Little Gifts

I know. I see dogs in need (mostly pei) every single day on there but he is the one constantly on my mind for the last few weeks. The games will only be 11 days of madness but Floyd will belong to myself and my sister so she will be here when I am not. Between us we've always managed to make sure the dogs have what they need when they need it. She is studying full time now so has the life of a slacker uni student! What did you think of your pei experience? I can't imagine my life without one now! I'm actually upset with Tempeh because she finally became a snuggler at night while we sleep but the last couple of months decided she wants to sleep in her crate again! No matter how much I coax her my bed is only for lying on during daylight hours now! It's like she does it on purpose! Anyway I am just going to leave my well wishes for Floyd with the universe and see if it leads anywhere.

Funny enough both my sister and I have just started to 'notice' other dogs but Floyd is the first that hasn't left my interest. Our old girl has been gone long enough for us not to feel like we were trying to replace her. It's just been a natural process. As I said usually a dog just finds us so it is a very different experience to feel like we are planning for one. My sister's been the one encouraging me to contact the rescue about Floyd while I am a bit scared. Part of that is because I've never been on this side of rescue before! I honestly think us humans and Stussy have a good track record with dogs like Floyd so could give him something extra. Tempeh is the unknown quantity. She's had other dogs in the house but most of them have left by dinner time so it hasn't been an issue! How will she go sharing meal times and bed space? I am trying to be practical and sensible both for any new dog and our own two. It could be magical or it could be terrible depending on how Tempeh feels about the particular dog joining the pack. I hope she is old enough and confident enough now for it not to be an issue (with us guiding the situation), but??? And I would go back to fostering but I have no group I've gelled with and she wouldn't like ongoing change so if we are going to add another dog to our life it would need to be adoption. I know I'm talking myself out of it and finding more reasons not to but part of me wont let the issue go. Grrrr. I could be wasting all this energy thinking about it when we wouldn't even be suitable for him (eg he needs to be in an only dog home) or something else about us wouldn't pass muster on an adoption application. Plus he would need to like us and vice versa. Geez! How do people do this! Imagine getting your hopes up over a dog and not even getting a look in!

It's sooo hard! I see his pic and he is calling me! Lots of thinking to do. I hope he foster fails and then I wont have to think about it anymore. This is him after a couple of weeks in care. Still some wounds not seen in photo.

I would never be dishonest to a rescue. I would tell them up front my concerns and need for meet and greets off premises and on and I hope they would decide what is in Floyd's best interests as I have to decide what is right for my own. I just wouldn't want to risk upsetting Floyd or my own dogs (Stussy gets stressed when Tempeh is). But I'm thinking a male could create a nice balance between the girls and a younger dog could give Tempeh a play buddy now Stussy is getting a little older and slower. I'm leaning more towards simply asking if they are taking applications, giving them some info about us and seeing what happens. He might be a dog who would prefer a quieter household. Or he mightn't even choose us. That can happen with a pei. It's not a commitment I take lightly so I'm struggling with making sure it is the right thing.

There is a pei called Floyd in rescue at present and he had the most horrible injuries when surrendered. It has been suggested he may have been a bait dog. As soon as I saw his arrival pics I nearly put my hand up to foster him (we did well here fostering pei like him previously). But he went to a lovely couple and his health is improving so now I am thinking I should make application to adopt him! But something is holding me back. Stussy loves all dogs who come here but I don't know how Tempeh would cope and Floyd does not need any more conflict or chaos in his young life. I know if our application was successful we would do meet and greets but even that might affect Tempeh if it doesn't go well. Outside the house she is very non-plussed by other dogs but in the house she likes everything just so and what if she doesn't like sharing her life with Floyd? She doesn't need anything else to stress over and that kind of conflict would also stress the peace loving Stussy. Plus we are hoping to move this year and change is Tempeh's arch enemy and we will need to put extra effort into managing any changes that arise in her already quirky behaviour. And on top of that our focus is still on clearing mum and dad's and selling their house and we are neglecting a lot of our own stuff while doing that. I guess it boils down to me not being sure we are good enough for Floyd? Can we give him what he needs and deserves? And are we doing the wrong thing by one of our existing dogs who we already know is not a fan of 'new'? How do other people determine what's right? Usually a dog in need just finds us and fits in. I don't know whether I should apply and just see what the universe does with it? Stussy is a desexed female of 10. Tempeh is a desexed female of almost 6 and Floyd is a desexed male of 2.5. Maybe him being male might be a good dynamic for the 2 older girls? Big decisions always hurt my head!

