RosieandBailey

My reply to him at the bottom, followed by his reply to me this morning. Doesn't really clarify anything does it "We had hoped that by the holiday advertiser stating no fighting breeds it would make things clear from the beginning, and save pet owners booking a property only to find that they do not actually take a particular breed." On the contrary I don't think they could make it any less unclear as to precisely what breeds any one property would accept or wouldn't accept. I wouldn't have classed GSD's as fighting dogs.... --------------------- Hello Rosie Sorry! your right it does appear to be missing, The term fighting breeds was originally used for homes to rent, but because the holiday adverts use the same template it is being used there also. We have over 100 advertisers on our site, many we contacted had more than 1 property, if the property was on a complex we quite often found that only 50% of the properties allowed pets, and of these 50% they did not want breeds such as German shepherds, Dobermans, pit bulls etc..(fighting breeds) We had hoped that by the holiday advertiser stating no fighting breeds it would make things clear from the beginning, and save pet owners booking a property only to find that they do not actually take a particular breed. You must understand we do not make the rules, we are only a source for people to advertise. We do agree that the term 'fighting breeds' is not pleasant term, we ourselves know of many breeds that are loving family pets and would not cause harm to anyone. A statement The Dangerous Dogs Act 1991 is the most prominent of the various laws that cover dog ownership in the UK. The act bans the breeding and sale or exchange of four kinds of dog - pit bull terriers, Japanese Tosas, the Dogo Argentinos, and the Fila Brasileiros. Cross-breeds of those dogs are covered by the law. Any other dogs "appearing... to be bred for fighting or to have the characteristics of a type bred for that purpose" are also banned. The Dangerous Dogs Act has proved to be controversial, after having been quickly introduced following a series of attacks by dogs. The act states that anyone who owns a "type of dog known as a pit bull terrier" must have it neutered, and keep it muzzled and on a lead in public............. Who do you currently book your holidays through? and have you ever had any issues with breed types before? We are always looking for ways to make our site as user friendly as possible for both pet owners and advertisers. Regards Darren ----- Original Message ----- From: Rosie To: darren lock Hi Darren I’m unable to find a full definition in your T&C’s as to what you class as a fighting breed. Would be grateful if you could send me the relevant information. I appreciate that you’ve introduced this at your advertisers request – so perhaps if you could give me the contact details of your advertiser I can direct my comments toward them instead. I think in light of the media frenzy over dangerous dogs, it is wholly irresponsible to refer to any breed legal in this country as a ‘fighting dog’. It is also pretty offensive to people who own bull breeds (who I’m assuming are classed as such) not to mention hugely short-sighted for a company who are potentially alienating much of their client base.

I'm not sure what to do with this but it's made me cross. Perhaps anyone here might be able to suggest best/next course of action? I was looking for somewhere pet-friendly to stay for fireworks night and came across THIS website. All looks very nice until you click on a properties details and see in all the listings: Puppies: Yes/no Fighting Dogs: Yes/no Wondering what they meant by 'fighting dogs' I emailed and asked saying that as an owner of a staffy x lab I sincerely hoped they weren't classifying staffies as fighting dogs. Just had a reply saying: "We have introduced this at our advertisers request, full definitions can be found in our T & C's , if in doubt it would be best to contact the property owner direct. I am sure that as your dog is a mix labrador it would not be a problem." Can't find anything in their T&C's about definitions for starters and I'm not sure who their advertiser is, but isn't it irresponsible to be labelling perfectly legal breeds in this country as fighting dogs?

That's such wonderful news My other half buys a US mountain bike magazine where there's a guy who writes a column and has a pitbull called Poppy. He often mentions her in the softest, soppiest way and there's often photos of her too. I don't understand why the breed isn't banned there but is here? Found The Unexpected Pit Bull Calendar where there's the most delicious happy photos of mainly rescue pit bulls with other dogs and children. Just goes to show what's possible

Thankyou everyone. You're so kind It really has been a helluva day. We're exhausted. Was an enormously long wait at the vets and they brought through all the walking wounded and poor Bailey came in with a shaved blue neck and all woozy and doddery. He couldn't seem to lie down and just wanted snuggles so I ended up sitting on the floor and he crawled into my lap and went to sleep Basically (and forgive me if this sounds sketchy and vague but it was all quite lengthy and complicated and after the day we've had my brain was starting to conk out somewhat) - they found 3 areas of his spine that didn't look as they should be. Two bits of his upper spine that are basically where he hasn't been put together right when he was born - bits of ribs pointing the wrong way or extra bits of bone or whateveritwashesaidnowiforget. But the bit at the base of his spine is something that didn't show up properly on the myleogram - something to do with his spinal cord being too short to get a proper view of it or sommat. So he's going to see us again in a week with a view to recommending an MRI scan. I know it's still completely not answered the question of what's wrong with him but it was all a lot better than I was expecting. Am just so pleased to have the little squink home now and giving him lots of gentle cuddles. He was perky enough to want to join us in eating chips just now (got back so late and neither of us had the energy to cook so chippy it was). Excuse the awful quality of photos but camera's battery is kaput and my mobile was all I had. Going back in the lounge now to give him cuddles. Steve's with him on the sofa at the moment but said he's sat there looking towards the door and whining for the mummy. I really appreciate all your positive thoughts and good wishes today. It made all the difference Rosie x

