Danielle

These dogs killed another dog! How many chances do they deserve? They didn't just bite it or rush it, they ripped it apart! Far out. So what if they get out again and kill another dog? What then? Blame the owners again and let the dogs off for a second time? They killed this dog guys, they have proven that they are dangerous, I hope they are both put down, and not because they deserve it, purely to get them out of the community, we cannot have dogs like these roaming our suburban streets. Sorry but once a dog KILLS another dog it needs destroying. And all this crap about seeing the jrt as a prey item...come on, give me a break, it was a dog, they knew it was a dog, but they still killed it. I highly doubt it that they mistook it for a bunny, dogs are not stupid, they knew what they were doing. They ripped it out if that womans hands. This also shows what little regard they have for humans, to ignore this ladies screams and to take her dog out of her arms and kill it. Dogs like that go on to do far worse things.

Assistance dogs are also for ppl with epilepsy. You don't have to be confined to a wheelchair to have an assistance dog. One of the dogs here is a fully trained therapy dog and we can take her anywhere. Took her to the airport to see off a family member and they tried stopping us. Pulled out the dogs ID and was allowed straight thru. Even took her to the restaurant upstairs. Point is, it is part of her training, we need to take her to crowded public places to expose her to different situations. So even a therapy dog is allowed anywhere but a restaurants kitchen, same goes for assistance dogs.

Thanks t. I've told her the story of the rainbow bridge and she seems to take comfort from it but still cries. She gets a bit upset as she still misses our BC Scrappy who was pts in 2008. But I've told her that Abbi and scrappy will take care of one another. Poor little bugger asked if it will hurt Abbi to die and it broke my heart. I told her no, it will be like falling asleep. I think it's hard for kids to fully understand death and comprehend it, so they get panicked. I'll just do my best for her and keep reminding her that she has Sophie (her toy poodle) who she can still play with and cuddle. Sophie is amazing with lili, they are glued to one another and joined at the hip. That little dog absolutely adores her and I'm glad we have her, she will be lilis biggest comfort I think.

Thanks guys. You are all so incredibly kind and supportive, I'll need dol very much when she does go to the bridge. You guys are the only ones who even have the faintest idea of what I'm feeling, my family tell me to get over it and harden up....it's just a dog. So not what I need right now. Well she ate yesterday for the first time in days, she woke up looking sprightly and obviously feeling a bit better and asked me for her breakfast. I was hesitant to feed her as I worried she would just chuck it ip again but she didn't. She devoured the whole lot and wagged her tail. She also went outside and spent some time with the pack which is something she hasn't done in ages. This is what I meant in my earlier post about her going up and down, she always seems to bounce back from the brink. I'll monitor her over the next few days, if she crashes again I'll make the decision. As someone else said, don't plan it just promise that the next crash will be it. I've now made that promise and will stick to it, I won't set a day. I'll try to spend as much time with her as I can as I know it won't be long till she goes downhill again. We have spoken to our little girl and she is prepared. It breaks my heart to see her cry for Abbi but there is not much I can do at this point. Thanks for the kind words and support, it means a lot to me.

No offense intended, but if you are coming to this country to start a business, learn the language and the law! I'm sorry but I'm so sick of hearing excuses from ppl who refuse to educate themselves. Ignorance is no excuse. Saw something on tv a week ago with someone from a culturally different background who had opened up a fast food joint. Health inspectors were appalled at the filthy conditions of the kitchen and temporarily shut the place down. The mans excuse was that this is how it's done in his country and his shop would be considered clean back home. Sorry buddy but you aren't back home...abide by our laws or don't have a shop! Simple! I cannot imagine a westerner being allowed to get away with things like this in the east, so why allow it over here? This country and it's laws need to harden up. And this goes for anyone, Aussie or not, abide by the bloody laws. Hope this woman sues the pants off these ppl.

How long the fence was damaged and who is to blame has no bearing on what should be done. These dogs KILLED another dog on leash and attacked the owner of said dog. They need to be destroyed, case closed. Then ppl can play the blame game. These dogs are not fit to live in society, they have proven it.

Thx for the support guys. I just tried to feed her some meat again but she threw it up again. She seems mildly interested in food but can't hold it down for more than ten seconds. She normally eats like a bottomless pit, she's a cattle dog need I say more. She is back on the couch now looking miserable. Bloody hell this is really upsetting. And yes Jed, it's hard when the emotions get in the way, I'm an emotional person at the best of times so im kinda freaking out at the moment. I'll take your advice Jed and see how she goes today then get her seen to tmrw if need be.