I hope someone can give proper advice. I wonder if the cat was in a council area where it was supposed to be suitably contained? If that's the case then some blame will be on the cat's owner for having it loose too. Then there are the dogs. No history but a potential disposition to chase and catch based on breed might be considered. And then we have the fact that even though the dogs were leashed the parents were unable to restrain the dogs at a critical time. No intent and no history to suggest they are a public risk but several unfortunate contributing factors have led to this incident. It could've been avoided if the cat was contained and the parents were able to manage the dogs under all conditions. I hope they are not seized (or worse) for instinctual behaviour (perhaps muzzling in public might be a safety measure that is now needed) but it is an eye opener for all dog owners really. Of course we don't want our pets to cause harm to others but I don't know how well I could control both of mine if I was walking them at the same time and a cat ran in front of them either. I hope you find out some factual information so your ex can take a sensible course of action.

Yep that's how I would say it!

I was wondering who this was when you posted the pic and I thought maybe it was one of your fur babies you don't post many pictures of. Can't believe he is a newbie! Welcome Mezza! And Mezza is the female word in Italian for half, middle or medium. Mezzo is the male equivalent and a term often found in music so maybe you can pretend you just happen to like Italian words!

Where is the f*** off button when you need it?

What a brilliant story! I have a friend in Washington DC and he and his sister foster homeless dogs that have been brought over from Europe by a local rescue group. They are mainly large breed mutts. Obviously their quarantine enables this kind of thing more than ours. Good to see.

I'm so sorry Rascal. I'm sure Claudia is very glad she found such a wonderful family. Run free tomorrow without a care in the world beautiful girl. XXX

DDD our regular vets are amazing (they picked up the cancer) and by all accounts the specialist centre we went to is amazing, as is the particular specialist vet who worked with us. But when you are given a range of treatment options and you ask repeatedly if they are realistic for a dog of that age and health you assume the tests indicate they are. And when you ask for signs of deterioration re an anal gland tumour and straining to toilet or diarrhea are not mentioned then you assume it is not the kind of tumour that will grow quickly and block a bowel. Same with the other organs - I get the sense that things were far worse inside than we were told for things to change so quickly. So why not just say the extent is unclear? Our last few days would've been much different with our girl had we known the real situation. Based on the report from the specialist our own vet was very shocked too. How did they get it so wrong? I wonder if vets have a review process in situations like that to see what learnings can come from dogs who pass away within short time frames from assessment and starting a treatment plan? Maybe with Jeune she has had discomfort for a while and now with treatment she is feeling like a new dog, hence her new eating and exercise habits? I know you will watch her but just don't naturally excuse things to her age is all I can advise. This is the part of them getting older that I hate.

