Little Gifts

Why not buy a kids sleeping bag from somewhere like K-Mart? If you have an Anaconda near you they often have very good specials on sleeping bags as well. I know these will obviously be bigger than a dog one but if you can sew you cut it in half and have 2 sleeping bags for probably $25 max.

I used to volunteer one sunday a month at my local RSPCA. For the first few months I had a great routine in place of cleaning and feeding then playing with the puppies and when they fell asleep I'd go help out with what still needed to be done with the larger dogs. Then things changed and I wasn't allowed to feed the pups (not just me - all volunteers included) but the workers were never available and the pups would be crying for food and I would be wandering around without anything to do. I never understood the change as it benefited the pups and the workers. I always followed the instructions for feeding very carefully (they were subject to change) and monitored poos and vomits and let the workers know of any concerns for specific dog or pens. Eventually I stopped putting myself on the roster and got involved in another volunteer activity/organisation. Each RSPCA will run slightly differently so you will need to give it a try and see if it is fulfilling enough for you and what you want to do. Why not also consider volunteering at a local vet hospital or larger surgery?

My girl Stussy lets me cuddle her whenever I want, however I want and for as long as I want. I'm very spoilt! "Give me cuddles" is a command she picked up very quickly!

Wow. My girl has just passed 16 and I thought she was doing pretty well without hearing and with limited eyesight but pretty much full mobility. Tammy is like an olympic athlete compared to my girl who is of the walk slow and sniff every blade of grass variety. She plays with my younger girl every single day and also has a play routine she likes with me but she goes with the flow for the rest of the time, not ever too far from a comfy rest spot. I also check her breathing regularly and I think part of the joy of owning an older dog is that it is almost like owning a puppy again without the naughtiness. You spend your time monitoring everything they eat and do looking for signs of deterioration (as opposed to improvement like you would in a puppy). When they do positive things you praise them like they just did the most amazing thing. Their lives seem so much simpler again. They get around despite the lack of hearing or sight without complaint and still want to go for a walk even if they can't walk very far or fast. They wake every day ready for whatever comes their way. I think us humans can learn a lot from how they approach life without focussing on the limitations that come with ageing.

That is just heartbreaking. Of course the poor girl gave chase - dogs are more loyal to humans than some of them deserve. I will never understand how people think a domesticated dog can just be dumped somewhere or left behind after a house move and that it will be alright. Yes, it can go to the shops, buy some food, open a tin and feed itself! And turning a tap on so it has fresh water - no problem! With all that free time now that pesky family is gone it should be able to build a lovely weather proof shelter! If you are going to get rid of your animal then have the balls to drop it at a shelter yourself and pass on useful information about the dog so it can be rehomed. Maybe then you will learn a lesson about animal ownership and stop bothering! Rant over....

Bubby meet Stussy. Stussy the staffy is obsessed with catching mice. The only ones she can get though are those that we catch for her in a trap first. Usually she runs around with them in her mouth for a bit then puts them down somewhere comfy like the lounge and they run off unscathed (but slightly moist). She then follows their scent in the reverse direction to which they have headed. It's heartbreaking to watch. Lethal predator 0. Mouse 1.

Have a look in the DOLer threads as I'm sure someone was making these to size. I did a big search for jammies with legs in the shops on the southside and came up with nothing so had a pair made from a lady on ebay (but can't find her details right now). The pair I had made suit a small staffy. They have been washed but remain unworn as she was not fond of having all her legs touched to put them on! You can borrow them if you like? I don't want to lose them for good just in case! PM me if you want to give them a try and I can put them in the post tomorrow.

People need to pick their own dog regardless of it or their age. I don't have an issue with 65 year olds owning a puppy they can manage as long as they research it and chose it themselves. Sorry - animal gifts are not ok with me as at least 2 of my rescue dogs were unsuitable gifts.

Freaking sweet mate!(What breed is he really?, looks like quite the pretty dog) He was a german shepherd corgi cross - being serious! He came to me as a rescue dog because he was an escape artist and was going to the pound otherwise. He stayed with me till he passed on at 9. And despite the long hair he never got matted.

Seriously, it's not much to ask an owner to pick up it's own dog's poop is it? It takes maybe a minute of their time and one teensy little bag. If they can't even be bothered doing that then imagine all the other dog related stuff they probably couldn't be bothered with like vaccinations, heart worming, desexing, training.....

Some of you wanted evidence of the elusive shephard corgi cross. Since this breed first appeared back in the late 80s I did have some difficulty finding photographic evidence of its existence. The photo below was probably taken in the early 90s. This boy was named 'Hey Dog' and in all the photos he is lying down - I'm not sure if there was a genetic flaw which limited standing or if he was just lazy. Perhaps this is why the 'shorgi' never really took off as a guard dog?

OK no more LL from me - this horse is seriously hilarious! Is it one of yours Ellz?

