Little Gifts

Shel is a DOLer so if you change the title to say Saving Pets Blog it might prompt her to come in and explain the article further.

My stafford is now 10 and we still can't leave anything within her reach - no kitchen tidy on the floor, no fruit bowl with bananas in it on the breakfast bar and not even tissues on the coffee table! In the first 3 years of her life she cost me a fortune in the things she destroyed and we were regularly at the vet making sure what she ate was going to come out the other end. She even ate a 6 for by 6 foot corner lounge bit by bit! She has perfect response to the 'leave' command when I catch her but she just can't stop putting everything she sees in her mouth! She will be like it for life so it is up to us to remove the temptations. She's too lazy to get on tables but has been known to use her lizard like tongue to pull things within reach.

If I had parked my car to go on a cruise I'd walk around it 4 times to make sure everything was locked and nothing valuable was inside and on display before I could step away, knowing I'd be gone for an extended period and wanted it to be safe. I know it has happened to children too but I've never even left a bag of fruit and veg in my car let alone a living thing. It's something I can't quite get my head around. I don't know how you'd get over that if it was your dog it happened to.

How can they keep missing the point? If you want a pet suitable for a family then raising it in a family style environment will give it a greater chance of being a successful family pet. What does raising it in a big air conditioned shed with hundreds of other barking animals and then removing it while it is still a baby from its mother and litter mates do? Prepare it for the pound? I don't disagree with formal training but some of the staff's learnings wont equate to squat for the dogs. There wont be the staff to animal ratio to do many of the things considered necessary to raise a happy, healthy, well socialised puppy.

Oh DDD, that is so sad! Run free Orla.

Amazing work!!!! I'll be sharing it! Shel I am with 2 animal rescue support groups (and a third I only support from time to time) based on FB. Is there an option to also add a link to support groups that people can be part of or would that be seen as perhaps detracting from the direct cash giving concept? There are some that make and source items specific to the rescue group's needs, there are some who advertise donated items online (or at markets/events) and when they sell donate the money to a rescue group and there are some where the items donated for sale are sold but the cash goes to one rescue and the sold item is then on-donated to another rescue (dog coats is a common example). Being with one particularly support group (who will support and source anything!), the thing that confuses me is a focus by many rescue groups on just money as the best way of giving. From my experience now lots of people can make and source but not everyone has spare cash, especially not large amounts at any one time. Through these groups I've seen personal connections obtain expensive, specialist items a lot cheaper than straight off the shelf and I've seen bulk amounts of highly consumed items (large dog beds for instance) that can be made by hand and supplied at a fraction of the cost if they were purchased. As well as that, bulk orders for consumables like food can be obtained at good prices by one person using small donations from many in the support group. Same with a gift card if that is seen as the best option (like a Bunnings one for building materials). I totally understand that rescue often needs money to cover vet costs (probably their biggest outlay) but I think they are overlooking ways of spreading their money around differently, particularly in leaner times. Some of these support groups are also willing to do the running around, sourcing at the best prices and arranging deliveries. It seems the number of creators and donators out there is increasing (it certainly is in my circles) while the number of money givers is staying around the same. I've also noticed the money givers now giving less to each because they are trying to give to more groups at the same time. Another thing about the creators and donators is I am meeting people through my work who would love to connect with a specific rescue group to support in an ongoing fashion and will make items that they can sell to raise actual money (or for the animals in their care) but they don't know how to make those initial connections and most rescue groups are (rightly) focused on the animals care and adoptions. The biggest downside to rescue support groups that I see is the 'in and out' nature of most (not all). They will help in one instance and you may not engage with them again that year (maybe ever). They are not usually something you can rely on regularly (although the same could be said for monetary donations). On the flip side they can step in when a rescue group is most in need (large seizures, tragic/natural events) and there is nothing stopping a supporter remaining connected to a specific group they've made a connection with (we all have our weak spots!). If a rescue group had cash flow issues it could definately be a way of ensuring kibble and medical supplies were restocked for a couple of months or that all animals in their care had bedding and coats for that winter. It's just another option and if we know exactly what they need we can source or make it. Are rescue support groups something you are aware of through your research? Is there any feedback from rescue about their value to them? I personally think it is an untapped resource that will continue to grow and that a clever rescue group would jump on board. The ones I am involved with are run by people who take the coordination tasks seriously and who try to be professional and reliable in their dealings with rescue groups (nothing like time wasters or people who let you down when time is not your friend). One group has made at least $12,000 and donated it this year to I think 10 specific groups. They are also running several goods donations programs for items being made and donated on top of the cash donation side of things. This support group has a growing membership too of creators/donators and buyers from right across the country. They also have big networks and are creating their own business models that seem to be working if you base success on growth. So I'd be interested on your thoughts on this when you have time.

