Little Gifts

What never makes sense to me is that most pounds have overnight pens and the ones that don't often find dogs just left tied to the front gate anyway. And if it belonged to an old relative and you weren't in a position to take it on then that would be all you'd need to say and staff would understand! But I think this fella was left on the side of the main road through Gympie which is the main north-south highway from memory so hardly a very safe place to leave a dog even if it was easy to spot. If he was accidentally left behind after a roadside picnic his owners would've already found him. However it happened at least he is somewhere safe now.

The paper said his age was based on his general wellbeing. Usually they can tell by the teeth can't they? But given he doesn't have many that may have been a problem. He looks like an oldie from the 4 pics in the paper. I am surprised that someone even noticed the tiny fella by the side of the road!

Megs, I'm glad your dog and my dog weren't housemates or there would've been nothing left!

One of my previous SBTs was scared of loads of things and one night he was in the laundry while we went out and he tried to chew his way through the wall. By the time we got home the gyprock on his face had dried into a grimace. He pooed white for a few days. We also thought we had a mouse problem with our chook food (also stored in the laundry). Nope, he was helping himself to snacks throughout the night. Another time he ate a 4.5kg bag of Hills WD (again stored in the laundry for another of our dogs) and his belly was swollen up like he'd swallowed a basketball. That stuff is full of fibre so I think his bottom got a good work out. I still miss that silly boy.

Is he in quarantine with the other boy you were going to see tonight perhaps? Mr Cherry Eye????

I used to have to do show and tell for work most days it got so ridiculous. Our house looks like toddlers live here because nothing is on lower surfaces still. I also forgot that she till loves toilet brushes and holders - we've probably replaced four so far and the current one only has a handle about 2 inches long.

Oh dear - my girl is now 4 so has finally slowed down on her eating habits. She has a cast iron stomach and fortunately has not required any drastic medical intervention other than my vet yelling at me (and me crying). I will try and list the more special items that I can remember: - a 6 x 6 foot corner lounge (stuffing and timber) - a mobile phone - bits off every remote control we own - my beloved Powderfinger concert dvd - tampons (used and not mine) - an entire packet of contraceptive pills - an entire packet of heartworm tabs - an entire packet of anti-depressants - numerous tubs of vaseline - numerous lip balms - no particular flavour favourite - family sized blocks of chocolate - the handles off every clothes basket we own - two backpacks - a wire waste paper basket - thongs - ear plugs (used and mine) - an energy saving lightbulb - christmas decorations - christmas gifts - two dictionaries - a dog stair (carpet covering and timber) - boxes of aloe vera tissues (only that type and certainly not toilet paper or paper towels!) - the arms off two brand new lounges - the clips off the bottom of every single doona cover we own - the usual pillows (lounge and bed) and doonas (stuffing lover) - stuffed toys that belonged to humans - bean bag beans - a feathered fascinator

I love the smell of puppies the same way some people love the smell of babies. HEAVEN!!!!!

There are two really important aspects of this tragedy and they are both directly linked to adult responsibility. You simply can't leave a child in the care of anyone other than another attentive and skilled adult known to the child and child's parents. If you own a dog and don't raise it to respond safely to a range of situations that it is likely to face in its life then it will always be a potential safety risk to people and property. There is so much loss and heartache related to denying or avoiding those two key responsibilities. The lives of dogs and humans are changed forever by the failings of adults. Killing the dogs convicted of a crime they didn't know they were commiting wont bring back the children who have been lost. Thank you for linking the article Bull Arab. I wish more people were willing to question the facts so that we could continue learning and changing.

I had a period of time when every time I went in to my vet to pick up dog food some poor person or family was there getting their dog pts. I still remember the lady who bought her large breed in and it had the strangles (not sure of the proper name) and the vet had to tell her in the waiting room that her young dog needed to be pts as it could not be saved and was in a lot of pain. Numerous times I have patted their dog and rubbed the owners backs while they waited to go in. I couldn't not get involved because I know from experience what an isolating time it can be. You go in with a dog lead in your hand and come out carrying wet tissues. Having pts three dogs from illness/age in my life I don't think anyone is ever ready to take this last step. So much shock and sadness comes with the finality of the act. If your vet staff are animal lovers and generally compassionate people then they can't help but be affected by either the loss of a well loved and cared for animal or the extreme sadness expressed by the owner. I don't know that there is much that can be done except to do your job quickly and professionally, respecting whatever the owners wishes are at the time and then leaving them to grieve. I have received cards and flowers from my vet and staff after the event in the past and to be honest I need them to hold it together because I know I wont. Even typing this I am welling up at the thought of how significant and final this is and it is all over so quickly. With my last girl who was very old with serious health issues I was a blubbery mess and they held the surgery open for me so noone else would be there and let me stay until I was ready to step away from the table and let her be wrapped so I could take her home to bury. My vet was actually a little gruff with me at the time of injecting a dissappeared very quickly and left me to do what I needed to do. She kept the door open and was probably keeping an eye on me from down the hall. I know it was her way of keeping it together given she had been Ricky's vet for almost 16 years, right back to the first day she came into my care and needed help. She'd been seeing her every month for the eight months prior to her passing and was preparing me for her time coming to an end. How can you treat a dog for 16 years and not be affected when they pass? That's why she will always be my vet.

