Jed

2 years for the pressure garments, but I am about to dispense with one over a burn which is healing nicely - only discoloured. The pressue garments over the shoulder + silicone patches will probably stay for the full 2 years, as that will be slow healing, and it is important, as it is over the shoulder and arm joint and joints need more care, s othere is no tightening and loss of use of the arm. I hope everyone is coping with the dialogue - you have all been so caring, I thought you might like to know what was happening, but if anyone is upset, my apologies, and if you would rather not know, please tell me. Pheonix has very big shoes to fill - my beautiful lost baby girl is a hard act to follow. But we will do our best with Pheonix and see what transpires. I haven't not had a boxer for 30 years,when I had to wait 8 weeks for a pup, and this is not the right time to be without one, even though she is with someone else at the moment. If she shapes up as well as her half sister Paris, she will do Oh, look, she's a boxer, that's about all she needs. MM, I cannot change the past, and the only change I would make would be for the house not to catch fire, or for me to have awoken earlier, before the dogs succumbed to CO2, so I could have got them outside - but that was not to be, so I can only go on in faith and hope, to a brighter future. I'm glad I specially cuddled all my dogs before bed that night, brushed the cockers, played with the boxers, gave out liver treats. I'm glad they had good lives.

Ah, I have pressure gloves, pressure sleeves, pressure "bike pants" and a couple of cast iron long sleeved pressure vests, which took several hours to measure, needed a couple of fittings to get right, cost a zillion bucks and resemble those whalebone corsets you see in period movies, require two people to zip up, and allow only shallow breathing. However, I am assured that they will assist healing, and will also reduce scarring, which in turn will allow full movement to return to the burned parts. If full motion does not return, further operations will be necessary to allow movement (which I heard as "slash and chop",) so I am very religious about wearing the pressure garments, so the chance of full movement returning is as good as it can be. Although I was not happy about being sent home from hospital 2 weeks early, unable to walk, and without any basic instructions, the care I received in hospital was tops, and the job they did on the burns and grafts was tops, and I wouldn't like to do anything to retard that, so I am religious about doing as I should with the burns. I am not yet able to drive, so haven't been able to see the kids after the visit with the production crew of Animal Rescue, so am looking forward to seeing them again.

Thanks guys - keep the candles and vibes going. They are definintely working. Saw the surgeon last week, and he was so impressed that the graft on top of my shoulder and down my back had taken and healed so well, as well as the other burns on arms and the other shoulder + the big graft on my hand. He was very pleased with himself, as he did the grafts, but it was his skill plus the healing vibes and thoughts from you all which are giving me the results. Unfortunately, the graft from the top of my shoulder down the front of the arm and into the armpit is not healing so well (different area, moving part, not expected to heal as fast), and is giving me some grief. Something burning fell from the ceiling onto both shoulders and my hair. My flanno pyjamas caught fire, and although I ripped them off the shoulder was burned. Having a crewcut is - um - interesting ;) I went through my cards properly yesterday - I read them in hospital, but there were just so many, so I took the opportunity to read them again. So many and with such lovely good wishes, I felt so heartened in hospital, and I felt uplifted again yesterday. I also read the beginning of this thread for the first time. The newspaper headlines were a little wrong Just letting you know that 5 adult dogs perished in the fire - from C02 before I woke up. They were not marked, or distressed, or burned, which gives me some comfort. I have put memorials to them earlier in this thread. From my 8 week old boxer litter of 6, I saved 3, but alas, three perished from smoke inhalation. Two of the remaining 3 have wonderful homes and I have kept a girl pup. I now have 11 dogs, one of which is the female boxer puppy, one of the 3 of the litter I saved. She is my only boxer, and her registered name is Pheonix (pending). I hadn't meant to keep her, but it is her or nothing, and she is a sweetheart.

Thanks everyone. No computer, so can't come here often. Also doing the rounds of thephysio, gp, and surgeon, who says all is going ok, so the candles and healing vibes are working. Being burned causes a lot of changes to the system, which I didn't know about, and have to deal with. there's a lot of grief too. Demolition of the house and clearing of the site should begin soon, followed by rebuilding, as the assessor has chosen a builder.

