KKDD

There seem to be an awful lot of underage puppies being sold on Gumtree at the moment. Especially in QLD. Some adds perhaps are just forgetting to specify if they wont let the pups go immediately, but an awful lot are stating that 6 and 7 weeks pups are 'ready to go'. If anyone wants to trawl through the ads and report those less than 8 weeks old, it would surely slow down some back-yard breeders. I reviewed 10 pages of Gumtree dog adds yesterday and reported over 30 ads (all states). Including some people selling 4 week old puppies. The situation is just as bad with kittens, which Gumtree policy requires be a minimum of 8 weeks old prior to sale.

Check the Australian Quarantine Inspection Service (AQIS) Website. They have a whole section on importing pets from other countries. Requirements vary depending on where the dog is imported from.

Catahoulas and their mixes are relatively common in the Northern Territory - mainly used for hunting I gather. They look a lot like that dog and the blue eyes are common.

Generally if people are advertsing them underage, with the intent of not releasing them till they are 8 weeks or older, they state this in their ad and the ad would not be removed. There is nothing to stop people advertising things in breach of the gumtree pets code of practice. The reporting system however does alert the mods, who then review and remove offending ads. Yes it is easy to lie about the DOB, and Im sure some people do that. But I actually think most people advertise underage animals due to ignorance rather than evil intent.

Some gumtree advertisers who get deleted a few times, wise up and change the DOB on their ads. I contacted one asking for a recent picture since the pictures of their pups looked much younger than said they were. When they responded saying that they had changed the DOB to get round Gumtree's rules, I just forwarded that email onto the administrator and they got banned. The underage selling is particularly rife right now due to backyarders trying to cash in on christmas. I encourage anyone to approach the FB pet page admins about underage pups and kittens as well. Be nice. Some of them want to do the right thing.

Gumtree is a major site for back yard breeders to sell their animals. Gumtree has a code of practice that specifies both kittens and puppies must be 8 weeks minimum for sale but in every state, people sell underage pups and kittens on Gumtree. You can report these ads, and Gumtree will remove them. Gumtree wont remove the ads unless they are reported. Gumtree's pet 'code of practice' is buried deep, but each ad requires the seller to note the animals date of birth, so its easy to pick the underage ones. Here's how to report them. Just click on the little red flag in the top right of the offending ad. Choose 'other' from the drop down menu, and give the reason that the animals are x weeks old, contrary to gumtree's own code of practice. Then click 'report' Gumtree will remove the ad (usually within 24 hours). For those in the habit of scanning gumtree, its a good way to make it harder for back yard breeders to offload their stock. And good for the baby animals welfare as well. Im hoping that if Gumtree get swamped with reports about all the underage animals, they might stop accepting the ads in the first place.

Good luck with it Andrea. I know you will continue to be the leading light in the Canberra Rescue scene no matter what your group is called. The animals thank you.

My beloved Toasty, 14 years old, died yesterday peacefully in my arms. She was my child before I had children, and remained my baby as the human kids grew up. Being a miniature dachshund she was the perfect size and shape to tuck in against my body in bed, which she did every night like a perfect little hot water bottle, only much much cuter. We were very close. She was always at my feet or next to me on the couch or in my arms and if I left the room she would follow. I was the center of her universe and she was my most beloved friend. I wasn't ready to lose you little banana. You should have lived longer. It would have been easier if you had. I would do anything to make yesterday not have happened. Letting you go yesterday was so hard, it has left an ache in my chest and the most profound sense of loss. But its the least I could do for you after your unwavering love and devotion over your entire life. You were such a beautiful and loyal little person. I doubt I will ever stop feeling sad. It would be easier if I believed in heaven, angels etc. You are now lying with Valentino in the sad part of the garden. The frangipanis on your grave are wilting, but your presence in my life will always be strong my love. Thank you Toasty, you gave me everything you had and you truly brightened my life.

K9angel on several occasions when I took my dachshunds to vets partial paralysis, they misdiagnosed (which led to mishandling and exacerbation of the problem) because they were not familiar with classic symptoms of a spinal chord that has been compressed. A vet who is familiar with a condition will generally know exactly what they are looking at. If Kitty's spine is fractured, the chord is evidently not completely severed but rather, given her compromised function, likely damaged or compressed/pinched. Spinal chords can recover, especially in a young animal although compression or pinching must be removed - and surgery can be expensive. Urinary and feacal incontinence were problems in each of my dogs cases, and recovered along with mobility. I strongly urge a second opinion, from a vet who is very familiar with spinal injuries.

Great work K9Angel. I have nursed several dachshunds with rear-end paralysis from damaged spines back to mobility, and your description of Cookie's progress mirrors what I experienced with them. They get gross motor function back first,but any sort of strength or coordination takes longer. I have assisted 'learning to walk again' using a pelvic sling so that I could hold up the dog's rear end while the hind legs learned how to move properly again, without having to cope with weight-bearing as well. Not sure if that would help Cookie but it might be relevant. ETA - the dogs had no discomfort while their mobility recovered. In fact lack of sensation is the problem.

Ahh Gillbear! I was trying to remember who looked after Pippin! Good on you for putting 2 and 2 together. And uploading the pic - I tried but failed. Yes he was a real little cutie - fat at the time but slimmed down (a bit) over coming months. Real bummer that after all the work and success of his rehabilitation, that he died quite young anyway. I empathise with his mum now trying to make something a bit positive out of her loss. I think we all know how gut-wrenchingly horrible it is to lose a beloved pet.

Anyone? Im not a Sydney person but owner says items are conveniently located for anyone passing near the airport, LaPerouse, Maroubra, Eastgardens....

A dear little mini Pin ex-foster of mine has passed away and his mum would like to donate his worldly possessions to rescue, so that other little orphans might benefit from Pippin's life. The items are located in Matraville (airport region). Please email me on [email protected] if you are interested in them for your rescue work. Items are suited to small breeds. The items include a supply of good quality tinned food, several blankets, raincoats, various coats and sweaters, various enrichment toys, 'no gulp' feeding bowls, leads and harnesses, and incidentals. All good quality items - Pippin was a bit of a fancy boy. It would make Pippin's mum very happy if a Rescuer used them...

Dandy Dinmont Terrier? Long, low and 8-11kg.

Thanks for the kind words. Its nice to be amongst people who understand the depth of grief felt when a pet dies. I was just reminded by a friend, of one of Valentino's defining habits, which I will share. When he sat down, his front legs weres so short that his willy would be on the ground. So he would often seek out a human foot (visitors were a common target), and park himself over it so his willy would be comfortable and warm resting on the foot. What a charmer.