make do and mend for tougher times

katieowl_2

GreyQueen wrote: »

The latest fashion-dog-du-jour for the hard of thinking around here seems to be the husky. One of my neighbours decided to leave his in his upper floor flat and go away for 24 hours. Poor animal went spare with distress and about a dozen other people got no sleep. SuperGran tore the owner off a strip when he came in and told him he had no business having a dog if he wasn't going to care for it properly.

Good for SuperGran :T For goodness sake a HUSKY??? You'd HAVE to be hard of thinking to have a city centre husky. They are super energetic and bouncy!!! *wanders off muttering*

One of my girls is fine with other dogs, as long as they keep their noses from where it ain't nice for noses to go (who can blame her) the other is not so good, but she knows mum won't tolerate any nonsense now...and she gets lots of praise when she keeps her opinions to herself.

Kate

Mrs_Chip

We always had Jack Russells at home, as they were the local farm dog of choice (ratters) but did come across staffies (or Wriggly dogs was what I called them) and they were a delight. I hated seeing them is SE London being turned into trophy dogs and bred for fighting. The underclass that use dogs as a weapon have no qualms in inflicting pain on animals or humans, and we end up with all horrors of dog attacks because of it.

It is going to take a lot more than the current flawed legislation to deal with the problem, we don't need a knee-jerk reaction to dog attacks, we need a piece of well thought out legislation that will stop the the breeding of animals to be traded like commodities and treated like throwaway items.

Does make you wonder why a huge and rich organisation like the RSPA are not campagning strongly for it?

paidinchickens

ifonlyitwaseasier wrote: »

sadly Lennox lost his fight this morning

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-northern-ireland-18794360

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

So sad :(:(:( . I know there is a problem with dogs being bred for fighting, and being used to intimidate people, but it is not the animals doing that, it's the horrible humans.

I don't know why there are not moves to say that all animals not required for breeding (which should be strictly controlled by licence) have to be neutered and chipped by law. That would stop the awful trade in puppies and should lead to far fewer animals going into rehoming centres. I makes me so cross that puppies and kittens are killed because owners cant be bothered (or more worryingly think there is something macho about having a entire dog) to get their animals neutered. I know people will say oh it will cost too much and what about those that can't afford it, but I am sure there is enough money in the pet industry to make sure there was a scheme to cover costs for those who could not pay - but I fear the industry rather likes the idea of so many animals as it makes them money :mad:

katieowl wrote: »

Yes Mrs Chips and I would add re Bull breeds, that they are so loyal and trusting and eager to please, that if some scum of an owner wants them to be agressive and nasty they will do that, as that is what is required of them. It's a real abuse of their good nature. It makes me so angry :mad:

The rescues centres are full of staffies and staffie crosses who are in a bad way, they do not deal well with being in that situation - ie caged as they crave human company like no other breed I've ever encountered, and a lot of them end up being given up, or dumped because when aformentioned scum owners are out all day they take their houses to pieces out of frustration and misery of being shut in alone. That's why the one we rescued was being kept in a cage...he was trying to chew his way out of a top floor flat!!!

Not ten years ago, if you were to search for info on breeds of dogs that were good with children, Staffordshire Bull Terriers came out top of just about every list...which was why we ended up with our first SBT having had the fun of a non-child friendly collie when the kids were very small. I have to say in my experience they are bomb proof with kids, and my first boy was always at the school gate with me at going home time, surrounded by his adoring fan club.

So if anyone out there is looking for a loyal and trusting friend for life, go and re-home one of the thousands of staffies out there who are looking for loving forever homes.

*steps off soap box* You may of course have gathered that I have rescue Staffs.

Kate

Sad

Have to agree my staff was the best dog in the world with kids the only dog on par is the Beagle we have now.

You should see the state of some of the foster cats we take in

All three of our dogs are from the rescue centre and the only reason we never got a staff is they pull too much for my back.

PIC x

Possession

Mrs_Chip wrote: »

So sad :(:(:( . I know there is a problem with dogs being bred for fighting, and being used to intimidate people, but it is not the animals doing that, it's the horrible humans.

