Her Majesty Dogmad

Thanks T, I'm sure that would be a great help! In the meantime, thanks to you, Rachel and everyone else that have helped with Ellie or offered support - it all means so much in situations like this. Wishing you all a very Merry Christmas!

Unfortunately no, very disappointing but it isn't a good time of year with so many dogs being dumped. Things will pick up again and I'm sure Ellie will be lucky either with a foster carer or new home. I have had one lovely enquiry on her from Canberra but she is not suitable for the home for various reasons however DOL Member Juice alerted me to a Husky cross and it looks like she is a very good fit with what they want. They want to meet her in Jan so fingers crossed as she's also in real need of a great home. As I always find with this type of scenario, Ellie is managing to help other dogs while she waits and her own place will come in time. I'll be over there next week, I will be taking her to the vet and taking her for a walk as well.

As a surrender, he may not have much time as the dogs pour in at this time of year.

Owners definitely do let their dogs escape sometimes. I rehomed one of my fosters to a lovely couple at the weekend. They were still getting over the death of their neighbour's little 4 yr old Pomeranian, killed on the road a few days before. The dear little dog was expected to endure life in a treeless garden, no flea treatment (he was infested), no walks or anything but being used for the odd mating with a friend's dog. No wonder he sought to escape and run across a busy road to the dog park. Having taken him back numerous times and spoken nicely to the owner, the lady started taking him to the council - thinking that they would ensure the dog was desexed or the owner would do it due to large fines being incurred but no. They'd had him in their garden while the owner was at work on a few occasions and he didn't try and escape at all, they would have been happy to adopt him but no, owner didn't want to relinquish. What an a---hole. No doubt he'll get another dog but this poor little dog should not have paid with his life. So many dogs live their lives in misery, what to do?

Imagine being faced with a dog like that? I'm sorry but for many of the population that would be simply terrifying, even if the dog was calm. If people don't know what type of dog they are looking at or whether it is friendly, they would have every right to be petrified and want to protect their children or pets. As I said to someone whose lose dog was almost collected by a car in my vet's carpark, I have small dogs (NB pls don't presume this doesn't mean that I don't like larger dogs as many do) and I am always scared when I see a loose, larger dog as I have no idea what they are about to do! The owner of this dog perpetually lets it wander - they have a workshop a few doors down from my vet. It's extremely inconsiderate to people walking in that area with dogs or not, to do this.

She is in need of a foster home or permanent home.

There have been a few enquiries, some just make an initial enquiry by email, others I've spoken to. One lady last weekend wanted a companion for her kelpie in a shared garden with neighbours. Dog had to be good with small children. I explained Ellie's a big girl and seems OK with kids but I also asked how the dogs would be exercised. She said "on a lead". I said I thought it could be a challenge to walk Ellie at the same time as another dog and she said she'd do it separately. Then she wrote an email to say she'd decided that would be too hard .... This sort of sums up where we've been going with enquiries but I'm still hopeful and things are pretty quiet generally on the enquiry front.

One of my rescue group's foster dogs got out during a storm recently. The foster carers had removed his collar and tag against my express instructions. He was gone for 5 days. Luckily this guy saw our poster which said (truthfully) that the dog was on medication and called. He'd picked him up during the storm and said he had intended to keep the dog, he was on the thin side (Italian Greyhounds are usually) and thought that noone wanted him. Thank God we got him back.

What a nice thought PS, I've had a very sad year again - when you adopt or foster old dogs there is a great potential for loss and I seem to lose 2 or 3 each year, don't really know how my heart stays in one piece. This year, I lost one of my own dogs (darling Roly aged 18 that I fostered in 2010, he was too precious to move on), 2 foster dogs and a little dog I rescued who was very ill. Here's a picture of my two fosters, Gina and Sienna. Losing Siena a month ago left me broken hearted. I loved her very much and had hoped for a happy future but it wasn't to be.

probably W.Jew - it grows in single sprigs and even one can cause an allergy so have a good look in yr yard or where u walk

She's very strong on the lead and jumps around, she can be hard to hold on to. Maybe the harness is the answer but in my experience, you couldn't walk her at the same time as another dog. She's much better once she's had a walk. As Juice says, it's a very difficult situation to test her in but also risky, depending on the other dog's size. As you can see though, she was lovely with "Bon" the Bull Terrier but we were careful and took our time. Her owners told me last weekend that she has always killed lizards and birds in the yard, so she obviously does have some sort of prey drive. My own dogs do that, they are terriers so not unusual. Paws and Hooves, her original rescuers, could have stepped in at some time to help but apart from posting her on this forum, that's been it.