Bye Ollie boy. You were a tough cookie and will be sadly missed. When you see my old girl up there please give her a big lick from me.

I have just seen this and the water is falling from my eyes yet again. This story is evidence of how many wonderful and caring people are here on DOL and the many amazing dogs who despite what they have been through give back ten times more than they get. One person can make a difference.

Fantastic effort to all of you!

My front door has even less fly screen still attached to it. I gave up replacing it and using it to keep bugs out - just dogs in. Best thing I did for my back door though was to get the bottom third made as a solid metal panel and only the top third as a security fly screen. It has lots of scratches on it but it has withstood at least 4 different dogs over about 9 years and is still going strong. The other thing I have is shields behind the actually door handle and my dogs don't seem to like the smooth feel of it and have never managed to open either door themselves.

Mum and baby it doesn't matter that you were just cows and that your job might only have been to produce milk or end up as meat for humans or other animals. You had a right to live in safety and have your basic needs met. You did not deserve to be left to suffer until death. I am so sorry this happened to you. There are people here who wish they could've done more. And this is awful for you too Nic. Having lived on a cattle farm as a child and having immediate family members still running sheep and goats I still will not tolerate this kind of treatment to an animal. It is absolutely not necessary to be inhumane and heartless just because they are livestock. Quick and painless is not hard to do for any animal.

Dog's may not know why but I do think they can sense when something is not right with us humans. My sister's dog is usually very aloof but is always attracted to pregnant women - even when we can't tell or don't know. She goes into a protective mode with them sheltering them from the carry on of our other dogs. I'd be very proud of Maddie if I were her mum!

Someone gave that to me after I had to part with my old girl Ricky this year. She was nearly 17 and it helped me to realise how lucky I was that she got to such a grand age because so many beloved dogs don't. They don't live long enough if you ask me. Why the hell does a cockatoo need to live to 80 or a tortoise to 150 when old in some dogs can be only 8?

My brain is very tired tonight but there are two or three books written by a Brisbane journo about his dog Lucky who they took on a sailing adventure. The name Lucky is always in the title and they were heartwarming stories. The others I've read this year include the book about Oogy who was a dog fighting bait pup who is very disfigured but adored by his humans and Giant George, the world's tallest great dane. It is a bit like a Marley and Me but how they manage this huge dog who towers over even kitchen benches and sleeps on a queen sized mattress on the floor of their bedroom is funny. Sorry I can't remember the exact titles but their names are in it so it shouldn't be hard to search.

The scrap book is a very special idea Rach! I've never done that before but have thought about it. You should do a new paw print every month for the first year so you can track how quickly she grows. That would be cool in a scrapbook album!

I think those onesies suit My Billy! And of course I love the bully outfits - nothing makes me laugh more than a tough dog in a dress!

Mine is clearly broken. She can't lie normally. If it looks uncomfortable then she will be lying on it. I currently have a tent sitting in my front room that I have to take back to Anaconda. It is a pop up tent that is supposed to fold up into a bag but we can't get it to fold back up so can't store it. Anyway, there is a lovely dog bed sitting next to it but today I found Stussy lying in amongst the tent on top of the hard case bag, steel tent pegs and guide ropes. If I am watching tv and knitting at night then you can bet she is draped across both my thighs and being hit in the head with my needles. If I'm on the computer then she is trying to sleep with her head resting on my feet which are on the foot rest. In bed she wants to sleep longways on top of my legs. Maybe she came from a big litter and was used to making do?

Frodo is the all time king of dress ups though. It is one thing to dress them up and a whole other to get them to stand still for a photo. Frodo actually poses for his happy snaps. He was born for dressing up!

I give you Christmas Fairy! Mine really loves to frock up (as you can see from aeroplane tail pic) and I've purchased a few kids fairy outfits for her now. Not a fan of things on the head though. Bummer.....

She is BEAUTIFUL! She has the most gorgeous markings on her face too! Notice the ears seem to be growing slightly faster than the rest of her at present though!

I know mgardner - I was making light of the situation really as they are like a pack of wild dogs (all breeding with each other too) and it is the owners who let them wander and attack anyone who dares go past their house. It drives me crazy but my neighbours just don't get that just because they are small they can cause real problems when not disciplined and contained. I don't think they have even ever walked them or taken them in the car even as their vet lives three doors up and if they ever go on a holiday the dogs stay there and a family member simply turns up to feed them. They lack stimulation. I'd feel sorry for them if they weren't constantly driving me crazy!