"See, there is absolutely no cocaine in this nostril! I'm clean I tell ya so stop bugging me!"

Wow! Lyndsay Lohan is really telling those paparazzi off in that photo!

Oh geez, I actually had one of these in real life. He was a cracker of a dog - looked like a GSD pup his entire life. His bark was a little high pitched but his poops were small!

But if you get a dog that doesn't fart who will you be able to blame the smells on?

I see we are still in two camps over this case. Would you feel different if she obsessively knitted tea cosies all day rather than played computer games? Would you feel different if it were her children who were dead and not her dogs? I know I would feel the same - she lost the plot to the extreme and nothing but outside intervention would've changed this situation. It is a tragedy and she needs help, not jail time. I hope she gets well and that these children get a healthy mother back. They have already lost a father. I don't think she gives people with mental health issues a bad name because she was undiagnosed and untreated when this happened. There are lots of highly functioning people out there with diagnosed disorders - I am one of them and have completed a university degree, obtained a well paying job, own a house, a car, don't let animals die (except fish - I do have a problem there) and I don't have children because I know I wouldn't do a good job raising them because of my issues. It is because of my issues that I have compassion for others not as fortunate as me.

I'm not sure if it is depression as humans feel it but I think there is a sense that something is wrong or missing and they don't know how to fix it or make it right again. One of my dogs lost her son who she had lived with for 12 years. She turned into this old dog overnight on me. It was awful. She'd previously lost another dog in our pack and spent a lot of time looking for him, so going from a 3 pack to just herself she was quite lost. We got another pup and she is going great still - playing every day like she was still young and spritely. More dogs have also come into the pack as well. This old dog is also mostly deaf and blind now. She sees shadows but I notice at night if she gets stuck somewhere dark and can't work out where to go she gets a real look of panic on her face. I don't see this as a fear of being blind but a fear of not being able to take care of herself in a pack animal sense as something like this would result in her death in the wild.

I've submitted a nomination too. I've been wanting to become a foster carer and will be able to do so once my old girl passes on - it wont be possible with her now. So a course will get me on the right track! And I don't care who I foster for - might even become and MDBA Pacers girl! Julie will you let us know how we take the next step after this to participate in the course? Also, we have the capacity to create a secure kennel at our place. We have a carport enclosed on 3 sides (2 sides are tin to roof height and 1 side is a 6 foot timber fence) with a concrete floor and small patch of garden/dirt. When I am able to foster I also thought it might be an option to fence in this area as a secure kennel at my own cost? Is there a need for something like this for outdoor dogs that need temp care or for quarantine? Would MDBA Pacers be able to give me advice on how to create a good set up? Any other dogs we take on would be indoor/outdoor dogs. I live in the suburbs but everyone in my street and behind me has one or 2 dogs. Probably getting ahead of myself....

Where will the course be held?

Hardy's Angel some people haven't been touched by mental health issues or addictions or depression so I don't think they understand that these are not issues where someone can simply fix themselves. It is hard to have compassion for something you don't understand. It is 'sick', it is 'disgusting', but it is also a tragedy, and not even an avoidable one because lots of people who are mentally unwell don't even know they are so can't ask for help. Try not to take other's comments to heart - they obviously don't have the knowledge or experiences you do. Big hugs XXX

Having worked in statutory child protection for a long time I hate to say it but neglect of children (and animals and households) happens all the time even without mental health issues or computer addiction. Kids can still be attending school and neighbours don't have a clue what is going on behind closed doors. Unfortunately stuff like this has to go on for a while before someone notices something is wrong. Things have to deteriorate to the point where it all falls apart before anyone external realises how bad things are. Some people who have previously coped normally do get overwhelmed after a tragedy and end up not being able to manage things they previously could. It is very sad but not generally intentional. Then of course there are others with significant mental health issues who may never be able to cope. And then there are others who simply don't give a shit. I wish at least 2 of those groups would stop having babies.

10 months is just heartbreaking. You haven't had enough with your boy. It's not fair.

I'm so sorry Waffle. My old girl got diagnosed with cancer masses almost 3 years ago - lumps of different sizes all over her. Then earlier this year she got diagnosed with mammary cancer with no idea how long she's got. She's still very active but does better on a routine. So I just try to give her that bit extra attention and cuddles and take photos more regularly rather than take her on extravagant outings. The vet has given me advice on what to look for as far as the symptoms to be worried about as the cancer goes into other organs. Apparently she will go downhill very quickly when it happens. At first I panicked if I couldn't see her breathing but as the months go on I'm trying to trust in fate to tell me when the time is right. I did spoil her more on her b'day last month and for winter this year she got loads of new and expensive coats and jammies because I was worried she would feel the cold more. But apart from that it is life as usual in our house, with just a little more one on one time. She is behind me right now play fighting with one of the other dogs!

I was on www.topbuy.com.au on Friday and I'm sure they had some very nice and not too expensive pens avail.