Her Majesty Dogmad

I have lived in this suburb for 12 years and have not been fearful of walking around until the last 12 months. Now I'm hedged in by people with bull breeds who don't keep them in. What to do? I have little dogs and often like to walk them together. A neighbour came around to wonder why they hadn't seen me walking for some weeks. True, I have been unwell over the last few months but it isn't that, it's become so very risky for me and I don't wish to have my dogs mauled or killed. It simply shouldn't be that way.

Absolutely utmost sympathy should go to the jogger. He's lucky to be alive. I have just created another thread about an elderly gentleman whose neighbour's 2 Staffy crosses burst through the fence and killed him. That's horrific and so is this. It simply shouldn't happen. We should all have the right to be able to go into a public area, be it a street or park and not be attacked.

I agree, I don't think the OP and husband should get another dog. Rehome these two and be done with dog ownership. Probably like many people these days, life is way too busy anyhow.

Not sure exactly where you are but the RSPCA and AWL are in QLD, there are also other shelters and rescue groups. I'm sure that walking and spending time with shelter dogs would be appreciated. Google rescue groups in your area or go on Petrescue and search for groups in QLD then send emails offering assistance.

How horrific is this? Poor man, I don't think he deserved to die because he was cooking a lamb dinner. http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-2331132/Pensioner-mauled-death-cooked-roast-lamb-neighbours-arrested-suspicion-manslaughter.html Were dogs driven to kill by the smell of a pensioner's roast lamb dinner? Armed police called to a house in Clubmoor, Liverpool, last night When officers arrived they found body of a man outside his home The dog that killed him was out-of-control and had to be shot dead Neighbour says he had been cooking when he was attacked The two women were first arrested under Dangerous Dogs Act They have now been arrested on suspicion of manslaughter, and bailed A pensioner was mauled to death after dogs smelled his roast dinner and broke through his garden fence. Cliff Clarke slightly burnt the lamb shank he was cooking for his evening meal so he opened his back door. But the smell of the food attracted two large dogs. Police at the scene removing the dog, that was shot dead by armed police, from the house in Clubmoor One – a Staffordshire bull terrier crossed with a bull mastiff, according to neighbours – jumped at the retired hospital porter as he stepped out of his back door. More... Gruesome dog attack caught on camera as witnesses try to pull them off and even hit them with a stick Heartbreaking moment dog is found guarding body of owner buried under destroyed home - and now sheriff's deputy is trying to adopt him The dog’s jaws clamped round one of Mr Clarke’s limbs and dragged him to the ground where he was bitten a number of times. Neighbours heard his screams and rushed to the three-bedroom terraced house. One of them armed himself with a golf club and tried to beat the animal away from the pensioner. Police forensics officers at the scene carrying out examinations. Richard Kelly Close is a small cul-de-sac over the road from a public park When police arrived, four armed officers shot the dog dead. It took three of them to carry its body away. Mr Clarke’s next-door neighbours – two women, 27 and 28 – were arrested on suspicion of manslaughter then released on bail pending further inquiries. Another neighbour Paul McGlynn, 46, said: ‘I heard his screams – it was horrible. He seemed in a lot of pain. ‘The neighbour tried to beat them back but it was too late.’ Joiner Gary Dignan, 36, said: ‘The two huge dogs had got out a few hours before and were in people’s gardens. One [neighbour] was too frightened to go out but called someone to report it.’ The house in Richard Kelly Close, Clubmoor. It is believed he was attacked in his garden He added that Mr Clarke walked with a stick and described him as ‘pretty frail’, adding that he ‘wouldn’t have stood a chance against such big dogs’. The attack, at 9pm on Saturday in the Clubmoor district of Liverpool, is the second death by dogs in the past two months. In March, Jade Anderson, 14, was killed by two Staffordshire bull terriers and two bull mastiffs at a house in Atherton, near Wigan. Police say they are powerless to prosecute anyone in relation to Jade’s death, because the attack happened on private property. But when Mr Clarke was killed, he was on his own property where the dog was not permitted, which constitutes an offence under the Dangerous Dogs Act. Powerful: A Staffordshire bull terrier crossed with a bull mastiff. File picture Mr Clarke, who joined the Army in 1954 for National Service, had celebrated his 79th birthday the day before the attack. One friend Susan Carson, 60, who lives across the road in the quiet cul-de-sac, said: ‘He came round for a cup of tea at mine just before he died. He called me afterwards to say he had burnt his tea but said, “I’ll be OK”.’ She added: ‘He’s lived in that house all his life and told us that he had been born there. It is awful for him to die in such a senseless way right in his own garden.’ Police said the dog attacked the pensioner in the garden of his home in Clubmoor, Liverpool, just before 8.40pm last night She said Mr Clarke had complained about the dogs and was going to report them to the police. ‘He said they could attack somebody and was worried that the biggest dog had been trying to escape and had made a hole in the fence that it could get through,’ she said. ‘Cliff was in a terrible state when they brought him out, he was a bloody mess. He was only wearing his underwear and one slipper.’ It is not clear whether the second dog was involved in the attack. It was not killed but put on a lead. Police were last night questioning the two arrested women on suspicion of manslaughter.

