Kelly_Louise

I would use other methods first, such as I yell sharply at the dog to try to shoo it away, I will yell out to the owner, I will try to push it away (eg if I'm carrying an umbrella or use it as a shield)... however, if I thought for one second that a dog posed a threat to Sasha then I would have no hesitation to kick it. I wouldn't kick it hard first go, more of a shove, but if it kept coming then yes I would. And by threat, I don't just mean will attack her - but she has a tendency to try and pull out of her leads when she is scared and if she can get out - will run (and that means on roads etc)... so even if they scare her enough to endanger her and nothing else worked, I would also use a kick. I had a rather large maltese x poodle bail us up the other day... it came up growling and snarling - I yelled at it NO! and pushed it away with my umbrella. A few days later, it ran out of the same house and was snapping at Sasha's legs and feet no matter which way I turned her or when I tried to push it away. I had to ask the man to come and get his dog, but if he hadn't of done anything, I would have had no hesitation to boot the little bastard. It's a menace. A friend had two stray dogs attack his labrador puppy and had it pinned at the neck - and he had no choice but to kick them to get them off. He felt awful... but it was the only way he could save his own dog. Although sometimes, it's not the dog I feel like kicking... it's the idiot owners who are running up behind yelling 'don't worry he/she's friendly' while they come up growling in my dogs face... or the ones that sit back yelling 'wally, come here... naughty boy... come back... WAAAAAAAAALLY' while their dogs take not one bit of notice...

Hmmmmm nope, not biased at all I don't think... she IS absolutely stunning

Wow Erny that's fascinating... to think that yours was snapped, and you could still function on it

Yep... went outside before to find Sasha lying out in the pouring rain - despite all my best efforts to keep her under the shelter. She was even squinting because it was beating on her eyes... sigh... I've brought her inside now. She's been really antsy all afternoon and evening... it's not actually storming here but I think she can sense the storms around here. She's been running around like a crazy thing every now and then.

I was lucky that when Chloe had her ops I was still living at home and mum and dad cared for her after I went back to work. Firstly, if you can, take some holidays for the first couple of weeks. After that, if you can't have someone to just mind her (not necessarily stay WITH her - but just stay in your house to make sure she stays safe and not too active) then if you can make a small area, all the better - but if she will stay in that room and there is nothing to slip or climb on, then that should be fine. Not everyone can stay home through recovery and I"m sure many have done it like you would. Most do crate, but there are some dogs that don't do well with crating (I had the same problem as you - Chloe would have done more damage to herself trying to escape the crate and getting upset). As long as you take as many precautions as possible, and eliminate anything that she could hurt herself with, jump on/off, slip on etc then there's not much more you could do. If she is used to sleeping during the day in that room when you are at work, then at least it won't be scary for her and she will be used to it. If you do need to do anything different, start getting her used to it now in case surgery is required down the track.

It's better to be overly safe than sorry with cruciate tears - I think you are wise to be cautious, might seem overboard, but it really needs to heal well and totally... otherwise a few months down the track you'll be in the same spot, just a bit closer to surgery We went through the vicious cycle with Chloe, but we just couldn't avoid it. She would be fine for a couple of months, then have a doggy playdate and be lame again... and it just got worse and worse. Back then, we didn't know much about cruciate ligaments, ruptures, tears etc... and our vet didn't really give us the info we really needed. Perhaps her minor tears just never healed correctly in the first place. Sounds like you are doing the best you can and following all the advice given, so what will happen will happen. Can't wrap them up in cotton wool or watch them 24/7. They are dogs, and will do as a dog pleases (the cat is just ASKING to be chased I'm sure) :D Chloe had a TWO - tibial wedge osteotomy. I think a TTO is pretty similar from memory. For larger dogs, the osteotomies are much better surgeries. Chloe wasn't crate trained, so we had her in a pen 24/7. For the first 2 weeks a very small one, then after that a 3m x 5m pen. Many people said it was too much room, but unless it was night time - she had someone with her 18 or so hours a day to make sure she didn't run or jump or overdo things, and to keep her entertained. Huskyheaven's boy also was not crated from memory - so it's not compulsory to crate. As long as you can make a small pen and supervise as much as possible, sometimes that will suffice (it did for us anyway). But, let's hope you don't need to worry about that anyway Personally though, I would be concerned about her not weight bearing on the leg when standing. It's not a good sign. Dogs will run through the pain, but if they aren't weight bearing when they are standing usually means something is amiss (from my limited experience anyway). Maybe the vet has cleared it though hopefully.

