tdierikx

I know that exact feeling westiemum... had it after Zeddy passed earlier this year myself. The guilt at feeling the relief that you don't have to rush home to make sure they are doing ok, or just not going anywhere if they are having an off day... and pretty much all of the little sacrifices you make for the dear oldies nearing the end... It gets easier... hang in there... Hugs, T.

The Taronga lions are past breeding age... no chance of them making more lions... *grin*... and both females are also on contraception to thoroughly make sure. The 2 older lions are 15-16 years of age, and the younger female is 12. Most Australian zoos have strict contraception protocols in place in order to not end up with surplus animals that have nowhere to go. Hunter Valley is no exception to this general rule. T.

There is no Rabies in Australia... Flying Foxes can carry Lyssavirus (poor cousin to Rabies), but that is also pretty rare, and doesn't present in the same way. Odds are the dog was either drugged somehow, or highly aroused and scared. Hope they find it and deal with it humanely. T.

Well worth the 2.5 hour each way drive perse... lol! T.

Taronga have sent Hunter Valley a number of animals now... Fennec Foxes, Spider Monkeys, Malayan Tapir (Berani), and now the Lions... I'm going up again soon when the lions are on display... their new enclosure is so much bigger and better for viewing than at Taronga - they should love it! T.

They've all lost the tips of their tails... apparently when they are in the burrows, the little ones will grab anything at hand to suck on, and have done the damage to each other. Should be fine once they are weaned in a week or two. Happened to the previous litter too, and they are all fine now. T.

The Meerkat enclosure at Hunter Valley is world class IMHO... lots of thought for behaviours and enrichment... AND for the public's viewing/photographing pleasure... well worth going just to see that... T.

Yes... it is a privately owned zoo, but open to the public. They have seen some major expansion over the past 12-18 months... with Taronga sending them a number of animals... Fennec Foxes, Malayan Tapir, Spider Monkeys, and this week the Lions are moving to Hunter Valley too - tomorrow to be exact... *grin* T.

Woke up at sparrow's yesterday, swung by a friend's place to pick her up at ungodly... and drove up past Cessnock to check out Hunter Valley Zoo... I have but one word... WOW!! Got me some cracker photos of some animals I've not seen up close before... and they have BABY meerkats!!! Here are a few teaser photos for you... Serval Capuchin Spider Monkey Macaques Malayan Tapir - Berani (from Taronga) Ostrich Alligator Maned Wolf Baby Meerkats! Rest of the potos can be found here... Enjoy! T.

I can do that for you! Gladly! :D Feel free to go completely overboard on my behalf and smother her with kisses... lol! T.

What a darling face... please give her a soft kiss on that pretty nose from me! T.

Wicked shot perse... love it! ... and the babies are getting so big now too! T.

The RSPCA cats at my local Petbarn are a lot more than $20... T.

Hahahaha! Poor Neko... strange computer calling her name... T.

Sheet! How could I have forgotten Stan and Maddie... and Gruffyd? Bad T! Bad bad T! T.

Kirislin's Neko... Persephone's Don, Smoke... and Trouble the pig westiemum's Mac - fly free with the angels little man... Comrade Catdogs' Stevie, Jodie, and Sam DDD's Danny Sheridan's 2 new little terrors T.

My fave is Royal Canin Junior... used it for all my rescue fosters over the years. Nutro Puppy is also pretty good from experience. I'd start with whatever the breeder has been feeding though... and slowly work your choice of food in over a period of time to give puppy's tummy a chance to adjust... unless you like cleaning up squirty poos... T.

Looks like much fun was had! T.

My butcher told me $28/kg and you have to buy the whole rabbit... ouch! T.

Is Don... is make all things good... *grin* T.

Camera tomorrow for sure perse... T.

Are you leaning over the top of the little one when you go to pick him up? Think how you would feel if someone loomed over the top of you and grabbed you up. Try approaching more from his level and from the side and see if that makes any difference... T.

I used to have a female Rotti named Blossom who was so huge when she was pregnant that she couldn't scratch between her boobies, so we used to do it for her... the command was "show us yer tits" and she'd roll over and offer her big fat boobies for a scratch... it stuck long after the boobies went down, and was a fave party trick... *giggle* T.

Sounds like their way of readjusting to the new routines... hopefully it will settle soon. T.

Go Arkey!!! T.