Ripley

Oh no Dave, that's terrible. I know how much you adored dear Chloe. Big hugs to you in your time of grief. Have a few beers and remember the good times you shared with Chloe.

Wait until after the 3rd vacc. A guy I've known most of my life had a lovely GSD pup. Beautiful natured pup. Close to 18 months ago now, pup got out as one of his kids left the gate open. Ended up in a Sydney pound that will remain nameless here. Pup had had 2 vacs, was due for the 3rd one later. Pound rang up friend, his partner came and collected pup. Pup died of Parvo a short time later. Don't take the risk.

I've just seen this post. Poor Shelby - she was loved. Here is a poem I sent my mother when she last her beloved rescue sheltie, Bella last year: Shelties do not die, they only gain their wings and fly. They will play again I pray, in those green fields far away. Past the gates of pearly white, with other loved ones gone from our sight. We will see them once again, at the bridge called Rainbow's End. With a wag of a tail and a jump in the air, we will once again become a pair. Don't be sad this day my friend, just look for the bridge called Rainbow's End. And remember. Shelties do not die, they gain their wings and learn to fly.

He had a good innings for a budgie and he must have been very happy with you to live so long. RIP old Pip.

Monty was a male shih tzu who ended up being surrendered to a pound. I was fostering him and my mother took one look at him on a visit and decided to adopt him. We changed his name from Gucci (as was on his chip papers) to Monty. He was a dear old boy and despite his age, very playful. He cost a fortune in vet bills as he wasn't a well boy when rescued. However, mum loved him dearly. On walks he'd power with the stamina of a dog half his age. During the past 12 months, he slowed down somewhat. He still loved his walks and play, but slept most of the day and his lungs were playing up and he had to take medication. Monty had 3 good years with mum before his time came to frolick over rainbow bridge. Today he passed away, surrounded by his family and doggie friend. He will be cremated. RIP old boy. Monty, aged 14.

My dog was obese when I rescued her and leans to the portly side if I don't watch what I give her. I only feed her once a day. Every second morning I give her a chicken neck. I feed her some meat (4 dogs atm) mixed in with a good quality weight reduction dry food. I also give her sardines in spring water 3 times a week with some of the dry food. She gets a walk every day or every second day. Every evening she plays chasings with my cat around the house. When my mother minded her, she told me that one night she ate all 4 bowls of dog food at her place and then vomited it all up. She's just a greedy little spud. However, she now has a waist. ;)

A chicken is an omnivore.

Hope you don't live in the country as your dog would end up one dead dog if you let it do this. Letting a dog kill native widlife is cruel and irresponsible too.

I have a vegetarian friend who feeds meat to her dogs. I've also been vegetarian before and fed meat to my dog and cat. I don't believe in imposing your own dietary and/or moral beliefs on an animal who is a natural carnivore. If you can't stand the smell of meat, then you shouldn't have a carnivore as a pet. Don't deny the poor dog his natural diet simply because of your own beliefs, he's a dog for god's sake. He doesn't understand. edited for typo.

Wouldn't you know it, Millie was sunning herself under the pergola this morning and started barking her head off. As she only barks when there is something major to bark at, I went out to see 2 cats on the fence. 2 massive cats. My small Burmese was growling at the back door at them. She hates all other cats as I think she feels she's a dog. They wouldn't shoo away so I turned the hose on and didn't have to aim it this time, they fled back into their own yards - they have learned when I go to that hose, it's time to flee.

I found a baby magpie a few years ago. Its parents were nowhere to be seen. If they are, you should always put the bird back in the tree as the parents will continue to feed it. If it needs a nest, get an icecream container, punch some small holes in the bottom for draining, place some leaves in it and hang it back in the tree with the baby in it. I raised "Baby" with insectavoire rearing mix and live mealworms. My parrots taught Baby to fly and we'd go around the backyard foraging for meal worms I'd scatter around. I painted a wooden clothespeg to look like the beak of a magpie and dig in the ground for the worms I'd put there. He soon cottoned on. One day he just flew away. He came back a few times but as the territory was already taken by 2 other maggies (they were also tame) so he must have gone off to established his own. It was a sad day. We also had a pair of red wattlebirds and one day they had unfortunately raised this huge feral cuckoo - a nest robber!! I miss "Him" the male maggie who I've been feeding for 6 years at my old place, however, at my new place I've seen 2 maggies and one is now taking mince out of my hand. I only feed them weekends so they don't become too dependent on me.

