~Anne~

Really? Not that I'm saying this isn't true but I've not heard of it before. I can understand why it would be so but I can't recall reading it in any legislation. Can you point me to where this is stated. Years ago, before rescue became as common as it is now and before pounds developed relationships with rescue services, bitches were sold pregnant, gave birth in the pound and were euthanased.

Temperament is a serious factor that is often overlooked while we blame upbringing. Yes, some dogs can be born more prone to aggression. It is nature, not nurture at this point. The nurturing can then add or subtract to it. People can argue you that till they're blue in the face but and all I can say is, look at the pug. A lack of socialisation will not make it aggressive. Abuse will not make it aggressive.

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I also tend to prefer males. The majority of the female pugs I have had in are boisterous (as much as an adult pug can be), dominant, excitable and tend to gravitate to the naughty side. While the boys are laid back, relaxed and calm.

If you ring the local council they should be able to tell you. Some councils also have them listed on their websites.

Yes, this is also an issue for me.

Given that the RSPCA is responsible for the seizure of abused animals I think this would skew euth rates to be higher than average. To clarify, I am not a support or detractor of the RSPCA.

While desexing may wind down some behaviours, I have found that dominance is not one of them. A dogs level of dominance will also alter depending on the pack dynamics. Dominance is a trait though. How dominant depends on the pack I have found.

I can't see how you get a 50% euth rate in QLD. It says that more than 18,000 animals were taken in with 5242 euthanised. Overall, it seems that cat euth rates are the highest, which is what you would expect and the national euth rate for dogs is around 25%.

The RSPCA are doing what is necessary for a charitable organisation. You don't like that marketing message? Im not sure I think it's a good one either however, they're being proactive to ensure they maintain their income streams. And you know what, a good number of rescues could learn from their tactics instead of claiming how poor they are and how they run off the small of an oily rag like its a badge of honour.

You don't think they care for the animals they have in their care well enough?

Then divide that cost by how many dogs can be vacced and chipped in a day... T. More doesn't equate to less out. Lets say it takes 2 staff to chip. One to bring the dog up from the kennels or to do the paperwork, and one to actually physically insert the chip. Each person takes 15 minutes to perform their task. One is a vet on $40/hr, the other a clerk on $18/hr. Just in time alone you have approx $14 per chipped dog. Then you have super, insurance and wage taxes, facilities, utilities and everything else that is required to chip that dog. Comparing rescue organisations, regardless of how effectively they are run, with a major organisation such as the RSPCA is wrong. the RSPCA is a business. It is a major welfare organisation with operations across Australia. They employ professionals to manage and operate them. They're not run by your local animal lover who wants to save dogs from euthanasia and who volunteer their time to do so.

Whilst a chip might cost $5, and a vaccination only $60, the resources required to implant that chip would increase the cost per dog. By resources I mean employee costs (wages, insurance and super) and equipment and facilities. You cannot compare the RSPCA costs to that of your average rescue. Surely people recognise that.

To my knowledge, CPV2 was first discovered about 30 years ago so I have no idea why your vet is saying it is new? There are 3 strains of CPV2, a, b and c. C is the latest to spread world wide I think and that was some years ago too (at least 5 years ago). I believe the vaccines have covered all strains since c was first discovered in Australia. Hopefully someone with loads of knowledge can help clarify a little more. If no-one does, message Rappie as she is a vet.

Good idea. They look like a good match for the plastic beds.

I love my children equally. I love my pets equally. I relate better and in different ways to each of my children and each of my pets. It might appear that e love is stronger for one over another, but in many cases its not.

He looks like he is playing "what's the time Mr Wolf" :laugh:

Olivia does pug runs around the house when I come home and Boof whimpers and jumps all over me. Monte used to look at make woo woo sounds as he wobbled his bum and wriggled around my legs. Like Aussie, I like watching their excitement too so I let them do it. In fact, they usually always make me laugh and laughing is a good thing.

Good grief, how pathetic.

Phew, I came back to this thread expecting to see the OP slammed for considering re-homing. Glad to see some sensible support on the issue. I am so tired of hearing the 'responsible, loving owners don't re-home' argument. Katetk - I don't envy your position. I have never totally gelled with one of mine, who was a rescue initially, but she is very much loved. Interestingly, since the death of Monte, I feel closer to her. She seems to have settled a little more now that there is only 2 of them. Maybe that was part of her problem. I now see some of her naughtiness as being cute... or maybe she just isn't being as naughty as she used to be?

That's good. Glad to see you've got it under control. I knew you would!

Are you sure she will be ok with your children? They were very active and noisy when I met them and I honestly would be concerned that the hustle and bustle of active children will make her nervous. I don't want of sound harsh, but I think you need to consider this a little more. Perhaps be prepared to look at seeking another home after a few weeks if it doesn't turn out? Ie think of her as a foster and don't get yourself attached or allow the children to get attached. She looks very similar to my Miss Molly. Miss Molly always hid under the bed when young children, or loud men, were in my house and yet she wasn't an overly nervous puss.

I can only offer advice from general knowledge of hygiene and disease control and having come into close contact with community acquired MRSA which is a staph infection in humans. A household bleach bath was recommended as bleach will kill the bug. Open sores that were infected were to be covered at all times so that contact could not be made with others or the environment. The bug, which as you have said, can be present but a normal immune system does not allow it to take hold. I was in very close contact with the bug but I never once developed any infection. I would think that you might wear an apron or overalls when washing the dogs? If the apron/overalls are cleaned regularly and not washed with things from the infected dog then that would be a start. Perhaps you should also wear gloves when working. Your tools should also be sterilised regularly and kept apart from any tools you might use for your dog. I'm not sure how long staph lives on surfaces. Perhaps if you find that out you might have ore idea of how cautious to be? I also agree with the above re:calling your vet and asking. I would also seek the advice from experienced groomers and see what they do to control the spread of infectious disease within their businesses.

A few questions first. I assume that your dog has a predisposition, perhaps immune related, that causes him to break out with staph infections? Is he always contagious or only during a break out? Is he a risk to all dogs or only those with immune illnesses?

Staph? As in Staphylococcus?