Abbi has gone downhill quite rapidly over the holidays and I think it may be time for her to go to sleep. I'm still wrestling with the idea of going ahead with it and need some advice. She is ten, has a brain tumor, bad heart, fused back and more. She was tested for cushings a while back and we never really got a definitive answer. She is a very stoic old bugger and does not show her pain, but I see it. She is pretty much glued to the couch these days, is rattly when she breathes and sore and stiff. She was on metacam for pain but is now on heavy dose tramal. She goes up and down so I have put off giving her her wings, just when I think it's time she bounces back and acts like a puppy again so I put it off. But yesterday she refused meat and still won't eat. She did eat a schmacko but threw it up again. Yet half an hour before had been chasing our remote control car and having fun. It's so hard to make this call as she does seem sick and ready to go but yet still surprises me with a burst of energy and spunk every now and then. Usually if I mention the word car she goes ballistic but I only got a wagging tail this morning when I asked her if she wanted to go for a ride. She wouldn't even get off the couch, just layed there and wagged her tail at me. I don't want to leave it too late and regret it but how can I make this decision when she still displays signs of happiness and vigour? It's so incredibly hard. My hubby and I are taking her to the vet tmrw if she does not buck up today and get her checked out. If it looks like she won't come good I'll have her put down. My heart is breaking, she is my heart dog and my best friend, she has been my rock thru all the hard times and occasionally my only reason for being here. This dog means the world to me and I owe it to her to do the right thing and put aside my feelings for her benefit. I will not be selfish with this. Has anyone else had to do something like this? How did you know when the time was right? How did you cope without guilt, or is guilt and self doubt something that is unavoidable? Buggered if I know. Please no flaming, just couldn't cope with that right now. Just need a bit of advice and support I spose.

Also, my 18month old male STD poo is the mother of my 5yo male toy poo! Bloody hilarious!

I've mentioned this in another thread but it still baffles me. A guy told me my red smithy was actually a dingo and that I mustve docked her. When I denied this he argued the point. Yep that's right, I mustve forgotten docking my dingo. I had a lady in the street tell me my STD Poo was actually a labradoodle, I tried telling her he is a pedigree STD poo but she was adamant the breeder lied to me. She told me poodles grow "pompoms" and don't have a long coat (he was in a puppy show clip)......I'm a groomer, I really should know these things! Lol!

Forgot to mention the horses are getting new tough buckets and some horse toys and balls!

Sophie got a new collar. Ned is getting squeaky toys. Elliott is getting a new kong. Abbi got a new bowl with "the boss" written on it. I might get her a thundershirt too, although she really only deserves coal this year, naughty little chomper!

Too late by then- the bugs are in his bloodstream..and making a beeline for any wounds which may be still healing!! BL**dy men! Yep I know. I tried guilting him into it, "I'm worried, upset etc" but he won't budge. He is the most stubbornest old codger I've ever known. He was fully aware of what Abbi is like and still risked it. He shouldve told me he was coming over to WS the yard and I couldve locked her up, but no, he's too clever for that. It's frustrating because now I'm terrified he's gonna get sick from it. Haven't mentioned it yet, but he broke the femur below the prosthesis a few weeks after the hip replacement and that's why he was bed ridden for so long. Decided to go hooning on his bike on his property three weeks after the surgery. Clever boy hey?

He has promised to see a dr if it gets too sore or infected etc. I've harped at him all day and gone to check on him twice. It looks sore as hell. He's milking it of course and got a nice shoulder rub out of me, old bugger knows how to guilt me into anything, lol. Just wish it never happened, I'll never get that image out of my head of her latching onto him.

Yes, she's my sick one. I'll call a behaviourist like pers said and see what they recommend. Hopefully the old man won't be so blazay (sp?) around her anymore. now to get him to see a dr.

Thanks pers, I'll try to talk him into seeing the dr. Abbi is 10 and has a tumour (brain) but can still go hard like the young ones. I don't think it's the cancer that making her do this as she has always acted like this around machinery, even as a youngster. She has had full obedience training and used to do agility before her back and legs got bad. Do you think it's worth doing some further training considering she has only a limited amount of time left with us? I'll call the vet and see if they can recommend a behaviorist. It's probably worth a shot hey.

Abbi (smithy) has always had an issue with machinery or elec tools, mowers, whipper snippets etc. She has in the past bitten my hubby when he was mowing etc so we are pretty vigilant with keeping her secure whilst using motorized equipment. Today my dad came down to our place with his whipper snipper to do some work, (he is getting over a hip replacement and is taking every opportunity to get out and do some work as he was bed ridden for so long). Anyways I didn't hear him come thru the gate, just heard the WS start up. Abbi was inside with me but my poodles were in the yard. I raced out to get the poodles and bring them in but Abbi squeezed thru the door, sprinted towards dad and attacked his leg. I feel so incredibly responsible and awful! We checked his leg, four puncture marks and quite a lot of blood. He is up to date for tetanus etc but won't go see a dr as he is one of "those" types...man of steel, you know. I'm not sure what the point of this post is, I just feel so terrible for my poor old dad and I just wish Abbi would not behave like this. In every other situation she is an angel, but start up a mower and ur fair game. I feel so sad, i can't stop crying. Poor dad, he took it like a trooper, it was me who was bloody hysterical. God I feel like crap.

We moved to a new property about three months ago and ever since our dogs have been devouring grass like it's going out of fashion. They are still on the same diet they have always been on, they seem to be acting normally and toileting normally, it's just the level of grass they are eating is concerning me. All four of them are doing it and are eating it like it's steak, full on hoing down on it like a bunch of bovines! I reckon they are eating a few handfuls each per sitting, it's a bit unsettling. Our water is different out here, we are on rain water and used to be on bore water. Could that have something to do with it? They are on vitamin supps so I'm assuming it's not a deficiency. What could make all four dogs turn into lawn mowers? I'm considering a vet visit to be sure everything is ok. Could it be as simple as they like the taste of the different grass out here ?

