tiny, she is often mistaken for a puppy, although she looks rather like a miniature red panda now, as she has grey "glasses" around her eyes and a grey muzzle. She is exceptionally cute and I can just imagine someone picking her up and keeping her because she has the most beautiful nature.

Thank you so much Bertie for the facebook page with Smudge and also to everyone else who has "shared" her... the more people who know, the better the chances of finding her. I have to accept that there is a possibility a snake or eagle may have got her, but I think that is a very outside chance. Our house yard is fully dog fenced and I don't think a snake could fit back through the fence if it had eaten her and we have free range chooks that have never been taken by an eagle (or anything else) - also I believe she would have screamed in either instance. I have to believe I will see her again... just have to, this is tearing me apart.

Thanks guys, managed to figure out how to post on the various groups' facebooks - I couldn't do it before, 'cos I wasn't logged in - my brain is very mushy at the moment. Thanks for the m/cycle idea, we drove down around there yesterday, but will "facebook" it now (now that I am a facebook expert...!)

Hi everyone, Just an update to say that so far, no news Have delivered fliers to all the vets, noticeboards, shops, etc today that weren't open over the weekend, also the pound, RSPCA again. The other closest pound was closed today, so will go there tomorrow. A couple of people mentioned they had seen her on facebook, so a great big thank you to everyone who shared. I don't "do" facebook, so no idea how it works, a few groups have said I am welcome to "post" on their facebook page, but I don't know how - so if anyone can help me with some simple instructions, I'd be grateful. I do have a facebook account, but have never used it, so can sign in, but helpless from there.

Just taking a break from flyer deliveries - thank you for the sign on front fence idea, will put that up. We're on Murphys Creek Road, just past Spring Bluff if coming from the New England Highway, or just before Spring Bluff if coming from the Warrego Highway. Her name is Smudge, she will also come to Moo Moo, Monster, Munchkin. She is a very friendly little dog, I can only think she may have squeezed out through the gate, wandered up the driveway and someone's picked her up. My husband thinks maybe as she is so tiny a hawk or snake may have taken her, but surely she would have screamed out (she is very vocal)? Doing all we can today, but limited because of the weekend. Have contacted all the emergency vets, tomorrow am going to visit all the other vets with flyers, also community noticeboards, anywhere I can think of where people may see a sign about her.

Thank you. My name is Amanda my numbers are 07 4630 5505 or 0400 425 900. We have delivered 1000 flyers so far, plus put up on noticeboards. Will phone all the vets, visit the pound, schools, as many places as I can think of tomorrow that are not open today. I just cannot accept that I may never see her again.

Thanks everyone. I'm not on facebook, but have done everything else suggested. We are up early this morning for another thorough search of the property before going to get some more flyers printed and do a letterbox drop. There are 1700 houses in our (long, rural) street alone. Will also go up to the RSPCA in case she has been handed in there. I have listed her on the RSPCA lost/found, as well as everywhere else I can think of, local vets, etc, including the local radio stations. I am beside myself with worry, she is my heart dog and such a tiny little munchkin, she won't survive long by herself. I just hope a "good samaritan" has picked her up and we'll get her back. It's the not knowing that is so very hard.

Sorry the photo is so large, I don't know how to resize it?