trifecta

It's not fair..... everyone's getting new cameras!

Could someone provide me with contact details for Golden Retriever rescue please? Canberra / Southern NSW district would be even better!

Yes it did! I couldn't believe my luck - although Lake Bathurst is definitely untouched by time!

Cheating for the coming week, took my photo yesterday before the leaves all get blown off 18/52 Autumn Colour at Lake Bathurst by Groenendevil on Flickr

17/52 Anzac Day by Groenendevil on Flickr

Wildthing, exactly how many cats do you currently have available for adoption?

It depends entirely upon the metabolism of the dog, some are good doers & will do well on seemingly little food, others, particularly entires, need much more. I have fed raw for 26 years, before it became fashionable, upon the advice of a holistic vet who was a colleague of Ian Billinghurst who had just published his first book. The four dogs I owned at that time all lived to good ages, BC x Kelpie 17 years, LSC German Shepherd 15 years & two Belgian litter sisters who died within three months of each other at 14 years of age. I actually knew little about raw feeding compared to what I know now - the dogs never got liver, they din't like it! What I am saying is feeding raw should not be stressful..... feed to weight, give them what you think they should eat & adjust down the track if they are too fat or too thin. Your Belgian is only a young dog..... if I remember correctly? My bet is she will furnish into a nice dog with maturity (I'm thinking around the age of four) but as young dogs they can be very lean. Remember the Belgian Shepherd is a working dog, think about the short coat BCs & Kelpies you see working sheep - many people think they are emaciated, but they can work all day & not knock up. However, if you think she really could do with some more weight then brisket bones have always been a good way to stack on some weight. I have always fed a wide variety of meats, but lamb, kangaroo, chicken & rabbit are favourites..... the size of prey most dogs would handle, a little raw fish (Atlantic Salmon heads & spine bones), a variety of veges (but not the solanum family) & fruits. I give supplements, not as a matter of course, but when I think an individual would benefit. At different tmes of the year I add different herbs, eg clivers in Spring to promote healthy new coat. I have tweaked my raw diet over the years & the dogs are now on more of a prey model diet. I have found a good source of small chickens (size 11s) for a good price & can buy wild rabbits for $6 each. My guys now get liver twice a week & lamb kidneys once per week. I no longer have the time to frig around juicing veges & fruits so I feed VAN three times a week. I have also looked at Augustine Approved & it looks very sound to me. At the moment I want to keep my feeding regime simple, my mother is elderly & I may have to take off to UK at the drop of a hat - I want to be able to leave at short notice & know that OH can look after all our animals with the minimum of fuss. This has turned into a long post, but the upshot is, most people can eat healthily without analysing & calculating every nutrient - we can feed our dogs in the same way, feed a varied diet & feed to the way they look. :)

I've had more enquiries for a dog thrown over the pound fence, than one that was surrendered. It strokes peoples' egos thinking they are saving an animal. Lord knows there are enough of them in rescue, so I don't see why the general public shoud be any different.

I love this shot with the trucks racing Love this photo. Thank you for the feedback; this is one of several shots I took at sparrow's fart last Monday morning.... I wasn't convinced it was the best of the lot, but I couldn't make my mind up! Incidentally, it is a truck & dog trailer, though I appreciate it looks like two trucks too close together!

Lovely pics, this lens is on my wishlist!

I think this article gives the best advice..... just substitute the phone number for your own or emergency vet

16/52 Grey Dawn by Groenendevil on Flickr

I can relate to this! Lovely portrait of your two, Leah!

I think that a lot of people do not realise that the ACT is like an island in the middle of NSW. ACT local government is just like a Council. For instance, a person from Queanbeyan, which is less than 10 minutes drive, goes to DAS & purchases a dog. At the time of sale they give their personal details. When they give a NSW address, ie Queanbeyan, they are asked to complete a stat dec stating that the dog is being transferred interstate..... the mandatory desexing clause then ceases to apply. So there is no precedent & no infringement of law, or local government regulations.

I actually use the tincture - just syringe 0.5 ml down the throat - doesn't interfere with dinner time at all!

Pleased to see you back with us, HazyWal

This is good advice! Happy Camper, you have 10 topics running on this page alone, 3 in Urgent Dog Rescue & you have also popped up in General, Photography & now Training & Obedience..... admittedly you probably type faster than me, but how do you have time to look after a family, earn an income to support the dogs you are quarantining & spend time with your own dogs

No wonder he has left a hole in your heart, he was there for so many family events But he has left you with so many memories & that was a wonderful tribute to ginger puss, larger than life indeed!

Mmmm.... school holidays!

If the dog was rehomed interstate then DAS would have required a stat dec to be signed. We actually don't know if the dog was purchased by an ACT resident or someone from interstate (which includes NSW although the border is within spitting distance). If the dog went interstate, the desexing argument is a moot point.... it is no longer relevant.

It will not be a one off, if allowed to escalate. Belgians can be very manipulative, so Happy Camper has to lay down some rules. It was extremely likely to happen. The poor dog was left behind at a property when his owner's moved out. I believe he was alone for three weeks? Then he is welcomed into a home & showered with love & attention, no wonder he does not want to share! I am not saying the dog does not need to be properly assessed, but some good dog sense, researching the breed & putting yourself in George's shoes (paws), will go along way in creating harmony amongst pack members.

It is not uncommon for Belgian Shepherds, particularly males, to be better off as 'solo' dogs......They are a guardian breed & he is bonding to you. George is not a young dog, you do not know his history - he may always have lived as an only dog. You say that he is sleeping in your room & the greyhound in your daughter's room......well then, he thinks you are his! You are inadvertently exacerbating the situation. Do not underestimate the intelligence of this breed, they need firmness & consistency, this does not mean harshness, but without some serious leadership the breed can be wilful & will take matters into their own hands. My Groenendael girl is comfortable in her pack which comprises males however she has no interest in other dogs at all & does not seek interaction with individuals outside of her pack. She will growl if a strange dog crosses the threshold of her comfort zone, about 1 metre. I know that you foster so I wanted to mention this, as not all dogs are comfortable with dogs coming & going ..... There are a lot of things to consider if you are intent on keeping George :)

Sorry that Harry has passed over the bridge My first cat in Australia was called Harry - but was female, named after Debra :)

I was thinking Slippery Elm :)

Just scraping in on again on Sunday night. Attempted a sunset tonight on manual, but couldn't capture it. Had to resort to aperture priority 15/52 Sunset from The Paddock by Groenendevil on Flickr