Her Majesty Dogmad

And to our long suffering dogs who look at me as if to say "here we go again" .... We were having a rest for a couple of weeks having rehomed our last foster dog after 6 months - she'd passed her 2 week trial and wasn't coming back. Then the call came on Friday 23rd of a little dog in urgent need and off I went. He's had a rough life and has some health issues and has needed a lot of tlc - so much for a rest! Luckily he adores my dogs and vice versa ....

Sorry, I should have added she went to the vet and he couldn't find anythign wrong, I imagine he did a swab but I'll check. My old IG had a penis infection a few years ago, it was gross - and treatment was topical ointment - 3 times a day!

My boss has a Dachsie boy aged about 8 months. He's been desexed but he is constantly licking at his penis, making it sore. If he'd got a rash on his stomach I would have diagnosed a plant or similar but there isn't anything like that, he's just constantly at it. I wondered if anyone else had this or if someone might have an idea what it's about?

I don't believe so. I believe in transparency - I have done much the same as you on 1 or 2 previous occasions when I was taking a dog from a pound and some DOL members contributed towards the costs. They've all received an excel spreadsheet with the costs detailed. For my own rescue, I keep a spreadsheet detailing all the costs associated with each dog I rescue (transport, kennel, vets etc). It's scary as it shows that I'm several thousand dollars behind, no surprise but tough when you see it in print! The reason I do this is so that if I get my Clause 16D or ever have someone who is dissatisfied with me for some reason, everything has been documented and I cannot be accused of ever making a profit. There are those out there who believe that when I do a homecheck that I 'm getting paid for it or my petrol is reimbursed - if only! A friend asked what I wanted for Christmas and I asked for (and got) dog food!

I've rescued pound dogs who've come on heat - it's my worst nightmare. Even though all of my dogs are desexed, it caused scraps between 2 of the males and they even wanted to hump the dog (she was a lot bigger than both of them) and she was encouraging them .... With my 3rd male, he was completely disinterested and did not get scrappy either! Hopefully that will be your experience.

If I decide to start baking cupcakes to make a bit of money and I sell them all, I will be encouraged to bake more ... that's explaining petshops simply. It's all about supply and demand. If noone bought puppies from there or online, we wouldn't have any need for people to mate any two dogs in order to make money .... It isn't the puppies fault, no it is the people who make them and they do it for greed only, not so that they can supply a nice and healthy dog for people.

Spoke to the other breeder and she's going out to the pound tomorrow, hope this will help him.

I've contacted both breeders, def not the nearest one. That breeder is going to contact the club though. Fingers crossed.

Maybe got a hot spot brewing?

Is there anyone on the forum who'd be interested in this boy? I am happy to go and pick him up, test him with other dogs etc. He looks purebred to me. Some other rescuers have tried breeders to no avail. He's in Hawkesbury Pound (which is very full) and due this week. If anyone is interested, please pm me.

And more:

Here are three pics from Ellie's foster home - she's lying in the doorway, not at all sure she can come in - she'll learn!! There's one of her running around and a beautiful pic of her lying down, I swear she's smiling.

Well if it doesn't work out, you will find that petshops don't take their dogs back. When will people learn that buying from petshops IS the wrong thing to do. Not going to lecture you but just have a look on the internet, in particular do a search on "Oscar's Law". No matter how hard we try, the word is not getting out to the masses but it will, eventually. In the meantime, you have taken on a much bigger problem to solve another problem and that's never a good idea. You need to make time to exercise any dog properly - 3-4 times a week isn't going to cut it. I used to get up at 5am so I could walk my dogs for up to an hour. Between 6 and 7 I was getting ready to leave for work. I got home around 7 and the first thing I used to do was walk my dogs. I'm not saying it was easy and there is more than just one adult in your household so please, pull your collective fingers out and start exercising and interacting with your dog. Don't leave it to a tiny puppy to do your work for you and you'll also need to spend a lot more time now you have a puppy. Grrrrrrrrr.

I voted ADORABLE as this little dog is the spitting image of my old Dixie, adopted from the AWL aged about 8, she was with me for 8 years, loved her dearly but I was never really sure what she was. They put her as a "Border Terrier cross" which is why I first went to look at her. She looked completely different when shaved off - colour changed etc, than when she had her full coat. Later she got Cushings and her fur changed completely. Any ideas what this little dog is?

