hushpuppy

I'm so sorry your boy is gone Lesley and Sadie

A friend of mine in the village had a really bad flea infestation in the summer and she ended up getting the local council to come out and fumigate her house. They charged her £10 and she had no more problems after that.

I did a dog training instructors course last year and part of the homework was to observe an established training class for 6 weeks and take notes on everything. The lady who runs the class I observed is lovely, very helpful and informative, and when the 6 weeks was over she asked me if I would continue as her assistant. I've been doing that for a few weeks now and she's going on holiday and leaving me in charge next Monday evening! We've to practice all the standard stuff - recall, heelwork etc - and I'm really pleased that she trusts me enough to let me loose on her class. This is my first paid work as an instructor so it's a huge step forward for me. Wish me luck for Monday! (She's more bothered about me locking up properly than anything else )

How terrible that such a young dog has such big problems. I really hope that the vets can do something to help. to Ozzy and his friends.

I just picked Sadie up from the vet and she's feeling very groggy and sorry for herself. I couldn't get her out of the car on my own as she's so floppy and she's got a drain in her armpit. She's crashed out now on her bed and just wants to sleep at the moment. OK, the good news is - they have done xrays and the cancer hasn't gone into her lungs. The bad news is that when the lump was removed they weren't able to give it a very wide margin so if they missed even one tiny little cell then it will spread again. Other bad news - the nurse said she had never seen a lump like it, very weird looking tissue. It's gone off to the lab to be analysed and the results won't come back for at least a week, possibly longer, so I've just got to wait and see what it is. But they said that the chances of it being benign are slim. So I'm not going to wind myself up and worry too much until the results come back but at the same time I'm not going to fool myself that she's going to be perfectly healthy again. This could well be the beginning of the end and I have to accept it. In the meantime me and my girl are going to enjoy what time we have together. When she's over the operation we're going to have some fabulous walks and go all over the place, to the beach and to the lakes and mountains. I just want to say thank you for the good wishes and support that have come our way from you all.

Sadie's going through something similar now so I know how you're feeling. It's hell! She has to have an operation on Monday so I'm hoping the cancer hasn't spread and I'm worrying about nothing but if it has then I have to decide what to do for the best depending on the prognosis. One thing I decided when she was first diagnosed was that I wouldn't put her through having chemotherapy. I wouldn't have it myself when I had cancer and I'm not going to subject my dog to it. I think the quality of her life is more important than the length and sometimes the treatment is worse than the disease. I also agree with Billymalc. Sadie doesn't know she's ill and as far as she is concerned everything is fine. If and when that changes then I will think again but for the time being I'm just determined to enjoy our time together and give her the happiest life I can possibly give her. Very best wishes to Bruno and to you.

Last year Sadie had oral cancer and I've been very positive about it all. Then a couple of weeks ago I noticed a lump had come up in her armpit/shoulder area. We went to the vet this morning and they are worried about it too because of Sadie's history. My girl's got to go on Monday to have an operation and depending on what she finds when she opens her up the vet will either remove the lump or take a biopsy. They are being very thorough and reassuring but I'm worried sick now. Please think of Sadie and wish her well for Monday.

Some of you may remember that my girl had an operation earlier this year for oral cancer. I'm trying not to panic but a lump has come up on her shoulder and I immediately thought the cancer has come back and spread. It's probably just a fatty lump and I'm making too much of it but she's going to the vet on Friday morning to be examined. Please keep fingers and paws crossed for her. Edited to say my timing is all out - I meant to say last year!!

A message about Dexter has already been posted in the chat section but I wanted him to be mentioned as a new member of the Rainbow Bridge Posse. Poor Dexter. He went to live with my friend just 13 months ago. He came from rescue and had been picked up as a stray. Nobody knew his history but he settled into his new life with gusto. He was happy and didn't deserve what happened to him. When out walking last week he disappeared under a hedge - this time he picked the wrong garden, it was where the wolfhounds lived. Very bad timing meant that they were out in their garden being exercised and he was pounced on by a pack. The wolfhounds owner saved him from being ripped apart but he flew off in a panic and that was the last time he was seen alive. I tried so hard to find him but didn't go far enough. Dexter was found this morning about five miles away from where he was lost. He was in the garden of a very remote farmhouse, the lady who found him didn't know how long he'd laid there as it was the first time she had been in her garden for days. All dogs are lovely but Dexter's special gift to the world was his cheery attitude to everything. He got so much pleasure out of his little life and it was infectious. It was impossible to be sad around Dexter, he wouldn't allow it, and he always could make me smile and laugh out loud. He wasn't my dog but he stayed with me several times when his owner was away and visited me frequently to go out walking. I loved him and I will miss him greatly. I have spent much of the day in tears, crying for him and for myself. I wish I could have done more to find him before it was too late. So, Dexter, spread your joy at the Bridge. Sweetie is there for you to stalk and pigs ears and tennis balls grow on trees. Rest in peace, scruffbag.