LOL, Zia. I don't get swooped by the maggies in my street as I feed them on weekends. Not too much so they get dependent on me, but they will take it out of my hand and all. Come breeding season, I never get swooped. I guess they feel that would be rude.

I own a cat too - a Burmese. She's an indoors cat of course. She's too stupid to do anything outside except sit under the pergola sunning herself, watching me put the washing on the line (the only time I let her out). She has zero interest in my birds, although when they preen their extremely long tails she gets a bit interested in their 35cm long tail feathers flicking in front of her face. I must confess that I turned the hose on 'full' on the cat stalking the wild rosellas in my yard and it either knocked kitty clean off the paling or he jumped.

The hose works. Just aim the nozzle at puss and turn the tap on. Edited to add that I used to do this to a neighbourhood cat who would torment my parrots. The cat didn't come back after a squirts (well it was much more than a squirt) of water.

At peace, Bella.

She manged to lose weight during her time with mum, but it wasn't fast enough to protect her hips which were already ruined by then. We had no idea. I don't have any recent photos of her on my computer - only these 2 I took the day she came to stay with mum.

Bella passed away Saturday 16 July after suffering considerable pain from a congenital defect. I have posted her problem and the beautiful soul who was Bella in the General Section under the Bilateral HD post here: http://forums.dogzonline.com.au/index.php?showtopic=32379 They Gain Their Wings Shelties do not die, they only gain their wings and fly. They will play again I pray, in those green fields far away. Past the gaits of pearly white, with other loved ones gone from our sight. We will see them once again at a place called Rainbows end, with a wag of a tail and a jump in the air, we will once again become a pair. Don't be sad this day my friend, just look for the bridge called Rainbows end, And remember, "Shelties do not die, they gain their wings and learn to fly". This was a photo I took of Bella when she first came to mum. She had not been groomed here as yet, hence the overgrown coat. However, you can see how pretty her face is - she was obese when rescued.

Stick a plate of any type of meat in front of a dog and a bowl of vegies and see which one he goes for first. That should tell you.

Such a beautiful dog, Shelby. What a shocking thing to have happen.

Got to agree on the above post. I too was vegetarian for about 5 years. I eat free range chicken and the occasional piece of sustainable fish species these days (I wasn't an inventive enough vego cook and husband is a meat eater). Dogs are carnivores and if you opt to keep a carnivore as a pet, he should be allowed to eat meat. If I had an ethical problem feeding my dog meat, I'd just stick with my vegetarian parrots. Reminds me of that scene in 'Shirley Valentine' where she's minding the neighbours' vegetarian Bloodhound and feels sorry for him so she feeds it her husband's prime rump steak for dinner.

Spray the plants with some lemon juice mixed in with water - they don't like the taste of this apparently. Not sure if the lemon juice affects the plants though, sorry - my dog ignores all my plants, bless.

Oh RnB, that is wonderful. Very happy for you and ol' George. Keep us posted on his progress?

She's in Newcastle right? Mum had in a behaviourist - his name escapes me - Dr Robert someone I think. He has his own website and is a Delta member and vet. He practices Newcastle way. She needed him in for her niece's OCD JRT she's minding for a year. PM me if you like. Edit: Found out who he is. Dr Robert Stabler. This is his website: http://users.hunterlink.net.au/~mbdrjs/

Has there been a change in routine? Mum looked after Millie for 2 weeks when I was on holidays recently and she said one evening she just stood in front of mum and pee'd on the carpet right there in front of her. At home she never wees on the carpet. I do make sure I take Millie out the last thing before bed. I put her outside and say "wee wee" and she isnt allowed back in until she goes. She knows the routine. Then she can hold her bladder all night - she's about 4 years old. Tess may have a UTI. What about Bach flower remedies - could you try the Rescue Remedy at all or the one for anxiety? I have my parrot Lewis on a Bachs remedy (yes I can hear you all snigger) but after a couple weeks I have noticed an improvement in his behaviour. It could be worth a try, but it takes a few weeks to work I find.

Oh no, Rozzie. Such a beautiful girl. Roaming free with the other greyhounds. RIP Sophia.