I don't know why there are not moves to say that all animals not required for breeding (which should be strictly controlled by licence) have to be neutered and chipped by law. That would stop the awful trade in puppies and should lead to far fewer animals going into rehoming centres. I makes me so cross that puppies and kittens are killed because owners cant be bothered (or more worryingly think there is something macho about having a entire dog) to get their animals neutered. I know people will say oh it will cost too much and what about those that can't afford it, but I am sure there is enough money in the pet industry to make sure there was a scheme to cover costs for those who could not pay - but I fear the industry rather likes the idea of so many animals as it makes them money :mad:

Your post reminds me of a day a couple of years ago when I was walking along Rochester High St with my two children. Suddenly two lads with a pit bull-type dog passed very close next to us, with the dog closest. My son practically jumped into the air and the shirtless lad laughed. Must admit I was a bit nervous as they looked like a couple of thugs. They just wanted to walk down the street intimidating people and I wondered what they were doing when it wasn't the middle of the day! The guy told my son to stroke him as the dog wouldn't hurt him, and I dare say he was right, but I politely said he was nervous of dogs and luckily he accepted it and walked on. Everyone got out of their way though!

katieowl_2

It's a recent thing though isn't it the intimidation thing? When I got my first staffie and he was a puppy (2000?) I used to get big scary grown men with Millwall tattoos drop to my feet in the street, making a fuss of the puppy, and on more than one occassion one of these big scary looking men pulled out their wallet and showed me pictures of THEIR Staffy (deceased) and with tears in their eyes told me they were the best dogs in the world! I actually lost my fear of big scary tattooed men

I've seen some vile things with dogs in London too...One of the many reasons we were so glad to move away!

Right today's challenge is dreadlocks :eek: My boy seems to think my hairdressing skills know no bounds, and me having been cutting his hair all his life, he has decided he wants a crop of short stumpy dreadlocks on top of shaved sides :cool: I am apparently capable of delivering this style, so I am sitting looking at a pack of products that came off the internet, powder, wax a giant flea comb and a 75mm crochet hook...

Kate

Butterfly_Brain

I hate cruelty in any way shape or form on any creature :mad::mad:. I met an old school friend in town today and she has 5 rescues, her latest one is the sweetest little shitzu that is now 5 months old, she was a victim of a dog factory and was due to be euthanised at 10 weeks because they had allowed her to get an eye infection and her eye exploded (sorry if TMI ) But the vet refused, removed her eye and put her into a rescue centre that he works with. My friend adopted her soon after.

Byatt

Possession wrote: »

Yes my vote is usually for miraculous recovery in these cases.

Still waiting for Mr Virgin Media Engineer. He'd better turn up or I can't cross him off my list of jobs to be done! And I've just remembered I must put teacher presents on the list, honestly more things go on the list than get crossed off it most days.

Yes! It miraculously recovered! :T Not impressed though, as I only hoovered the small living room and a bit of the kitchen and it stopped!

Still cats all ok...

I adore Staffies, they are such loveable dogs, it's the owners of the ones who want them for fighting or looking aggressive who should be caged. Boxers seem to make some people afraid, but they don't seem to have the bad rap that staffies do. Although I have seen grown men run away in terror when our boxer wanted to say hello to them...:o

I'm sorry about Lennox, but it is so wrong staff are being intimidated. Two wrongs don't make a right.

paidinchickens

Butterfly_Brain wrote: »

I hate cruelty in any way shape or form on any creature :mad::mad:. I met an old school friend in town today and she has 5 rescues, her latest one is the sweetest little shitzu that is now 5 months old, she was a victim of a dog factory and was due to be euthanised at 10 weeks because they had allowed her to get an eye infection and her eye exploded (sorry if TMI ) But the vet refused, removed her eye and put her into a rescue centre that he works with. My friend adopted her soon after.

Made me cry!

I could fetch them all home. Some of the dogs at our pound have prolapsed wombs from continually breeding and other such terrible things. Gumtree is rife with puppies for sale and our local paper has several breeds for sale at the same phone number every week :mad::mad:

fuddle

Byatt wrote: »

Yes! It miraculously recovered! :T Not impressed though, as I only hoovered the small living room and a bit of the kitchen and it stopped!

Still cats all ok...

I bet you've been stewing all night about that :eek: It must happen all the time Byatt.

Byatt

fuddle wrote: »

I bet you've been stewing all night about that :eek: It must happen all the time Byatt.

I was trying to be philosophical about it, but yes, basically stewing... :rotfl::rotfl:

Another question to ask owners before they leave...is your hoover unpredictable??

Talking about staffies, there was a rescue programme on last year I think, where they were highlighting pet staffies being stolen to train them as fighters. One adorable staffie had been stolen, but by some luck she was found. I was so upset that she could have ended her days in a horrible home and used as a fighter. They kept her in a broom cupboard.

My Bess is such a softie for all that people think she is tough, she would be distraught if something like that happened. Honestly I wouldn't be responsible for my actions if anything happened to a dog of mine.

I can't watch animal programmes about cruelty, as it just finishes me off.