We had a bad experience not too long ago with our 12 year old husky/shep cross girl. We went in for weight loss and reduced mobility - all normalish stuff with an older dog but we wanted to stay on top of it. It was cancer and we were referred to a specialist centre and went there the same week. Within only 5 days of having the specialist go through all the bloods, xrays and ultrasounds they took that day she was gone. Only 3 days on her new meds. We were like a 2 person Spanish Inquisition before deciding on our course of treatment (we had 3 options). We asked many, many questions about what to look for regarding deterioration and the meds not having a positive effect. Some of the technical stuff is lost from my memory given how quickly this all happened but our girl had cancer in her anal glands and some spots in other organs. Due to age we went for meds (can't remember their name) but were offered surgical options too and at no time were we advised treatment was not an option or that things had progressed too far. On day 3 of starting the meds she got diarrhea (can never spell that word). We thought it was the meds. We adjusted her diet and watched her. The next day it was no better and she wanted to eat but wouldn't. We went to our vet. He checked her out and said the tumour in her anal glands was blocking her bowel and things inside were already starting to break down. We had no alternative but to pts then and there. We couldn't even take her home for one last night of spoiling - it was too bad. We are still shocked and angry. She must've been in so much pain. I still can't fathom how less than a week earlier we were lead to believe a very different scenario and were not given any advice about what symptoms she might exhibit that were critical despite us asking those specific questions repeatedly. I wanted to go back and see the specialists but my sister couldn't do it so it has been hard to put the issue to rest. So sadly I don't have a happy experience for you but I know you like honestly. My advice is to not put anything down to old age or change in diet or anything usual like we did. Dogs can't talk so have limited ways of telling us something is wrong inside. Changes to eating, poop and mobility could all mean something so keep on top of them (I know you will). Ask questions and don't care how many questions or how many times you ask them (I know you will do that too!). We can't predict exactly when it is their time but we can keep them comfortable and not let it go too far. When it is time send Jeune off with love rather than regrets.

Tialeigh Palmer's foster brother got out of prison this week after only 16 months for incest and covering up her murder. How is that justice for that poor girl? She was already neglected by her own family and taken into care. She is then taken advantage of within her foster family and the entire family cover the sons crimes up and the foster father kills her and lies about it. How did she get any justice for her short, painful life? Prison for me is as much about depriving a criminal of a normal life as it is keeping them out of our communities so they can't harm anyone else. Same with serious crimes against animals. Why do we give them a second chance to own and harm another one? I saw the footage of the GC man just after it first happened. A witness started filming after seeing him punch the young excitable dog in the head. If he did that out in public and his partner turned a blind eye then just imagine what he does in private when things don't go as he wants them. He has anger problems that probably stretch across everything he does so I'd prefer he had no animals or children in his household. It wont happen but at least this one dog wont end up unsocial because of how it was raised. I hope the man got a rude wake up call seeing himself spread all over social media and the comments people were writing about him as a human being. His partner too - standing by and letting it happen is neglect and just as damaging as abuse.

I love the Bosh boys! Someone was having a real whine on there the other day about their use of avocados saying they were being bigots buy using something the marginalised and people in poorer countries can't use. What the? Animal Lover were you referring to me re the brownie recipe? I hope so! I'll send you a message!

DDD I messaged them and they gave me his details. Still not sure if it is worth going down that path as last time having her in the air cond with a heavy blanket weighing her down actually worked whereas the compression wrap didn't and a shirt may not either. Still weighing up the options. Think we have another storm coming now because Tempeh has started crying so we'll get to try out the blanket compress again. As for the mats C4P use they do source from Bunnings but have a process for washing and airing them out before working on them and say they have had no complaints on smell. I know I made mine from a camping mat sourced from Anaconda that Stussy chewed the corners off (I made the corners rounded). It is charcoal covered and has never smelled. I washed it before turning it into a mat because it had been camping a few times but it never smelled or I wouldn't have even used it. I am asthmatic and tend to be a bit iffy about certain odours too. Animal Lover hopefully you will get what you need from one of the places mentioned on here!

They are savvy sourcers - fleece in bulk at the best price and the same with the mats. I suspect they get both items wholesale through where some of them work. They take bloody hours to cut the strips and then tie/knot! and the lady makes at least 6 every week for the group! Like me they wouldn't factor in time to make because it is a charity fundraiser rather than a business. C4P also seems pretty good with postage - actual charges (no handling fee and they let people hold open bags so they can fill them over a couple of weeks before posting).

