Ian

Just keep plugging away & I'm sure you will get there, but if it isn't done nearer the time perhaps you could call on any local "fugees" for help? I'm not sure whether I think your biggest worry is the passport (I didn't think the system here was all that quick either) or the daunting prospect of an entirely new start over seas but at least it will be for something you know you are passionate for & will enjoy. Good luck for the future

Thankyou all. I've buried her along with Jo, Joyce, Tara and Thor today to the sounds of Simon & Garfunkels Bridge over troubled waters, Lionel Ritchies three times a lady, Queens You're my best friend, - songs I've used for them all Frank Sinatras My Way - seemed to sum up her (/ a cats?) attitude to life and Perry Comos Via Con Dios. The latter two were used at my Dads funeral (also suiting him!) but Via con dios was also what his friend of many years posted in the local paper and is apparently translated as go with god or in the wrods of the song god be with you. RIP sweetheart

Only a short time before we went to the vets on Monday Chloe had gingerly climed her way onto Lucys back end as she slept, wanting to lay there with her. She slipped off fairly quickly but even then Lucy didn't bat an eye lid. She'd obviously been looking for Chloe the three days she was away & as soon as she came home & afterwards wanted to lick her face at every opporunity. It would have been so nice to be able watch them and their friendship grow together.

Thankyou all. I'm trying to keep busy but am in reality very up & down at the moment & though I did indeed love her and do my best, as I've done for all of my animals it just doesn't seem enough to me at the minute. 9 months is so tragically young & the fact I can't even explain it this time, as you say above life seems so cruel sometimes.

Thankyou both. It is difficult as though yes I tried to do my best for her I think it's that nagging what if ....... eg had we found the cause for certain could we then have found the cure? Perhaps there was no cure but as you say, particularly at just 9 months it seems so wrong. What happened to prayer? It certainly never seems to work for me in the life or death situations.

Over the last twelve days or so the adorable little Chloe puss has been fighting a still largely unexplained battle and sadly at about 2am last night lost her fight for life aged just 9 months old. Initially she had a couple of odd "clumsy moments " - one roll to the left, another day tipple tailing but was seemingly well, eating running around, jumping etc & just got up & on her way again. On Thursday 28th she stopped eating - she was usually quite greedy. Otherwise still seemed fine By Monday 4th she'd become very quiet, was walking more like she was stalking & she was admitted by the vet. She also developed a slight cough. Initial thoughts were possible poisoning or trauma but after fluids via drip, anti inflamatories / sickness & anxiety medication & having spent 3 nights witht them she was seemingly responding. On Thursday she came home, still not entirely back to herself but mobile again etc & said to have eaten a little in there. Once home and unmedicated she wouldn't do so again however & I only managed to get fluids into her with a syringe. By Friday evening she was nevertheless looking more like herself again had jumped up & down on my bed etc. Blood tests & chest xrays showed nothing of concern, organs okay etc so I was still expecting her to get through this. On Sunday evening however she took a turn for the worse again & was readmitted on Monday morning, apparently with a low temperature. More fluids, & attempts to raise her temperature, though largely unsuccessful despite trying into the night. Sadly, I received a call by about 10.30 last night & though having been placed in an oxygen tent & calmed again when I got there shortly after sadly at about 2am this morning, her life barely having begun my poor little girl left us for the bridge. I'm told her symptoms were very unusual, liver shunts / birth defects, neurological issues had all been mentioned as possible problems so I still don't really know what or why it happened. I've probably been torturing myself for days - did I miss something, healthy 9 month old cats don't just die or get ill like this etc - trying to think of anything that could have caused it or might have helped & saved her. My old camera broke & I'm going to have to find a card reader to access the only photos I have of her - as a very young kitten. Though she'd obviously grown significantly I still thought of her as "little puss", hadn't expected anything to happen to her before further changes & just enjoyed time with her rather than taken photos. It seems so unfair, she was both my first ever cat and an absolutely adorable little character, I just keep wanting to go in and see her (she's "obviously" come home to be buried with Jo, Joyce, Tara and Thor) and sobbing RIP "Chloe, little puss"

Bless he looks a nice soul - though quite sad sat there - to me. A big lad too.

It must be a worrying time for you. I hope Jumble is soon "on the mend" again

I'm so sorry to read that Max has been struggling and has now sadly left you for the bridge Alex. For him this is a hopefully a new and healthier beginning http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html though for a time it may perhaps be hard for you to think of it in that way. A few things jumped out at me as I read your post A feeling of sadness for you - I suspect that you trust your vet and that's why you didn't stop him. As hard as it may be to think of Max scream and it probably seemed longer than it was in reality I think you were probably right to do so - you both needed to know whether / how much pain he was in before you could know what you could / needed to do It's never easy as you probably know yourself but what jumped at me even more was the sense of love - of you wanting to - and doing - the very best you could to make sure he was loved and knew it right until the end. However raw it is I am sure Max will have known that love, the same love he'd always loved and would now want you to think of him in happier times rather than with sadness "Don't cry for me when I'm gone" Three score years are given to man, But ours is a much briefer span. So, though I give you all my heart, The time will come when we must part. But all around, you will see Creatures that speak to you of me; A tired horse, a hunted thing, A sparrow with a broken wing... Pity and help, (I know you will), And, somehow, I will be with you still. I shall know, although I'm gone, The love I gave you lingers on. RIP Max

Bless them, there's an obvious turnaround in this young dogs life. I think it also just goes to prove that just shipping every dog in difficulty over here isn't either necessary or the answer to the worlds problems. Well done to all concerned.

