they just keep...

Dave · Enlightened One

they just keep...

Siouxsie · Enlightened One

WOW

Jennifer · Big Cheese

Thats not that Opal i rehomed as a pup is it?

Dave · Enlightened One

Jennifer wrote:

Thats not that Opal i rehomed as a pup is it?

Fraid it is Jennifer....she's been getting progressively worse with the cat to a point where the family are concerned for the cat's saftey so have asked for GAL to try to rehomeher...

Jennifer · Big Cheese

Thats such a shame. Weird she couldnt be trained out of it as she was only 12 weeks when they got her. She is beautiful so im sure she'll not be around long.

I cant understand how anyone can get rid of a dog they have had since a puppy (or at all for that matter)

Isla · Enlightened One

She is gorgeous! What a cute face. I'm quite sure she'll find a home very soon. I know what you mean Jennifer - there is no way I could get rid of any of my dogs. Personally speaking, I'd have got rid of the cat (am not really a cat person so no offence to all the cat lovers out there).

Jennifer · Big Cheese

:Isla wrote:

Personally speaking, I'd have got rid of the cat (am not really a cat person so no offence to all the cat lovers out there).

LOL totally agree. Nah seriously though eh it was a puppy when they got it so why can get it not have been trained at the start. Its at that age too where she is probably being really mouthy and playful and seeing how far she can push her luck but i'd personally wait till she got over that stage instead of taking the easy way out. But im a firm believer in "a dogs for life"

Right i'll get off my high-horse now

MojoTilly · Master

How cute???

Hmmmm.... dog or cat? Tough choice!

Isla · Enlightened One

I must admit, I was surprised. Lets face it, cats are hardly defenceless and when you watch them with a puppy (or dog) who is trying to wind it up, the cat usually just gives the pup a clout round the snout and puts him/her about their business. Normally it is the cat who sorts the dog out rather than human intervention.

Maybe moggy was a bit of a wuss and spent a lot of time at the top of the curtains with Opal dancing round the bottom trying for a snack!

JENNY · Big Cheese

Aww bless. She'd probably be fine with a cat with a bit of effort

FAJ · Enlightened One

Oooh, Opal...... Don't you think that she would go lovely with our wee Pearly.......?

emma · Guru

Fiona She'd fit in lovely I'm sure lol!

From the injuries mine have all recieved at the claws of a cat I know cats can look after themselves! I have to agree with the others on here though, I would never get rid of a dog (Come on, Charlie used to wreck my house and even pulled a door frame off and destroyed a carpet trying to dig his way to me while I was shopping at Tesco's!) He could not let us leave him EVER! It took lots of patience but we got there eventually! I have to say dogs are sometimes hard work but perseverence usually pays off in the end.

What a shame for her, but I am sure a lovely home will be found for her soon!

Em and Chad xx

Jax · Master

What an absolute stunner!!! She should find a home soon surely.

As for the cats vs dogs, being a doggy person too I'm afraid it would be the cat that went elsewhere. Dunno how Smokey would take to that suggestion though.

Gail · Big Cheese

Ok, maybe it's just the cynic in me but is it really just the cat? An 11 month old greyhound pup is a lot of work but can't understand having had her so young why it's still an issue with the moggy!!

She is stunning and it's such a shame she needs rehomed. Dave if i wasn't so sure that greyhound puppies and 10 month old babies are not a good combination i would have been e-mailing you this very second

Hope she gets a fantastic new home soon!

Carole2 · Old Hand

Cat or Dog?

Had my cats since they were kittens, they do some very stupid things which make you laugh, they can lay on your lap for attention, they don't need to be walked in the terrible weather and believe it or not you can actually train them (but only if they are in the mood to do it!) But I am allergic to the cats.

Dog, had her for 6/7 weeks she is always ready to play a game, she forces me to exercise, even in bad weather and I'm not allergic to her! But does require walking in bad weather.

Which would I choose? Well I would try to work my time around them evenly, and keep them separated at all times if that was absolutely necessary. But if that wasn't workable then it would depend which my dad would want (with GAL's approval if it was Brook of course) so that I could still see them regularly and know that I hadn't abandoned them.

BOWGANG · Master

Our cat Smudge is nearly 16 and we've had him since he was 6 weeks old. Gambol and Keera aren't interested but if Jamie sees him outside he goes mad trying to get at him (it's bizarre as he doesn't bother with him in the house,but doesn't recognise him as the house cat outside!). We just keep them apart and are very careful when letting the dogs into the garden. Not a major problem as I see it. Couldn't possibly get rid of any of our pets!

Opal is truly gorgeous though and I'm sure she'll get a home very soon.

