Her Majesty Dogmad

Spot on

Well they might have been in the pound, but once at Monika's, the terminology would be purely for marketing purposes. However, if it gets them into new permanent homes, so be it. I can't hear any of the voices, so can't really comment on what was said. One of the things the guy did say was that they could do a lot better - not good photos or website. As a rescuer, you have a duty to commit every possible resource into finding a dog a home, once you've got them out of the pound. Along the way you learn and evolve. Some do not. That's how some poor souls end up spending year after year in an environment that is less than ideal.

Exactly. I wouldn't say I've got an itch, more like a pain in my nether regions, difficult to know how to help with some people's issues. I should have just said "buy a second crate", it's hardly rocket science :)

No dog should be sitting there for 5 years, they need to work an awful lot harder so that doesn't happen. And yes, I worked there for years so I know.

Does your friend go walking every day once or twice etc? Here's a gorgeous 4 yr old JRT cross who loves a lap and toys - could be a match - his name is "Buster". https://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.785541104808105.1073741999.173117439383811&type=1

As someone who rehomes Whippets, I would never rehome to anywhere that had them sleeping outside, far too cold - even in NSW. Put your crates inside the house next to each other and cover them over at night - make them as cosy as possible. Failing that, maybe get a doggie door and housetrain thoroughly .. they could still go out in the night and bark and if they do then switch back to the crates. I have my dogs free to go in and out and it's rare that they bark if they are just popping out for a quick pee. If they do bark then I bring the dog inside and put in a crate for the rest of the night - it usually means that there's a possum running along the fence which will send my 2 terriers crazy.

F-----g morons the lot of them. None of them should own dogs.

Ok, that's not too far away from Sydney or Canberra even, should be plenty of great little dogs to choose from!

Has she looked on Petrescue? Is she in Sydney or NSW regional?

Gorgeous!

I have been through a brain tumour with my Foxie back in 2007. I didn't have the MRI as it would have cost thousands and wasn't easily accessible either in those days. I did consider it though as my boy was aged about 7. My vet's advice was ok so if it is a brain tumour, maybe we could remove it but he will not be the same dog. He wasn't the same dog at the time which is why I'd gone to my vet (and 2 other vets for their opinions). I experienced similar behaviour to what you describe - he'd always been a very happy dog but suddenly he was experiencing periods of shaking, hiding away from everyone and looking miserable. Sometimes the old Wonder dog would appear. He also had turns, suddenly became aggressive with his canine bestie and finally urinary incontinence. He'd always been a very active dog, jumping around but he began to fall instead of landing where he'd planned. He bit me 3 times which was all unprovoked and out of character. All of this went on over a couple of months. I was on the phone to a friend one night when blood curdling noises came from the garden, he was lying in the bushes with his eyes wide open, having a fit. We were near the end and the next night when he went for my face and nearly got my eye - for no apparent reason, that was it, I knew it was time to let him go. Your dog is very young to have a brain tumour but it sounds very possible and I would let her go, you need to be ready - I had a great deal of trouble coming to terms with the diagnosis as I adored my boy and the worst part for me was that I'd only had him for 2 years and he'd been terribly abused previously, he'd blossomed in my home. It seemed so very unfair but sadly life is never fair and we have to do our best for our pets, that's all we can do. I wish you strength and send you a hug.

Will it all be in Sydney or will she go outside? I'm sure some of the adopters of my rescued dogs would be happy to take part.

I would put shade cloth along the fence but if it is 4 foot I would suggest doing some kind of extension (either temporary or permanent depending what you and the landlord decide is preferred). If the fencing is not in disrepair then I personally don't think it should be the landlords responsibility to pay to keep your dog safe. If your fence is only 4ft then their dog is coming over that for sure - it's very easy, I won't rehome any dog to low fencing like that - even a small dog could jump it easily and it's not always a case of worrying about the dog even getting out, it's worrying about what can jump in and attack/kill a dog in it's own yard. Maybe both of you need to get dog runs.

I imagine your friend's dog may have Inflammatory Bowel Disease and is on Ultra ZD? My old Italian Greyhound had IBD for the 9 yrs I owned him, it was very difficult to feed him. There was only one other brand of biscuits for this disease (with protein removed) and they stopped making it. Occasionally I would try my Iggy on the odd bowl of another very expensive biscuit made with fish, can't remember the brand but I didn't do it very often as his health was very precarious. Some foods can be bought online, maybe even Ultra ZD these days but it wouldn't be all that common.