Thanks DDD! Craft 4 Paws is actually a supporter of Chi Rescue. Often people buy products on the page and have them donated on to a rescue group too, which is lovely. I will check about the smell but there have not been any complaints come through behind the scenes. She buys those mats in bulk and I suspect they come through a business link rather than as a retail purchase. She's quite fussy so I can't see he being happy with toxic mats. But as I say I will check. And thank you for the thunder shirt suggestion - I will see what they have on offer!

Geez, how do we a directors job there? Only in animal welfare would you get away with having as many volunteers as you do paid staff. That's another thing RSPCA do.

I can't believe I even noticed this post but I did! I don't make them but I know someone who does. She sells them for $30 and the money all goes back to support animal rescue. The catch is you can't order anything - all items go up on their FB page (link below) every Sunday afternoon and it is first in best dressed. Snuffle mats go quickly. The group is also closed until 4/2 (we are all busy creating). I'm not sure what balls you mean but if you are talking about pom pom kind of balls (tried to add a pic but file is too large) then yes I will be putting them up on the page too. Not sure what price but maybe $5. Both items are handmade and we aim for quality! https://www.facebook.com/groups/960472634022102/?ref=bookmarks

I had a stafford with all kinds of serious health issues but every single bloody day she was at the centre of everything, still acting like she was top dog! We had her at the vet every single month that last year of her life getting our vet to check her because she showed no signs of pain or discomfort and was not spending all her time asleep or off her food like you might expect of a sick dog. It became impossible to determine if the time was right for her but what helped me decide was her increasing unpredictability. She would get stuck in odd places due to dementia, blindness and mobility issues. She would jump off furniture having no clue how far she needed to travel or what was in front of her. I couldn't risk her seriously harming herself, particularly if no-one was home. So 3 months shy of 17 we got all the dogs (including her) to do us some art out in the yard, they went for a walk (she mostly in her dog pram), ate some roast chicken, had lots of cuddles and we took her to the vet that one last time. I still have no idea if I did it too soon but I know that I couldn't live with myself if I'd not been home and she had had an accident in my absence and was suffering. That was my yardstick - when she became a danger to herself. It might have to be the same for your girl - if the risk of suffering unexpectedly in your absence becomes too high then you need to make a hard decision out of love. Some people in your situation have made a bucket list of things their dogs loves and has spent the last days doing those. My girl was on a strict diet due to pancreatitis so that last meal of chicken was like heaven to her! And her art works still hang in our lounge room. She was a big part of our life for many years and remains that way now.

I wonder how many of the 15 staff are related to each other in some way? Pet Rescue are following the RSPCA's model - say the right stuff and pull at the heartstrings to make money but don't actually get your hands dirty - leave that to all the independant rescue groups running on the smell of an oily rag. It is just so deceptive to the general public! Why does an online platform need 15 staff and a million odd dollars to run? I wonder how they assess their KPI's against their forever home vision? It's really disheartening that we have the RSPCA, puppy farmers, back yard breeders and now PR all making money off the backs of companion animals. When does it end? Where is it going to lead? It's certainly not saving more animals!

What a man! Based on posts someone has submitted an application. Good for him! My gp is on r and r and I don't have her personal contact info so I'm hoping they will keep actively looking till they find the perfect bubba! Thank you though RP!

I saw people at Movieworld with kids and picnic stuff in them at a White Christmas event! Wished one of the daddies would've pulled me around in one for a bit!

I had 3 dogs of varying ages, the oldest being an almost 17 stafford. She could hardly walk but insisted on not being left behind so we got a dog pram. She'd get out of the car, start the walk, give up and go into the pram. Then we could finish the walk and the other 2 could get exercise! I was also at a doggy event and there was a lab inside one of those bicycle attachments that I think are designed for children to sit in while the parent pedals the bike. So doggy prams and the like are good for even medium and larger breeds, not just your small fluffies!