Still heard nuffin Hoping no news is good news. They said to ring at 3.00 if we'd not heard anything so will be doing so in a bit. I so hope he's all right, the little chicken. I did get a bit wibbly when I had to leave him and had a bit of a blub when I got in the car to drive to work When I arrived though I got a call from poor Steve saying his granny had been found this morning, think she died in her sleep last night :cry: She was like a mum to Steve and we lived with her for the first year we were together and she was such a lovely old lady So I came home from work as soon as I'd arrived and we went off to her house to wait for the doctor, where I've been for the last 4 hours. Blimey what a morning Thankyou all for your good thoughts for my little man. Really very much appreciated

Am going to be a worried mummy today. Dropping my little boy off at the vets at 8.50am to have a myleogram to try and find out once and for all what's wrong with his back (and what's causing him to be in such discomfort all the time) and see what they can do to fix him.. so possible surgery today too. Aside from him being under once for xrays, this is the first big deal of a procedure he's ever had while he's been with me and I'm just keeping my fingers crossed there are no complications and nothing goes wrong. I've heard both good and bad (very bad) things about myleograms so would really appreciate any spare good thoughts you have for him today. (I know I'm going to be a big sissy and be a bit when I leave him there) Here's my little cuddle monkey, for those of you who don't know him. Thanks Rosie

We can't buy multipacks or 2 for 1's or any such value purchases. In our house it's a case of 'buy in bulk, eat in bulk'

Oooh Wendy a huge well done to you - you look amazing I feel like a right tubby so and so at the moment. You know when you're just sat normally and can feel your tumtum sitting in a couple of little folds over the top of your jeans and your love handles podging out at the side. Steve's just as bad as me though when it comes to having a weakness for all things naughty and delicious - cheesecakes, cookies, puddings, ice cream, pizzas, cakes you name it. We'll sit and scoff it. Really got to stop having any of it in the house - if it's here we'll devour it! I know we 'just' need to eat smaller portions of more nutritious and lower-podge food and get one's wobbly arse moving about more. But my willpower and steely determination is just so wavery and feeble

I'm so sorry Mel Run free beautiful Amber. And bless you for taking her in and letting her know love and happiness before she left for the Bridge Rosie x

I can imagine it's hellish. My work's sports and social club are putting on a bus there all the way from Nottingham, but rest assured I won't be on it Not sure if that helps Rosie

Lots of gentle positive thoughts for you little fella. So glad you've found somewhere warm and safe to (here's keeping everything crossed) start your recovery. Rosie x

I don't know why but I completely lost it when he said he'd collected up all the tennis balls she'd found and buried them with her What a beautiful tribute to his lovely dog. (ps just as an aside, Madmerle I love that noseblowing emoticon thingy!!!)

Oh no Andrea, I didn't realise Saffy had been diagnosed with HD Really sorry to hear that I'm so hopeful Bailey's problems aren't/weren't anything more serious than the minor disc prolapse the vet thinks it is/was - he's almost at the end of his rest period (see the vet again a week on Weds) and he totally seems back to his normal boingy self (although of course he's still being walked on lead), but around the house he's full of beans and sits straight and properly now and has even sneaked up onto the sofa when we've not been looking, so he obviously feels better and he's not on any metacam or steroids now or anything, just Synoquin glucosomine tablets. Am hoping he says he's all better when we go back and doesn't want to have him in for scary xrays wot show up nasty things.... Sorry EAD for also hijacking your thread Do hope Kyla improves with a bit of rest ('bit' being the operative word with her little friend about!!) - fingers crossed for you that she's just overdone it a bit too. Rosie x

How strange! I've always thought she was so like my mum too! Lost my mum 4 years ago so whenever I see Annette Crosby's lovely kindly smiley face I just want to hug her. Soppy old trout that I am. What did she have to say on Alan Titchmarsh's show?

Aww I didn't know it was today!!!! Happy first Gotcha Gorgeous curly-bottomed girl

If you add me as a friend I'll send you an invite to join fluff friends. Not that that would gain me extra munny or nuffin Oooh and Wendy, I started filling out one of the surveys..but I got to the bit where I had to put that I was in the UK and thought it wouldn't let me go any further, but no it carried on asking for my postcode and ethnicity and inside leg measurement etc etc. Is it sposed to?

