CrazyCresties

We didn't choose to get a dog and then come here, we thought we were settled for years where we lived and had never dreamt we'd be moving to Oz. Life is not black and white, and sometimes when what appears to be a very good opportunity presents itself, then as sensible mature adults you have some very hard decisions to make about your future. We found the best homes possible for our animals we didn't bring, ensuring they went through far less stress than they would have coming over here. As OSoSwift said, we did bring some pets with us, and visited the quarantine station on our initial reccie trip, they were basic but looked ok. In reality when we moved over in winter, the kennels were cold and damp every time we visited, they were allowed 1.5hrs exercise a week and even basic instructions with regards to diet were not even followed. There was blood near my cats feed bowl the first time we were allowed to visit, and they said they had checked her but could find no problem- after a quick look we soon found one of her claws had been completely ripped out! So yes I'm glad I didn't put my grey through that as she would have been thoroughly miserable and stressed in that environment. I think a general blanket dismissal and disdain for people who choose not to move pets overseas with them is pretty naive.

So you think it would have been better to put my storm phobic greyhound who hates loud windy noises and crates through 24hrs of flying to get her over here? Trust me we considered it as she was our heart dog, but thought we would never forgive ourselves if she hurt herself and just couldn't imagine her being anything other than totally stressed during the whole experience - Let alone then having a month in a cold damp quarantine cell. If we put her through that we would have been doing it for our benefit not hers.

I can tell you it certainly wasn't an excuse for me, it was one of the hardest and most heartbreaking decisions in my life We moved here last year from the UK where we were happily living in an old farmhouse surrounded by loads of space and 4 very happy dogs and 3 contented cats. Out of the blue my OH was offered a position in Perth and we thought long and hard about it and nearly didn't come due to the animals. In the end we brought 2 dogs and 1 cat with us, but made sure the others were all found excellent homes, including a 1000 mile round trip to take the cats to their new home. We still cry about them now but know they are happy and settled in their new homes. When we return to the UK, the current gang will all be coming with us. It's a very costly thing to do taking animals overseas, especially if they have to go through quarantine, and some families can probably just not afford it. It's easy to say they shouldn't have got the animal in the first place, but they may not have known they would have to go back. So just saying that not everyone who re-homes their animals due to a move simply don't care enough about them......

Got round the train issue, get of after a couple of stops, then wait for the next one that does stop at the station I need Sorry J I don't use swan, hope your lot are all ok.

That's the trouble, none do during rush hour....it's nonsensical

My brain hurts - I'd forgotten how mentally tiring working is Thanks for all the nice words about the pics - it helps to have such gorgeous models :D emery I haven't forgotten about yours, hopefully this weekend RS the vigilante emery I would panic if mine went out of site for 2 seconds, let alone 2 mins Can't wait to see puppy pics ST, I bet they are adorable Hope Toby's bite is healing, poor bugger Mini moan from me.....why the heck do trains not stop at all stations during rush hour If it stops at the station by me it doesn't stop at the one I need to get off at and vice versa :rolleyes:

It made me pine for Scotland, I miss the beautiful soft morning/evening light there and all my spaniel friends

Still bored at work RS Got some pics edited at last Scooter, Cider and Lara pics here - http://flic.kr/s/aHsjuHgvu2 (slideshow option is a good way to view them)

He's got some gorgeous photos of working dogs there Love the yellow lab getting a kiss and the frosted lab His other work is great too! Thanks for the link Helen :D

They're taken with my Tamron 60mm macro, I think it's a cracking lens :D Pretty cobwebs FM :D And gorgeous coloured frog Alasse What sort of bug is that Pers? Lovely shot too

Happy Anniversary for Sunday RnH :D Nawwwww they are too cute RV I think I will need to come and document her early life with lots of regular photo sessions ;) Have you picked a name yet? The two I knew years ago were called Gigi and Toulouse - original huh Well life as I have grown used to it ends tomorrow when I start full time work again I will even have to cope with public transport, something I haven't used for donkey years! Was going to get a small car but there is no parking round Subi anyway :rolleyes: The animals will have to get used to their own company again - I'll have to sort out a dog walker to come and let them out for toilet breaks, although all they do is sleep all day even when I am at home

B&H have Lightroom on offer till the 4th June - US $169, compared to the AU $412 from the Adobe download site :D http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/720705-REG/Adobe_65081059_Photoshop_Lightroom_3_Software.html

Sorry Lic I have no flash experience yet so will watch for any answers you get, as it's probably my next step too ;)

Wow, thanks iltby :D

Great to see you all today :D and lovely to meet you and your beautiful rotties emery, Chance is a gorgeous little secret Ok, ok These are just for starters, I'll try to edit the rest over the next couple of days Chance Mason Cider, Scooter and Lara

Awwww she is gorgeous Does she have something else in her apart from greyhound? She has a cute fuzzy face She remind me very much of my darling Frida that unfortunately we had to re-home before moving over from the UK.

Mirawee - Daisy has had anal gland problems ever since we got her and I used to empty them myself every few weeks, luckily the groomers here now do them :D Hers became infected recently and she went through a course of ABs but they were still gunky. She had them flushed and packed under GA and they have been a lot better since. I would look at this option first before removal of the glands as it can lead to anal incontinence

The job title is 'Senior ICT Desktop Support Coordinator' but I'll be the sole IT person at the organisation - they do have a contract with an external IT company for some additional support too. All I'd be able to do is take the photos RS, I know diddly squat about programming

give me dogs over kids any day I was surprised to hear about the job so soon, they said they had interviewed a few already, and had some more interviews lined up, but they thought I would fit in well so offered it to me straight away Yes it's in IT, the pet photography dream will have to wait a while.....but I'll continue to practice and now I'll have money for loads of new camera gear It's in Subiaco, but will be moving to Shenton Park at the end of the year, which will be even closer to me in Cottesloe :D

Thanks guys Chicken :p I was gentle manoeuvring this one into place with a blade of grass, it ran over my hand a few times - the little jumping spiders don't bite do they

RS - Hope Ruby is all back to her bouncy self after the anti-inflammatories and rest Hope you dry out soon if you got flooded I swear our pool has filled up by several inches today, there must be some sort of drain that runs into it, as there is no way just the rain falling directly onto it would have filled it that much - would it? Keeping an eagle eye on the dogs, I'm kicking them out for pee breaks but they just hang by the door and look pathetic - don't I know the rain will kill them :rolleyes: eta - just had a phone call.....I now have a job

Loving all the photos - great to see lots of Sighthounds I've been so slack with the last couple of challenges so here's some for this month Same as everyone else - lots of frozen motion but lacking in the panning dept Will try to have a go when the rain stops! My single panning shot :D And some frozens

Nice flies FM :D Finally got to play with my macro again this week This little one hung around on a plant tip for a bit letting me get a few shots in :D And we finally have some rain in WA this week, so the snails are out again - crunch, crunch crunch

Gorgeous photos everyone as usual Lic - Diesel is just Catch up from me My second set of photography guinea pigs were Bosun and Elly - Full set here. Bosun is a rescue Mastiff cross that his owner has put a lot of effort into, and he was the biggest sook at home Elly is their other dog and she was just a real sweetie. Week 19 - Bosun Saw this little guy on one of my plants and he let me hassle him for a few mins Week 20 - Tiny Jumper

Really gorgeous photos Number 1,2 and 8 for me :D