My apologies, I haven't read the entire thread, but just a few thoughts. I think, in every case, the breed standard says and means that if the dogs are bred TO the standard, they will be premier examples. However, breeders have their own interpretations of each standard. I have noticed that at times, 98% of the dogs of a breed in the ring a marvellous, sometimes, not so good. It depends on the quality of the breeders at the time. Also, it is possible to breed to the standard, and get it right, yet have some examples in a litter which make you cringe a bit. Or a lot!! They have a nice future as pets, but you would have preferred better examples. Let me pick on the pug - I was discussing this at length the other day with my daughter the vet,who sees a lot of pugs with airway problems, so it is in my mind. I would never breed pugs. I don't think I have the expertise, and certainly not the experience. There is a very very fine line between a great pug which has no health problems, and one which has a palate a litttle too long. nose a little too short and narrow, and face too flat ...... a very very fine line. I think that pug breeders need to really know and understand the breed, and love the breed, as well as genuinely wanting the best for the breed. Breeders like that are breeding good pugs. Unfortunately, too many inept breeders, byb and puppy farms now breed pugs without any understanding of what they are doing. Close to where I am staying, there is a pug production factory - they live in scabby yards with small cold shelters with no bones, no toys, no nothing. At night, I presume they are locked in crates in a smallish shed. I very much doubt that people who keep dogs like that would care what the standard said, or have any interest in understanding it, or adhering to it. So the problems continue. IMHO, Bulldogs have improved health wise over the past 10 - 20 years, and there are some very healthy examples. It's easy to blame the standard, but imho, it's wiser to blame the individual breeder, or "luck". Luck being the genetic makeup, and sometimes there is no accounting for it. My experience with my own dogs, and other people's dogs I know well, (any breed) is that the closer they are to the s tandard, the better they are - in keeping quality, learing ability, coat, general health and soundness. lilli May be true in some breeds, but I have had a line of boxers, most of whom would gaily sail over tall fences - but only if left alone for what they considered "too long". One used to visit the neighbour. Another used to sit at the head of the drive from 4pm waiting for someone to return. Nothing wrong with their temperament .... but I understand and appreciate what you are saying. I've known dogs like that.

It was Beau's special friend Molly the calico cat who was found 2 days after the fire, sitting in the pantry, filthy but unscathed. Special thanks too, to Toohey, who gave a week of her life, took holidays from work, so she could spend all day every day with me in hospital, from the day I emerged from ICU, mentoring me, and thanks to those who assisted her to do that. It can't have been much fun, but it made a huge difference to me and my emotional wellbeing.

Thanks to everyone who contributed to my healing - to those who donated, who gave things for auctions, who purchased things at auctions, who gave of their time, who donated to help others help me, to those who travelled to help, to those who helped with the animals, to those who sent gifts and cards and those who sent good vibes. There are too many of you to thank individually, old friends and new, although I hope to do so personally in the next few months, please don't feel your contribution was not as welcome as any other, each one was cherished and welcomed. Every thing you all do contributes to my healing and improvement, and I am grateful for that. Steve says that some people didn't wish me well - that's life, not everyone likes everyone else, where woudl the diversity be if we were all the same? I respect, and have always respected your right to br your own person. Those who did wish me well were enough, I am blessed to have so many caring friends and internet buddies. Thanks for all the beanies!! I have so many now I am uanble to choose!! Please accept my heartfelt thanks and appreciation, I don't think the outcome would have been as good without your positive thoughts.

BB, all the dogs had their Fferplast beds with doonas on the floor near the bed, but they were all under the bed, gone to the bridge, so it was the CO2, it did swirl, and it is heavier than air; I know of someone who lost all their cavs except 1 - they were inside, and all perished, exect the one the dining rom table fell on, she was sheltered by it and was the only one saved. I miss them all so much, I miss my baby girl so much, I wanted her for 5 years before I got her, and she proved to be everything I wanted, she had just had her 2nd birthday, she was kind to cats, she loved everyone, she loved to please, and I had waited to 2 years to show her, she was ready to go, and now she is no more. I regret losing her for her wonderful and special self, as they all all, but I regret most that all my intentions and dreams are now dust. I saw her as the leader, she was shaping up as a kind but firm leader, now the dogs are rootless and unhappy. Some vibes to heal my heart now, please, and some vibes to send me another beautiful girl like her. I have a daughter of my gentle Roxy and sister to my sweetheatheart Paris, to give me comfort, my Pheonix. I h ave a daughter to my faithful and kind Meg, my lovely golden child. There could never be another Magnus but 11.5 years seems a fair time. There is no one to replace my beautiful baby heart dog, the one who gave my pleasure to see her running, the one who always tried to hard to anticipate and do what I wanted, who always tried to please. The one I yearn for mostl I miss her so much. Life is so unfair. But everything happens for a reason. I wish I could understand what the reason was. Keep lighting the candles I hope they guide me from this dark place.