I'm so sorry for you and Claudia. This breaks my heart for you both. None of us would want this to be how it ends for our fur babies. Just remember something is wrong with her and she is unable to be the best dog she can be anymore. It may not be treatable or fixable and that is no-one's fault. I don't know why some beautiful dogs get the shitty end of the stick but there is a reason she came into your life - find it and hang on to it now. X

I've passed all the info on to her. I hope she finds the right dog. Unfortunately (for me) she is off on leave for a few months now so I wont get to find out for a while what happened. Claudette is a fantastic dog's name! I'll have to check her out as she sounds cute!

DDD had some stairs made I think? I bought some for our bed (cheap ones) but my stafford girl found them hard to use (each step too high and not wide enough for her gait). We also had a car ramp we stuck over the stairs for my sister's husky/shep to get in and out of the lounge room as she got older but she wouldn't use it (the younger dogs had no problem using it as a side lane around her!). If the issue is the dismount why not consider a larger, firm foam block half the size of the gap? Then he can ooze down to that level and then off. He probably feels he needs to launch himself off to make the total distance.

Oh this makes me angry! Your dogs were totally under your control! The loose dog bought the fight to them! We should be safe to walk down our streets. What if it was children fearful of dogs? Would he also tell the children it was their fault. Yep total arsehole who tried to turn it back around on you. You sensed concern and your gut was right. Report his useless arse.

Thank you RP. Never knew about Little Legs - love the name. And thank you Dogmad. She knows about AWL but wont do Gumtree.

Quick question for my beautiful GP. They just lost their Boston recently and the chi is really struggling. Her husband has disclosed he would really like to rescue a maltese next. The groups I am familiar with do not rescue maltese so I was wondering if anyone had some suggestions? I have told her about Pet Rescue, ARQ, BFR (although I don't think they really do small fluffies) and AWL. They have always supported rescue but usually come across a dog in an unusual way, so I'd like to steer her in the right direction this time. I'd be grateful for any groups names I can pass on to her. They are based in Brisbane, would travel to the north and south coasts but I suspect she would prefer to meet and greet with their existing dog rather than source an unknown dog from interstate. She is semi-retired and hubby is already retired so there would be someone home pretty much all the time. Thank you!

What breed do you have? If it is constant I'd get it checked by a vet. I have a shar pei and it is a breed prone to entropian. Even though mine has had surgery for it she still loves her eyes and face to be rubbed so as long as there is nothing medical, if your dog likes it too I wouldn't worry. But if he is doing it from discomfort there can be long term ramifications from ignoring it and not getting treatment.

I'm so sorry Rascal. Something is clearly wrong and her unpredictability is concerning. I hope the metacam makes a difference. We are all here for you and understand this is extremely difficult. We want the best for Claudia too. Hugs to you both.

Don Burke's show always had a breed segment or breed road tests on it. I'm assuming he had staff researching the info though. The Burke's Backyard website also has dog breed fact sheets on it and a quick google shows he has given support to breeders groups in the past. I assume his interest in dogs is part of the 'backyard' type of focus of his shows, with Aussie backyards being for more than just plants. I couldn't see that he had any professional quals regarding dogs or animals in general.

Also what about some indoors fun with some puzzles? You can make some yourself very cheaply and it wears them out mentally.

Time just goes on without them but we never forget and we may get other dogs but they are never replaced.

Thank you for the update Rascal. I hope it is something as simple as an infection and the pain making her not feel herself.

I am so, so sorry TwoDoggies. I am facing something similar with my heart girl too and it is terrifying. Plus we don't want our babies to go through something like this and to lose them in an emergency situation. It will take a while to come to terms with so go easy on yourself.

I lived in Hong Kong with my asian partner and some of his family way back in 1983. Dog meat was common in the restaurants we ate at and meat dogs were kept by families on boats in the harbour near where we lived. I never saw them in our local food markets but it was very common and I'd always have to check we weren't being served it if a local we were with ordered our meal.

Rescue Remedy did nothing here but it is still worth trying for your dog. Tempeh is not a coat fan either but we have another storm brewing this afternoon (she is wandering around crying already) so after I finish this post I'm hitting the big first aid bag for some wide bandages. When she is distressed I doubt she will even know she's wrapped up like a mummy!

