tdierikx

If I were in Melbourne I would happily lend you my 60D... Fingers crossed it was a one-off incident... T.

Does it hurt her to have her back legs moved Rach? If not, maybe you could give some gentle physio to stop muscle wastage... Basic Reiki style hands on healing may also help a bit - put your hand close to (about 1cm above) the affected area, clear your mind, and then just send healing thoughts to little Cookie - if you get it right you will feel your hand get warm and Cookie will lay there and enjoy the experience - 5 mins at a time will work wonders. Katdogs has some experience with paralysis in her cat (from the Orijen food debacle) - maybe if you message her for some advice on how to keep Cookie's toileting in check, she can tell you how it's done... T.

There are heaps more nice teddies at the local op-shop... I just selected all the ones I could carry to the counter... just yell if you want more, OK? T.

Want another cute small scruffy for Willow to play with MM? lol! T.

I'd welcome and "Identify the Breed" thread Sheridan... most times it's just a guess based on what the dog looks like, as many dogs in pounds and shelters are from an unknown cross that could look like something completely different to what they actually are. Take for example my current foster pups (Frenchie/Pug/Maltese) - not one of them looks like there could be any Maltese in them - one is smooth coated, and the other 4 are scruffy (but soft). Had I not seen both parent dogs when the pups were surrendered to us, I would never have guessed that their dam was a pure Maltese. They are deadly cute nonetheless... *grin* T.

Absolutely loving the little feet shot... and he's a very handsome little man... *grin* T.

Peaches is smooth coated PS... you wanna adopt her? hahaha! T.

I'm glad the toys are a hit so far... I tried to get nice soft ones that they can snuggle with... Did Digby pick any for himself? Can't wait until the boys are stronger and make snow with a few of them... we can always get more... *grin* T.

I had someone (not from DOL, but involved in the industry) give me what I thought was a pretty darned good compliment not that long ago... she said that I have "the ability to be dispassionate with compassion" - basically meaning that I can make the hard decisions and follow them through, but do it with respect and compassion for the animal involved. There are some others in rescue that I respect a lot, who I would describe as being the same - they can think with both heart AND head when it comes to their charges. The "save them all at any cost" brigade are not those I have much respect for - and thusly don't take any of their comments to heart when they try the guilt trip stuff on. T.

Google has a forum entry from elsewhere that indicates that the original breeder is no longer breeding - apparently retired. Forum entry was back in 2007 that said this. T.

Fingers crossed for little kitty. You and your boys are true angels Rach... and he's got his very best chance with you. T.

THIS... My first thought was coccidia or giardia too. A fecal sample test is not expensive - please take her and a sample of her stool to the vet first thing on Monday. Don't forget to give the vet as complete a history of the dog as you can... ie. the "gastro" from 2 months ago. This dog WILL die if her issues are not addressed properly or correctly. T.

Can't beat the subject matter for your first foray... *grin* I'm liking them all... T.

These babies are guaranteed to make even the most seasoned puppy person go "SQUEEEE"... I must admit I did when I first laid eyes on them... *grin* Seriously - the photos do not show how stunning these little guys are in the flesh. T.

padraic and mita got it... mum is a Maltese. I must say that both mum and dad dogs are very social and willing to hang with complete strangers in a strange environment - the pups have been raised very well to this stage, and we are the last leg on their journeys to their own forever homes. I'm loving our regular cuddle times - they are incredibly smoochy! T.

Hahaha @ HW's description of a foray into the BSL forum... I can relate to that with some of the various threads I've participated in on internet forums over the years... and DOL in general is quite tame compared to a few I've been on. Personally, I just shake off any bitchiness, and read between the lines for the good stuff (ie. informational), and don't take any of it personally. T.

From the pictures Google gives up, it looks like Abbott is also a DD owner... T.

Right colour, wrong breed Purdie... want to have another guess? *grin* T.

I can remember my first forays into the rescue forums here... I can best describe it as trial by fire... *grin* If I had a dollar for every time I was told "you are new here" and then dictated to... and I still see that mentality from a lot of people in that forum regularly - even from ones I actually respect in real life. It does nothing to advance the cause and recruit those who may just become an asset to you if you just give them the chance. It shouldn't be automatically assumed that any newcomer to the rescue forum is a newcomer to all things dog... There will always be those in any and all areas of the dog world who aren't doing things responsibly or ethically, but until they actually break some laws whilst doing their thing, how do we stop them? Breeders can be removed from ANKC membership, but that doesn't stop them breeding dogs and selling to the public. Rescuers can have a revolving door policy for their charges and have many failed homes, but it certainly isn't stopping them keeping up those practices that aren't obviously working for their unsuspecting adopters. We have "good" and "bad" on all sides here... and those that are doing the right thing, whichever camp they are in, certainly don't like being tarred with the brush that says we are all "bad" because someone wants to generalise. T.

I have the utmost respect for pound staff... they have a pretty hard job when it's all said and done. T.

Responsible rescue is definitely not for the faint of heart, that's for sure... That said, it must be done with both head AND heart working together. Not every homeless animal can or should be rehomed/adopted - there are sometimes those whose best interests are served by being given their wings. Those of us who have the unenviable task of actually going to the pounds and looking into the eyes of each and every dog - and then having to select which ones we can help - don't always do it easy... but we can only take on what we can physically handle to ensure that each animal we take in gets everything it needs to be able to find it's very own forever home. But we do it because there is a need, and we do manage to help so many who my have had no chance without the extra time and care that rescuers provide. T.

Unfortunately there will always be others who may have differing opinions to what is posted to start a thread on an internet forum - and by starting that thread, you are (maybe not consciously) inviting them to espouse said opinions... then of course, like all great forum threads, there will be the inevitable sidetracks and derailings... *grin* T.

I've given up on caring whether people look at me strangely... I'm a crazy dog lady and proud of it... lol! T.

Dogmad is awesome... she will find something for this little guy... T.

*looks around sheepishly* Yes... T.