Just an update. Made the long trek to see my own doctor for some advice. She wouldn't see anything odd about saving your dogs, hers are always in the surgery, if the patients don't like it, they can find another doctor!! She was very encouraging about how quickly I have healed. she said the drs at the hospital said I was healing well. I told her it was all the candles and good vibes and thoughts. She didn't altogether believe that, being a woman of science, but she was prepared to allow it. I however, am quite sure that is what is helping with the healing, so please keep it up, all you good folks. I had an eye test, as my eyeballs were burned, and I have lost some sight. Unknown whether it will come back or not, hope it does. I am staying with one of my daughters this weekend. She is caring for my cat - the one which wasn't burned. Kitty, the other, is staying with a vet friend of my other daughter, as she still needs serious nursing (and a friend is cheaper than a paid hospital ) while my daughter was o/s. The puss who is here was found in the pantry the day after the fire, shell shocked, but without a mark on her. Totally undamaged. We cannot figure out what happened. All I can think of is that she ran outside at the height of the fire when I went outside, and came back the next day and hid in the pantry. Lucky she was found, really. The cats normally lived inside full time. The only other thing I can think it that perhaps she was hiding under the bar - there was no fire there, but I would have expected her to have smoke inhalation. She seems happy to see me, and spent the night sitting on my legs, which didn't do a lot for sleep. Kitty was found in the middle of the lounge room floor, half dead, with serious burns and smoke inhalation. She has lost half her tail, and has numerous burns. RSPCA took her to the emergency clinic, which treated a big burn and her tail. When my daughter got her, she thought she could have had more burns, so clipped her, and found she had some big burns. Amazing that she is alive, poor Kitty. Amazing, isn't it? Just as it is amazing that the dogs sleeping on the floor of my bedroom have crossed the bridge, but those on the bed are well, so it is with the cats. Spoke to builders for the insurers, the house will be knocked down and a replacement built. Take a few months. At least things are moving along. I miss my dogs so much Hug your dogs.

There are breeders who are breeding 6th and 10th generation of Aussie bulldogs to each other - the "original breeder" mentioned in the last post is one. I believe they are a valid breed, unfortunately, a lot of cowboys are spoiling it for everyone. Remember the registered Bulldog too, a good one from a proper breeder should have no problems.

Legislators simply need to ban the sale of pups in shops. It has been done with other things. Legislators lack the will because PIAA is such a strong organisation, so having the public withhold support is a good way to go. If there was no market fewer pups would be bred.

On a property near where I am staying are a number (about 10) enclosures, about 6 - 8 m square, each contains a small roofed shelter with sides, about 3/4 metre high. No trees, no shrubs, just the fences and the shelter. Each enclosure contacts 2 - 5 small breed purebred dogs. They are there all day, without any interaction that I have seen, no toys, no bones. At night, they go into a shed, obviously, and judging by the size of it, in crates. No toys, no socialisation, no one to play with them, nothing. And they must be boiling in summer and freezing in winter What a dreadfully unfulfilling and unsatisfactory life. Wish AL would raid it. Enough to make you want to weep

