sparkycat

Surely that alone rings alarm bells....and rather smacks of a puppy mill? Sure, puppy mills are legal, but it certainly doesn't hurt for the RSPCA to be aware of their existence and to keep periodic checks on the welfare of the animals kept there. Without marching into the premises, Heavy Paws, or anyone who cares about the welfare of dogs and cats, would have no idea if animals are sufferering there or not, particularly if the premises looks a bit 'feral'...so getting the RSPCA to check is a very sensible option. If the owner has nothing to hide and the animals are kept in good conditions, have adequate food, water, shelter, vet care and exercise...then exactly what harm is done by them being checked out? Honestly....I wonder if some of you are just posting to start yet another argument? Keeping periodic checks on them because they breed dogs conducted by a group who is against breeding and who is a quasi police force with no accountability - no way am I giving a tick to that especially as there is no definition which differentiates between them and any other person who breeds a litter of puppies. If they are a boarding kennel and obviously they are they have much harder regs and more frequent checks anyway. If they are boarding animals with out the required permits they would have been shut down long ago and they wouldnt be advertising it either. So are you saying that just because someone breeds dogs they should be immune to any checks at all ? Puppy buyers have to meet a criteria set by the breeder but the breeder doesn't have to comply with Animal Cruelty Acts or whatever they are called ? Even on this forum I have read awful stories from people who have bought a puppy in good faith from a registered breeder only to then have problems. Sure there are problems with the RSPCA but also there must be some form of independent body that has the power to oversee animal breeding and welfare.

Steve - are there any left over? - your inbox in full

The OP said Every two weeks for the past four years I've driven past this huge trailer-trash looking property, and they've had a big sign {like a church sign or roadworks sign} at the gate advertising a different breed of puppy and kitten every month or sooner. Surely no proper breeder would have constantly changing breeds !!!!!! That is what clearly points to puppy-mill

Any large organisation has its good points and bad. I think a lot of the RSPCAs problems actually relate to various States laws regarding animals. Of all the negativeness to them there is very little useful constructive suggestions for improvement. I donate to them regularly and have a number of RSPCA rescued pets.

Wow suprised at the replies so far............................... I probably would havve done the same as the OP , surely no registered, responsible breeder would sell some many different breeds in such a short time. And aren't we all for getting rid of BYBers and pup/kitten farms

Jaana and I will be there - looking forward to Earl drool

I don't and can't claim that we brought up Mungo with zero bad habits. Mungo was a Deerhound and I think bad habits would have been too much effort for him. He was a really lovely, happy easy going boy - he was the perfect pup - no chewing ,no digging, great recall, no lead pulling, loved everyone including cats and other dogs , didn't bark or growl and grew into a laid-back giant hairy rug. His only downfall was going to bone cancer at just 5 years old.

Count me in tooo

Apparently dog fur is much tougher on blades than human hair so the special dog clippers are about $300. The other option is to find a good groomer - I found a great lady who washes my Lappie ( who has similar fur to Sammies) trims her paw area, under her legs (armpits) and pants and only charges $40. It is a well spent $40 as I did try doing it myself but for all the struggling with scissors - Jaana talking - trying to lick and generally being a wigglebum I wasn't very successful and the groomer makes her smell pretty .

Coprice is rice based and was the only dry food that didn't go straight through our Deerhound.

It may just be him - one of my cats is the same it doesn't matter how much I groom /stroke him - loose fur just keeps coming out. I guess Zeus is healthy otherwise - so its not a diet thing.

Give her time Ker, she is still a baby With some of them they get a bit more confident when they get older. And some, esp with the girls, are naturally a little more submissive than others - each of my Lappies has a different personality, but all are typical in their own way! I don't want her to change I love her softness. Snik is lovely and very similar to Jaana at that age - Jaana is now over 2 and only started to mature in confidence and listening earlier this year. On Sunday I was very impressed at the way Snik responded to your voice considering she has only been with you a short time.

Oh no - poor Earl and poor you

Armahani Thanks for the explanation of submissive versus confidence. I often struggle to explain to people Jaana's personality. She is such a happy girl always with a big smile and waggy tail.

Good to hear he is home and getting better - hope you have had a "talk" to him silly boy

Great to hear that Earl is ok after surgery - we really missed him today - no Earl slobber on Jaana ;)

Bugger why do these things always clash ? - I'm sure Jaana would have a great time but I have a cat show tomorrow and no other family members available to take her Have fun and take lots of photos..................

I just tried it on Keely and Jaana - Keely sniffed them stuck her nose under the towel, knocked over the container and got the treat. Jaana sniffed then remembered her training -always sit and lift paw for treat - then the test got hijacked by fast moving Siamese I tried the towel on head with my deerhound (now ;) ) and he just lay down and went to sleep

I talked to a 6 month Berner pup at the Adelaide Show and she was beautiful -really soft and cuddly and very friendly

Well said ! agree completely

We had one last year and I carefully caught it in a teatowel and moved it to the front garden - he/she has continued to live there and looks happy and healthy

great news Robbi - give him a hug from Jaana and me - he is a very lucky boy I met a couple on the weekend with a very active kelpie and it was wearing a harness with large front section that covered its chest. The kelpie didn't keep still long enough to see what brand of harness it was but the couple did say they had chosen that one because they thought it might protect his chest.

Hi and welcome to Adelaide - there is a great dog swimming dam in Frank Smith Park Coromandel Valley - www.onkaparingacity.com/.../frank_smith_park_coromandel_valley.jsp

Hi Robbi - hope the beautiful Yogi is feeling better this morning - hugs to all of you

So sorry to hear this Robbi - sending lots of healing thoughts to Yogi - we need his wonderful humping abilities for the next DOL meet.