Curlybert

It may depend on how many dogs you have (I have two) but I never buy them. I use plastic bags that previously had bread or fruit and veg in them.

Bob Knight was an instructor at Belconnen Dog Obedience Club here in Canberra. He gave my Willow (rest in peace - that's her in my avatar)a third place in the Beginners class 'exams'. He had beautiful German Shepherds and was quite a character.

Probably not exactly what you're after Leema, but there's an article on pit bulls in today's (Saturday) 'Good Weekend' magazine liftout in the Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. It's actually quite positive and there are a small number of statistics included, although not specifically related to Victoria. There are interviews with Michael Linke (who runs the ACT branch of the RSPCA)and his pittie girl Dahlia, as well as several other pittie owners in other areas.

She is beautiful, K9A - well done. Off topic but hey, Mother Moocher, welcome back!

Okay, but it wasn't done that way in the past. They used to have the whole kit and caboodle lopped off.

I think the Wagga vets, like their Canberra counterparts, leave the sacs and just take out what's inside them these days. It may have something to do with boy dogs still wanting to look like a man, despite being castrated. :D

What a transformation! And talk about handsome! Bless his new owners for their perseverance after his terrible ordeal. Thanks for the update, Nina. ETA: And kudos to the rescue that saved him, of course!

Thank you Rachel, patron saint of waifs and strays. You did a wonderful thing for this baby and the world is a better place for it. And good on you for sparing Jack the truth - poor little fella would be heartbroken.

Fantastic. And top work Dogmad, K9A and son Jack and everyone else who have given this delightful girl some quality of life. Fingers crossed her foster home becomes her forever home. Well done all!

My sentiments too. And thank you Dogmad for highlighting this dog's plight so that Rachel could work her magic.

It was a blissful, quiet night, with Rebel sleeping next to the bed, as was always her habit. After spending from Friday morning to Monday afternoon as a patient in unfamiliar environments being poked and prodded by unfamiliar people trying desperately to save her and then when stable to monitor her, re-establishing old routines has had such a calming effect. I'll certainly keep her confined, still in the loungeroom (but not in a crate!) where much of the day-to- day household activity takes place. She's a people person and she's there now, snoozing away. Thnaks again to everyone for their thoughts and excellent advice. And I am incredibly grateful to all the wonderful vets and vet nurses who saved her precious life.

Thanks Ams. I ran over her. She had escaped and I saw her tearing up the road and around the corner. I rushed inside, grabbed my car keys and reversed out the driveway like a maniac. Guess what happened next. How she got back so fast (in about 20 seconds) I have no idea. There have only been a handful of days in my entire life when I have ever felt as bad as I did over the past three days.

Mr Curly also send his thanks for the advice!

Thanks Ams and Bullbreedlover. Great advice and it's working so far! I'd certainly prefer not to be plying her with valium if I can help it.

Thanks Pers. The crate is in the lounge room - we couldn't stand it and did de-crate her about 20 minutes ago. She's now having a kip (with a lead on) and is quite relaxed - thank Dog! My other Golden, Ms Billie, has had her bed removed to my daughter's room and is in there watching telly quite happily. There will be occasions when I will have to leave them unsupervised for an hour or two but when that happens I think I will put Billie in the crate and Rebel can roam around the lounge room with both entry doors closed. I think she will be less stressed that way. Good idea about the kongs and iceblocks. Thanks again! And I DO have a new appreciation of dear old Billie - she's like a cat in lots of ways and not very 'needy' - I certainly appreciate that character trait at the moment! It has been a simply horrible three days. We nearly lost Rebel several times and it seems ironic that this evening I have been telling her to be quiet, trying to ignore her and telling her to calm down!

One of my Goldens (aged 5) suffered a critical chest injury in an accident on Friday morning that caused a tear in major airway. She was rushed to my vet and then afterwards to the emergency vet on Friday night, where quite a few litres of air were extracted over 48 hours, firstly by needle and then by a drain that was finally removed this morning as the quantity of air being extracted had reduced to virtually nothing. This means the tear in the airway is healing. She was transferred to my usual vet this morning and came home late this aftrenoon. However, she is still in a danger zone and must be crated and kept quiet and inactive for at least two weeks. She is very stressed in the crate - it is huge (extra large size)and previously housed my older Golden who had a titanium implant six weeks ago to repair a cruciate ligament. This older girl was a perfect patient, bless her. But Ms Rebel is living up to her name and is very distressed in the crate. I have given her valium has directed by the vet,ie only when stressed and I can't imagine her being any more stressed than she is now. We are trying to ignore her but she is still howling and upset and trying to get out. I am really worried that she will cause her internal injury to reopen. Any suggestions on how to calm her down?

I've made my dognation (for which Karen was very grateful) but I do need to clarify that donations are not tax deductible as Fernleigh is a boarding kennel, not a registered charity.

Not sure how I have missed this thread before. I agree that Karen and Max at Fernleigh are excellent people. They have genuine affection for all the animals in their care. I see them every couple of weeks when picking up Wagga pound dogs that they temporarily board for Canberra rescue groups at rescue rates. Lovely people. I'll ring Karen first thing tomorrow with my donation.

I was in a doctor's surgery waiting room when this story was on the 11 am Channel 9 news. The reporter said the attacking dog was a Labrador, but apart from a brief aerial shot (I think from a helicopter!)of the injured man being walked to an ambulance, the footage used to illustrate the story was largely pitbulls and Amstaffs.

A lovely story about your precious Chantie, Dogslife. She was meant to be yours.

A lucky boy to have had such a loving family and a lovely tribute to him, SW.

Sleep well, beautiful Kelpie girl. XXX

Am sorry you have lost your puss, Bronnie, KB. He had seven quality years with you. Lucky boy! I'm sure he knew how loved he was.

And that's the thing - however hard it is to say goodbye and accept that they're gone, we would'nt trade the joy they gave us for a million dollars. Sleep now, Rennie. You were loved. XXXX

I'm with you, Zug Zug. I hate the way corporate buzz words and phrases from the business world have infiltrated elsewhere - I don't like to see pups described as 'products' either. In recent years the public service has embraced "corporate-speak" and the various types of paperwork produced in the policy areas I worked in were called "products". Well, by everyone except me that is! :D