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Just this week we lost our beautiful mastiff*lab something to cancer. On 2 Jan he was given 1 month to live (at the most) and we had him until now so we are happy about that. We just let him do what he wanted - sleep on beds, eat good food and spend lots of time in my daughters cubby on the lounge, lots of cuddles and pats. Last Sunday we decided Monday would be the day so we went and bought a new little girl at the RSPCA. He loved meeting dogs so on Sunday he followed her around and even play-bowed once to attract her attention. For the last 2 months he was on steroids to keep him eating and they were placed inside sausages twice a day. My only advice is enjoy your time together and remember what a nice life she had and how she made yours nicer. On Sunday he looked at DH and his eyes had a sad look - it was time.

Just found this on http://www.petmd.com/dog/conditions/toxicity/c_dg_ivermectin_toxicity . Doesn't look like something to do on a whim or to save a few bucks. Parasite Drug (Ivermectin) Poisoning in Dogs More Sharing ServicesShare | Share on printPrint Ivermectin Toxicity in Dogs This toxic reaction occurs especially in dogs that are genetically hypersensitive to ivermectin, an anti-parasite medication most commonly used for heartworm prevention, or to treat ear and hair mites, which can lead to mange. Ivermectin prevents or kills parasites by causing neurological damage to the parasite, resulting in paralysis and death for the parasite. But dogs genetically sensitive to the medication have an anomaly that allows the ivermectin to pass the dog's blood-brain barrier and into its central nervous system, which can be lethal for the animal. While the sensitivity to this type of medication is not always guaranteed, the following breeds are most likely to be affected: •Old English Sheepdog •English Sheepdog •Shetland Sheepdog (Sheltie) •Australian Shepherd •German Shepherd •Long-haired Whippet •Silken Windhound •Skye Terrier •Collie It is also seen in mixed-breed dogs, older dogs that have experienced a blow to the head, puppies, and dogs that have overdosed on similar types of drugs. Treating dogs that are susceptible to ivermectin toxicity with parasitic medication should be only be done under a veterinarian's supervision and with great caution. Symptoms Symptoms for the dog may be acute or mild. Acute signs will become apparent within 4 to 12 hours of the drug's administration. In mild cases, symptoms will occur between 48 to 96 hours after your dog has been treated. Such symptoms include: •Lethargy •Depression •Drooling •Vomiting •Dilation of the pupil •Loss of appetite (anorexia) •Difficulty controlling voluntary movement •Disorientation •Tremors/Seizures •Inability to stand •Blindness •Slow heartbeat •Respiratory distress •Coma

It does intestinal worms in sheep, cows and chooks so I'm guessing it also does in dogs. No idea of heartworm. To get a dosage you need to look at the dose rate for dogs and for the sheep one and just convert it. I only have pour-on so can't do it for you. But do make sure you use por-on for poring-on and drench for down the throat. The chemical is the same but the stuff used to hold the chemical is different.

To Dog Fan and Sheridan, Beacuse it gives them more chance of producing a show quality flashy boxer (ie lots of white but not too much). When you breed for that one special dog/horse/cat/cow whatever you are accepting that the rest may not be perfect and may require culling. Like race horses - how many thoroughbreds are bred to produce that one Black Cavier. They just don't factor in.

If Irish was without kittens for more than a few hours she will probably not go back to them. Maybe do a search around the place for them. Good luck

Although not a diplomatic post by the man it is I'm sure a response by many people when they don't knwo what rescue is about. It would have been my thoughts a few years ago and especially before I started reading DOL and realised what rescue people actually do. I don't think it is unreasonable for someone to question paying such a high price (and it is high is you are used to getting puppies from friends or at markets for free or $10 - as it still is sometimes). I think many people think they are saving an unwanted and potentially PTS dog and shouldn't pay a lot of money. I never used to think about the money that went from peoples pockets to rescue dogs and rehabiliate them. I think we need more rescue stories in the media etc that include the outlayed costs by the rescurers personally and that every dog that sell means another can be saved. I do think the email back was well written as well. But don't think we should jump down his throat - just educate him and also work towards educating others into what rescue really is and what it personally costs to the foster parents. PS I went to the RSPCA yesterday and picked up for the bargain price of $315 a beautiful blue cattle*border youngster who after 24 hours walks nicely on the lead, sits and drops on command and signal, acts like she was raised here. She was a stray as a puppy and has spent the last few months of her life behind bars but you would never know it. She is a wonderful little lass. I would have paid $500 for a dog this good but in actual fact she saved me money as more was spent on her than what I paid.