Yes, sometimes surgery is still needed for partial tears (HuskyHeaven's boy had surgery for a partial tear not long ago) - but hoping that you guys get to avoid that and it heals nicely on it's own. Surgery is NOT fun, but our results were fantastic I must say Chloe has been on Previcox for MANY years now... it's one of the new gen meds, and is very effective with much less side effects. We have a constant supply on hand for Chloe's bad days when her arthritis is playing up, and it works wonders really quickly. Previcox would be my preference to use. I do hope that Shyla recovers well and surgery isn't necessary. Just ensure she doesn't do anything that will impact the injury (jumping on/off things, quick turns while running and I'd cut out ball games for a while if possible) - although zoomies are NEVER easy to contain unfortunately :D Have you started her on any joint supplements? That may help a little also. Best of luck with the next check up - hope Shyla gets the all clear

Sasha doesn't wait for them... however she will look at her bum like it's betrayed her by producing this noise and smell... and for good measure, she does get a good whiff. Then of course, there was the time Sasha and I were talking to a group of new friends with their doggies, and Sasha let out the loudest, chunkiest, most God awful burp I've ever heard from a dog (then promptly smiled and wagged her tail in pleasure). Everyone fell silent and looked from me, to Sasha in disbelief with their jaws ajar. We crept off. So it's not just boy dogs... although sometimes I wonder if Sasha should have been born a boy she's so feral sometimes...

Blaming the RSPCA for puppy mills is like blaming the Police for crimes, or DOCS for people that abuse their kids... It's not their FAULT that people choose to abuse. It's everyone's fault, everyone who buys from pet shops, from backyard breeders, from the newspaper, to uneducated pet owners, to selfish pet owners... it's the people who see something is wrong and may not do or say anything about it... it's the people that know it is out there and turn a blind eye. The solution is not simple - and it's up to more than just the RSPCA to stop it from happening. Not saying they don't have a key role, but they can't be everything. They may not always make the best decisions, and sometimes you bet they make mistakes, but at least they try to do something to be fair to everyone and to end cruelty. They do try to educate, they try to save neglected animals to turn their lives around, and they did that for 100 or so dogs in this case... can't knock them for that. :D

Good on you Brindmek - glad to see another one get such a lovely home too :D And WELCOME TO DOL!!

I think that was the plan, as I had specifically asked for the Red Dotty. I was told there was one left earlier in the week and it was being sent to me on Friday - however seems there aren't any now (nor other colours) - so yes, fingers crossed everyone will get what they ordered when stock is replenished.

I just got an email saying that only the Lyla is currently available - the other colours are out of stock. I had requested the Red Dotty one, and was told they would be coming into stock on Monday and sent out on Monday as well. Not sure of the other colours though.

I would have thought that Pets Paradise could contribute the money towards the surgery, using the massive profits they make on many of the dogs they sell? Surely it would be enough, and more... Seeing that they are going down the path of playing the innocent victims ('we've been sold a sick puppy from a breeder' ) - and how THEY would NEVER do such a thing (not considering the pup probably should have been health checked before they sold it) - that they would cough up the money to save a pup that THEY sold. I wonder if they will try to raise the money for every ill healthed pup they sell then?

