chezal58

At the pound I made mum, who I now knew to be named "Gnarla" and bubs as comfortable as I could and put out bowls of food and settled her down in a nice warm, clean bed. I know you will groan at my taking her to the pound but I am already caring for other small dogs at home and was not sure how I would accommodate a large - defensive mother dog and her brood. After a couple of hours I returned to check how they were getting on and mum was feeding the puppies and seemed to have plenty of milk but something was wrong. She was very flat and shaking and had not eaten any of the food and I knew she really needed something in her tummy. I called our local vet. The wonderful staff at Mivet Narrandera decided they needed to see her for themselves and actually called out to the pound to check on Gnarla and the pups. Gnarla was obviously ill with a temperature of 40.4 degrees and no body condition and dehydration as well. They treated her with a needle to help her pass any remaining material, a calcium and glucose bolus and an antibiotic injection. Gnarla rallied a little and ate all the wet food in the bowl in the next hour or so. By my next visit Gnarla had passed a lot of really gross material and was still heroically feeding her little pups. She was still very ill and I called the vet once again. we gave her the rest of the fluids subcut and a another dose of AB's and cleaned up the pen and put out more food. I'm no expert but I knew she was still not 100%. I checked in on her many times during the day and just after lunch time I found she had thrown up everything she had eaten and was not feeding the pups. The pups were squirming through the vomit and were spread out over the whole pen at the pound and I was in a state of panic. I called the vet and they said she may need surgery to remove her uterus and whatever was causing the problems. In the meantime I had another urgent call to dogs attacking goats and had to rush away. As soon as I could though I called the vet and asked them if they could still fit her in. They said to bring her down straight away. When I loaded her and the pups I noticed that the smallest pup had not survived, thus leaving only five. The worrying thing was that the surgery was going to cost up to $1000!!! While Gnarla was at the vet I took the puppies home and washed them off and offered each one some formula. Most drank well and after toileting them they snuggled up to a warm wheat bag oblivious to the fight for life that their mum was going through at that very moment.

You would think that working as a Shire Ranger, not much would shock you when it comes to ill treatment of man's best friend... but this is just sad. I was called to a house that was being cleaned out after the occupants left. Seems their relationship had broken down and they went their separate ways, leaving her family to empty and clean the rented property. The caller said there was a dog and puppies and some dead puppies in the back yard and neither of the previous tennants wanted the dog. When I arrived I found an emaciated mastiff cross girl about 2 years old defending some barely squirming puppies in a makeshift wooden kennel in the backyard. There was evidence that they had tried to feed mumma dog with two minute noodles and uncooked fish fingers - doubtless what was left in the fridge as they cleaned it out. There was probably no dog food in the house. (Please note photos of kennel were taken the day after mum and pups were removed, as all I could think about was getting them out of there!!) The kennel had a mostly dirt floor and two filthy rags for bedding. Using a catch pole I gently coaxed out mum and led her to the vehicle. She walked OK once she got going but she was obviously very distressed. It was only when I returned to the kennel for the puppies that the full extent of the horror came over me. There were 6 squirming pups in the dirt and flies with the smell of rotting flesh very evident all around. The bedding was stained and there were obvious dead pups amongst the debris. I climbed inside and began to pull out the live pups and crate them up for the trip to the pound. They looked to be about 2 days old. Once these were removed I began to remove the smelly rotten bedding and the dead pups were amongst the dirt and rags. I counted 5 more here and there was another dead one some distance from the kennel and the people told me that the other dog had been eating some of the dead ones and that there had been 16 in all!!! Maggots were evident on the bodies of the dead pups and afterbirth and umbilicus clung to the smallest ones - hopefully these had been born dead. Once they were loaded in the vehicle I called by my house to pick up some clean bedding for the little family and took them to our pound where I knew they would be clean and on a heated floor.