That's why we have courts, Stonebridge

So sorry to hear about your puppy. If your vet is prepared to state that nothing you did (ie suffocation etc) caused the death of the puppy and it was most likely due to a congenital or hereditary problem, get him to make a written statement to that effect. Send that with a letter of demand for a full refumd to the breeder. If you aren't sure what to write, come back here and we'll help, or pay a lawyer $100 or whatever to write it for you. If they don't cough up then, put them through the small claims court,. Every fair trading act in Aust says "goods" (and pups are described as "goods") must be suitable for the purposes intended. A pup which dies 8 days after purchse is NOT suitable as intended. You would be very unlikely to lose any suit you brought against the person who sold you the pup. Any decent reputable breeder, once they were assured that you did nothing to cause the death of the pup, would refund you. And folks, there have been cases of children sitting on pups and squashing/suffocating them. Happened to a friend of mine, pm came back proving it. Child denied it. Parents didn't know. Don't be fooled by glittering websites, shiny advertising, and those with fast tongues. The very best pup you can buy is a proper registered purebred pup from an ethical ANKC member breeder, one who knows the breed, and the lines, one who will ensure YOU are the right home for a precious pup, and one who will be interested in the pup for as long as it lives. My house recently burned down. Breeders who sold me pups, now dogs, offered to fly interstate take the dogs home and care for them until I could do so again. That's the level of service you'll get from a proper breeder. Another reason to supervise kids and pups. The breed makes absolutely no difference If you want another Aussie Bulldog, please pm me, and I will provide you with the names of a couple of ethical breeders. If they have no pups, they will recommend someone else.

Are you REALLY going to kidnap Chi, Mother Moocher? How marvellous

It is well known in this country - I presume by most experienced breeders and owners - of all breeds - that gum and tooth problems should be rectified, as they can lead to heart problems. And that feeding a raw diet seems to prevent and/or help with heart problems. CoEnzyme Q10 is also widely recommended for dogs with murmurs or other problems. Most breeders would also assess the mouth health of bitches before putting them in pup. So I think most breeders, on anecdotal evidence, would agree with Dr Glickman. Most of us advise purchasers of pet puppies to feed sufficient "hard" foods to help with tooth and gum health, and to check teeth and gums regularly. I believe some Cavs have "bad" teeth, and have been trying to breed away from it. Too soon, and I haven't bred enough to know whether what I have done has been effective or even whether it does run in lines.

Mother Moocher No way!! down in the shed, pumping them out, pumping them out. Nothing wrong with a bit of patella luxation, and most of the suckers puppy buyers wont know the pups have their back legs on back to front Chi x JRT, chi x poos - chipoos!! Very popular. Can't keep a good puppy farmer down, Mother Moocher, you should know that, and I now have official confirmation from the RSPCA that I am a good ethical breeder, with beautifully kept and well socialised dogs so I can trade on that!! Prices going up.

Thanks everyone, the healing vibes, hugs and candles are definitely working. I appreciate them, ditto the messages, so good. So nice to have all the support when I am so down. Glad to hear about the goat herder's win, Bilbo Baggins, mine would all faint if they saw a goat!! Hesapandabear, I have pm-ed you.

So publicly calling someone silly and correcting their grammar isn't rude? I must live on another planet then. So what would you rather me do gillybob? I can either do what I'm doing, which it trying my darndest to help save this baby while educating myself on how best to care for it, or I can leave it to die. I don't understand the negativity. Concern is one thing, but you are being just plain negative without offering alternative advice or solutions. I'm aware of what he is and have some (limited) experience with livestock. I'm doing my absolute best. I don't appreciate being publicly shamed for my incorrect wording or my lack of knowledge. Everyone starts somewhere and has to learn....this is the exact attitude that forces new people out of the showring, and sadly I see it in the horseworld all too often. There is a fine line between constructive criticism and plain bullying. I will take this calf and do my best with him. I have support from locals and people who have far more experience than me and I dare say more experience than you gillybob. I will do my best and be proud that I tried. So please, unless you are willing to put your hand up to help or open up your wallet, don't call me silly or have a go at me for trying. Cheers. Gillybob didn't, and wouldn't call you silly,. She has a lot of experience and was warning you about the bad side of it - whilst, as far as I could tell, commending you for saving him. Good luck, it's a good thing to do. I've seen a few ridden steers at shows. There was a bloke who used to take an "exotic" breed (forgotten which one) steer to shopping centres, under saddle - he was so quiet, and huge. My uncle, long dead, used to drive bullock teams, and he loved his bullocks. I remember when he was long past driving them, he used to talk about them all the time - quite fascinating, to learn about breaking them in and working them.