Shirley and the gang

Valerie · Guru

She is indeed a real beauty, and has obviously been well cared for, which makes giving her up hard to understand. Is there a niche in the market here for the cat experts to become involved to keep Opal in her current home, rather than have her rehomed? I suppose it's a hard call, cause if their mind is made up to get rid, don't want Opal to start suffering.

Teresa · Enlightened One

Opal is a total stunner!!

I'm with you lot who said you couldn't give up any dog, whatever the circumstances. And, for me, the cat would have to go (I'm not remotely a cat person either so, again, no offence). Actually, the cat wouldn't have been there in the first place

After all, how many cats are pleased to see you when you come home, compared to the number of dogs who are delighted to see you return after an absence of only 30 seconds ?!?!?!

Seriously tho, she is just lovely, hope she finds a home soon.

greyflintstone · Master

Dave

Can you not stick some "man bits" on her?!!! We'd have her in a shot if that was the case .... not sure how Wilma would cope with another girlie in the house!!!

Sharon

Nicki · Big Cheese

Wow she is stunning

Nicki and wee Janie.x

Fiona · Master

She is gorgeous and even cuter than the baby rat called Opal I looked after recently!

I personally could not get rid of any of my pets no matter what they were doing, even biting as there is always a reason and good training can work wonders. I have 3 rats (poor 4th one died recently) and am fostering a rabbit, when I begin fostering greyhounds I will keep the other pets in a room the grey never goes into, it's easy enough to do.

JENNY · Big Cheese

So where is little Opal going to be staying while a new home is searched for?

denise · Master

Opal has probably just hit the delinquent stage, Dave can tell you how notoriously difficult some greyhound pups can be, especially when they've had little or no training.

Thought the comments about rehoming cats and dogs were interesting.

When I was young the family pet was a dog (Heinz 57) I had no experience of cats until I moved to Glasgow where Martin and I adopted 6 rescue moggies (over a period of about 8mths) from the SSPCA.

We're now down to 4 from the original 6 (old age took it's toll). We've been incredibly lucky in that all of our hounds bar Hogan have been great with the cats. Hogan took a little time and training but he will now happily share my lap with a feline friend. It NEVER occurred to me to rehome the cats to accomodate Hogan, even if it had it would still not have been given any serious consideration. Thankfully it all worked out in the end.

I did however have to rehome one of my hounds.

Moppet was 10mths old when she was adopted from the SSPCA, a gorgeous bundle of daftness. At that time our dominant greyhound bitch Saska was 5 yrs old ( we'd adopted her at 10mths old too but from the NCDL), a feisty madam who always made sure foster dogs or new additions to the gang knew exactly who was boss.

Saska is Martins dog, she is happiest when he's about, Moppet was my shadow. Then one day when Moppet was just over 3yrs old she decided Saska was getting a little too old to be the boss and it was her turn.

Her attack came out of the blue, we were on holiday and I was putting the dogs collars on. She had Saska by the back of the neck and had also bitten her shoulder. I managed to seperate them without too much damage being done, Moppet had bitten me trying to get hold of Saska, sore but nothing to worry about. Saska needed a small number of stitches to her neck and shoulder.

After that we watched them carefully but it was as if nothing had happened, I had my back to the dogs when the fight started so we'd no idea at that point what may have caused it. Everything was back to normal and remained so for another 6 or so months, then it happened again.

Again no warning, opening the back door to let the dogs out, Moppet made no attempt to go out of the door but attacked Saska as she was on her way out. Far worse this time, Saska was left with a large wound in her top right thigh and a large wound to her lower neck/chest. She lost some of the muscle in her thigh and both wounds took weeks to heal.

Again we kept a close eye on them both and this time we could see that Moppet watched Saska closely. Any kind of 'excitement' and Moppet would start barking at Saska and totally ignoring the other dogs. We took advice and was told that it was a dominance problem, Moppet was 'fighting' for the alpha bitch position in the pack.

I knew without being told that I should rehome Moppet but couldn't bear the thought of parting with her. She had one more chance, this time I was determined she wouldn't get the opportunity to attack Saska again.

Just like before things went back to normal and surprisingly Saska was still being her bossy self, Moppet would back down time and time again and I was beginning to hope the dominance problem had been worked out between them.

Saska was eight yrs old when the next attack happened. We were on holiday, just arriving back from a walk and someone came up to the cottage gate. Saska barked and Moppet attacked, this time she went straight for the throat, it took both of us to seperate them.

Saska's neck was badly ripped and her jugular torn open, a bite wound to her groin had just missed her main artery there too.

Martin phoned Merlin Vets at Kelso to let them know what had happened and they were ready and waiting to get to work on Saska as soon as we arrived. They weren't sure they were going to be able to save her. Thankfully they did.

Nerves responsible for opening and closing her larynx were damaged beyond repair, she needed major surgery at the Glasgow Vet Hospital and her larynx had to be stitched so it remains permanently open.