How annoying. I sent a letter to a well know greyhound rehoming service - nothing back. I couldn't be bothered trying again so will just keep an eye on the RSPCA.

I have never heard of a link between AA and Peta but they do offer an umbrella service ??? (not sure if that is the right word) to other animal rights groups - these groups are considered their member societies. They work with the RSPCA as well - as they did with the Indo Cattle Issue. I also have never heard of them doing PETA like activities like breaking into farms etc. But Animal Liberation (re Linda Stoner) have done this in past years - but the footage I saw of the pig farms was totally disgusting. From their web site member societies are: Victoria +Animal Active! +Australian Wildlife Protection Council Inc. +Bendigo Animal Welfare and Community Services Inc. +Blue Cross Animals +Catholic Concern for Animals - +Choose Cruelty +Coalition Against Duck +Coalition for the Protection of +Edgar's +Halfway Home Animal Rescue Inc. +Humane Research +Humane Society for Animal +Lawyers for +Quest Equine Welfare Inc. +Save-A-Dog +South Gippsland Animal Aid Paws Galore +Triple R Equine Welfare Inc. +Vegetarian +Victorian Advocates For +Victorian Animal Aid New South Wales +Animal Liberation +Cat Protection Society of +CHEETA (Coffs Harbour & Environs for the Ethical Treatment of +Hunter Animal +Native Bird Liberation +Working for Animals +World League for Protection of Animals South Australia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Animal Liberation +Anti-Vivisection Union of SA +Vegetarian and Vegan Society SA Inc. Tasmania -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Against Animal Cruelty Tasmania (AACT) +Brightside Farm Western Australia -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +People and Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) +Stop Live Export Queensland -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Animal Liberation Animal Welfare League of QLD +The Vegetarian/Vegan Society of QLD Inc. +Wildlife Protection Association of Australia Aust Capital Territory -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- +Animal Liberation

The reason why there are few sable GSD in show lines was because when West Germany started breeding for the English and US show scene they favoured light-faced B and T dogs. Apparently, they looked less aggressive. So they culled most of the darker dogs ie bi-colour and sable. Some of the most successful sires died. These dogs became the foundation show-lines. The East German breeders (at the time still communist and with a State run breeding program) continued to breed for purpose and colour wasn't as important so sable (the most common colour continues) as does black, bi-colour and the occasional B and T and B and G. As for whites still having the drive to do the work of working line shepherd - maybe the occasional one could peform adequately with the right training but they are so far from being bred for those sorts of drive I doubt they have it in them anymore to excell. Same as show-line shepherds. They have generations of breeding for soft (compared to East dogs) temperaments and pet qualities. But for tracking, obedience and sports involving man-work (but not expecting to win etc) many would be perfect. I used to play around with a west black and tan GSD tracking and man-work dog and he was a good worker - but drives were nothing like the easts I have worked. He was a great dog, unfortunately CHD got him at a young age. Of course many working line dogs are also not good enough to excell in sports involving man-work. My last East was like this - he wouldn't have made it with the big boys but was good enough for me and his drives were easily controlled. He was also a great pet and kids dog. Don't take that the wrong way. I love the White Shepherds I see featured here and occasionally on the streets but they are clearly bred as pets and not working dogs. What I would love would be a white East German Shepherd but never heard of one and I doubt they would ever make it out of the whelping box - sad. I have asked around but no one admits ever breeding one. Maybe I should look around for a White with good drives as a puppy and see how he goes.

Polar bear was Knut. All were from the same zoo.

Not that I agree with it but you can't shoot livestock for wandering onto your property. A man was charged recently for slaughtering his neighbours cows after repeated (and I mean repeated) times they got onto his property. The guy told the cow owner many times to remove the cows and he finally had had enough and sent them for slaughter. That said our 'bad neighbour' who repeatively won't keep his cows and bulls in was told by another neighbour that my OH had been told and will be out within the hour to shoot the bull. It was back in its paddock within 30 minutes as my OH is known to be very handy with a gun. I would still contact the ranger and tell them about the threat and maybe they can visit the man.

The lower the fee on animals that aren't desexed, the higher the incentive for people to purchase them to breed from. Sorry, but your logic is skewed. I assumed the original poster was a 'classified (whatever it is called)' rescuer so the pound would have the assumption that she would be desexing the dog and reselling him but reading back I realise she was quoted as being sold a dog as a member of the public. Your explaination in the posts explains the reasons - thank you.

