LDR

I can't even conjure any words for this. Such loyalty.

$3m benefactor Frank Samways is a dog's - and the Lost Dogs Home's - best friend WOW! :D ___________________________________ A BIG-HEARTED businessman has left Melbourne's Lost Dogs Home $3 million - the largest bequest in its 100-year history. Staff at the animal shelter described the donor, Frank Samways, as a man so empathetic for abandoned pets that he wouldn't enter the animal shelter in Gracie Street, North Melbourne. The home's managing director, Graeme Smith, said Mr Samways, ''a charming, charismatic person'', used to attend donor functions in the home's courtyard. ''But [he] never set foot inside the shelter because he thought it would be too disturbing for him. He didn't want to see any dog or cat incarcerated.'' A lifelong owner of Jack Russell terriers, Mr Samways ''had a wonderful love of animals''. Mr Samways, of Strathmore, a single man with no children, was a furniture factory owner. Before he died, aged 82, three years ago, he confided to Dr Smith that the home would be a beneficiary in his will. But Dr Smith said the $3 million figure revealed by the executor had floored him. ''He'd said 'I'm worth a bit', but he didn't indicate to me how much.'' The home has used the funds to buy a factory, 50 metres from the Gracie Street complex, to be converted into its new private vet clinic. It will be named after Mr Samways. Last week the City of Melbourne approved plans for the clinic, which will be three times the size of the current one, with a car park, five consulting rooms, two operating theatres and a waiting room. The present vet clinic in Gracie Street raises $1 million in income each year. Dr Smith said the new one's larger size and longer opening hours should bring in increased income to save pets' lives. He said it had a ''beautiful'' position overlooking a fenced dog park that would attract customers. The old vet clinic would be turned into a cat and dog adoption centre. The home, founded by a group of animal lovers in 1911, gets no government funding. However, Dr Smith revealed that in the past year - apart from Mr Samways's gift - it had received more than $6 million in bequests and donations. The windfalls have led to a frenzy of development including a $2 million sick and injured animal shelter and a $2 million training and education centre. And in January the home opened its Lost Cats Home, with 150 cat ''condos'' - glass-fronted, heated cubicles with shelves. Each has an ''en suite'' - cats jump through a hole from the sleeping cubicle to a space with their litter trays. Dr Smith said that when he started as the home's manager in 1986 ''it was a financial basket case'' facing imminent closure. But higher standards and public profile, not to mention donors such as Mr Samways, had made the future more secure.

Because dogs don't have opposable thumbs and therefore cannot put on condoms.

I'm in the process of (amicably) dismantling a 14 year relationship and Timmy has certainly stepped up to the plate. He is very much the guard dog lately, just keeping an eye on me, whereas before he could've given a toss what I was up to (aloof little bugger!). He just seems to know when to appear and I must say it's stemmed the flow of tears. Hugs to you and you hubby in this difficult time.

She is adorable!!! what have you named her? PS - She is a bit bigger then my Timmy

I have a teeny tiny little dog, and he is still ... a dog. With teeth, instict, drive and speed. Sure he looks cute and small but really, what idiot owner wouldn't just block off access to the mail slot?? I trust Timmy with people he knows, but when approached by strangers (especially littlies) I always keep him close on lead and state firmly "he's not friendly with strangers". The glares I get are unbelievable! A woman once said "oh but he's so tiny, surely I can pat him?". Ummm. NO. I'm just protecting my dog and your safety - sheesh!

I have something in my eye ...

Lord Muck Timmy has a dog door. He has access to the entire house except for one room when we aren't home. He spends most of his day in the sun outside and comes in to check we are still where he left us ... He sleeps under the covers, has steps to get on / off the bed but also has a crate he favours in the warmer weather. He is super submissive so we haven't had any pack issues. I can't fathom him being outside all the time.

I is so hot. I iz Zoolander Dog. Yeah.

I iz on your couch, bein cute n stuff ... I iz a wabbit, nom nom nom ...

Little Miss - oh I'd say around - 15 and her friend snidely remark "ooooh I hate little dogs". Me - "Yeah? He's not digging your fake tan either sunshine". :D

Example from this ... to this ...

:rolleyes: We call Timmy our mini foxie The Lump too!!

Warm water only here. Lest he shrink :D

We get to 35 degrees on the odd Summer day, average 30-32. And Mister Timmy MUST have chi in him as he loves baking himself! What Amanda J said. Just super curious about the challenges of the climate you live in.

And garden lump.

In winter ... I get home from work, make my way through the garage, slip work shoes off at deck, inside sliding door. Open post, put down handbag ... flick on a light, the heater, no sign of doggo-d. "Timmy? You around?" says I. Hmmm. I literally have to track him down to either his crate, our bed which he has managed to wriggle under the covers of creating an interesting "lump" in the bed. Or on really lucky days, buried in a pile of freshly clothes dried sheets or towels, all warm and cosy. In the warmer months, repeat above process replacing bed for window bay and laundry pile for my giant parsley bush. Now, open the fridge door and you can barely count to ten before he's popping his little face around the corner. Here is linen lump ... And bed lump ...

I was looking at these - do they work well? Really well on our floors with long dog coat everywhere What exactly is it? Pardon my ignorance.

It's just second nature to pick it up for me, it came out of my "special lil guy who loves his walkies, don'tcha? Yeah, good heel!", but I must say I am a bit of a freak - I like to use it as an opportunity to check the texture of Timmy's stools.

If there's no bin I just clip it to the lead and bin it at home. I honestly think that is the most bizarre logic - picking it up to tie the bag on a fence or tree?? My 5 year old niece *adores* Timmy (and he adores her, although I suspect that's due to the fact she is constantly dropping biscuits, chips etc and so he follows her around adoringly waiting for the next goodie!). She really loves getting some tissue and picking up his poops to flush them in the loo. So cute a while back when she excitedly said "could we train Timmy to pick up his own poo??". efs

What kind of freak does that??? Bizarre ... now I'm imagining poop bag decorated Christmas Trees ...

The only poops I refuse to bag are those done in non-human accessible spots. Timmy generally likes an audience so poops on the pavement, but occassionally if, off lead, will head to the depths of bushy areas and relieve himself. I aint crawling in there with a bag! I can't understand why anyone wouldn't pick up their dogs poops? It'd be akin to littering or driving without a seat belt for me. Just wouldn't feel right. efs

Timmy looooooves a bit of "nana". He will jusmp through hoops for banana, carrot and snow peas ... strange little fella!

"Rooms include 5 complimentary walks per day, private play time and up to 3 meals daily." and "daily housekeeping, meals, daily walks and loving care. Daily activities and services are available that include massages, nightly tuck-in, fitness and agility classes and spa trips.". To be honest, sounds like a trip for Timmy to Nanny's (aka my Mum's). :D We pick him up post Nanny visit and he's exhausted and blissed out. He literally sleeps for 48 hours!