Her Majesty Dogmad

How terrible, an awful thing to see and an awful thing to have happen. If any of my dogs had done this, I would have to have them put to sleep.

How very sad, I hope this poor little mite pulls through but parvo is worse for puppies or any dogs in poor condition (ie very thin) to fight as they don't have the same reserves. One other thing that it is important to know, and maybe talk to your vet about now, is the special care regime needed for some time, if the dog gets off the drip and out of the vets. There's special food required due to the damage done to their insides by the disease for some time after. Unfortunately, although I don't feel it is so difficult myself, some people are either not able or not willing to provide such care. Therefore it is probably important to talk to the family about it now so that they can have a think about it.

It is true, puppy farms are NOT the only supplier to petshops. We have ma and pa backyard breeders attempting to make a quick buck by breeding their dogs, often crossbreeds with other crossbreeds, purchased from the petshop .... What happens to the puppies that come out funny looking? What happens to the puppies that don't get sold before their sell by date, even when the petshop has kept knocking the price down?? Best not to know?

Eileen - you are right, pet shops and rescue are generally opposed to each other. Pet shops will deny that they are a huge part of the dumped dog problem but you only have to frequent the pounds (as I do) to spot dogs that have been purchased from pet shops. The same dogs can also be found being rehomed in free to good home ads as so many are purchased on a whim. Of course there are some good homes out there but we need the country to become far more enlightened as to where the puppies in pet shops come from. Pet shops that refuse to take puppies from back yard breeders are a big start as are those that don't sell any live animals at all. I don't think the rescue dogs would be living there - as a rescuer/foster carer I wouldn't find that acceptable. They are probably dropped off and collected later or just advertised there. We all need to oppose pet shops selling live animals, anyone with a moral compass should. If you have any doubts, please Google "puppy farms" and see what you find. That is the ugly truth.

Not a good situation. I had the misfortune to rescue an old female dog (around 13 yrs) and she came on heat. I had 3 male dogs, all desexed but 2 of them were challenging each other to mate with her. I was horrified and had to keep them separate, it was a very stressful 3 weeks. They were small dogs. I can't believe anyone can live with that amount of stress personally.

A disaster waiting to happen - she'll possibly break or fracture something and that will be that.

Karma Korner Nirvana

Never mind her dog being speyed, this moron shouldn't be reproducing herself.

Yep, got 2 malt crosses that will not go in the garden during wet weather and now my previously clean JRT x has started following suit .... Best solution is to take them down the road for a short walk to empty out, morning and night, no matter what the weather. They will go if I take them down the road.

If people take on an older rescue dog, they need to be comfortable with the name or should change it. The dogs cope very well. I've brought home dogs of all ages, mainly older, as old as 13 or 14 and not known their names. I usually prepare a list of names and read them to the dogs - sometimes they'll respond well to one or two and that's how I name them. Give them plenty of love and a happy home and they'll come running, whatever you name them! I adopted a rescue dog called "Napoleon" - when I heard the kennelhand calling him "Nappy, Nappy" across the field, I knew I'd have to change it! People laugh at some of my choices of names for my fosters! "Odette" was adopted because they loved the name and noticed this poor old maltese when there are so many out there. I've currently got a "Heather" and a "Mistletoe" ....

Stormy - don't think they specialise but worth a call to see if you need more help.

Sounding really positive! Well done!

Hello Stormy!! I wonder if the dog physiotherapist in Leichhardt would be any good? She has a hydrobath etc. Might be worth enquiring. Hope Penny's good again very soon. Hugs to the skinny dogs!

Definitely not quick quick or anything else I may say in conversation! I use "Do wees"

K9 Angel, it is sad but honestly, separated is still better than the other alternative. Everything crossed for the home in Qld - he is a beautiful boy. If he is saved too, thanks to your efforts, I think you have performed a real miracle when they had absolutely nothing.

I'd try something alternative for sure. I was just reading that acupuncture can help depression. I've had great success with dog behavioural problems from the use of Chinese herbs! As for fleas, this year has been terrible. You need to use a monthly protection such as Advantage or Advocate - keep right on top of it!

OMG, there is hope, that is wonderful! Pls keep us posted in case anything is needed.

Oh dear this is so sad, they sound like they've had the most terrible life of backyard breeding and neglect. I'm hoping that Richard and Mara can help, they are very good but probably inundated like many breed rescues. They deserve so much better and I'm hoping for a miracle for them. Well done for highlighting their plight and doing your best to help them.

If you buy a doggie door with a clear plastic door, put a square of coloured paper on the door part so that the dog has a target - it's a Dr Harry tip and it works for me!

I don't mind my dogs sleeping on the bed but I've got a tiled floor and a couple of times, the dogs have fallen off. They've been OK but it is frightening and they could potentially hurt themselves. I have crates for a couple of them anyway because they go out and bark at possums otherwise.

Are they actually in the roof or in the garden? Mine bark at possums running along the fence but are inside with me during the evening and at night or I'd have had complaints. I've had some rats in the roof but no possums and mine haven't been too bad with that.

I'd recommend a natural diet and a special shampoo used once a week to help the skin but please check with your vet because some of the shampoos can have the reverse effect if you are using them inappropriately. I took on a very smelly completely bald dog back in December, she was most likely out of a puppy farm environment. I bathed her once a week in Alloveen shampoo and 2.5 months on, she's looking amazing. Malaseb would have been wrong for her. I was just looking at this website, advertised here on DOL: http://www.allnaturaldog.com.au/ I think it will have some suitable products to help you. Whatever comes in a can and/or dried food, has additives etc that can affect some dogs. Some can eat it with no problem that much is true, but others, just like people, will have sensitivities and it just doesn't do them any good at all. Please remember to be patient and keep going - it will probably take a few months!!

I rescue old dogs and have had a couple around 13/14, they've all learned to use the doggie door here. Who said you can't teach old dogs new tricks?? They were well and truly wrong in my experience!

I don't think this is good enough, I'm sorry. One of my colleagues recently took on a puppy from an interstate breeder. They did the same as you except they received weekly photos and updates!

Sickening. Paxtons, what scumbags - I'd like to keep them in a cage too small to fully stand up and let them live in their own crap for a few months. Oh yes, and I might just get forgetful about regular feeding and topping up their water bowls ...