Is it possible to post a pic of their dad chezal58? The pups look really boxer-ish - I can't see any bully or mastiff in them at all... there isn't a boxer type dog living anywhere near is there? T. Will try T. I actually called around yesterday but Boss wasn't anywhere in sight and it looked as though they had visitors... so will try again soon. thanks again and again. I know you will do the very best for these babies whatever they turn out to be. Chez Finally got pics of dad to "Boxer x" pups fron Narrandera. Boss's owners say he is Bull Mastiff x Neo mastiff. Hope that clears it up / Thanks again. Hope the pups aren;t destroying your yard too much :)

Is it possible to post a pic of their dad chezal58? The pups look really boxer-ish - I can't see any bully or mastiff in them at all... there isn't a boxer type dog living anywhere near is there? T. Will try T. I actually called around yesterday but Boss wasn't anywhere in sight and it looked as though they had visitors... so will try again soon. thanks again and again. I know you will do the very best for these babies whatever they turn out to be. Chez

Thank you so much for taking the Narrandera pups. We are very grateful and wish them all the very best of a future with loving families. Please keep us posted as I know people who are interested. The bull mastiff x ridgeback x kelpie pups' owner is dying from mesothelioma and has desexed the mum, a beautiful red kelpie named "Ruby" so please don't judge everyone equally Voodookitten. :) I have also met the dad "Boss" a brindle heavy set dog with a bully head like an amstaff and I know they don't look anything like their mum but she is def a kelpie. I have pics.

I have tears in my eyes - tears of gratitude that you didn't give up on Rove. He had no life before you gave him a chance - spending his days tethered in a dirt patch. I can't thank you enough for your patience and persistence with him. It sounds like a perfect match for this gentle giant of a dog. Well done. Be happy Rove!!!

Thanks so much Mina. It has been wonderful to come out of hospital to this great good news story. He's in a much better place now. Thanks to all involved!! Great update pics. I knew he was worth the save. I do try Cheryl

Or maybe our wonderful boy, Sam. Not sure of the breed - not sure of the mix but a sweet guy. Bassett Size

So lovely and Jackson looks so fit and well! Hope they find homes soon. Thank you!

Great work Jo. I am not so computer savvy but was equally disgusted that I have been dragged into a scam with this blood sucker. I hope he gets banned from everywhere but he'll probably just changes his username, re-register and go again. Makes me so mad. Thanks again

Thanks everyone. Will close this discussion now and get on with finding this guy a home. Hopefully someone out there wants a medium size "cuddlehound"!

Cuddlehound it is tdierikx - Don;t want to have to answer to any established breed register so maybe we can start one for this! One of my other carers says "Teddy Bear", but maybe not the drag-around-by-the-well-worn-ear type! :) Just hope he finds the right home. He seems wary rather than shy and of course after grooming (if it ever stops raining) he may look very different. ;) Thank you to everyone for their opinion and comments. You have been most helpful in giving me some options. cheryl

Thanks everyone for the suggestions. It's certainly a strange dog. I looked at the PBGV sites and this one http://www.greatdogsite.com/breeds/details/Petit_Basset_Griffon_Vendeen/ had a picture of two with their owner that are about the same size as "Sam" but "Sam" is actually a bit longer in the body and has shorter ears. He does have a wiry coat though but very unkept and in need of some grooming, flea treatment and a bath! As for bearded Collie - maybe with the legs of something shorter. I did think tibetan terriers seemed closer in size and weight by the sites I have checked. I estimate him to be 13-15kgs and about 12 -13inches tall at the withers with a broad back. His tail has a curl but nothing like lhasa tails and his body and tail from nose to tip would be about 100cms. Neck to Base of tail 22inches (56cm. However it must be remembered that he is 11 months old and may not be fully grown.

Thanks Mita. It will be interesting.

Fair call - could be a bit of anything. Photos don't really show just how big this guy is. Imagine biggest bassett hound then add a couple of kgs :laugh: Would have to be a silky on steroids. ;)

Thanks Mita will ask - maybe lhasa cross tibetan? He is a larger dog though like I said. Strange one this one.

Can anyone help with best guess as to breed for this fella. He is a local surrender and his chip papers say Lhasa Apso but I already had one of those and it was about the size of a slightly taller Shihtzu. This guy has the build and size of a bassett hound - without the long ears and snout so I doubt that's right, but he is certainly much bigger and heavier that a lhasa. Just wanted some help with his description??? I know he's matted and needs grooming, he's also not yet had vet work but I literaly only picked him up at 4pm this arvo so am still scratching my head on this one. Loves to bark though! ;) :) Thanks in advance Cheryl