Dory the Doted One

Loads of people take their dog to the Old Racecourse (whatever it was called) where they hold the Clipsal. I haven't taken Dory into the CBD, but I have taken her to Cafes on Hutt Street loads of times. More and more of the Inner Suburbs are getting it together for Dog parks. Burnside Council has a temporary one, to see if it is viable before committing to it. Judging by the useage they should just say yes...but, hey, it's Council. :D

I've had a dog from breeders I wasn't over thrilled with. We had differing philosophies on dog raising and training (amongst other things), but they had something that I wanted. I got the dog anyway, and accepted that if things went wrong I would have no support.

I reckon Adelaide is pretty dog friendly. You can take them to the beach, off lead only at specified times, but otherwise anytime on a lead. You can take them to the Cafes. Heaps of open spaces, some councils have designated off leash parks (I know you don't do those, but they are there)

Q 2. Doesn't seem to have the option of, "No, but I got the dog anyway".

Aahh...that would work from home. I would love to be able to work from home. I know I could be disciplined, because if it became a choice between housework and work work....work work would win as a great distraction from having to do the housework.

How do you get a job working from home?

I'm also a Vet Nurse, so I can take Dory to work everyday. And I do. :D From time to time Oscar goes in and the other day when the heat was disgusting I packed up the cockatiels and they came too. A previous clinic I worked at wasn't so accomodating, that was many, many years ago. They would whinge anytime you took an animal in. Which was a bit rough that you work so many hours at a Vet Clinic, but when your animal is sick you can't take them to see a Vet? Or take a few hours off to do so. Seemed a bit stupid. And was a part of the reason I left.

Hey, where are you guys holding it? I think I am actually FREE this weekend. :D Is Dory small enough? She hasn't been out in a little while.

From what was once said to me by a Vet. It's hard to recoup cost on a service. If you sold goods, that would be a different story. But how do you take back your time if a client doesn't pay. Ditto if you dispensed drugs. You can't just knock on the door and ask for it back.

When I first met nextdoor neighbours Lagotto for the first time, I had no idea what it was....and I did ask before sticking my foot in it (fortunately!). He was an ungroomed, hairy ball of energy. Didn't look like a poodle, but he didn't look like a poodle cross either. He definately has a good set of lungs on him though.

People have actually asked if Dory was a Cairn Terrier cross, and what was the other mix in her. But then I have also been asked what 'breed' she was too.

I want to know how it is that Dory knows when we have chicken for her, even when she isn't home when I've put it in the fridge. Cos the next morning she will scream down the hall, do a 180 at the fridge and look at you very expectantly. I'm no hunter in her world. I'm the Kitchen Staff that is just expected to produce the Goods and anticipate her Needs. Everything else is a bonus.

Using the "rare" word pings my radar too. Ditto here.

I check it out from time to time. Not very often, usually when I'm pretty bored and just want to see what for sale. I check the banner advertisers pretty regularly. I love clicking on 'view all advertisers' and then scrolling down through them. I have to say, generally i avoid clicking on banner advertising. But I do like to do so on DOL.

We actually changed Dory's name from Dorrie, I liked the look of Dory better (sorry to whoever named her Dorrie). And then we tacked on an Abigail...actually I'm not quite sure where the Abigail came from. Probably cos Dory is often less than 'ladylike' and borders on butchy sometimes. So she is Dory Abigail .... I tend to pick names that suit my animals. We have Benson and Georgie (Cockatiels) and Oscar The Shark Slayer (aka Oscar) the cat. I've had plenty of animals given people names and names that I pulled from nowhere. It is rather funny how people react. I laugh (and cry) everytime someone asks me Dory's name. I tell them and then they say..."Well, He is a lovely dog, isn't he". Yes SHE is.

She knows who are the delivery guys and barks and growls, so I know to let them in the back door. She knows the sound of all of the BF's cars (and whines a certain way), so we know when he is a couple of minutes away and I can be ready to walk out the door. She does like to obsessively catch flying insects. This is only useful if it is a fly. Down right stressful if it is a bush full of bees or wasps....and she can watch a bush for hours waiting for the right opportunity to pounce.