Why do people find it so hard to drive on the road without having accidents? While I agree the dogs should not have been on the street, the issue I have with joggers is their arrogance in putting themselves in greater danger by continuing to run past a dog despite it being common knowledge that running stimulates a dog's prey instinct. Sure people have a right to jog along a public road, just as they have a right to swim at a public beach or drive along a public road. But is it wise to continue to swim if a shark is sighted, or drive through a flooded causeway? How hard is it for a runner to stop and walk past a loose dog? What an appalling post. Have you noticed that not everyone in the world owns a dog. Not everyone is an expert on dog behaviour - even if they own a dog? How dare you blame this person for being attacked by 3 very aggressive, out of control dogs. The owner of these dogs is to blame for not containing them properly. I doubt that the jogger entered the property and jogged around the garden to see if they'd bite him? What fun! If he didn't enter the garden and jog around it, guess who is to blame? The owner. They deserve massive fines, prison time and the dogs need putting to sleep.

I am always having this done on my own or foster dogs. I just feed them half of the normal meal on the first night as they are usually a bit groggy. It's soft food for 5-7 days, sometimes antibiotics are involved, normally they get an injection of antibiotics though. I also slightly warm any food for them - just to take the chill off - 6 seconds in the microwave does it. I feed them on the 4 Paws meatballs from the supermarket, nice and easy.

As you have just followed my post, I'm guessing that you are misinterpreting what I have said. I am surrounded by bull breed owners who let their dogs roam or can't contain them behind 2 feet fences - 2 pitbulls, 1 amstaff and 2 staffies who are known to be DA. I think they are a lot worse than idiots, I just can't say that on a forum. Just saw another terrible story on the news about attacking dogs - wounds so bad that the paramedics were shocked - all I saw was the dogs being poled, can't find it on news.com. Looked like bull breeds I'm sorry to say.

Sorry to hear this, how terrifying, could have been so much worse. It is ludicrous that the RSPCA will rehome DA dogs and yet no Italian Greyhound can ever pass their test when they are pretty much the most gentle of breeds. I can't believe that DA is an acceptable trait, it is irresponsible. I hope the parents in this case learned their lesson. Trouble is there are a million more stupid owners out there. Due to the idiots who own bull breeds in this area, i'm pretty much forced to stay home with my dogs, can't even walk them around the block any more. Sick to the back teeth of it.

Diabetes would have to be one of the hardest conditions to deal with, like people you have to monitor the dog's every mouthful and so on. It requires huge commitment. I hope there's a real poodle lover out there who can cope with all that and have the time and dedication, poor little mite.

Yes, at least if it's an adrenal gland issue they could have surgery. All mine have been the pituitary tumour.

Trilostane has kept my boy in pretty good shape for nearly 3 years. It is nothing like the drug I had to use before. I'd rather have had him for these 3 years than the up to 12 months he would have had without the drug. Obviously you'd have to check with your dog's history as to what is feasible. I do understand that he's been through a lot but I'd discuss your concerns with a vet so you know what you'd be facing and then make a decision. Things have come a long way since 2004 when my poor girl went through it, I'd vowed never to do it again but my current dog is doing very well.

From my experience, if I have an elderly dog I will not put them through all the testing. My old girl was 12 and the tests were around $4000 in 2004 plus the meds were over $100 per month and they contained DDt so you had to wear gloves, it was awful. She did live another 4 years which was miraculous but whilst they are on a drug for Cushings, dentals and other surgery become quite challenging as they have to go on drips beforehand, it's all got to managed. Can't remember how much the tests were last time, I'm thinking around $1000-$2000 nearly 3 yrs ago.

Dear little Bobbi - he looks a million dollars already! Thanks for taking him, he's gorgeous and def. looks like one of the gang

What a lovely idea, Les and Christine are amazing!

As for people being angry when their dog kills other animals, I completely understand it - my first dog killed my budgie and I was extremely upset about it but I had to admit, it was ME who gave the dog access to do this. Best not to have terriers with any small animals at all. Not sure if the guinea pig came before the terriers or the other way around but that was not a good move for the guinea pig. Always a good idea to understand the natural instincts of animals before putting them together and by this, I mean in the same vicinity.

What you describe is not a great way for a dog to live. Perhaps you could seek out a behaviouralist and work out what to do next, ie can you better manage the situation or should you rehome Murphy. I rehome dogs for people regularly, I try to be careful and plan for the long term but none of us can be 100% sure of what the future holds.

You could try Kurrajong Vet, he was at the Hawkesbury Pound show last year and seemed very nice.

Sadly I have a bit of experience with Cushings and have now lost 3 dogs to the effects of it. Tests aren't as bad as they used to be but they are fairly pricey and extensive. I lost one dog on Monday to the likely effects of a pituitary tumour. He was 14 so when Cushings was diagnosed recently, I decided not to put him through all the full on tests/meds at his age. My other dog was diagnosed nearly 3 years ago and has been on Trilostane ever since. He's been quite well most of the time. That costs $95 per month - he's on one tab a day. He happily takes the tabs in food. He was 9 or 10 when diagnosed. When they go on meds, most dogs last for up to 3 years (one of my other dogs lived for 4 yrs). Without meds, it's up to 12 months.

Yay Iggy Mum - are you supposed to be out??? :laugh: Very glad this poor little chap will now be looked after and I'm looking forward to getting some updates!

I imagine there'd be a club down in VIC that would be worth contacting. Setters are pretty rare, I love the English ones.

Many of the English Foxies I've known have not been great with other dogs. Can she contact the original breeder I'm wondering? Pictures would be a good help to see if he's not a purebred and to know if he's good with other animals.

This is an amazing story, people have been so kind and it's great to see all her ailments being looked after, poor girl.

Yes, great work Iggy Mum!!

Agreed. Having a situation with flatmates is fraught with difficulties and even more so in the case of attempting to raise a puppy. It's also precarious with regards to security. I will not rehome to this type of scenario because I know too well what can go wrong - in a variety of ways - and none of them are good for the dog.