Her Majesty Dogmad

Depending on what they want, they could save a life. There's the poor old Staffy boy (good with other dogs) in Temora Pound, he's about 8 years old. He's brindle - photos in the thread in Urgent. I'm happy to contribute towards the current donation to help get him to safety.

That's an appalling situation for any dog there, means they don't stand a chance of getting out alive. Believe it or not, there are people in shelters and pounds that revel in euthanasing animals left in their care, it's a sad fact that they don't even like animals but are left in charge of their fate. Makes me sick.

If any trapping is done and subsequent vet work then I'd be paying for it, I rescue old dogs so I don't have spare cash for cats as well, as much as I'd like to help. I'd really like to see a solution - there's a lot more to this situation than I can explain here but none of the parties involved are at all easy to deal with and I honestly don't have much spare time with everything else I have going on.

Someone gave my number to a lady who keeps finding stray cats and kittens, from what I understand they are being bred continuously by a neighbour of hers and left to fend for themselves as this person regularly goes away sometimes for months at a time. This person wants my help - I'm a dog rescuer, not a cat rescuer although I've helped a few cats find homes this year, I simply cannot bring cats or kittens home, nor do I want to. I suggested she ring her local council, the RSPCA, the Welfare League etc. She says no one will come and take them, nor will anyone stop this person breeding indiscriminately. What to do? I rang my vet and they don't take cats/kittens. They suggested I ring another vet and confirmed that pounds won't take them. How do pounds get all the cats and kittens in there? I know they aren't all surrendered. I'm mystified, I don't know how to advise this person on what to do with the latest batch of kittens. Should she just take them to a vet?

If the elderly gentleman was happy to send his dog to Esky (if she could take him), then I have two friends driving back to Sydney on separate days in early January - both dog lovers who'd be happy to help. The little one could stay a night or two with me until we could get him to Esky.

Golden rule no. 1 - never leave dogs to sort it out with each other. Also, these are two different kinds of dogs so they have different play and behaviour styles, it probably will never work. Leave your dog at home, it will be so much easier on everyone. If you must stay away over night then either board her or get a dog feeder/walker to come in. I never let strange dogs mix with cats at all (unless both parties are bullet proof) - in spite of what owners will tell me - and I also let new adopters know how to introduce the two. There's so much to it, before I got involved in rescue I really had no idea, I was just a normal dog owner. Now I'm in the position of helping others do things better when adopting from me or some of the rescue groups I support. Not everyone gets good advice when adopting new pets and this is where things go wrong. Animals don't have to go everywhere with us - as much as we'd like it - it can lead to all sorts of stress and problems and you just need to work out what is best for all.

so very very sad for you, devastating. hugs to you

Juice - ask Denise, one of her dogs does that to one of the other ones. It would be really annoying - I could only suggest putting a touch of bittering agent onto the girl's coat - it tastes very unpleasant and perhaps that would put him off. It could cause scraps should the female tire of the behaviour, as it's so persistent. I'm interested to see what other people say, I'm wondering if it could be dementia related as I've had some dogs do persistent licking of different things when they are getting dementia.

Personally I think a bit of jail time is a good idea, this owner allowed 2 large aggressive dogs to roam freely during the day, he did chain them up at night - big deal. He doesn't sound like a good dog owner at all and anyone who puts others at risk in this way deserves to have the book thrown at them. I don't believe there's any excuse for this happening.

I specialise in older dogs and see a lot more dogs than the average owner as a rescuer. I also liaise with other rescuers regularly and we all sincerely wish that dogs were not left undesexed as they get older. With the females, I'd say that it's highly possible that being bred from continuously isn't good for them - often they are not purebred either - certainly not good to breed them as older dogs and then when dumped by then they've developed mammary tumours or other cancers. As for nutrition and a bad environment, it certainly impacts on their health in other ways.

It will reduce the possibility of testicular cancer or a peritoneal hernia - having experienced both with rescued dogs, I cursed the owners who didn't desex when younger. One of the dogs was too far gone and had to be euthanased. As for female dogs not being desexed when young - I've lost them too, after rescuing them. I don't care if my opinion is popular but after years of experience with rescuing undesexed dogs and suffering the consequences which can be heartbreaking, unless a dog is going to be bred with (by registered breeders only) or shown, then I believe they are all best being desexed at some point.

Don't worry about that, I really feel for you, life's not very easy sometimes when you are on your own.

Ha ha, Diamond has no teeth so can't do charcoal biscuits but I have sent off for some probiotics - fingers crossed!

Diamond (my farting Iggy) would give Ernie a very good run for his money .... she especially likes to lie on the sofa when I'm on the phone and the person on the other end of the phone will hear me going "Jesus Diamond" and fanning the air madly .... they are totally evil and constant some days.

As a purebred rescuer, I've actually started working with the RSPCA as of last year when they contacted us about an Italian Greyhound. Since then we have taken on 3 more purebreds from them (different breeds). Quite honestly, none of us truly know what dogs end up there - the dogs I've taken would have been euthanased because they weren't coping in the shelter environment and couldn't pass the assessments. Purebred dogs are generally more popular/quicker rehomes as well. I have offered to take small older dogs but so far I haven't been contacted and don't really expect to be. As for people dumping purebred dogs - they do it ALL THE TIME. Perhaps you are not looking in the right places but the pounds have plenty of purebred dogs - maybe not Aussie Shepherds but they have ended up in need. My vet just told me about a 2 yr old Australian Shepherd that was going to be euth'd after owner suddenly died. I was horrified and said straight away - I can find help - she then said no, don't worry, a friend of the owner took the dog when they found out family was going to euthanase. Why they didn't think of going back to the breeder I don't know. Vet was telling me this story to indicate that quite often, people have no idea what to do with unwanted pets and think they'll have to be put to sleep. Presumably the family were not dog owners ...

VIC has some fantastic rescue groups - all rescuers struggle at this time of year because it's massive dumpage time in the pounds and from owners who ring us and want to get rid of their dogs. However, in amongst all those are the genuine cases. We can all only do our best but I'd suggest you contact Rescued with Love and Noah's Bark Rescue and see what they say. Photos really help if you can get one? Also, the general state of her health ie desexed, teeth etc.

I had an old foster Westie cross for nearly 3 years, she had surgeries to clean her ears out but for the time I had her, my vet switched antibiotics constantly. There was a marked improvement in the first few months when I put her on a dried food called Natural Balance that was supposed to help ear/skin infections etc, my vet told me to keep her on it as it was working. Ear ablation wasn't an option as she was so elderly but the changing of antibiotics seemed to keep the situation from getting worse. I actually lost her to her back legs giving way ... she was about 15 or so. Poor sweetie had had a terrible life.

Thank you Ernie, I've emailed the foster carer - am going on Saturday to meet him and have a good look

So sad for you VM, that's a big loss to cope with, so many years as part of your life. RIP Tibor. Hugs to you x

Thanks so much everyone, the foster carer is feeling a bit happier and going to give the corn silk a go. We are still trying to get to the bottom of what the vet did to test for incontinence etc - i'll get there!

As a rescuer, in addition to thorough interviewing, nothing beats a homecheck and regular follow up with the adopters, things can still go wrong but at least you've done everything humanly possible to try and make sure it's a good home for the dog. I'm glad the breeder's trying to be thorough - there should be more of it!

Thank you, I'll pass this on - he does have a wobbly back end apparently.

How very sad, what a dear little girl and such a big part of your formative years. Hugs to you, RIP sweet little Cherry

He's gorgeous! Foxies are the world's best kept secret ....

Totally gorgeous, you simply can't beat a Foxie type, my favourites