Little Gifts

That is good news PM!

Gosh it has gone fast. I miss hearing about your rescues and your boys. Apart from missing your girl I hope all is going well. XXX

Nothing says 'love' like a rainbow!

Sending love Grumpette. A good dog is hard to let go from your heart. XXX

That pic gave me the feels!

I had several petrified pei here. I let them follow the other dogs to learn the household routine rather than overwhelming them with information. They had free run of the house/yard and a private place to eat their meals. Initially they were allowed to sleep wherever they were most comfortable and often they chose a protected bed in the lounge room at night where they could see everyone. I'd sit beside the bed every night, not looking at them and just start rubbing and massaging. I might only get a back leg at first but as the days went on they'd move under my hands allowing me to touch them in other places. It seemed to help develop trust between us so that within a week or so we could touch them without clear fear. I'd also sit near them when I could without engaging or looking so we got used to each other's space, even if they were in the yard. Maybe you could try both these things and see if she naturally wants to be where you are inside the house? We also used lots of higher pitched happy sounds around them and reduced shouting and loud activities amongst us humans. Lots of praise during any training or when they made good choices themselves. One boy we had to leave a leash on for days and when we needed to get close I'd need to step on the end of the leash. He'd just go into statue mode when scared. Over a couple of weeks when they had a handle on their new environment I started to introduce a crate and we'd do group training and walks with the other dogs. I still had to go gentle as a lot of dogs in that situation hate the focus ever being on them, probably because that has previously resulted in something bad happening. Give her time and a stable environment and her natural curiosity could see her actively engaging more and wanting to be part of the household. At the moment she's waiting for something bad to happen.

This makes me angry for other reasons. Appalling conditions don't suddenly happen overnight. Rundown kennels deteriorate over time. Emaciation, pressure sores and rotting teeth don't instantly appear either - they are gradual declines that have repeated opportunities to be addressed if an owner cares enough. This is the same bullshit the RSPCA pulls. Puppy farms pass inspections and all of a sudden 100 critically ill animals are pulled from deplorable conditions. How? In this instance, 10 months after passing an inspection 9 greyhounds are dead and another 12 have been seriously neglected and apparently the conditions they are living in has become appalling. Again, how? How did they pass last year? How has so much bad happened mysteriously? Or were there issues that were not rectified and followed up on again by inspectors? If so what is the point? We now have two governing bodies failing these dogs. Great job. Things should not have to get to the point of animals lives being lost or in danger of being lost for governing bodies to start taking their responsibilities seriously.

I've sat in on many parliamentary sittings in my day (QLD so state not federal). Ministers let themselves be briefed on anything of specific interest to them or to their constituents regardless of whose portfolio it belongs to. If they are not interested they don't ask for it because the amount of paper involved is astronomical and they never have even time. They can choose to not even be in the room when something of no interest is scheduled. I've seen Minister's doing their big speil to an empty chamber. There is no requirement for them (at least in QLD) to be briefed in any way about everything being presented to parliament at that sitting. But if it is a hot issue or they are interested their demand for information borders on excessive. It can all go from one extreme to the other.

If the RSPCA was doing everything everyone thinks they are doing with all the donations and government funding they receive there would be no point in thousands of other rescue groups being in operation around this country. But those thousands of other groups are not duplicating services - they are filling in the gaps and they are giving animals a chance that the RSPCA wouldn't. And they are doing it with none of the money RSPCA gets. Do people also know that the RSPCA moves animals on to other not for profit rescue groups (no funding or support comes with it) to rehabilitate, vet check and rehome? It probably also uses them in their success stats even though they did little and expended very little monies. Do people know just how often the RSPCA has already killed the poster animals it uses to donation drive? Do people know how much govt money they apply for (and often receive at least here in QLD) for bigger infrastructure projects? Have you or anyone you know been successful in having the support of the RSPCA in a cruelty case? Have you or anyone you know been successful in identifying your lost animal through the RSPCA? You can't even get anyone to answer the phone! I'm sure workers love animals but the bureacratic bullshit that resulted in a lack of attention to actual individual animals needs in the time I volunteered and fostered for them stopped me being their supporter. If independent rescue groups can do more with far less funding then the RSPCA need to have a serious look at their 'achievements' and value base.

