Little Gifts

Squishy Face Rescue in SEQ is currently under attack too. They do most of their communicating on FB. Back when I was adminning Craft for Paws I got targeted too. Even though we were mainly selling and fundraising I would post picks of animals in need as part of our engagement with our thousands of supporters. Someone got in a huff about something (a vegan issue from memory) and reported me when she wasn't satisfied at my response. So all last year I was being banned on a weekly basis for things like posting too fast or repetitive posts. The other admin never had an issue and since the page shut down I've not had an issue on my own page either. There is noone to contact to try and explain the situation. I feel like AI is quite quickly taking over many things and it worries me and makes me feel old. I don't want any more human touch removed from the world.

I can't even read a story like that. The worst death ever for an animal I think. I can still remember a story from years back about someone who went on a cruise and left a dog in their car. I used to work at the theatre with a guy who regularly did that with his small dogs. It used to make me feel sick. I can understand about police dogs needing to be in a vehicle for periods of time but this is just a sad reminder that things can and do go wrong and regular onsite monitoring needs to be in place for them. Their handlers will be devastated.

I actually feel quite happy that the doggos I've owned have nearly all beat the statistics! I can remember Stussy the stafford being part of data gathered across the globe for dogs with Geriatric Onset Laryngeal Paralysis (GOLP). She was the only dog on a list of hundreds who died of old age natural causes after a GOLP diagnosis. I think it is a combo of some dogs just being tougher than others, an attentive and responsive owner and advancements in veterinary care. I feel too many people accept limitations and pain in their elderly dogs, just putting it down to age, rather than looking for options to maintain and manage any deterioration and suffering. My girl was 14 and a couple of months when she had tie back surgery so she could live and that's because overall she was in good health for her age and her age was not a barrier to having it or recovering from it. I can't tell you how many times I've heard someone say their dog was too old for a certain treatment without even having investigated it. Why do we put that limitation on dogs? We've got young Albert now and whilst the average is 10.6 for his breed according to that list, I think he'll be with us 12 - 15 years minimum, barring some medical disaster. We're in it for the long haul!

So serious and so young! Fantastic video! Thank you!

Albert paws but it is gentle or he paws the furniture you are on instead of your body. I've never had a dog who needs so much physical contact and lots of it was in ways that could injure (I got bruised ribs to show for it one time) so we've had to adjust our bodies and redirect to protect while still meeting his needs. Now we invite him in for contact with open arms and bending over and creating a safe space for our organs, we talk to him softly, acknowledge him regularly when he is lying calmly, we give full body rubs/massages most mornings before we even get out of bed, we let him lean into us but shift our bodies if he turns around scrambling with his legs, we touch all his favourite spots (which is really his entire body). We also welcome him whenever we get home, like we are as pleased to see him as he is to see us and strangely he is less over the top because he knows what's coming rather than just seeking it. So I guess we are trying to meet his clear need for contact throughout the day rather than waiting for him to seek it and being pushy. It is not always possible though. I work from home and can have a hectic few hours and turn around to find the lounge and floor covered in naughty things he has collected trying to get my attention. He's also featured on a few Teams meetings pawing me on the shoulder to turn around to him.

Woo hoo! Can't wait!

Just saw this story on it too. Sounds horrific. https://au.news.yahoo.com/chilling-detail-emerges-after-woman-mauled-by-dogs-in-melbourne-backyard-225646243.html We've also had a mauling in Carindale, QLD this week. Two elderly ladies walking their dogs and attacked by several staffies. One dog deceased. Weird part is they were walking at like 4am in the morning when it still would have been dark up here. Dogs should not have been loose but I wonder if they thought they were intruders near their property? Haven't been able to find an unpaid story to link for it though.

Gosh that's a hard one Sandgrubber! I have been supporting dog (and other types of) rescues for a long time now and there are so many doing good work and in need. But things change and allegiances have to shift at times. I've quietly parted ways with a couple over the years who I felt have lost their way. I must confess I have never looked into supporting a research. I'm starting to lean more towards wildlife care/refuges at the moment, particularly wombats and bats, as they are having a hard time of it.

