~Anne~

Semantics I know however the statement I have bolded is so very wrong in my opinion. Perhaps a better way to say it would be "A lot of dogs just aren't suitable for rehoming and that is the sad reality."

Thanks shepherds. I'm not in Sydney anymore but travel to Sydney is pretty easy and I do it fairly regularly. I have another pug who has epilepsy and his neurologist works out of Sydney uni and one of the specialist clinics and we travel for this with him. Sorry about your boy's prognosis. It sounds like youre in good hands thoghh. Thankfully with Boof it seems it will be treatable particularly if we can get clear margins. This won't be entirely easy due to the area it is in (just above his hock where it is all bone and gristle and not much else). As for thread hijacking - hijack away. It's great to see, read and learn about all areas of cancer in our dogs.

Thanks Staffyluv. I'd love the name of the holistic Vet if that's ok? He is booked in again for surgery on Monday to remove more.

We have mixed results. The left is grade one with clear margins. The right is grade two without clear margins. In the new gradings they are both low. We have to go back in for the grade two and take more to try and get clear margins. If we can't we are looking at follow up treatment and therapy. Staffyluv - when you said above that you decided not to operate anymore, can you expand on that. I can't see any other way but to go back in to ensure they get it all if they can. I realise at 10, and with an average lifespan of 13-14 for his breed, he only has a limited time left in his life anyway. Of course, he might also live to 18 or more if he is lucky but how do you know. Thoughts and advice?

Yes I agree. There was some fabulous information in these discussions. I wish we could go back to spirited discussion again.

Sorry, I was testing a statement made that it is against forum rules and satisfying my own curiosity.

Just testing a statement made Rebanne. I can't see a warning as such, only that the thread cannot be replied to after 365 days.

I always pat other dogs after seeking permission. I've been know to actually cross the street to pat another pug. :laugh:

Thanks everyone. Still no results. He has recovered well and bounced back again which is great. The results are expected tomorrow.

I think in those few breeds where such exaggerations have become a health issue, it has been the result of hundreds of small decisions by breeders and judges over many years. No-one would have wanted to breed or award excesses likely to cause health problems, but there was just a bit of the 'if some is good, a lot is better' mentality. Not all breeds, and not all breeders. But a little more extreme head, more wrinkles, more angulation, more whatever, made them stand out in the ring. Many years ago, and I mean decades, I was having good breeders tell me they deliberately sought stud dogs that were extreme examples of the breed, as 'nature' kept pushing back with moderation. They truly felt you had to breed for extremes to keep breed specific features, and these people were by no means cowboys. They wanted to improve their breed and as they bred primarily for the show ring, which was regarded as very ethical, they were therefore influenced by show results, and the endorsement and reinforcement by judges and peers that show wins represent. And as many breeders are also judges, it can become a self-referential loop. Pebbles is right too, sometimes it is just one very impactful personality or dog that can make a huge difference to how a breed looks in a particular country. I think there is much more awareness of the need to not over exaggerate in recent years, which is a good thing. And if a hundred small decisions or a couple of influential thought-leaders made a difference in one direction, they can also reverse that trend. I kind of think that's the good news, and I don't think any of the breeds need be a lost cause, especially with the globalisation of the pure breed scene. I do think there is a risk that the baby might get thrown out with the bath water though. I agree. Good post. That awareness is also leading to a tidal turn in some breeds. Great stuff.

I'm not sure about other breeds but it certainly isn't a beat up with pugs. I've spent enough time researching, rescuing, owning, debating and discussing the issue to feel confident about my thoughts on where things were, and still are in some areas, heading. Thankfully though the tide I believe is turning. Either way, a purebred Pug is still on the while better then a mongrel bred pug in my view. If this ever changed I think I'd give up on the breed forever.

How heartbreaking. I hope, for peace of mind, you find some answers.

See if is one works.... Nup, I get the same message that the file is too big to upload. It says I can only upload 300k max and that's pretty small.

I'm uploading direct to the forum. I don't use photo bucket or anything normally. I might try another pic to see if it is all of mine or just that one??

Boof is back home. They've had to take a fair amount from both legs in order to ensure they got it all. He's in pain but resting. At 10 years of age now surgery affects him more and this is his third operation in 2 years. Now we wait for the results. Here's hoping 2013 is a good year for the Boofter.

They're not legal definitions of ownership however. They're definitions of ownership purely under the act. It's a shame the owner has given up. I agree with the freedom of information request although I am not sure it is applicable in this instance? Again, I would put it in writing.

I agree that most people just want a pet. Just a dog. Not a lecture and not a guilt trip. A dog that appeals to them. A dog that fits the criteria of a pet to them. We make owning a pet harder than it should be.

Send them an email and request the information about the dogs. See if they will put in writing if they were adopted or not.

I took this on my iPhone 3 (I think it is a 3) in Switzerland and I haven't altered it in any way. I love this pic. Damn, it's too big to upload. I'll have to see if I can reduce it on my iPad. Does anyone know how to reduce the size on an iPhone or iPad?

Boof had a fine needle aspiration on Friday afternoon and sadly he looks to have another MCT. His first was 3.5 years ago and was also on his back leg. This time he has one on one leg that has the appearance of the last one (wart like in appearance) and a second one under the dermis on the other leg. Both show cells and do not appear to be simple lipomas. Both came up very quickly. In August he had another lump (not path tested as it seemed to be a fatty lump) removed from one leg and several removed from the rim of his eyes (not tested either). Now I am worried that we should have tested the others. The delay, if they were MCTs might be lethal. He is booked in for tomorrow for both of the new growths to be removed. I hope I can come back here and say 'sorry, we don't belong in these threads' but I have a horrible scary feeling this time.

From www.webe.com.au An extract from a report on Gen Y and their reaction to the GFC. I have used is purely to help readers to understand what point I was trying to make above. From what I know, spending increased around this time across the board and perhaps this increased the supply and demand of the purebred dog. Regardless of opinion, I firmly believe most consumers believe they are getting a better quality product with a purebred dog and so armed with confidence and wanting the best when the chips were down across the world might have encouraged the sale and purchase of purebreds???

Oops, wrong thread!

Another thing to look for is cultural differences Spotted Devil. For example, Renbury often gets a high number of swf and breeds such as poms. This is due to the European and Asian influences in the council areas linked to Renbury I am sure you'll find. Blacktown appears to get a lot of bull type breeds and similar and this, again, would be due to the socio economic and cultural differences in the LGAs feeding Blacktown.

Was the GFC around that time? The results of the crisis was confusing at times with small businesses booming at the start of it. Although the link between the crisis and dogs is not strong, I wouldn't discount it as being a factor. People behave differently when faced with impending economic doom and markets work in complex ways. Wasn't this also around the time that the fed Gov was creating situations to encourage the economy and consumer confidence with hand outs and schemes such as BER?

Neither do I but unfortunately, according to an editorial I read recently, they are on a rocket rise to popularity. Pugs, you mean? Sorry yes, Pugs. I can't recall the figure but it was something like a rise in popularity by 500 odd percent. Even if that is grossly exaggerated, which I assume it is, the numbers of registered Pugs have been rising very steadily for many years. As they are not a breed for the inexperienced, or stupid to breed, I can only see the health issues getting worse.