Boots, it just depends. I had a male Iggy for 9 yrs and two of my male foxies (I've had a few) used to love to cuddle up with him. I still have one of those foxies and he's not remotely interested in curling up with my current female Iggy. When she arrived 3 months ago, i was also fostering another female Iggy and they were like velcro with each other but since the foster dog left (got adopted), the remaining Iggy does sit near my other dogs but does not relate to them in the same way. In short, Iggies really do prefer other Iggies or Whippets generally. One of our foster carers has 2 of our Iggies and also has a greyhound. One of the Iggy boys loved to snuggle with the Grey!

Got Ellie to the vet this morning and then on to her new home. I stayed for a while to settle her in. I've got some photos - once she'd greeted everyone she was off and running round the garden, revelling in her new found freedom and space - she even stuck her nose in the kennel, not that she'll ever need it! She then had a look around inside and found her bed, stuck her nose. She sat and posed for some snaps which I will post when they arrive - they've been taken with a far better camera than mine! Anyhow, suffice to say I think Ellie's going to love her new home in every way!

Thank you so much everyone. lilmissascha83 - if you'd like to donate, please donate to PAWS (www.paws.com.au). The wonderful Denise of PAWS gave me her space in the newspaper a few weeks ago for Ellie (I didn't get any replies unfortunately) and has also allocated a space on the PAWS Private Adoptions site for Ellie's profile which is where this enquiry came from. I'd also like to thank my rescue colleagues in Canberra who have been circulating Ellie's profile and trying to help. As a result of that, I think I've found a great potential home for the Husky cross that Juice has been trying to help under Non Urgent Adoptions. I'll be taking Ellie to the vet in the morning before I drive back to the north shore to Ellie's foster home where I'll stay to help her settle in a little and hopefully get a nice photo update for all her fans!

Wonderful news - Ellie is moving house! The lovely family are going to foster with a view to adopt, if it shouldn't work out then we will keep looking but it would be much easier with her living in a normal environment. Today Ellie was so excited to see me, I had a bear hug more than once, she couldn't wait to go for a walk. She was just wonderful and the family member who came with me found Ellie to be delightful and a prospective good fit for them so the decision was made! Tomorrow I'll take her to the vet and then to her new foster home! Thanks to everyone for all the support, special thanks to Rachel - I showed them the photos on DOL and they could see how lovely she is! And thanks for all the walks and love and treats you have given her. It has really made her life much more bearable. Big thanks to Juice and Tdierx for giving up their time to come and help in various ways. I'll be doing Ellie updates for all her fans as the weeks go by.

Just a bit about the home on offer - it's a family with teenagers, dog would be walked twice daily for half an hour both times, inside with the family, mum's home most of the time and wants a gardening companion etc. Sleeps inside at night but if they should have to go out, the block is huge and there is a kennel etc for shelter, sounds gorgeous and any dog will be lucky to be rehomed there ... I have everything crossed that this will work out. They are not concerned if Ellie is good with other animals - they don't have any and don't want to go to dog parks. I have the photos of her with Juice's dog to show them, praying for a miracle!

Thanks so much Rachel!! What gorgeous pics, she looks so happy, Jack has made her day I can see that! I will be able to tell the potential owners about Jack's visit today, they want a dog that is good with people and Elly is just blossoming with all the love being shown to her. I have also said to them that you don't always have to kennel a dog when you go away (they only go once a year) which is their concern about the vacc. I suggested homesitters, a home feeder etc etc. Ellie apparently went into anaphylactic shock through the previous vaccination according to the vet's history that T took with her to the Homebush vet so you wouldn't risk it. Anyhow, fingers are crossed that tomorrow's meeting goes well ... I'll be taking Ellie for a Parvac on Sat to another fairly local vet to Merrylands that has it.

I'm doing a homecheck tomorrow morning and if all goes well, then a family member is coming over to meet Ellie. They've had a Belgain Shepherd before and there are a couple of potential issues which may mean Ellie is not for them. They are concerned about the vaccination situation so I've suggested they talk to their vet about Parvac. Fingers crossed ...

Don't know if it is genuine, there have been some scammers at large recently.

Taken far too soon, what a special girl. Hugs to you.

Hugs to you at this very sad time. RIP Zedley, you were very loved.

Do you have ticks down there? Panting can be an early sign - check very carefully for something small and hard like a scab - they can also get into their gums and bottom, inside ears etc so cover everywhere