Oh goodness... sometimes there are just no words... However, I'm LOVING the picture That's a great shot! I think I want a greyhound one day

Sasha opens her mouth REALLY wide when she's excited/cheeky Then does little snaps too... Very cute though

Not sure if that's totally fair... they did manage to save 100 or so of them - it deserves some credit. I know it's their job, but with the amount of people that treat their animals cruelly and then cry foul (or 'i was just going through a rough patch') etc, would be constant and never ending. It's not their fault there are just some careless d*cks in the world... they are the ones picking up the pieces. I don't always agree with RSPCA decisions and stances, however, to have saved so many from a terrible situation is a pretty good effort I'd say...

Its heartbreaking to see such a timid dog... but thankfully they are with caring people who understand their needs and their limitations and can help them improve and learn to trust again No dog should have to live their lives feeling such fear. It's just wrong. Spottychick exactly... she only paid for the care and maintenance that she should of in the first place...

"She had been involved in the dog world for 32 years and 'she will always put animals before herself', her sister wrote." Ummmmm... clearly not. I didn't see her locked up with no food or water... I don't see her with matted hair. IF she really cared about the dogs welfare, when she was being evicted why didn't she call the RSPCA to surrender her dogs and for them to make arrangements to take them instead of leaving them with no food, no water, no care... just to fend for themselves or die. So that's a BLATANT lie.

I agree, it's harder to find nice things for bigger dogs so they don't have to squish themselves.

It should be... some of them were in such an appalling condition. Why are people allowed to get away with that? Surely the RSPCA are allowed to sieze animals in such conditions, being neglected and uncared for... and the others that appeared in half decent condition - sieze them for living in such awful conditions? Surely they have that right and could use it? You would think so, wouldn't you?? Especially when they can seize perfectly healthy, loved and cared for dogs :shakehead: The laws are so backwards. Exactly... Don't get me wrong, I think they did a good job to save as many dogs as they could... However, sometimes I believe they give too many people (that are blatantly and obviously not caring for their animals) the benefit of the doubt, or chance after chance... and the only ones that suffer are the animals. I understand that they only have so many resources, and they want to try to educate people so that they CAN look after their pets better... but it's quite obvious that some just can't, or don't want to. There is NO way that someone can care for 150 dogs in those circumstances. The 24 left behind never stood a chance, and should never have been left behind.

It should be... some of them were in such an appalling condition. Why are people allowed to get away with that? Surely the RSPCA are allowed to sieze animals in such conditions, being neglected and uncared for... and the others that appeared in half decent condition - sieze them for living in such awful conditions? Surely they have that right and could use it?

I wouldn't be surprised at all about cannibalisation... I think it was a massive effort to save the number they did from appalling conditions and treatment... however, still don't know why they decided to leave 24 there instead of taking the lot in the first go. I'm very glad that Charlotte now has a happy, loving and understanding home and family. Good on your mum

Although it's saddening - this is why people NEED to watch these shows. They NEED to know what really goes on out there. They REALLY need to know that dogs are put to sleep because of the actions of uncaring people. They NEED to see what the consequences of neglect really are. They NEED to realise there ARE people like this out in the world... They need to know as it's the only way of showing some of the reality and hopefully motivating people to want to do something to change it. Too many turn a blind eye, think it's a one off occurence... think that pounds and rescue take in dogs, rehabilitate them and send them on their way to the never ending supply of perfect forever homes. The public need to see that's not the case. And they need it to be brutal so they remember it and it shocks them. It needs to make people angry, evoke strong emotions... and educate in some small way.

Very lucky! I was told they weren't being sent out until Friday

Very true unfortunately... and there are dogs that are just better off being put to sleep, it's kinder than what they live through. I'm sure they did what they could for those that had a chance. Unfortunately, with inhumane people like this in the world that can do this to dogs and allow such cruelty and neglect... there will always be someone on the other side who has to make the hard decisions, has to deal with the trauma and sadness... has to take responsibility. It's not a pleasant job I wouldn't imagine... and one made even worse by the criticism that it opens them up to. We need to be aiming the shots at the people who have ACTUALLY done the wrong thing in the first place, start making THEM accountable, start educating them, and start REALLY punishing those who can not do the right thing by the animals.