Trisven13

Because apparently the research has shown that if you don't put them back into their area another family of cats move in who CAN reproduce.

Can't think of a "best" day yet but I've had some great ones. The first time Marie won a class in group. The way she looks up at me when we're walking and does her "happy dance". Watching her get fatter and fatter with her puppies. Looking over at her curled up asleep when I'm working and some idiot debtor is pissing me off.

They DID and DO work with local rescue BUT the reality is that there aren't enough places in rescue for every good dog that comes into the pound. Add to that the difficulties with transport (both cost, disease control and available & knowledgeable volunteers) and it isn't always possible to transport dogs. I admire those rescue groups who can do the transport but we simply didn't have the financial means or time to transport dogs around every week to get them out of the pounds. You can normally organise something as a one-off but a regularly weekly transport of dogs requires people with the financial means to do it - wear and tear on cars, petrol, time away from family and their own dogs etc. For us it just wasn't possible - God knows I couldn't afford to spend $100 on petrol every week to transport dogs.

It sounds awful that these animals weren't given any free time out of their kennels, and that there were no enrichment programs in place. It sounds like this is a shelter truly lacking resources for adequately care for dogs surrendered to them. Perhaps these premises should not take on dogs when they have such poor facilities and so few resources at hand. Actually I disagree quite strongly as I think Albury Pound is one of the best run country pounds I've been to. They are first and foremost a holding facility - their job is to hold dogs for the periods required under the act and that is ALL they're paid to do. The resources they have are those provided to them by Albury Council and they actually go above and beyond, IMO, what most country pounds do. The pound is run by very, very dog savvy people who are also VERY knowledgeable on disease and the spread of it. IF the dogs are exercised how can that be done without risking the spread of parvo and/or other disease, not to mention injury from other dogs? I would much prefer that my impounded dog was not exercised in a pound environment should mine ever be impounded. I know many people disagree with me but I think that when a dog is impounded only for 7 days or 14 depending on microchip status (as happens in NSW) then I think prevention of disease and injury has to be the highest priority. I know you said to ignore your use of shelter/pound but the reality is that the two are VERY different things. A pound is simply a holding facility, a shelter is a place where dogs can be kept until they are rehomed. Albury Pound worked brilliantly with rescue, the pound was always clean and tidy, dogs have blankets, jackets in winter, fans in summer etc. I wish that more pounds kept their facilities like Albury did . I suspect, however, that you're still thinking of pound and shelter as the same thing. ;)

Two nights ago I was in bed and Marie was sleeping on the bed too - she jumped off the bed and decided to chew on my underpants that I hadn't put in the dirty clothes basket (gorgeous scent hound that she is :rolleyes:). I verbally corrected her and she kept going so she got a two finger tap on the nose with an ugh noise to leave it alone. It seemed reasonable at the time and it worked .

I think that the reasons for dogs being in pounds differ between regions. In Albury the vast majority were unclaimed strays aged 6 months to 2 years.

I don't think that building bigger shelters solves the problem as I don't think that many dogs do well in shelter situations unless there is a LOT of money available to the shelter to provide stimulation, enrichment, socialisation and training. If a dog is to spend time in a shelter I believe that MOST dogs don't do well beyond about 4 weeks without the things mentioned above and many breeds wouldn't do well beyond a week. When I was working with Albury Pound the cats were put to sleep immediately once their time was up if they were old (less chance of adoption), if they were dirty (didn't use a litter tray), sprayed or weren't friendly. Cats that were healthy, friendly and clean would often get extended time to find homes and the pound manager would do everything within her power to avoid putting them to sleep. The dogs were a different story. The dogs were typically over-stimulated or very scared, there wasn't the ability for them to be exercised out of their pen (not to mention the disease risk this would pose if it WAS available), they had minimal interaction and no enrichment or training. There simply wasn't the resources for it. Typically pound staff would have little treats for dogs but they were paid for out of their own pockets. Skinny dogs were fed better, injured dogs were treated etc - they did the very best they could with the resources available to them but the resources quite simply weren't there. I think education is the key. I truly don't believe that there were homes available for every dog that came into Albury Pound - too many working breed mixes and undersocialised dogs that posed a risk, PLUS ugly dogs. The sad reality is that brindle bull breeds took a VERY VERY long time to rehome.

Aw so sorry Fordogs . I know how gutted I was to have that the first time and then again this time at the first ultrasound.

She's getting very heavy, particularly when she decides to lay on my legs in the middle of the night!

This week's update.... 14 November's pic 21 November's pic Today's pic Not real sure what her actual due date is as she had a natural tie on the Thursday and a fresh AI on both the Sunday & Monday but we're going off the last AI date giving her approx 2 weeks to go.

:cheers: :cheer: So happy for you Angelsun!

As others have said, if these are her first children, she should only get ONE if she insists on it. Not saying that this is the case with your friend but I often found whilst running the rescue that I'd get enquiries for puppies from first time pregnant mums - it was like the maternal rush in their body just couldn't wait until they had a baby human so they were just looking for a baby anything. I would also get many phone calls from first time mums who got a puppy when they were pregnant that they now don't have the time for. Add to that your friend is planning on 2 puppies when she is going to have 2 babies . Has she spoken to mums of twins to get some idea of just what she is in for? Obviously it is possible to do it and do it well but I can't imagine a more difficult scenario to be perfectly honest and I have 3 kids and 6 dogs.

Starting to think that Marie is aiming for a water birth :rolleyes:. Everytime she goes outside she jumps in the clam shell for a lay down... Not so great 10 minutes out from bed when she sleeps on my bed!!!!

Cool - I would have been really sad if I'd missed the opportunity to catch up with you in person. ;)

Awww they are lovely!

OMG Where you there EF?

Sverdrups Yvon imp Denmark (Hagen) was Inter in Group. Go the Fauves!!! :thumbsup:

Yay for the girls!

Awww love Pandora and Oscar! Oscar has a very sweet face.

I would think that it would depend on the type of filter. My new drier has a filter different to my other driers and it collects an amazing amount of stuff. You could always vacuum it out after too????? I will confess to having no knowledge of how much of the sand would end up in the motor and that would be my concern.

Someone had to start it and it may as well be me . I don't have pics yet of my own rising star as he/she hasn't been born yet but here is Sinead (already in the 2011 thread ) who arrives from Ireland on Monday. She will live with Katherine Wishart primarily and be shown around Melbourne but she has been imported equally by Katherine, myself and Neil Weeks.

Awwwww Lindsay I'm so pleased for you and your family. I can only imagine how special little Pandora will be in your family's hearts and lives. I look forward to watching her grow, whether that is in the ring or just as photos of a much-loved pet.

But if that is the breed you want, don't give up, spend the time to introduce yourself to breeders and go from there.

What a good girl - she waited for your exam to be over and has started in daylight hours!! Praying for a whole stack of girls for you to choose from.

Awesome!!! Love the belly pics!