I read an article in a Grace magazine my Dad handed me once which told of an old farmer recommending carrots to fight a reoccuring lump on a foot vets had been unable to solve. It did actually work for that dog & there are other suggestions on the net (from reputable organisations) that seem to say it's not as daft as it may originally sound. EG http://www.nhs.uk/news/2010/11November/Pages/vegetables-carrot-pumpkin-fight-cancer-protect-heart.aspx Good luck

Came across this via our local papers website, I'd not seen it before but it's an incredible story. http://www.vetstreet.com/our-pet-experts/d...utbrain_8283828

Thanks for the replies. I think we are getting there, we've only had one minor spat in the month they've been together - perhaps a little over exuberance on Lucys part. In the main Lucy (dog) likes to "chase" after the cat (in play / wanting to be in with everything she does & with a wagging tail) & Chloe likes to hide behind a chair and then pop into view with a playful paw (never actually swipes her). I think perhaps Lucy seeming so big & wanting to be in Chloe may have been a bit unsure at first how friendly her intentions may be but she'll now quite happily come alongside Lucy when it suits her. Lucy has been used to hunger I think & can be a little protective of her food / bones if Chloe approaches but nothing major. Whilst I don't yet leave them alone together when I'm out in general things seem to be going reasonably well now.

How sad, neither look that old, & both very sweet. I hope that with your help both are able to stage a recovery. Good luck

Bless!

Real Hobsons choice at the end. Speidi were awful really - but nevertheless entertaining & the series would have been far quieter without them. I thought watching him play the villain as they left was amusing. Still don't like Rylan & can't believe he's the best CBB could come up with. I was pleased to see Ryan in the last 3 as I thought he was genuine throughout / deserved to win. Is there another CBB tagged onto the Summer season again does anyone know?

Sorry to read of your loss http://www.indigo.org/rainbowbridge_ver2.html

I think I'd like to see either Ryan or Frankie win as they strike me as being himself & genuine. Some of the others are a lot quieter than I'd have expected them to be - Claire (who I think may go tonight), Gillian, Trisha (who I'd expected to be a lot more fun / feisty / entertaining somehow) etc. Speidi are too full of themselves for my liking & seem to think they've got it won, whilst I still haven't warmed to Rylan (though to be fair he's probably been a bit more entertaining than I expected) nor Razor. I thought Lacey was okay, but just a bit naive personally. Not sure what she'll have to say on Bit on the side tonight but according to the end of last nights show she's been tweeting "bitch is going down" of Heidi since she left.

Right result I thought, Sam still seemed slightly full of himself on Bit on the side to me. I may have to wash my own mouth out now but much as I personally don't like him I can't really see Rylan being voted out over Claire. Whether she still has a strong following from Steps I'm not sure but she's been quiet in the house so it will be interesting to see who else goes up as a result of nominations.

When introducing a dog with an inclination to chase given the chance to cats - in particular a kitten of around 7 months old who hasn't previously mixed with dogs & who will run if possible but will arch & would presumably claw if pushed - how long does it typically take for them to settle totally with each other? I've never had a cat before and am currently caring for a young stray gsd (for about a fortnight now). I can get them sat / laid calmly & within a couple of feet in a room if watched but wouldn't trust them unsupervised at present. Cat had begun to move towards the dog more but will run off at other times for no obvious reason. Dog then wants to chase Dog seems curious at times but is less friendly at others (eg guards over bone, will loom over cat as they look at each other through a glass door) Not sure whether I'm just being impatient but I'd hoped they'd have been totally comfortable with each other by now.

I like the twist but think the pair of them are awful. I haven't warmed to Sam & think he, rather than Ryan, will go tonight. Was it just me or did anyone else think Paula had either been drinking or, failing that, on some sort of medication before going on Bit on the side last night?

Exciting times for you then, good luck for the future

Personally I thought it very unprofessional of her to say so publicly, Jo Hemmings, a phsychiatrist working for BB when on C4 reportedly said on Twitter she'd failed tests for the show about three years ago. It appears Paulas spokesman acknowledges this as true though saying she did pass tests this year http://www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-2259098/Celebrity-Big-Brother-2013-Should-Paula-Hamilton-house-failing-C4-psychiatric-tests.html

Babies, do you think he'd know what to do with you then? I just don't see his sweet side I'm afraid. I do think Frankie will be entertaining, though Paula may well be right that he has a game plan. As to her (& Yantans) views on Razor don't be fooled, he's a dreadful "man", whose views on life include comments like blaming his ex wife & kids for his circumstances seemingly resulting from his own boozing, womanising & infidelity http://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/celebrity-big-brother-neil-ruddock-1517598

Hey Xmas & the New year have been & gone so just put that booze away! I felt sorry for Paula last night really. She may be "eccentirc" but surely the "Spidey" pair deserved to go more than she did?