I'm not really sure what to say about this one. http://www.smh.com.au/environment/animals/police-raid-finds-dogs-goats-for-human-consumption-20120201-1qtgo.html Police raid finds dogs, goats 'for human consumption' Claire Knox, Andria Cozza of Melton Weekly A ROCKBANK property housing animals, including dogs and goats suspected of being illegally slaughtered and sold for human consumption, was raided yesterday. A 26-member joint taskforce that included Caroline Springs police and detectives, the RSPCA, the Department of Sustainability and Environment, PrimeSafe and the Melton Council arrived at the property about 7.30am. They also found several goat carcasses hanging on butcher's hooks, and items of butchering equipment. These included saws, blowtorches and knives. Police said they seized about $200,000 worth of stolen machinery and cars from the premises, illegal firearms, ammunition and cannabis plants from a mobile home that was on the property. The raid was organised after police received a statement from a witness who reported seeing a dog being butchered and a blowtorch used to remove its hair before the carcass was hung on a hook. It was also alleged a man who lives on the property sold dog meat to about 100 customers for between $100 and $350. The witness said the dogs were found through public notices that advertised the animals as free to a good home. Two restricted breed dogs were found on the property. No dog meat was found on the premises. A 41-year-old Rockbank man has been charged and bailed on criminal offences in relation to the raid. MELTON WEEKLY

Interesting about the zencrate. That's what Tempeh tried to create for herself last night. At one stage she disappeared and I found her huddled inside my horn sewing cabinet (where the peddles are and the stool was pushed into). She also tried to get herself onto my bedside table shelf which is hard against the wall on two sides and the bed on the other. Once I put the soft crate up she went straight in and settled. It is overcast out there again now and she is under the computer table rubbing into my legs, crying and lightly shaking at times. I can't believe how quickly her anxiety has progressed. I'm going to bring the soft crate down to the lounge while we are up watching tv so she has somewhere to hide if she needs it. I'm going to make an appointment with my vet (and I'm going to buy a Thunder Shirt to try because she seems to want pressure on her body). I was wondering though if anyone has tried any essential oils or whether I can buy DAP and diffuse it myself? I have a pretty good diffuser so it seems worth a try. I can see she is quite confused about how she is feeling. She has never been big on full body contact and now she wants it all the time.

Our 5 year old pei girl has started reacting to storms since about a month ago. Last night she wanted a blanket all over her and then was trying to find a cave to sleep in. I went out into the shed and pulled out her soft crate (and a mattress so I could sleep on the floor beside her) and she finally settled enough to sleep. Her distress went on long after the storm had stopped. We seem to be having a very bad and early storm season so I don't see this ending anytime soon. The crate will stay set up and I will sleep with her anytime she needs it. We've been trying Rescue Remedy but it has made no difference. What are people's experiences with Thunder Shirts and Adaptil collars or diffusers? Based on her size she needs a large thunder shirt but what is the sizing really like on them? She is close to the maximum so I am worried I wont be able to overlap it enough. And how do the collars work? Can they be activated as you need them and removed when you don't or once you activate do they just kind of keep releasing until they run out? Or is a diffuser better because you can move it room to room? Tempeh is not into cuddles or being covered but she definately wants to be encircled when she is affected by an oncoming storm so I'm thinking the Thunder Shirt is a good option. It seems to be atmospheric changes upsetting her rather than noise. Any other product suggestions are also welcomed as this is a very new thing for her and we are willing to try anything as I used to have a boy who was so terrified of storms he would hurt himself to get to a human for comfort. We were unable to find anything that reduced his fear except being with a human (any human - he took himself to neighbours after busting out a couple of times, even breaking through their screen door to get in!). TIA.

This part was really telling for me. She is fine when her world is predictable and as she can manage it. You have been doing everything you can to make life the way she enjoys it most but you can't control everything. Whether it is age, a health issue or just other subtle changes going on in her life, fear has crept back in. I'd get a medical assessment of course but your next step after that could be assessing what has caused her to move back into fear mode again and be so hyper vigilant for threats. I've got a similar scenario and made an eleventh hour decision to get in another behaviourist (this time it was Jane Harper) rather than pts and our girl is much calmer and happier now. Some of it is to do with age, some is to do with more mental stimulation and some of it is to do with her looking more to us for answers on whether something is a threat or not. We did similar to you not forcing her to deal with anything she didn't want but that didn't abate all her fears so others built and she was lacking healthy stimulation that a dog who leaves her property would be getting so things just kept building up for her and she became unpredictable with our other dog. Now we seem to have a better balance and it hasn't been hard, but we are always, ALWAYS vigilant for changes in her behaviour as I don't think there is a one size fits all response to these things, and how she feels will change over time and we need to change with it. It is hard to let a good dog go without knowing if you did the right thing. Exhaust all your options (if you can) and make your decision. Big hugs to you - this kind of a decision is a crusher.