Little Gifts

We get so used to their little quirks (as they do to ours). I have this thing where I still go to round up our pack and can't find the black one (dead almost 2 years now). Same in winter when it is coat time - I get too many out. I've conveniently forgotten all the things she used to do to drive me crazy (like when her head was out the back door but her arse was still inside and she'd pee). Hugs Pers. XXX

Oh to be a birthday dog at your place!!!!!

So glad she is home! I guess she gets ball catching time now but it might have to be limited to a few throws so you don't have to go through this again. Thank you for sharing your experience though as it could help others. Gotta love DOL for that!

This also happened to a lady doing the Kokoda Trail. So how did they treat Sally for this? Do they try and replace the depleted elements or just monitor? Vomiting would only remove excess fluid from the stomach so I'm assuming it is like the whole body gets over saturated and not just the stomach? Awfully scary for you!

I'm still loving Tango!

I've always thought Willow had a dose of extra cute every since you started 'fostering' her. With her new pink bedding and bling she had FF written all over her!

I started coming down with a lergy last night - rare for me. Feel like total shite but I'm trying to sweat it out. I've spent all day cleaning the garage and house and leaving a trail of tissues behind me! No head spins or I'd be in bed too cuddled up with my sloth dog. Hope we both feel better soon!

How do you get anything done? I'd just want to lie around in the yard with them crawling all over me!

Why isn't the council or the RSPCA doing more to educate the public around this issue? There is no reason in this day and age for people to accidentally breed not once but twice! Mandatory desexing!!!!! Oh and I hope they are able to re-do the bedrooms of one of those kids to make the new pup feel the love and security it deserves!

My sister has been saving bags of wool from her husky/GSD girl with a view to felting it but I am yet to see anything other than collecting the fur happening for the last 2 years! Crazy dog lady hair hoarder! PS Macgyver is so cute!

Pei seem to pick who they want to live with so I think Ams does things a bit differently. If a connection is made between the humans and dog at a meet and greet then the next step is making sure the home environment will match the dogs needs. An adopter is given time to address any specific issues (like fencing) that may have shown up on their home visit or application. There is no overall right or wrong but just what is best for the pei in question and there is also not this big rush to move dogs on. Some of mine have had multiple visits with their new family before they left me. I am not sure why other rescue groups wouldn't want to do something similar if it was really in the dog's best interests to live with that family? Give them a chance to rectify something they didn't realise was an issue if that is the only thing preventing the adoption. Of course you couldn't waste time chasing people but is helping people who are genuinely interested in a particular dog so difficult? I think people who are keen tend to willingly stay in contact anyway. And despite pei being a bit special we've had adopters who have not owned a pei or dog before either so the hoops are not impossible to jump through!

I'm very dissapointed there is no pei as well Boronia!

I was terrified I would not be considered good enough to be a foster carer for Ams but was honest on the 100 page application form (ok so it was only maybe 80 pages!). I would've learnt and performed a magic trick if she had've said I needed to! I think it is impossible for anyone to say they are a perfect pet owner because it all depends on the pets/breed of dog. I like to think I am a responsive pet owner and foster carer; I adapt when it is needed and I am constantly learning new tools. I hope the learning never stops. I was talking to someone today in a hairdresser who was saying how important pet insurance was for her swf. I have never had it for any of my pets and have not even considered needing it. The reason for that is because I am all about prevention first and I think knowing your dogs and paying attention to any changes that take place means you get appropriate treatment early for any issues that might arise and it can save you money in the long run. Feed them appropriately too and it saves you money on dental work and other nasties that can arise from the wrong diet like allergies and pancreatitis. I know this seems simplistic and that accidents occur and we can't possibly predict all ailments but I don't get why people leave their dogs rubbing their eyes or scratching at their skin or squealing if you touch their sore ears? So many things that dogs come into rescue suffering with are easily preventable in those early stages and less costly on the pocket and the dog. Even malnutrition - people can afford cigarettes and alcohol but not a $1 chicken carcass or even shade and fresh water on a hot day? I just don't understand why they even bother owning an animal in the first place if it is such an inconvenience. Sorry, an OT moment.

I believe in fate and even though he cried he probably needed to. And he probably needed to be reminded about his own dog over the bridge and new life rather than just loss. Sometimes when people are older it can all seem about what they don't have rather than what they do. I think he will probably remember meeting Sammy and it will make him smile. I hope they run into each other again!