Thanks Hesapandabear, let me give a little thought to t hat one. PM space has now been increased The girls make the long trip down to see me with 4 of my dogs. It was so good too see them, I had a cinder in my eye. The older ones were pleased to see me, especially my cav girl. The boy was busy trying to make pups, little sex fiend - h wouldn't have been doing that for long if Magnus saw him. They are all abit stressed and rootless without a leader. The baby boxer has some healing burns on her side, quite b ad, although they will be ok. Probably from when I pulled her out of the puppy pen or perhaps I bumped her against the hot wall during my rush outside with the 3 of them. She didn't know me at all. I hope we can redress that when she comes home. I know they are being so well cared for, but gee, I miss them. I talk to the 3 dogs here and play with them - 2 were sitting on me in bed this morning! I'd like to bring a couple home, but I'll be moving on, and they will have to go back and that might be harder and more unsettling on me (and them) than leaving them there The two oldies are a stressed and unhappy, When I am well enough to go up there, we can see what is best to do. At that age, they don't take change well, and bringing them here could be harder for them. They need to go b ack to familiar surroundings, which is out of the question Thank dog for Lesley and Marg, the most wonderful friends anyone could hope for, and some of the few people I would be happy to leave my dogs with. Thanks to the wonderful breeders of a couple o my dogs, who intended flying up, taking th dogs they bred home until I was well enough to care for them again. The mark of a top ethical breeder, I think, but I always knew they were. Accolades to you both. And to the wonderful ladies who are giving the dogs such wonderful care. the level of care and compassion you are all demonstrating makes me feel very hunble, and so fortunate to know such wonderful people. Thanks to dogbesotted. I think I am temporarilty your neighbour

Probably not seeing Chi /chi, she is not a good traveller.

I am sorry you have had such a horrible thing happen to you but so many people here support you and it is very good to see you back again and getting better. Have you received all the money that people here have given for you? I hope it will help so you don't have to worry about money for a long time, until you can work again ;) Hi Pippa, I believe that $7,000 odd giving by people here was deposited into an account for me - me daughter has full details and she is in USA. That was done soon after the fire on 12 May so I guess that was donations, although I am not sure. I also think there is another $3000 to be deposited into the account. I am so grateful for the support.

Thanks guys - no mortgage insurance. Not much hope of adisability pension - same as sickness benefit, and if I am still sick, can be extended. No problems there, and I do want to go back to work when I can. Unfortunately, benefits are not enough to cover costs till I go back to work. Thanks for the offer of clothes. As I have no where permanent to live, and am staying with people, no clothes rquired other than my immediate needs. Have bought a couple of pairs of jeans, and tops, that is enough till the weather changes, a few of my clothes survived the fire. Nothing else much did.

Thanks everyone, have applied for and been granted sickness benefits. May be able to get deferrment of the mortgage. Unfortunately, I wont be able to work for some months, and the deferrment wont last that long. No house for about 6 months, so I need rent something when my friends get sick of me. Will be off sickness then, and on the dole, although I wont be well enough to work. You need to be half dead to get sickness benefits. Went to the property today. The state of the house is incredible. Unbelievable. Daughter was happy to take me, as I was worried about the ponies. Silver lining in everything. I found one of my uber expensive (bought on sale) sneakers, that I just loved, in the yard, un damaged. The other was in the laundry, where I had probably put it to dry. The dryer and washing machine had melted, but the second sneaker was fine. I was so happy. I now have 2 pairs of shoes!! The girls are bringing the dogs down to see me on Monday - they asked which ones, and I said "Charlotte, and um, Dolly, and Grace, and perhaps Glory" --- so they gave up and said they would bring them all. Lovely to see them, I miss them so but it's nice that they have such marvellous people to care for them.

Thanks everyone, and thanks so much to everyone who donated to the auctions, or who bought things, and to the people who donated money. I mostly know who you are, but whether I know or not, I thank you most sicerely, from the bottom of my heart I am so very grateful. Unfortunately, while I am not working, there is no money coming in to live on, or to pay the mortgage, so every cent is so welcome. I would sell the property to pay off the mortgage, but no one is going to buy a block of land with a burned out house, unless it is very cheap, so being able to hang on, with help from this forum is wonderful. Your help is just so appreciated. I miss my dogs so much, and I hurt so much, it is wonderful not to have to worry about money just now as well.