It completely lost me when I saw them 'socializing' the GSD with the Guinea Pig. Seriously...that was horrific. That poor Guinea Pig. What a stupid ar$ed way to even THINK about introducing a boisterous puppy with a PREY animal. :p

I've had big dogs in small yards, small dogs in big yards, big dogs on big blocks and little dogs on big blocks. I exercise my dogs according to their need rather than the size of my yard. Cos the big dogs were lazy ratbags and would only do something if I was doing something. Dory is much the same. She doesn't get walked as much as I would like to. But she does have a very varied lifestyle as she goes with me everywhere and is always experiencing new things.

I've had experience of one registered breeder breeding cross bred litters of dogs, not her breed though. She was breeding maltxshih to fund her breeding program. Was a very long time ago now. I don't think it is a 'normal' thing. I've heard of some breeders breeding bitches every season, but only registering every second litter. I don't have experience of this.

We only stretch it to bandanas for Dory. Which she happens to like a lot, cos it gets loads of people going. "oooooh..how cute". She's not much not much of a ham.

Well, after doing some research, I think my bestest option to help is to join up with Pacers! I emailed other organisations for ideas and all they did was refer to me to other organisations who had refered me to them and vice versa. Love it. But at the same time So I'm now having a good lookie look at how I can help via Pacers. My Vet (employer) is one of those that suffers more than a few non payers. He never has the heart to tell them to go somewhere else and geniunely cares about those doing it tough. Thankfully a vast majority of clients do pay and happily, even pay it off happily over a loooooong time. Only a couple of memorable butt rings that have arrogantly taken advantage of us. Generally if he can cover his costs and not his or our time (nurses) he seems okay with it.

Ah, see. I struggle with this statement. Whilst I would agree to a certain extent. ie. you couldn't afford it when you got it. Circumstances can and do change. I'm also reminded of the many people out there, who if it weren't for their pets would have nothing or no one, or no reason to live even. Thanks to everyone for input! Any other experiences with charity orgs that offer assistance for vet treatment? Or even how to start a charitable organisation?

It's not for me. I work for a Vet, so should things go wrong I'm covered. My vet is one of the softies, thankgoodness! We had recent communication with the college out at Roseworthy, which has prompted my enquiries. I even emailed Lort Smith to see if they knew anyone. I guess I'm feeling really tired of seeing people left with no options and was dredging around for some hope. I'm also researching charitable organisations and what is involved in starting one up. Will I take it further? Who knows. Depends on what my research uncovers. When I worked with one of our welfare groups I noticed that there was not really any treatment options for people doing it tough. It was surrender it, and we'll give it 'peace'. (ie. put it down. :D )

Does anyone know if there is an organisation in South Australia that offers a Vet Clinic to those who are disadvantaged? Such as the Lort Smith Animal Hospital? I don't 'think' that AWL or RSPCA offer such services, last time I looked they didn't. Does anyone know of anyone/organisation that can offer assistance to these people in times of need? I'm not asking because I need it. I'm asking because I'm sick of watching people getting told if you can't pay it all now, you'll have to kill your pet. No Accounts given.

I love Dory, generally we are a great fit. Not that she doesn't come with issues and like all kids human or pet alike you could honestly tear your hair out. While I love her cuddles, she always has to take it a step too far. *sigh* I do love the fact that I can take her anywhere and she manages very well. I love the fact that I can trust her with other animals and not have to be too paranoid that things will go pear shaped. (I'm still watchful, but calmly watchful). But I have to say, I LOVE Rotties. I love the fact that they can be lazy when I wanna be lazy. They can be active when I want to be active. They shut up when you tell them too. They are easy to train and quite biddable, but not without testing you out a little bit from time to time. A Rottie wants to work WITH you not FOR you and I love that about them. They can be big sappy, sooky la la's with their owners, couch potato lap dogs. But don't get too offended when you kick off the couch.