If they knew about Max I'm sure they'd have a perfect stamp model - crazy face sells right?

Tempeh was already being a bit of a cry baby this morning - she is over the rain as much as me, so I got up early and wrapped her amethyst and put it on a rubber necklace thingy and she is wearing it around without a problem, all nice and quiet noise wise but her ears are doing crazy things. She looks quite funky in her bling! Her eyes look a bit funny as she is still healing from entropian surgery a couple of weeks ago.

That's the thing Jules - the dogs don't know what is supposed to happen so I take any change as a sign it's working!

Jules I use a puppia harness on my SBT and it is the best harness set up I've used on her. Nice and comfy and it gives me good control of her. I wanted one for my pei girl but her neck/chest ration is not right for one so she has a couple of Rogz adjustable harnesses instead.

I am not adverse to trying different things with my dogs that others might consider wierd. For instance At least 3 of our dogs over the years have worn crystals with positive effect. It first started when I got given a magnetic hematite necklace and I put it on my old staffy girl - she was black and it looked good on her! Anyway we found out it was good for arthritis and mobility and that girl lived to be almost 17 without any bone or joint issues. She did have some brain and nerve problems that caused her to drag her back toes. We figured she wouldn't have a clue whether it worked or not but she was certainly a lot more lively when the necklace was on so it became a permanent fixture. We then got an amethyst for my sister's dog that was rather highly strung (amethyst is calming) and she has become more content but I think that is more an age thing as it is attached to her collar and she only wears her collar when we leave the house with her these days. We got a clear quartz crystal for my young sbt and it sent her crazy immediately. I can't remember what is was supposed to achieve but it was not good for her so it came off failry quickly. I think she was also wearing turquise at some stage but I can't remember why or whether it worked. So with our new pei girl Tempeh I was reminded of this and when I set her new soft crate up (taking away the metal one) I put a large rough amethyst piece in a pocket of the crate. Instead of being a little concerned about the change of bed arrangements she seems to love the cosiness of her new crate and no longer wakes me early for a piddle; only waking me by 7 so she can have her brekkie. I leave the door of it open but she still prefers it to sleeping on my bed with the other dogs. Sleeping through the night could also be that she is older but she has not peed on her bed and also takes treats and toys in there during the day for privacy and she never did that with the metal crate. Yesterday I was in a bead shop and was drawn to this tumbled piece of amethyst so I bought it. When I came home Tempeh was fascinated with it, sniffing and licking it. So I cleansed it overnight and will wire wrap it tonight and hang it from her harness to see if that calms her down on outings. Anybody else used crystals on their dogs with noticeable change or am I the only hippy here? I love rocks in general but cannot wear crystals or even have them in my pockets - they just amplify things for me and I feel too OTT. So I just have them throughout the house and no-one else is allowed to touch them!

I think it is the crazy eyes and tongue out look that makes me laugh the most! You have to wonder what is (or isn't) going on in that head of hers!

I sometimes think there is a perception that rescue groups get the dogs for free so why charge so much for them? It's a bit like when I go into an Op Shop and see some exorbitant price on something and mutter under my breathe about how they got it for free in the first place and most of the staff volunteer so how the hell can they justify themselves! But the reality is there can be release fees, transport fees, quarantine fees, medication, vetwork, micro-chipping, heart worm tests, worm meds, collars, leashes, bedding, crates, quality food. The list goes on and on. A good rescue is endeavouring to provide an adopter with a dog in good health, with knowledge of their individual habits and quirks and basic training. Some dogs cost more money to bring to an adoptable level. I don't know any rescue group personally up this way that operates in profit (excluding RSPCA here) and I also don't know any personally that have paid employees (exc RSPCA and AWL). As a foster carer I am very lucky to have been provided with certain items by my rescuer (crates, food, medication) but I am also out of pocket for things like transport, treats and extra fresh food (like chicken necks and carcasses) and because of the type of dogs I've had I've chosen to pay a groomer to give fortnightly malaseb baths rather than do it myself in the bath. I do loads of doggy washing each week (bought a portable clothes line for that) and try and recycle and repair where possible. I make coats, toys and squishy beds but there are times when I have bought new harnesses, leashes, tags, towels, blankets and second hand stuffed toys and metal bowls. Just because they are a foster dogs doesn't mean I want them to have all hand me downs! I love them all and think they deserve to be colour coordinated and look their best in public! And anything specific I have for that dog (inc any toys they might love) I send with the dog when it is adopted. I like to think that assists the dog in some way. I've also loaned items to adopters until they can afford to buy their own, again because it assists the dog to have familiarity while it is settling into its new home. Oh and if you foster dogs you also have to accept they will damage some of your furniture or ruin your carpet, blinds, curtains, chew some door frames and scratch screen doors! If you added up every single cost outlayed by rescuers and foster carers for the period of time a dog was in care you would be shocked. If we adopted out the dogs in the same condition they came in as then people would not consider rescue dogs an option and would probably question if we were even animal lovers. I never understand though how people never question how much pet shops charge for cute puppies and you get none of the above. In fact they hope you will spend even more money in their shop buying new leashes and collars and bowls and beds! Rescue is just happy to know you and the dog are a good match! And yes we love to hear from you afterwards and see pictures! I feel blessed to have 2 adoptive families stay in regular contact with me.

