tdierikx

When we look at the numbers of dogs owned in Australia compared to the numbers dumped or left unclaimed in pounds, it would seem that most people care something for their pets - the people who frequent DOL possibly even more so... *grin* However - the large numbers being euthanaised in pounds is definitely cause for concern, as they aren't dropping, but rising every year - despite the fact that more and more rescues are springing up all over the country and getting significant numbers out for a second chance... T.

My 7 babies all got a pig's ear each yesterday... and after the initial confusion about what they were supposed to do with them, they worked it out and had a great time chewing them up. Thank you Katdogs for the HUGE bag of yummy pig's ears - all of the furkids here reckon you are the bestest! T.

Zeddy - has been mummy's girl from day one - even though she was supposed to be the OH's dog - he's gone, and she stayed... *grin* Trouble - is just as naughty as I was as a kid - my mum always hoped I'd have a child like me when I grew up... this is her revenge... lol! Pickles - doesn't know she's supposed to be disabled - has the happiest outlook on life... makes one stop and smell the roses. T.

I just leave my back door open so my dogs can come and go as they please - they prefer lying around on the furniture or being with me, so it's just easier that way. If I close the door on them and make them stay outside, they whine and bark to be let back in. T.

All of my furkids got a pig's ear after dinner (kibble) - courtesy of my lovely neighbour who gave us a bag of 50 for Christmas... Had lunch at my cousin's place, and everyone was really good for not feeding her dog any "people food" - the dog got a few small bits of every leftover with her dinner kibble instead. T.

Squeeeaaallll! They is on the grass now! Simply stunning little munchkins! Merry Christmas little ones... and auntie and the rest of the pack of course... *grin* T.

I think I understand what you are trying to say mace... but I'm not entirely convinced of the argument behind your conclusion. I'm of the opinion that the average Joe looking for a pet for their family is generally looking for the "best price" for same - and in more than a few cases, when that cute and cheap pup is no longer cute and hasn't had much training, grooming costs hadn't been factored in, etc - the easy option of taking said dog to a pound or shelter is there to relieve them of their "problem"... The truth of the matter is that rescue go to the pounds and make selection of the dogs there based on a lot of factors - health and reasonable temperament are high on the list of which makes a dog "adoptable". We don't just grab whatever is there willy nilly. It's a crap job making those selections when you know exactly what is going to happen to those you can't take in. Then again, there are some dogs that really shouldn't be "saved" - and ethical rescue understand that too. As for pups in rescue - most are either surrenders from "oops" litters from Joe Public, or from dogs that have come into rescue heavily pregnant from pounds. We try to make sure that those pups get the very best socialisation and vet checking for any health issues that may arise, then select new homes for them VERY carefully. In many cases rescue will assist the owners of bitches whose pups we take in get desexed - sometimes paying for it ourselves, or helping them find a vet that will do subsidised desexing. BYB's survive and thrive due to the public's buying patterns - not because rescue are peddling their detritus. I'm currently fostering 11 rescue pups - 7 from an "oops" litter (the bitch is being desexed), and 4 born in rescue from a bitch that came in to us pregnant. I'm just happy that none of these pups were ready to go to new homes before Christmas - as fending off the "my kids want a pup for Christmas" enquiries is a huge headache... *sigh* May I also add that a pup from rescue has had quite a bit of socialisation, their current and future health needs have been identified, and prospective new families have been screened and fully appraised on what that pup will need from them over it's entire life - future socialisation, regular vet checks to make sure their pet will stay healthy, and/or grooming requirements if looking at a fluffy type, vaccinated, microchipped, desexed, etc. We show new owners how to check ears, eyes, teeth, feet, etc, the pups have been crate trained, partially toilet and obedience trained, etc. Your average BYB won't do that - they will happily sell to the first comer with the money... not to mention that rescue pups are generally cheaper to purchase than your average BYB pup - and we are happy to take the animal back if it's not a fit for the family for some unseen reason. The biggest difference between a pup from an ethical rescue as opposed to one from an ethical breeder is the pedigree - the ethical breeder has a better idea of how their pups should turn out physically and temperamentally, but there are no absolute guarantees there either when you factor in how a pup is raised. All that either "source" can do with regards to that factor is to screen prospective new homes to the best of their ability and hope that their screening process has covered all bases. T.

Thank you Greytmate... summed it up better than I ever could... T.