I am so sorry you and your family are going through this. I didn't know this myself and have a dog who is notorious for eating things she shouldn't so it's a very real risk in this household. We are careful about how low anything remotely edible is left. Thank you for this information. Take care of yourselves.

Stussy has been doing a similar thing now for about a year. She is 11 in October. The vet couldn't find anything so I've been told to document and if possible film the episodes as that is helpful for the vet to determine what might be going on. Hers happen maybe every 3 or so months and she might be asleep and suddenly start moving around unable to settle and panting and then starts having full body tremors. She can't focus on anything and seems to need contact/comfort. No sign of pain and no whining but definately something not quite right. She gets quite tired and clingy afterwards. I previously had an epileptic dog so it is not a seizure of the same severity but something is definately not right for her.

Great survey (sorry I'm late!).

T has always taken the best puppy photos! I used to love her rescue thread photos of pups with wafty hair and wonky ears! Of course it helps with such beautiful subjects!

There is a gorgeous westie embroidered hand towel coming up tonight too! Not made by me of course. Also MTD does the most beautiful animal themed accessories. We are very fond of our individualised poo bag holders in this house!

Big JW fans in this house. Stussy loves the Hollee Roller! I stuff with stuffing and strips of fleece and she gets in there and rips it all out and I stuff it all back in and put it back in the cupboard! Craft for Paws also have snuffle mats and more recently someone is making snuffle balls.

I make 3 different types that sell on Craft for Paws, who raise money for 11 different animal rescue groups. All the ones I make are made from fleece fabric. I make a pom pom ball (for a dog who likes balls but doesn't like hard rubber ones) for $5, a squeaky stuffed dog bone for $5 and my latest is a crinkle chew which is a large bone shaped toy with a plait tug off the bottom, stuffed corners and you can put an empty water bottle inside the back of it for $10. I've added a link to the last album. If you like any and want any in a certain colour or print I'd be happy to make and send to you for a like donation to Craft for Paws (also tax deductible). You will see some other dog toys in the album. Mine will be be listed as 'Made by Alyson Dean'. You'll need to scroll down to the sold section to find them (if you can't find let me know and I'll post pics of them here). New items are loaded every Sunday night at 8pm. People buy straight away but as I said, happy to make for you for the same donation if you like the look of the toys I am currently making.

I think it was Pig In Mud who do dog doors in sliding doors? I'm not much help - a while since I had a pup either. I prefer harnesses when walking for control reasons (and a martingale style when just going to the vet or groomer). I've used Puppia on my stafford but to be honest I took my pei to a couple of pet stores and tried a few on and chose a brand that had a good fit for her. A bulldog puppy might be in the same boat - not average in measurements. How exciting for your dad!

That pink rabbit has always been Stussy's favourite toy since she was a pup (now heading towards 11). It is the only stuffed toy she hasn't disembowelled upon meeting. And that single photo just says so much about Jeff and Fern!

Very sad event for everyone (including the dogs) but this story has a surreal kind of feel to it. Given the description of the dogs (rather than the fact their mixes might make them larger and more agile) you'd have to wonder how the victim wasn't able to escape to higher ground/furniture. They don't sound like they'd be capable of jumping very far or running very fast. Of course a bite from any size dog in the wrong place can kill but it is not your run of the mill dog attack. If they'd left out the details about length of their legs and weight and just said they were dachshund mixes I'd be picturing something very different. The power of words.

A bit of a feel good story for you. http://www.onegreenplanet.org/news/website-match-people-perfect-shelter-pet/?utm_source=Green+Monster+Mailing+List&utm_campaign=991b49f8f9-NEWSLETTER_EMAIL_CAMPAIGN&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_bbf62ddf34-991b49f8f9-109407533