Our previous pei girl used to hate leaving our house. She'd refuse to move and stress poop the whole way. If going by car to a walking spot she'd chew through the leash in the car or vomit. We had a behaviouralist working with her on a larger range of issues. Part of the solution was no longer making her do things she didn't want to do that were causing anxiety. Instead she got nearly all her meals in puzzles and we formalised play time at the house and included a training component. The puzzles really tired her out the most and overall she was much happier. Our current boy is terrified of other dogs but loves a walk because he just wants to inhale the world! If by some disaster a loose dog comes up to him he becomes defeated and refuses to continue on. He can also find it hard to regulate himself around people (especially kids). So we carefully manage where we walk him (we even know of an actual dog park that is usually empty) so his outings are positive and he has new things to sniff (not about distance for him). He is a very active boy with daily zoomies, playing in the frog ponds, playing soccer and other ball games and walks in our large yard too. He is not good with food puzzles because with his chubby face he can't get into the nooks and crannies of them and he can resource guard and not let go of something if he is not finished. We don't want to encourage that. Do people not pay attention to their dogs and what they like and dislike? There is no one size fits all approach to socialising, entertaining and exercising. Following you to a busy cafe and sitting under it while you have breakfast is for you, not your dog.

I don't consider myself handy but installed a Medium Petway brand pet door in my sliding security door. I bought it brand new at an op shop for a quarter of the retail price. It was beige and I spray painted it black (to match my door). I can confirm 5 different dogs (including a lab size one) have bashed and crashed their way through it over the last 4 years and there is still no damage to it other than some nose art.

I spent a fortune buying stairs and ramps for my old stafford girl but she wouldn't use them. I did have some success with a set of stairs that I attached a kids slide to for a bit. I really think they felt too flimsy underfoot for her. But eventually I found a carpet covered ramp someone had made and they are still at the base of my bed some 4 years later. Loads of dogs have used them. Jumping down remained a problem so I had to get one of those barriers you put up along kids beds too to force my girl to use the ramp in both directions (you can see it and her in the pic). She was also on Antinol Rapid (provided by vet originally but you can buy direct from company) and she did really well on it. Despite her arthritis she remained pretty active and was a real oldie when she passed.

I agree it seems bizarre the pet walkers aren't responsible but they might also have a contract with the owners - is your pet dog friendly, does it walk well on a leash, can you provide an appropriate sized leash or harness for walking, etc. You'd be pretty traumatised yourself if noone told you the new dog you were caring for temporarily was an escape artist who hated small breed dogs. As usual it sounds like there is more to the story (I'd never be capable of walking 5 dogs together and personally don't know how you can control that many if one decides to act up) but it also sounds like the pet sitters gave the dog up to council and it will be up to them to determine who is ultimately responsible. The dog pays the ultimate price as usual.

I'm so sad - I only want my own rubbish in my bins. I realised I was 'bin selfish' when my neighbours started just putting their manky rubbish in my part full bin to save them dragging their own out. Once it was prawn shells and heads in my empty bin in summer as they'd missed the garbage truck with theirs. Another time it was loose food waste and other non-recyclable rubbish in my recycling bin - that's what tipped me over the edge. So I doubt I'd be ok about someone else's poo, especially if my bin was just emptied.

Strangely T we have a large dog park nearby and we rarely see a dog there (we go Sunday afternoons). It has a gate at both ends too so if someone were to turn up we would simply exit from the other end. All open so we can see people coming. It's part of Albert's desensitisation. He goes where other dogs have been (sniffing is his number 1 hobby) but has a positive experience. It took 3 visits of this nature for him to not be so tense even going there. Each time we go he indicates when he has had enough too and that is also getting longer. I'm always looking out for other dog parks less frequented now so we can try different spots. Maybe this video was a similar scenario? It was empty and they wanted their dog to have a run but now they can't leave because of a loose dog that the owner is not controlling? We also exercise Albert at home playing soccer and with those big balls people exercise with. We want to get him a stronger horse type one. We've got a big block and he has zoomies at least once a day which we get involved in. Might have to look into a flirt pole to try!

When I watched it the loose dog seemed to be running around and around the fenced dog park, meaning that when the couple tried to leave with their dog aggressive dog it might have run up to them and caused some chaos. The other guy was just letting his dog do whatever it wanted, didn't see a leash and didn't hear him attempt to give it any commands to come to his side. Basically it seemed like an avoidable scene just waiting to happen. And T, Albert is not aggressive either and doesn't accidentally turn on humans when he is fearful either. He basically starts screaming and barking to tell other dogs to back off and leave him alone. He is usually trying to get away from them while doing it. He has gotten a little better (we can get closer if they aren't coming towards him or looking at him) but his fear is sadly real. I suspect while he had entropian and couldn't see he lived in a lot of fear from the other dogs around him. His entire body was covered in little nip wounds when he came to us and he has a small chunk out of his ear and some patches where no hair grows on a leg and down his side from scar tissue. Poor bugger.