I can see some "oodle" owners trying to debate the pure or cross question - maybe rephrase by asking what breed or breed mix the dog is? That way they can use their DD name and it will cause less headaches at the initial stage of data collection - you can break down the crosses later for summing up the data objectively then. T.

*giggle* He's definitely got it there Kirislin... T.

Merry Christmas back at ya dogmad... and please give Ellie some extra smooches from me too. T.

My first thought when reading the story was that the poles ended up choking the dog to death - capsicum spray is nasty, but it would take a hell of a lot of it to kill a dog that size unless he had an allergic reaction to it. My Lab took 2.5 cans of the stuff to her face during a fight in my back yard with my other dog - only side effect was swelling due to it getting into the wounds on her face. The policemen who used the spray were up for a lot of paperwork after the incident too. Being secretive about findings of the autopsy and no real indication of the full story from those who killed the dog is not good form. Stinks of CYA to me. T.

I must also mention that D & M have done a wonderful job raising these babies before rescue got to take them in - they are all very social and not timid of anything - big fat healthy bubs too. A real credit to the care of their mum's owners... and there were 12 in this litter all up! That's a heck of a lot of work - and I thank D & M for allowing us to help find these lovely furkids new homes. My 7 are the funniest things to see romping around - they definitely have that Labby pup gawky running style... lol! lillypilly took a whole heap of photos at the same time as I did the other day - she got a good number of pics of them chasing after me and running back to her - check the photos out at http://www.flickr.com/photos/72458083@N05/ - but I warn you, you may hit cuteness overload! There are 145 pics in all... T.

Don't forget to grab the harness from Rach - Ellie travels nicely with the harness buckled to the seatbelt in the back. Fingers crossed that Ellie finds a new home soon... T.

*Note to self: must visit Rach with Rory...* Hahahaha! T.

Actually mace - most BYB's charge more for their "product" than rescues do - and a good number of the pet buying public expect a rescue dog/pup to be the cheapest alternative. In many cases rescue is even cheaper than buying from a pound. The other difference between getting a BYB pup straight from the "breeder" or getting one from rescue, is socialisation of said pup and careful selection of the prospective new home. It certainly isn't a first come, first served situation. And some rescues are even more "intrusive" with their adoption process than your average registered breeder... T.

Some people will never get it... T.

Nice choice BCC... can't wait to see some of your photos! T.

SQUEEEEAAAALLLL!!! Fat puppy tummies!! Have a great Christams FM... and give all of the babies (and Charm) a cuddle from me please... T.

I can see Lab, Rotti, and GSD in mine Darren... and maybe a smidge of kelpie/cattle/staffy in a couple. There is definitely Rotti in the mix - a friend of mine is allergic to Rotti saliva, and these furkids licked her and caused a nasty rash... errr! Thinking about it, Zeddy has Rotti in her, and her licks always make any wounds I have get better faster. My other dogs don't have the same effect when they lick a wound... I've tested it. Maybe Rotti saliva has something different about it? James is like a lanky Lab, but has a slightly staffy-ish chunk to his jawline, Rory is definitely channelling GSD, and the others are more like crosses of the breeds listed above... and I think all of them are going to end up in the Large Dog category... have you checked the feet and stocks on these furkids???? Huge front feet with really chunky wrists! Whatever they are, they are definitely going to be stunning when they grow up - not an "ugly" one in the bunch... hehe! T.

I don't even have a tree at my place... or I'd be picking up bits of it when I do the poo patrol... *grin* My dogs get their normal food, and maybe a few doggy biscuit bones - that's it. They do get new doggy chew toys to play with from Santa though... T.

I loved your photos from those shoots huga... and even though I'm in rescue, I don't believe that anyone buying a purebred and registered dog is "killing a shelter dog". People all have different "tastes" in their choice of pets - and I reckon there are plenty of all types to go around. Oh - and the "overpopulation" thing is a myth - there are enough homes for all of them... it just takes some longer to find the right one is all - and that's what rescue do so well... *grin*... and I'm of the firm belief that we shouldn't "save them all" either - for some animals, the kindest thing for them is to be given their wings. T.

Ouch!! $13 for standard 2 week delivery time - or $21 for 3-7 business days delivery time... and add tax on top of everything else... T.

Ummm... need more pics please... getting withdrawal here... *waiting patiently for more puppy cuteness* T.

I think he's just using his ears as a built on parasol to stop his brain getting too hot... lol! Simply stunning model who seems very at ease with being photographed... *grin* T.