Friends and I have bought biscuits from Golden Retriever Rescue in QLD - absolutely wonderful biscuits, loved by all the dogs! Buying these biscuits also helps fund GR Rescue in QLD: http://www.muttsbeluvbarkery.com.au/Golden_Ark_Rescue.asp

I've just gone onto the Trading Post FTGH and found 2 ads for Wolfound crosses in VIC, sad. http://www.tradingpost.com.au/Pets-Horses/Dogs/Dogs-Free-to-Good-Home/AdNumber=TP004941793 The above is a link to a 1 yr old cross, a very handsome boy. The other ad has a dog that isn't very old either and says he's an Irish Wolfhound cross and good with other dogs.

There is a beautiful looking Wolfie cross in the Trading Post, free to a good home. Is besties with a Dalmation and they are in QLD I think. I'd say probably impossible to rehome together, sadly but perhaps a rescue group could help or they could be assessed for suitability?

Why did you get a puppy rather than an adult dog? Puppies need a HUGE amount of time and effort spent on them and it doesn't sound to me like it's possible for you to meet the puppy's needs - you already can't cope. What will happen in a few months time when she's even bigger? Dogs exhibit puppy behaviour for up to 2 yrs. I'm the first to admit I'm not equipped to have a puppy. I work full time and lead a busy life. NEVER leave any dog near a pool, they drown, just like children. You just never hear about it in the media.

You are having a bit of a baptism by fire - I wouldn't normally recommend a JRT for a first time dog owner and you have two ... Def. keep them separate when you are not around. Any fight that ends up with serious injuries is dangerous in that it may progress. Jack Russells do not give up very easily - they will attack and kill - terriers are extremely tenacious and JRTs are just about the best example of that. (Have you ever watched a video of the JRT's doing what they are bred for? (Ratting) This sounds like a very risky situation as one is bigger than the other. My boss had 2 JRT littermates and their fights were dreadful, sometimes they were great friends, other times they had to be forcibly separated. They were with people who were around most of the time but they also had dog runs. I'd recommend getting a couple of dog runs and crates for night time, that way you can supervise any time together. If you are unable to do that then you might consider trying to rehome one of them. Contact DOL Member JRT Rescue or Google their website, you can advertise your dog on their and are targetting the right owners most likely.

Def. keep them separate when you are not around. Any fight that ends up with serious injuries is dangerous in that it may progress. Jack Russells do not give up very easily - they will attack and kill - terriers are extremely tenacious and JRTs are just about the best example of that. This sounds like a very risky situation as one is bigger than the other. My boss had 2 JRT littermates and their fights were dreadful, sometimes they were great friends, other times they had to be forcibly separated. They were with people who were around most of the time but they also had dog runs. I'd recommend getting a couple of dog runs and crates for night time, that way you can supervise any time together. If you are unable to do that then you might consider trying to rehome one of them. Contact DOL Member JRT Rescue or Google their website, you can advertise your dog on their and are targetting the right owners most likely.

Thanks T - your experience and help has been invaluable today. I had an email enquiry tonight on Ellie - they have cats and 2 other dogs, I don't think we can risk the cats!

There's a woman in the local dog park (of all places) who will not use chemicals on her dogs. Not sure if she tries natural products but one of her dogs has flea baldness from scratching itself red raw, both dogs are infested. Other people's dogs leave the park carrying their fleas .... Pretty much every dog I rescue from a pound has fleas and therefore worm infestations. Not nice. I won't ever subject my dogs to a chemical free life if it means they'll be infested, it's very bad for their health and mine.

Ellie lived with a Rough Collie (Lassie type dog) male, for 8 months and not a problem. Ellie was very good with the female Bull Terrier owned by Juice. During the year in her current property, other dogs can and have gotten in to the yard with her on several occasions and each time she has been perfectly fine with them. The dog she met on Saturday was aggressive with some dogs his owner had told me. Unfortunately he didn't like Ellie and as he weighed 55 kilos, we tried twice but it was potentially dangerous - his owner could hardly hold him. As long as the other dog has a nice nature, I think Ellie would be fine. I haven't been able to test her with small dogs, it's a bit hard although she did see a maltese across the road and didn't react.

Thanks to all for the kind offers of help. Tdierx is picking Ellie up on Thursday and getting her to the vet - thanks very much Tdierx! Still hoping for that great home or foster home to come up before Christmas ....

Thanks Chezy & Chopper, I appreciate the offer of help as it is a very long way for you to go. Another DOL member has contacted me tonight with anoher offer of help to get Ellie to the vets - on behalf of Ellie, thank you everyone for your kindnesses at this especially busy time of year, much appreciated. I'll keep you all posted!

Had another enquiry and an offer of a great foster home. Resident dog was brought over to meet Ellie today, after I'd walked her for a little while. Unfortunately he didn't like Ellie, she was good but he just would not accept her so that was that unfortunately. The other home had cats and I haven't been able to cat test her but as the dogs/cats are not separated, it could be risky.

Here's another one that does phone counselling, no idea if they charge though? http://www.petsandpeople.com.au/

There is definitely help out there for people who have lost pets - here is one: http://www.grief.org.au/grief_and_bereavement_support/bereavement_support_groups/for_pet_loss