I looked at this website to get some photos to compare http://www.redboysamstaffs.com/amstaffcolours.htm . Many of them are not unlike your boy in shape. I think your second photo makes him look staffy due to him leaning forward and making his legs look short. Maybe they are a little shorter than some of the photos. But that doesn't mean he is not purebred. If the breeder chose bigger chest dogs/shorter legs for a couple of generations than it could move off the chosen reading on the standard. Even these dogs on this one website are slightly different in stature. I also looked here http://www.rubrickennels.com/photo-gallery.asp just to compare some dogs. Their dogs look like yours - shorter in the leg and bigger in the chest (ie more stafford looking)than the American site. He looks like a well loved and cared for individual who knows what is expected of him - so that is all that matters.

I think if desexed etc that is reasonable but not if it is a 'raw' dog that will require the rescuer to meet these costs.

If it were me I would remove the gate as well - why have a gate between a bad neighbour and yourself. Then put a good house yard fence up. As said by previous poster a dog shouldn't wander around 10 acres alone anyway - just asking for trouble. I actually lock my dogs in a run when we are out, inside my house yard, inside my dog proof outer fencing. I wouldn't put it past this sort of man to lure a dog out or if it sticks its nose out to claim it was chasing the cows. I also live in cattle country and with wild dog issues and large dogs - I don't take the risk. And read the local council rules and see what they say - just to check - or ring the ranger. I would report to him (the ranger) that a neigbour had come over and threatened to shoot my dog on my own land and ask for him (the neigbour)to be explained the rules by the relevant authorities.

There was a discussion via the media some time ago about this situation. The answer for all councils they asked (can't remmeber which ones but were all around or in Brisbane) was they don't check for id or microchips on dogs that were hit due to the workers not being paid to search through blood etc.

There is a choc lab at Noosa RSPCA.

Click on this for the map http://www.whereis.com/qld/eagle-farm/chloris-st?id=359E1FF7C06D26

I was at a dinner once and a lady across the table told us the night before her mum's dog had died from eating a big bowl of lasagne that had lots of onion in it. I had never heard of onion actually killing a dog but apparently it did in this case. One thing some people don't know and that a vet told me was more common than both onion and choc for deaths is macadamia nuts. She actually recommended that people with these trees in their yards to either cut them down or fence them off so nuts that fall off can't be eaten by dogs.

My info re running with the hounds came from a documentary I saw late one night on SBS about fox hunting so no idea if correct. Bohunt sounds much more credible.

I think it is the body language of the animal. A pet cat will not generally exhibit prey-like body language but a feral will. Same for people visitors. Invited people who like dogs don't sneak and don't look suspecious but unwanted ones will. The dog knows and reads the body language. My old shepherd would let anyone in who looked normal but burr up at anyone who was scared of dogs ie sneaked around.

Some of the mining towns in Qld are worse than that. I have heard up to 80%. Anyone able to get a breakdown by RSPCA shelter. In this case I can't see how you can blame the shelter as they are not the ones dumping the dogs when they move on - just dealing with the problem.

To Blackdogs, My friend who died had a wife. She was away at the time and still has her little treasure who is much loved. Yes, it was difficult at the time but I am glad I found him and not his wife as three days is not that good on a body. But it is not that sad as he was battling a heart condition and was scheduled to have a very long operation that he didn't want to endure. To die while sitting at your table, reading a mystery and listening to music with your dog by your side isn't a bad way to go. He had even had a big greasy bacon and egg brecky and didn't wash up the plates.

I found my neighbour dead last year. His little JRT sat under his chair for 3 days. Eventhough she had food in her bowl she hadn't gone inside to eat. I stayed with them until the undertaker arrived and then sat with her until her other owner arrived. Then she ate some food. But unlike this very sad video - she is still much loved.

Parsons are longer in the leg as they were designed to run with the hounds. The JRT is shorter in the leg and was placed in a bag in front of the hunt-masters (or whoever was responsible for it) on the horse. They were brought out (apparently carried by their scruff and the tail dock) and placed down the hole when the fox went to ground. The ran up the hole, barking all the time, and when they reach the fox it would increase their frantic barking so the digger knows where to dig to get the fox out. There are at least one Parsons breeders in the ACT/NSW. The breeder I met did earthing with his dogs. They were lovely dogs but not generally for the family house - very active and hyper. My friend bought a puppy and it was a nice dog with people but wow - mad as a cut snake. It killed a fox one day while on a walk. Was off lead and just ran in when it saw the fox and shook it to death. The fox was bigger than it was. It was also a terror on rabbits - but the owners liked that as there was lots of them. He was a shocking escape artist. They had amazing fences that you never believe a dog could excape from - but it did. It dug - so they dug in wire under the ground; it climbed - so the extended fences up and electrified the top and side; it pushed unti it made holes in wire. The last time it excaped we couldn't even find how it got out - never came home that day.