How would he get into the yard then? It's still best to keep the fence covered over. My neighbour's dog accessed my yard on a regular basis over a 2 year period, she's a large dog and luckily for me she was very good with small dogs. This was stopped finally by the neighbour putting up an electric fence after 2 years of trying to make changes in the yard by chopping down all the trees and bushes she'd climb up (she wasn't always trying to get into my yard but wanted to escape anywhere from her yard). For that 2 year period I thought she was getting over the back gate but one day last year I caught her going up a wall and through another part of the fence that I didn't realise she could fit through. She's about 8 now and highly anxious - 2 weeks ago she started chomping on the panel fences and made huge holes that my dogs could get through. Have a good look around - this dog could be getting through a space you can't believe possible, either way it has to be stopped from happening and the fence covered over if he's coming in to get the toys or food he can see.

Absolutely unacceptable that their dog is able to get into your yard and potentially harm your dog! Both you and your neighbours need to take immediate action to rectify this and remove the risk of harm to either dog. Surely the chain wire can be covered with mesh or something similar to prevent the dogs seeing each other and also to prevent one climbing over? It can't be that hard to work out that it's best if they can't see each other and be set off by something. It's not too expensive and can easily be removed if you are moving out of your rented home. Alternatively the neighbours need to buy a dog run to keep their dog in - this is their responsibility.

So sorry, he's been taken far too soon. I'm so glad he was with you and not alone and scared.

That's right, I must go and see her again soon!

Friends rescued a pair of kittens, they have had their vet work done and they asked me to help find a home. The kittens are so bonded that they wanted them to go together. I don't do cats but do know it's a tough business, it's hard enough to rehome one kitten, never mind a pair - they are not purebreds and don't look alike as you can see from the picture. The pics landed in my email at the same time as an email from a very old friend of 20 years or so. She was telling me that they'd lost their 16 yr old cat 2 weeks before. They lost their other cat 3 yrs ago. They've always had 2 cats and believe firmly in rescue. The email said "we are not ready for another pet at this time". I replied with sympathy and pressed "send". Then I thought to myself that I could be missing an opportunity .... I sent a pic of the kittens and said maybe they could consider them in a few weeks' time? Guess what? Those kittens will shortly be flying to their new home ... Miracles can happen

Now there's a second dog taken by a python in NSW ... a little Maltese Shihtzu cross - python's been eating their chickens and ducks but they didn't think it would take a dog - WTF? They obviously didn't read this story. RIP to the little dogs ...

Hope it goes well, Greys are magnificent

This is correct advice so don't fret, your vet is doing the right thing.

have you had Chis yourself? I've rescued or fostered and owned many dogs over the last 15 years - most of whom were not housetrained so this generally means they haven't been inside. Dogs of all sizes by the way. Not one ever preferred to be outside. Especially not the companion breeds like Chihuahuas.

I think my GSP has mites and my 2 shihtzus and I am itching as well, have had him to the vet twice done scrapings, treating for allergies ,changed food, still the same ,but when you said soaked with frontline, what did you mean ? you get the drops for neck ? is that it ? I used Advocate , my vet recommended, I use to always use frontline and no fleas here for ages, I am at my wits end with this skin thing, really its been going on for months, thinking its also plant related (wandering Jew) but have tried to get rid of all that There are many causes of itching. I've had plenty of foster dogs from the pound with demodectic mange and other skin issues to resolve. Many have required antibiotics but demodectic requires special medication plus bathing about 3 times a week with Malaseb. Pretty much all the itching is resolved within 2-4 months - depending on the issue. SOmetimes they have had major baldness, sometimes only partial but itching and scratching constantly. I feed a good quality diet, have a clean environment - pick up the Wandering Jew from the yard regularly and provide flea treatment every month. All of that pretty much fixes their issues and they are ready to rehome. What I noticed here amongst my own dogs is that they itch more when the weather is humid - they don't have fleas. They will also get itchy sometimes if like last week I couldn't get to the shops for a couple of days and had to resort to a can of dog food I keep for emergencies, as much as they love it and it was the best brand, a couple who came with skin issues were noticeably itchy. Diet and environment are normally the causes of the itch. If your vet has done scrapings I'm sure he would have found scabies so I'd look for another cause. Are they itching all over or mainly underneath? If underneath it's usually contact. If all over it's fleas, weather or food possibly.

I don't find ignorance a sufficient excuse here. Poor little dog would have suffered terribly. How about getting a small companion dog and having them live in your house with you or not bothering to get a dog at all if you want to keep them outside and chained up? I hope she never gets another pet, she doesn't deserve one.