What is a Maltese terrier?

Oh good, just checking. I hope we haven't scared the OP away, id like to see how this story turns out. Hope it turns out well for the dog involved.

I hope this post was not directed at me GM. We dont even know how long the OP has had this dog, she might just be afraid of the new environment, she may have been mistreated in the past, we just dont know the ins and outs of what is going on. There could be a myriad of reasons as to why this dog is behavind timidly. Personally I think the OP should give her a little time to calm down and adjust to her new environment before even considering putting her down. Ive worked in rescue aswell and I do understand that there are a lot of dogs that are really not worth saving as they will never adjust....they are too far gone. But I dont agree with jumping the gun and putting her down just yet. She really needs to be assessed by someone in the know to suss out how suitable she is to being rehomed. And the original owners have yet to sign this dog over formally, so to PTS now could get the OP in trouble should the original owners come knocking to get their dog back.

Why put her down? I never got the impression the dog was so timid it was suffering. There are plenty of timid dogs around that lead happy healthy lives. She may be timid because she was abandoned, is pregnant, and is in a new home with strangers. I disagree that this dog should be put down. As stated peviously, this dog does not belong to the OP so it would be against the law to PTS anyways.

Oh Souff, that last post of yours made me break down, you have a wonderful way with words. Sitting here at the computer crying. Im so sad for you Newfsie and Toby. I cannot add anything further to what Souff has said, but I can offer you my deepest sympathy. Take each and every day as it comes and enjoy him, he sure is a beautiful baby. I know I will have to face this myself very soon, my beloved Smithfield "Abbi" has a brain tumour and will soon be joining my Border at the Rainbow Bridge. It is very hard to see them go downhill everyday, but I thank god that i am aware she is going, I have had time to adjust and be at peace with what the future holds. I lost my border very quickly and had no time to deal with it so it was a lot harder. Spoil him and give him everything, that is what Im doing with my girl, there are no rules for her anymore, she eats what she wants, sleeps where she wants and we are joined at the hip 24/7 now. She comes in the car everyday, eats roast chook, enjoys my pillows and gets massages every night. I kiss her face all the time, no matter if she is muddy, slobbery or stinky. We move around her now, she is the center of attention and the heart of the house. She is really enjoying her time left with us. Sending you and Toby big hugs from me and my pack. Take care and keep us up to date with how he is. Danni. xxx

I was thinking exactly the same thing. The argument that you thought something had been 'abandoned' and as a result you decided to keep it will never stand up in the eyes of the law. Even worse is entering (tresspassing) on someone elses property to remove that 'thing'. Just because the 'thing' is a dog does not make the law any different. The first thing that someone needs to do in this situation is to alert authorities that they beleive the dog (or property) has been abandoned. There is a particular legal process that needs to occur if the owner can not be contacted. If there is contact with the former owner, the owner needs to SIGN OVER the dog in writing (if they will not sign over for whethever reason, including can't be bothered, then the legal process regarding abandonment needs to occur). Without the cover of this legal process there is nothing stopping the owner returning to claim the dog and/or the puppies or to sue for money lost as a result of the sale or rehoming of the pups (i.e. "I could have sold the pups for $X amount therefore you owe me that money"). Without the legal cover it could turn into a messy legal process where the person attempting to 'do good' ends up being taken to court and charged with tresspassing, theft, and any variety of other criminal or civil charges. FOLLOW THE LAW FOLKS!!! In the end it protects both you AND the dog. This is exactly right. I found an emaciated pony in a paddock once, found out the ppl who owned it were totally clueless in regards to horses and they had left the pony in the hands of their ten year old daughter to care for. The kid was feeding it a handfull of lucerne after school and that was it. The pony had no front teeth and could not pick grass, it was literally starving to death in a paddock full to the brim of good pasture. It was horrible. I called the RSPCA and they did absolutely nothing. I would sneak down there at night and feed her chaff with supplements (she was an old girl) and I would spray her with insecticide as she was bleeding due to the millions of buffalo flies biting her. This horse was literally a skeleton with a hide draped over it, her hips stuck out, her ribs stuck out and her eyes were sunken in an inch. I wanted to take my float down there in the middle of the night and snatch her but I couldnt. It is against the law. It was probably not totally legal for me to feed her either, but i couldnt sleep at night knowing she was out in the cold and so hungry. One day she was not in her paddock anymore and I assumed she died. I know its hard, but when the animal is not yours, you must abide by the law. Give this pup to a shelter or rescue and put your name down to adopt her if her owners do not claim her. Good luck.

SAS that photo is hilarious! Love it! I leant a large crate to a friend of mine for her new puppy and i received the funniest photo via email....it was of her two small children who had climbed into the crate and closed the door...they were holding onto the bars like little jailbirds! Sometimes i would love to crate the hubby and child and leave the doggies out, they are much better behaved! hehe!