Lots of you know that my friend's Yorkie, Dexter, ran off a week ago after being attacked by a pack of Irish Wolfhounds. We have searched high and low for him. We finally got some news this morning. A lady found Dexter under a tree in her garden. He was dead. We don't know yet how he died and have no idea when. She hasn't been out in the garden for days as the weather was so bad here. He was miles away from where he went missing, way outside the area we've been searching. I just hope he ran straight there and died quickly without pain. I will put a post in Rainbow Bridge later. RIP Dexter. Run free at the bridge, scruffy guy. Playing in the snow with his friend Sadie Dexter

Had the second false alarm today. Somebody called to say they had found a dog. Sounded like it could be him but unfortunately not Dexter. Billy, I really hope he's been taken in by someone who is hanging on to him for whatever reason because the weather here is evil tonight. Freezing cold and lashing rain and wind. I doubt he will survive if he is still roaming.

JoT, thanks so much for coming out today. The weather up here on the hills was vicious and you deserve a medal for that marathon walk. I was also out twice today but our paths didn't cross and I also saw no sign of the little guy. It's like he disappeared off the face of the earth. I have widened the search area and put posters up in all the surrounding villages so by now most of Derbyshire knows he's missing. Have put out appeals on Radio Derby and thinking about Radio Stoke although that's probably a bit far away. I rang the environmental health to see if there were any road deaths over Christmas but nothing (thank god) and they said they scan dead dogs for microchips (good thing). So we're fairly sure he's still alive and roaming somewhere or has been taken in by somebody who is holding on to him. We just don't know and it's hell not knowing. I can't think about anything else.

I've been out twice today but still no sign of him and I had to go to work. The dog warden area is Derbyshire Dales and they take the strays to Longcliffe Kennels who have already been contacted about Dexter. Anytime you want to take your dogs for a walk around here please look for Dexter. I'm not giving up on the poor guy just yet. I don't know if he'd be frightened off or not by them, he was quite friendly but after the attack who knows what he's going to be like? Thanks for offering to help.

JoT, it's ok to search any time. He went missing right at the end of the village, near Hipley Barn which is the area I've been concentrating on but really he could be anywhere by now. I'm hoping that hunger will drive him to head for a place where there are houses. He's a rescue dog who was a stray once before so has used survival skills but that was in a town so I don't know how he'll get on in a remote area. I'm also hoping that someone has taken him in. Maybe he lost his collar or tag in the scuffle and if someone has found him they can't get him checked for a chip till tomorrow. I'm working most of the days but can get time off early afternoons so I'll be out and about 12.30 to 2.30pm. If anybody wants to call for directions ring 01629 540947. Many thanks to anybody who can help to reunite Dexter with his owner. He's a lovely little dog, always cheerful and chirpy and I hate thinking of him alone and hungry and frightened.

My friend and I were walking our dogs in my village on Sunday. On the way home her Yorkie, Dexter, went under a fence into a private garden and was attacked by about 10 Irish wolfhounds. Luckily their owner was there and got his dogs off Dexter, who must have been petrified, He shot off down the road and hasn't been seen since. We've searched and searched in the area but there is no sign of him. Posters are up and everybody in the village knows he is missing. If there is anybody out there who lives anywhere near Brassington (midway between Ashbourne and Matlock) and has a few hours to spare to help search please let me know. The poor dog has had no food for 3 days (it's very rural here and no shops for him to scrounge from). We think he is in hiding due to trauma/injury and we are becoming very worried about his welfare.

I'm so sorry that little Bud didn't make it. His story touched my heart.

A very happy Gday to Billy and Malcolm With love from Sadie and Lesley

Fingers and paws crossed here for the little Bud

I don't often reply to these posts but this one - he's a special angel - if he can survive this he can survive anything. Thinking of him and wishing all the best for the little guy

Really chuffed that Mal's doing well

If she got the dog from Battersea she should contact them. For a start it won't cost her any money and secondly, Ali Taylor the behaviourist who works there is wonderful and a very nice person. I used to be a volunteer there and I have first hand knowledge of Ali's work and would not hesitate to recommend her to anybody. She is brilliant with dogs. Edited to add I have no idea what Stan Rawlinson is like but I definitely think the first port of call should be Battersea.

This is my Sadie, taken from her previous home a couple of days before they were going to have her pts - they were moving and didn't want her anymore Sadie is a real lady who is not prepared to tell anyone how old she is!! She had an operation for oral cancer earlier this year - fingers and paws crossed that she's fine now and will go on for a few years yet.

So sorry to hear your news about Tasha. I don't know if it's any help but when my Sadie was diagnosed I decided that I wasn't going to let it rule our lives together. I took her for the operation and the cancer was chopped out. The one that she had, there's no way of knowing if it's going to come back unless it does so I just get through one day at a time and make the most of my time with my girl. As far as she's concerned life is great and that's what matters to me, that she is happy. It might be for a short time or she might go on for years but which ever it is she has the best life it is possible for me to give her. I'm sure when you're calmer you will make the right choices for Tasha and yourself and I wish you both all the very best of luck.

Yay, I've done it!! I feel all warm and wanted now, no longer an outcast!!

Nope, it still won't let me. Will try again tomorrow.