Julie I agree with the concept of people giving it a go because it does only take one person to start change (as evidenced by Oscar's Law) but I still can't accept a couple of people calling themselves a national body representing all. It is naive and potentially dangerous to the whole rescue industry. I appreciate that it is safer for smaller groups to not detail who individuals are but for a national body there needs to be a figure head and we need to be able to see some evidence of the skills within the organisation simply to show evidence of their capabilities to do what they are proposing. Having many years of working in the state govt I can tell you that lobby groups without some legitimacy are not taken seriously, they are not kept informed about issues and they are not invited to offer representation or provide submissions. State based key bodies are considered legitimate (based on their professional approach and knowledge/industry influence) and get meetings with Ministers, can affect policy/politics, etc but national key organisations have to deal with the federal govt and are considered to sit over key state bodies, many of which need to network or have membership with the national key organisations. Does that make sense? If we had some self appointed local group writing to us claiming to be a new national body they would probably get the run around unless they had a local or federal MP assisting them. People can't just go around professing to be something without proof or a track record of the individuals and get taken seriously within govt. Instead of talking about our concerns here should we be sharing these with NARGA? I hate raining on anyone's parade but from a govt perspective They need to make a lot of organisational changes to be able to get off the starting block. Maybe they are capable of it but at present we don't have enough knowledge about them to know. I wouldn't want to discourage or bad mouth them unesecarily if the capacity exists and we just don't know it yet.

I probably would've had a sore belly from laughing so much. There always has to be one crazy dog in the mix and Max looks like she was it on Saturday!

I still have an issue with a group calling themselves a national body. I would need to see representation on their management committee from every single state and those representatives would need to be respected members of their state's rescue community. I would've rather they put forth a proposal to key rescue groups around the country to form a national body and then called for reps from each state to form the committee rather than just suddenly be professing they were a national but faceless/nameless body. It's not the way to garner support or determine common values and goals for the group. It's a cheerocracy, not a democracy! I also don't know what lobbying experience they have and whether they appreciate the difficulty and cost associated with being a national body. Are they going to skype members into meetings? If these members have other jobs how free will they be to fly to various activities and who will pay for flights and accom? Whose going to administrate what they are doing and ensure everyone is kept up to date and identify papers and submit responses? Besides practical rescue knowledge are any of the reps qualified in any useful way? Are there policy writers, porject managers, legal eagles or public relations people? Does anyone have any actual connections to political or media networks? Or are these just good hearted people with their fingers crossed? I strongly believe in people power but really, really don't understand how they are going to achieve many of their goals without key supporters, money and people with lobbying skills. They are thinking way too big without much to back it up.

Oh you guys crack me up! Poo cakes and crazy faced Max! The zoomie and pool shots are classic! I'm so glad you all had a good time (including the fur kids)! Harper looks like she's developed a bit of greyhound in that body! She may never stop growing T! I think Tempeh may be levelling off her growth spell (her back legs grow taller and then her front legs have to catch up usually) as she has eased back on her eating. She would've loved being there with all those other dogs to play with but would've been screaming for help had she seen any dogs in that clam shell. Water melts pei you know!