Farceboob's banned at work here too Have to do work instead Thanks for all the advice about Fluffs I shall go forth and make munny when I get home hopefully (and seek out your respective Fluffs to race...)

I adopted a fluff friend. He's a panda called Dave. Would somebody come and pet him? I think I get dosh for that don't I? I don't seem to have enough to feed the poor little bugger I think I blew all the money I had on some cheese, some bamboo and a chocolate cake for him and then the power went to my head and I tried betting in the Fluff races and didn't understand what I was doing and lost it all Poor Dave. I'm a bad mummy.

I've sent you sumfink alcoholic. Well... I think it is. In all honesty I can't identify half the drinks on Booze Mail

I've just accepted a friend request from Joe Nelson... Boosboss is that you? I said yes anyway The more people to give drinks to/throw chickens at, the better.

Yes my names Rosie Bailey was limping intermittently - seemed to be worse/stiffer after he'd had a particularly vigorous bout of off lead bounding about and then rested for a bit. When he was really bad he would have to sort of pull himself up from a lying position using his front legs, rather than pushing up with his hind legs like wot dogs would normally do. He also used to sit with his hips out to the side and his little back legs stretched out straight (looked like a little old man!). Sometimes he'd even hold his foot off the ground. He saw a number of different vets at the same practice over several months and we got a multitude of suspected diagnoses from a sore foot (for which we were offered steroid cream!?) to hip dysplacia to arthritis to cruciate ligament injury. It was this last suggestion that got us referred to the specialist who we're seeing now, but after he spent a while examining his hind legs (guess he was doing that drawer sign thingy) he pretty much dismissed it as a possibility. I'm assuming the vet's got it right and it is his spine that's to blame. We'll have to see how much better he thinks he is when we go back for his check up on 7th November. I think if Kyla has injured herself somehow, in order for her to heal herself properly she'd need the sort of rest treatment we've been giving Bailey as per the vets instructions. Which are: 1-14 days total rest and no walks, 14-20 days start with 3 x 5 min walks building up by a couple of mins per on lead walk each day and then 30-45 days stay at 3 x 35 mins on lead walk and then apparently 45 days plus exercise is unrestricted. Pretty hardcore stuff, especially when you've got a bouncy bundle of energy that doesn't think there's anything wrong with them and can't understand why you're carrying them up and down stairs Is she showing any other kinds of symptoms at all? Sitting strangely, reluctance to jump up etc. Think any additional information you can give the vet when you visit will help. Do hope you you get her better soon Rosie x

It's just amazing what you chaps are doing - totally take my hat off to the pair of you. Your accounts and photos and video make my eyes leak. Just a whole mix of sadness and hope and love all rolled into one. Do any of the dogs ever get rehomed though? Or do they just continue to live at the temple? (sorry if this has already been talked about before - I've not been around the Refuge much and have only just picked up on what Dogstar are doing out there....!) Rosie x

She's been in Lake Garda in Italy with Mr Jules They went last Sunday so think she might be back today...

Bailey had a suspected cruciate ligament injury for a while when we were trying to get to the bottom of his limping in his right rear leg. But when we saw the specialist he pretty much ruled it out and instead thinks he's damaged his lower spine (minor disc prolapse to be specific - slipped disc!). We've since been sent down the total house rest for a fortnight route with no walks/stairs/playing etc, and he's now been allowed to start doing three lots of small lead walks a day. He seems a heck of a lot better and there's no sign of any limping, but the real test is when the vet presses firmly down the length of his spine - he's been fine until he reaches just above his hips, when he's obviously in discomfort. Found this on how they can diagnose cruciate ligament injuries: "The diagnosis of a ruptured cruciate ligament is made through observing abnormal movement of the joint. A veterinarian will place one hand around the femur and one around the tibia in a precise manner. By applying pressure on the knee, the veterinarian will feel the bones move abnormally in what is called a 'drawer sign.' It is called that because the movement of the femur in relation to the tibia is similar to pulling and pushing in the drawer of a cabinet. If an animal is in a lot of pain, or very nervous, the muscles near the knee may be so tense that they prevent the drawer movement from occurring. If a veterinarian suspects a ruptured cruciate ligament in a dog but cannot elicit the drawer sign, the dog may be heavily sedated to relax the muscles and then re-examined for the drawer sign." I guess if you don't know what bit is where or what you should be feeling for, there's not much hope of you checking her out yourself! Fingers crossed you get the answers you want - it's a frustrating business figuring out what causes limping and lameness in dogs sometimes

Shhhh don't tell anyone but.... (we might've occasionally let them up on throws we brought from home and then did a super efficient vaccum job on all furniture before we left!) Bailey couldn't understand why he'd be in a toasty warm sunny conservatory and NOT be able to lie somewhere squishy