Her Majesty Dogmad

Couldn't agree more DD that's why greyhounds are becoming very popular in nursing homes. Low shedding, zero odour couch potatoes and plenty of older dogs in rescue,we rehomed a grey to an elderly man and it was a match made in heaven. She sits in the sun on the verandah with him, helps him tend to his vegie patch and curls up on the couch with him at night. I'm with you both on that - my mum adopted at Lurcher (Greyhound size dog) with 3 legs in 2010! She doesn't like small dogs. She was 75. He gets walked every day and my brother also takes him out, he's a brilliant dog from a cruel beginning. I think there are a couple of reasons why people think old = small dog, they've downsized to smaller places and it's also about being able to pick the dog up, have them on their lap etc. Mum's in a very tiny house but does have a roomy backyard but in the UK it's much colder in winter of course so you don't spend too much time outside. I've just taken a great enquiry for an older German Shepherd I'm rehoming from a very fit 75 year old. I'm hoping it works out as it sounds like a match made in heaven ...

She is no problem, she doesn't get under my feet - unlike one of mine that has been here for 11 years, he's never learned and is constantly underfoot especially when food is around - his or mine ... It's surprising how many older people either buy or have puppies bought for them, it's frequently a disaster for both parties. I'm very experienced at rehoming dogs and wouldn't attempt to place her in the wrong home. I would be thoroughly checking it out. I definitely don't ever want Lacey ending up in the position she was in when I got her. She's pretty fantastic - and I have had many foster dogs to compare. She's gold and they are rare. :)

Wow, you've really put in the hard yards for this poor girl and her puppies. I sincerely hope that the former owners will be prosecuted??

At Easter I rescued 10 yr old "Lacey" - she's a Chihuahua cross whose owner died in January and the family didn't want her. She was desexed but urgently need a dental and lost a couple of teeth. She is vacc'd and heartworm free, has plenty of life left in her and is in good health generally. She's a truly delightful dog, very loving and a great little character - I can't find anything wrong with her at all. She loves to sit on your lap, she sleeps by me on my bed at night and loves her walks. She was chubby when she arrived but has lost a kilo and is just about right now at 5.5 kgs. She's housetrained and uses a doggie door. She's great with other dogs and cats too. I am not in any hurry to rehome her, she's a really good dog but she'd really like a home like before where she was the centre of someone's universe! I should add that she has a dense but very soft coat, it's not like a foxy coat - harsh with hair that sticks to everything and I haven't noticed too much shedding but it's easy care which is a bonus.

What a handsome boy, sorry he has left you. Hugs.

What a beautiful and incredible dog, so sorry for your loss but glad she had a wonderful life with you right until the end.

She's not going to be shown is she? One of those breed pics of the breed is horrifying, the dog would have to be starved to be like that and dog judges shouldn't be demanding that dogs look like that. When a dog isn't starving hungry they are much better behaved. A few years ago I came across a Belgian Shepherd, I'd seen this dog many times before but never touched it. I recoiled in horror - it was skeletal. Turned out the owner only fed the dog on bones as she didn't want a fat dog. I was absolutely horrified and told her to get the dog to a vet immediately. Asked her why she thought that supermarkets sold dog food in the form of biscuits etc - it's because dogs cannot live on bones. I talked to some of the local dog owners in the dog park nearby (I don't go there normally) to see if they knew where she lived, this was an RSPCA case for sure. They knew the dog and owner and had no idea that the dog was so thin due to it's heavy coat but said the dog acted like it had ADD, it was crazy but they wanted to help the owner. Crazy hungry .... they helped this owner get the dog back to a normal weight and the crazy behaviour disappeared. Makes me wonder if this has been part of the reason that this girl was escaping. Starving people or dogs in the longer term will lead to health issues including arthritis. You can Google and read papers on the subject.

Kirty - she's too thin, shouldn't see ribs like that and her "bottom bones" are also visible. Lean is one thing but she's too thin - you should not be able to see the whole rib cage on a sighthound and you should never see the bottom bones protruding like that. She's also gone to VIC and the winter will be too hard on her, she needs to be fed up before the really cold weather sets in and she probably already needs a coat. I've looked at the pictures, it's a fine line but those bottom bones need covering. They make a lovely pair!

You could see if there's a GR Rescue in Adelaide. Most rescue groups need temp care at some point. There's a GRR in NSW and in QLD and I'm sure there'd be one in other states - I love them!