Moppet was rehomed. It was the hardest decision I'd ever had to make and one I hope I never have to make again. Saska paid the price for my selfishness and for stupidly thinking that I could 'manage' the situation. I too have always believed a dog is for life but sometimes circumstances dictate differently.

Moppet was adopted by a fantastic couple who adopted a greyhound from GAL just months earlier. I've seen her many times since she was adopted and although always happy to see me there is absolutely no confusion as to who her mum and dad are now.

(Tragically a fortnight ago Moppet fell awkwardly whilst running resulting in a serious spinal cord injury, both back legs are paralysed and she is doubly incontinent. It transpires that she has had a stroke and the consultant at the vet school was unable to say if she had a stroke and then fell or the fall caused the stroke.

He also advised Michelle and David when Moppet was first admitted that if she showed no improvement within a fortnight then the chances are she never would. They brought her home on Friday night in the hope that being away from the stresses of the hospital and being back with her family a miracle may happen).

Denise

Teresa · Enlightened One

denise, how very tragic, i'm sorry to hear it.

when i said i couldn't imagine any circusmtances that would make me rehome my dogs i was, of course, referring to dave and daisy because they have settled so well and are no trouble at all. naturally, this dynamic may well change when we adopt tom so i have no idea what is in store for me.

i'm sorry if i caused any offence with my remarks

Gail · Big Cheese

Denise that really is a very sad story, but i think i would have done the same. I think if the instances happen so far apart it's natural to hope and pray that the battle is over and they have decided who is boss.

It must have been a heart-breaking time having had both dogs so long and i suppose it's a situation that can happen to any one of us. Don't think anyone really knows what to do for the best until you are faced with a decision like that and even then we would all wonder if it was the right thing to do

Poor Moppet, hope the miracle happens, her family must be devastated

emma · Guru

Denise,

Your story brought tears to my eyes and a lump to my throat, what a terrible situation to be in. I can understand why you persevered as you did and I think most of us would cling on to hope that the situation would improve.I also understand fully what you mean when you say that each of the dogs had formed a special bond with each of you. It must be heartbreaking forming that really special relationship with a dog only to have to part with it later.You didn't say how Saska is now I hope that she made a complete recovery.

It must have equally shattered you hearing about Moppett's accident even though she is no longer your dog,you cannot switch off your love for her. In addition, you must have had thoughts about her never being in that situation and still well if she had stayed with you two.You know though that you did do the right thing and as a dog owner I do think that you have to put the older dog first as that was your original animal.Otherwise poor Saska could have suffered an even worse attack in the future. Let us all hope along with her poor new owners, who must be equally distressed, for a miracle. Occasionally they do just happen! If she does not regain the use of her back legs then the kindest thing is to let her go. Think of the happy running hound enjoying a really good romp and then think of her inability to even keep herself clean. If there is one trait most greys share it is the trait of being clean and dignified at all times! All you can do is support her new family at this terrible time, I am sure that they will appreciate your ability to share in their trauma.

I had heard that males together can be trouble although I have only had minor scuffles really ( I have just lost one of my two). I will be introducing a new animal once my house move is over. As Chad is my dog and the boys and my jealous other half don't get a look in!

Thinking of you Denise and everyone involved, Em and Chad XX

denise · Master

Hi

Thanks for your support and comments and no I didn't take offence at any of the remarks that were made. Think I really just wanted to say that sometimes despite your best efforts you may have to rehome one of your pets but it should always be the last option.

'Never say Never'.

I'm visiting Moppet this afternoon and taking along a Reiki practioner, she will give Moppet a wee session and who knows? Michelle and David have been fantastic and I know they will do whatever is best for Moppet.

Denise

Isla · Enlightened One

In my case it was more if there was a choice between cat and dog.

Each time I have introduced a new four legged family member, it has always involved a trial period. The last thing I would ever want is to upset Wills, especially with him being diabetic and slightly arthritic now. I have been lucky in that both introductions have been relatively straight-forward although there can be tension between Millie and Tigger at times. We are always quick to distract them when there is any sign of it. Fortunately when we are out, they usually just find a bedroom each and sleep.

That's sad news about Moppet and I hope your visit helps. Wishing her all the best and will keep my fingers crossed.

JENNY · Big Cheese

Let us know how she responds to the Reiki. I am doing Reiki level 1 in November and have been reading loads about how beneficial it can be for animals as well as people. Having had good things happen with it personally I'm sure it will help her.

BOWGANG · Master

Denise

So sorry to hear about Moppet. I remember the day you came to do our home check and brought Gambol to meet us...and Moppet too! She was absolutely gorgeous and I remember after about 10 minutes my eldest Lori lying on the floor with a dog snuggling on each side!

Please keep us posted and send all our love to Moppet and her family.

Shirley and the gang