I had mother and son staffords (mother a foster fail and the son came back to live with me 6 months after he was adopted due to serious medical issues). I lived on a small acreage property alone and had the flu. At that stage my parents were living on the small acreage property next door. I made myself a cup-a-soup and some toast and decided to walk next door so they could see I was getting better. I went to walk down the 4 front stairs and my right leg went through the stair gap. I flipped and hit my head on the brick wall on my way down, knocking me unconcious. My piggy girl stayed by my side while her scaredy son ran next door to mum and dad's. They said he was making noises they had never heard before and kept running back and forth to our shared fence line. So they decided to see why he was being so strange and followed him back to me. I had to go to hospital, was concussed and injured all 4 limbs. I still have a big dint in my right leg. No idea how long I would've laid there without him going for help. The funny part was my piggy girl devoured the toast and slurped up all the soup but not until I was carried inside by my parents! Quite a number of years later I'd moved into the suburbs. I'd only been in this house a month or so. The dogs and I had had a huge day and they were snoring next to me on the lounge. They suddenly heard a noise that concerned them and they went beserk, running upstairs. I had 3 intruders in the upstairs of my house ransacking the place. One guy was chased out of a 2 storey window (broken ankle but was dragged off by his mates) while the other 2 were chased out of the front door and off the property. Instead of chasing the intruders up the street both dogs raced straight back and stayed by my side. I had run into the back yard with the cordless house phone and had no idea how many unwanted people had been in my house. When I rang 000 they had no police to send and with emergency still on the phone and the dogs by my side I had to go back into the house, check room by room and lock the place up till the police could get to me. It was beyond terrifying. I was incredibly thankful both those dogs came into my life and were my saviours at such significant times. You like to think your dogs will be there like that in a crisis but you never really know. The son in particular had health issues and severe anxiety so I was really surprised at what he was capable of under pressure. When my current pei girl was still a pup I had a fall and shattered my wrist. It was in plaster for 3 days while I was hopped up on pain meds until I could have surgery on it. My sister took a pic of me passed out in bed with my arm sticking in the air. My pei and stafford girls were both lying all over me maximising mummy contact while I couldn't complain. But not once did they knock my arm or need to be cautioned. They didn't just lie quietly by my side either. How did they know to be careful of the arm?

Yes Snuggle Safe! If we have a cold winter my sister has one in her bed, and I have 2 in my bed (for the dogs of course!). Yes they are hard but the hours of radiating heat are worth it! I've had mine for about 7 years. They last forever.

I had a heat up one too (no pee issues). Stussy ate it (it was unplugged). We bought several of those heat up disc thingies several years back and they are our go to item for cold winters now. They stay warm overnight and the dogs can move away from them if they feel too warm. Can't remember the brand name now. They are round hot pink hard plastic things that you put in the microwave. They weren't cheap but have lasted for years. Another DOLer will surely know the brand name of them.

I'm so sorry Minxy. There are so many of us old DOLers who also have rather old dogs now too so I feel your pain but you did the right thing for your beautiful boy. Be kind to yourselves. XXX

You are overlooking your own comments - you have a responsibility to keep him safe and by your own admission he has ended up in a neighbours yard 10 times this week and sometimes multiple times a day. That is not good and it is not your neighbours dog's fault - it is yours and given you love your dog you need to accept the way you are contributing to this current situation and not put it all down to natural instincts. Many of us have or have owned entire dogs and been able to keep them safely contained (and not at risk of unwanted impregnation). Many of us have also experienced neighbours dogs who regularly roam and I have to tell you they cause a lot of problems. Shitting all over your yard, causing your own dogs to bark uncontrollably and try to escape, bailing up the postie and people walking (with and without dogs), becoming traffic hazards even in quiet streets. I also had a direct neighbour who let their little dog roam in our fairly quiet street, getting up to all kinds of chaos they seemed ignorant of. They still haven't gotten over the fact he was run over by a car and killed about 6 months ago not far from their house. That is what happens. And it is preventable. Even if you choose to neuter also consider prioritising fixing your fencing and providing stimulation for your boy to replace his wandering. No-one on here wants to hear he got stolen or hurt or that he hurt the other dog in question trying to mate with it. That's what the negative comments boil down to I think - his behaviour and the impact it might have on others and himself is preventable/manageable, but as his owner you need to step up and accept some responsibility and rectify things before it is too late for your boy. Neutering will not magically fix everything if your front gate remains open. And as for your dog being locked up while you are at work - this is the norm for many dogs so don't feel bad - make it up to him with activities and mental stimulation on and off your property. If you have cars coming and going from your property then you may have to consider securely fencing him away from driveways and your exit gate. I've had to do that myself, particularly when living on acreage with rural perimeter fencing. It's cheaper to get secure fencing around a section of yard than it is to pay for a broken hip repair at an after hours emergency vet.