*kirty*

My newest foster is a very frightened little boy. He is a combination of naturally wary breed + no socialisation. My dogs are doing their best to encourage him to play and show him that people are OK. I am hand feeding him all his food and giving him space, but I have to corner him and carry him inside or he won't come in. He is curious and follows me around but cringes if you try and touch him. Are there any things I can do to boost his confidence and help him realise that people aren't that scary?

The Reject Shop sell them.

I got a very serious looking Dachshund. :) Most of my answers were fairly neutral.

This isn't always the case but a lot of people think it is. Some dogs toes naturally sit up more, meaning the nails don't wear down properly.

I do my animals nails fairly regularly - dogs, cats, rabbits and even the guinea pigs lol! Toby, my Std Poodle has really long quicks and they bleed every time I trim them! Even just taking 1-2mm off is enough to make sure them bleed. Very frustrating especially because she is cream!

We've had pedigree black labs with brindle markings come through work.

Excellent article. Don't just look at the pictures, read the text!!! There's an excellent discussion of the history of the retriever breeds with respect to coat type. I did read it. :) Very interesting.

I found a link with some info and photos of genuine long haired Labs. http://retrieverman.net/2011/08/03/do-labradors-come-in-long-hair/

I have also met a long hair English Mastiff. Pedigree dog with a coat length like a Golden Retriever. :) But I agree, that mother dog looks nothing like a purebred Lab.

Is this a problem for all Dallies or just some? My mum has one and she isn't on a special diet, and neither were the ones her parents had. ETA: Never mind, I just read up on it. Thankfully none of the dogs our family has owned has had problems from it.

Love that last line pers lol! I have to admit that my first thought was the same as yours.

Hope you feel better soon MUP!

Maisie used to swim like that. We just encouraged her to swim lots (we used to have a pool and she loves the water) and she worked it out herself. :)

My Dad was going to throw out his old SLR camera, complete with box and lenses. I've grabbed it but don't know how to use it or if it even works. Would a camera shop be able to service/check it for me? And if it does work, do people want them? Not looking to make a fortune, would just like to see it go somewhere other than the tip!! ETA: I've just had a look and the camera is a Pentax and there are several lenses, filters and external flashes. It al seems to be in good condition. It must be about 30 years old. Wish I knew how to use it, it looks like fun! ETA more... Google tells me it is an Asahi Pentax Spotmatic F with a Super-Takuma 1:1.4/50 lens, from 1973. Photo is from Wiki:

Our clinic will accept payment from the insurance company by negotiation and inly with a pre-approval letter. But our procedures aren't generally emergencies so clients have time to organise it. Most of our clients pay then claim it back though.

http://www.geelongadvertiser.com.au/article/2013/08/08/370592_news.html Dog left to die in agony HORRIFIED animal welfare officers are at a loss to explain why someone would starve a dog before locking it in an abandoned shed to die in agony.Newcomb demolition worker Michael Moroney was left shaken and upset after he found the dog. He'd been called to the Shepherdson Ave, Corio, address early yesterday to remove asbestos.A dog owner himself, he recalled finding the wincing dog cowering in the concrete corner of a tin shed at a derelict home, unable to even stand.``I would like to get my hands on the person who did this. It's just disgusting,'' he said. ``There was no way the dog could have ever got out itself. There was no food or water left there.``I was there removing asbestos when I went up to the back tin shed, but never imagined I'd find this.``The dog was too sick to even drink water. It was horrific.''Mr Moroney said he immediately called his wife who rushed to the scene and drove the emaciated animal to the Geelong Animal Welfare Society in Moolap.Shelter executive director Belinda Russo said the dog with no name or microchip was in critical care and would undergo blood transfusions and half-hourly feeds in an attempt to save her life.She said the dog was so emaciated, anaemic and riddled with fleas that its body had consumed all its body fat to keep it alive.``If you cannot look after your pets bring them into us,'' Ms Russo said. ``That's what animal shelters are here for, to look after animals. We will do everything we can to save this little girl.``We owe it to her.``It'll take at least three months to rehabilitate her she's that bad.``Her blood pressure was so low it took us five hours before we could get a catheter in.''RSPCA inspector Hugh Robinson blasted those responsible for the act of cruelty.He said staff were fed up with having to investigate needless animal cruelty cases that could so easily be avoided.He pleaded with the public to report similar cases and not let situations get so bad.Mr Robinson said the dog, weighing just 10kg, was less than half its recommended body weight.``We have no idea how the dog got there but it's a possibility it has purposely been dumped there as the property has been vacant since last October after being set on fire,'' he said.``She's just so weak _ a bag of bones with no energy at all.``She's been starved for a fairly long time as it takes weeks and weeks to get like that. She's up there with one of the skinniest we've ever seen _ it's bloody disgusting.``We wonder what the hell people are thinking to let this happen. It's obvious how bad this is.''GAWS operations manager Nadine Dixon said words could barely describe how staff felt.``How could someone leave her there and just forget about her?'' Ms Dixon said.

I'd love a whole pack of sighthounds. Borzois, Afghans, Greyhounds and Iggies. And they would all be small animal safe and very laid back. :D

Another sensible article here. http://m.smh.com.au/comment/why-the-potential-killer-in-your-home-is-always-family-dog-20130806-2rdbx.html

If you want to catch them, you have to feed them. General plan is put food in the open trap several days in a row, but don't set the trap. Then set the trap and catch the kitties. Personally I never bother with the first bit because I usually have to travel to trap, and I've found most strays are hungry so go straight into the trap first go. Depending on the situation, options for stray/feral cats is trap and take to the pound, or trap, neuter, release. TNR is only really practical in urban areas and where someone is willing to keep feeding the cats. ETA The real problem with feeding strays comes when people feed them but don't trap them or desex them. Feeding a stray long term makes it healthy, allows it to breed, increases survival rates of kittens, etc. So often we come across situations where people start out feeding one or two strays and then a few years and many litters later they call rescue, overwhelmed with the colony of cats they now feed.

Looks like a Neo cross.

A very sensible article here. So tragic. http://www.savingpets.com.au/2013/08/dog-attack-fatality-nsw/

Peninsula cat rescue?

It could be a bit of senility. My old girl has become destructive and silly in her old age too. I think a thorough vet check is in order. :)

It could be a bit of senility. My old girl has become destructive and silly in her old age too. I think a thorough vet check is in order. :)

Apparently she doesn't live in the house she escaped from, she was visiting with her owner. They all went out for the day and she wasn't happy being left behind lol. This is the 4th time she has broken down the fence to escape that house. Naughty girl! She was very excited to see her dad. :)