Little Gifts

Right from when my staffy Stussy was a pup she would go in an off leash area with my sister's husky/shephard cross Wolf who is a very well trained and obedient dog. Stussy has always been very inquistive (aka disobedient) and always running too far from everyone else, totally oblivious to my calling, usually with Wolf having a panic that she wasn't following 'the rules' (we often refer to Wolf as 'the fun police'). So one day my sister pointed and said "Wolf, go get Stussy" and sure enough she ran off and rounded the pup up and headed her back to us. Two years down the track and we are still using the same command successfully and I'm sure Wolf rolls her eyes in despair that Stussy still hasn't learnt the rules!

K9 he has the most gorgeous colours! He looks like he'd be the type to tell you all his troubles too! There was some book I read by a group of tough guys who rescue animals in America (Tattoo Rescue Inc?). They took on a lot of badly abused and neglected dogs and I remember reading about how even a dog who has been confined/treated inappapropriately for long periods of time will be aggressive when trying to be 'rescued'. It is a fear thing because they have become conditioned to their bad treatment/environment. For all they know they could be getting taken somewhere even worse so they give off the 'back off don't mess with me' signals. That made so much sense to me as I think dogs in particular are always trying to make the best of a bad situation to avoid total rejection by us humans. It is amazing that you are able to look past that to see what's really going on and that you do so honestly without putting your other animals and people in your home at risk. I have a great respect for what you do and how many animals you have done it for.

My staffy was about 14 weeks and was assessed by the puppy school vet nurse basically to make sure she would not be too boistrous for the other puppies attending. She was unfortunately but still completed it. She was already used to being with big dogs and playing roughly. Lots of small white fluffies in her class and I still remember Stussy getting the fur of a SWF stuck around her teeth so this poor thing is howling and trying to get away from her but couldn't. Oh dear. But hey I think it was good for those other owners to see an active, inquisitive dog in a safe environment! If I had of owned her younger I simply would've checked with my puppy school vet nurse to see when puppy school was right for her to start at that age.

I'm sure they'd appreciate being left at the pound for 14 days just to save you money Hopefully that was a joke. It was a joke, but you can see why we have so many dogs in our pounds being killed day because of these fines. I agree - those amounts will mean a dog is PTS if the owner can't afford it or doesn't really care about the dog, and those careful owners who lose a beloved pet temporarily just get a smack in the head for usually being a responsible dog owner. It doesn't stop the main issue of deterring bad pet owners and encouraging good ones. You might have a case re the registration because they are clearly registered - just not at the right address, but that address still led the council to you then that's really what matters. Sorry for all the stress you've had over this.

Typical! I give my sister the hardest time about Aldi (what, they sell food?) and she is going to pay me out terribly on this one because who bought themselves a fancy schmancy doggie belt thingy last year for $35 and is yet to take the tag off it?

This is such a wonderful outcome. He is like a rescue mascot and will only get better from here on in with your love and care. His next goal is to fatten up given he looks like settling in is not going to be an issue! Congratulations Luki and thank you for not giving up K9Angel!

I'm so happy!

We had serious probs with 3 rescue dogs of very different ages becoming a pack. My sister heard a lady speak at our local library about amichien bonding (Jan Fennell the Dog Listener). That led us to Penny Alexander who runs how2balpha on the northern end of the Gold Coast. The immediate difference was AMAZING. It was $200 very well spent. We have saved far more than that on vet fees after the fights. We can call her anytime we need more help - lifetime backup service. Over a year now and we are still managing well but once our 16 year old passes on I suspect we will need some help again. What you learn becomes natural when you see the benefit of it to your dog - they aren't the little humans they think we are and their problems can't be addressed using our logic. Anyway you should see this as a preventive expense. Your lovely dog will only get worse and it will be a great burden on all of you. It is money well worth spending to have a happy and healthy dog over the long term. And Penny's email addy is [email protected]. Phone is 07 3386 1338. I think she now has a website under how2balpha. I know she is further away but she will know someone local to you guys who follows the same techniques. Good luck!

Luki is a beautiful name for a beautiful boy! I am so so glad he is doing a little better - I think that is an excellent sign! I'm really hoping he gets a little better with each day and I hope the other pup that is at the vet is going ok too but you need to focus on Luki - the other family are obviously animal lovers who want to do the right thing too and have other resources if they can't cover the costs. Years ago I used to volunteer to clean, feed and socialise the puppies at the big RSPCA shelter in Brisbane. They had this special clear chemical that we would put on the floors when cleaning and also in these shallow dishes outside every door of every run. Every time we stepped in and out of the runs we would put our shoes in the shallow dish to avoid spreading germs. And I remember back then we put garlic powder and other assorted supplements on their food too which I think helped. Anyway once I got home my boots stayed outside for a scrub and my clothes came straight off and were washed seperately. I never wore those boots of clothes for any other purpose either. I never took anything home to my dogs and yes, saw sick pups and ugly poos every single time I went to there as the pups for rehoming and incoming pups were caged along the same run. You'd know who wasn't going to make it when you saw one wearing a black tag. But none of that for Luki - he has a comfy bed and a new mummy who just loves him to pieces already. How could he miss out on that!

Hey no pooping is good news! I think they give everyone the 50/50 news just in case. I can see what you mean about him being skinny. Poor little bubba. Please keep us updated on his progress.

K9 I have my fingers and toes crossed for this little boy and his pound mates. I am linked to BFR in Qld and a collie cross with paws and ears too big for its head and body from up this way recently went into foster care but became sick with parvo immediately and despite the best efforts of everyone he didn't make it. He was in the vet for a week. Incredibly sad. He has 4 litter mates not affected though. It's a reminder of how fragile these little guys really are. It sucks and they don't deserve to be so sick or end up dumped in the pound, but they are lucky to have people like you out there trying to turn that around. Thank you for caring so much - I hope he is able to fight it. Alyson