Thanks Kirty - a lovely update, great news! I think we'll have to have some pictures ....

Can't stand her, I always thought her a waste of space and this has all confirmed my thoughts ...

Pls pm me if you can help - thanks in advance!

Very sad for you, RIP boys, together again.

So does anyone have a theory on where the stolen dogs of the Hawkesbury have gone? Why would they have been stolen - 6 from the same street - and one found dead in a horrific state?

I just rehomed a dog today, I made the decision to rehome for my vet fees - $250. Generally I don't always cover my vet fees but put the same price on each dog I rescue - ie $350 - which includes all vet work. For a dog of 8+ I charge $200, even if the vet fees were $700 or $800 ... it's all about finding the right home. Therefore if I have a young dog that doesn't need a dental but arrived desexed, I maybe have to do vac and heartworm test, grooming etc. If I can rehome for $350 then anything leftover from initial costs will go towards my other vet bills. Nobody in rescue makes a profit. I do think that sometimes it is worth charging a surrender fee, I never have as I want to get the dog to safety - often there are pretty terrible owners involved who would not want to pay something, I don't criticise anyone that does charge a fee and is successful. Rescue's a very expensive business and you need all the help you can get and why should they get off scott free for offloading a problem to them? You can't vary adoption fees significantly generally by saying this dog only cost me $100, that one cost me $500. They are both females aged 4 yrs and will go desexed, vacc'd, etc etc. You don't want someone taking the $100 dog because it's perceived to be a bargain ...

I'd contact AWDRi, the reason I'm suggesting this is if you want to specialise in a particular kind of dog then go with the organisation that specialises in them. I'd recommend you check on the workings of any organisation before signing up with them - including rehoming policies - ie do they have trial period (is it reasonable - 2 weeks plus), do they have a refund policy, do they do homechecks, do they provide behavioural expertise to new foster carers/owners (how to housetrain and other training that each dog needs).

Poor May, RIP beautiful old girl. Her owners should be shot. In this life you are very fortunate to be able to own a dog, it is a privilege, not a right and some people simply abuse this privilege in so many ways. I hope they get what they deserve. I'm glad she is now free of pain and experienced so much tlc and support in her last few days. Bless you Nic for your loving soul, it's so hard to see things like this, it's what keeps wonderful people awake in the small hours, suffering the pain of losing the ones we couldn't help.

Please let me know if there are any behaviouralists in that area. thanks!

I think she is more Lab than Husky in her behaviour too.

recently I read about a woman in the UK who was walking her King Charles down a path when it was set upon by a Pit Bull. Apparently the attack went on for 25 minutes - all of which she filmed FFS!! (I've seen the film and it is a Pitty for those who will insist it couldn't have been plus the other owner had told the owner that too) I couldn't get over that, I'd have been trying to kick the crap out of the other dog or insisting it's owners grab it. It was all a bit strange. Eventually another walker came along and separated the dogs. Why the owner filmed it and did nothing to help her dog, I simply cannot fathom. As for this case, it would have been terrifying to have tried to intervene with those large dogs in attack mode but perhaps I'd have driven at them or something ...

yes fine to separate

Disgraceful excuses for human beings.

It's really sad, these two dogs are absolutely wonderful, they have beautiful temperaments and love each other. I'm just hoping we can find 2 fantastic homes for them in the short timeframe.

What Burkes said is great advice. Whenever I'm recommending a new dog or foster, I always find it is best to introduce them on neutral territory. If all is good then that may be the foster/new dog for you. Sometimes for various reasons there will be a gap between the initial introduction and homecoming (more time in pound, vet work etc). When bringing the foster/new dog home, get someone to help you and get both dogs on a lead. Walk 100 yards in a parallel line with the dogs apart and then providing all is well, walk both into the home together. I normally go straight into the back yard but Burkes is right - avoid excitement at this point. It's just for a look around and then go into the house. Fostering is fantastic - it really saves lives. I know of more than one group that is absolutely desperate for foster carers which is sad because they provide a huge amount of support for their carers as well as food etc and just cannot find them and sometimes very worthy dogs don't get saved as there is nowhere to go. You can take a break between foster caring but you need to be prepared to take a foster dog as a commitment until it finds a new home and sometimes it's quick, sometimes it takes a bit longer. Give plenty of notice to your rescue group if you need to go away on hols or for work etc as otherwise they will have a last minute mad scramble which is never easy. Good luck!

Thanks Trifecta, I was hoping someone in Canberra could help out.