Rudi

I would think that only people who don't eat meat can really object to the RSPCA using a captive bolt gun as a means of killing a dog. They've probably had as much training on using it as a vet or a slaughter house employee does. Thousands upon thousands of animals are killed this way each day in the UK. People might find it an offensive way to kill a dog and I would not choose to watch my dogs end their lives in that way, but there's no moral difference whatsoever. They're used in a slaughter house as quick means of destroying the front parts of the brain to render an animal unconcious but the brain stem stays alive for a while and the heart continues pumping, to allow the animal to be bled.

The US wouldn't have freed the Lockerbie bomber so I don't expect the fact that Scotland did will make them think any more favourably towards Gary McKinnon, probably the opposite because they'll assume he won't get punished in a way they deem appropriate. If Gary McKinnon gets sent to the US it will be an absolute travesty - he has Asperger's for f**ks sake, how traumatising will it be for him to lose all that is familiar and go off into the unknown. Be bad enough for the average person. There's no way he should get a custodial sentence when there was no real harm done.

Thought this was interesting http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/england/8223644.stm

I know why they're scamming people, it's always about money what I meant was their excuses are particularly pathetic and don't hold water, why would anyone believe that the dogs' bodies were stolen and if that truly was the case - they still sought to mislead people by giving back ashes of dogs that had been "stolen". Hopefully the lies will be seen through by whoever licences these places.

I just read this, it's awful. Their excuse is pathetic - why would anyone steal dogs' bodies and why send ashes for a dog that was not cremated. It's so cruel for the families involved.

I suppose there are practical issues to be considered, if you had several children in a class that was specifically geared towards autistic children who wanted to bring their dogs, I guess it wouldn't really work. I think as far as others being frightened or allergic, there must be ways around that. Under 16s can't have guide dogs so it's not such an issue at school, but I remember a couple of people at university with them, and there's no way they would have been told they couldn't bring the dog to lectures if another student was scared or allergic... I'm not sure whether I'd think of the dogs as companions or service dogs, the ones I know of aren't 'trained' as such.

They're lovely photos

Jan is beautiful Glad she got to be so happy with you.

A friend of mine has a rottie of about six who has been under going chemo for several months and he's doing really well, the side effects have been minimal.

Brilliant

I would have thought that if your glasses don't help you to see better - then they aren't fit for purpose. There was some coverage of the Sale of Goods Act on The One Show: http://www.bbc.co.uk...tter_downl.html

Sleep tight Tessie x

I would have thought the RSPCA could act - the GSD puppy must have suffered when it was killed and the owners of the dogs that attacked it are responsible for that. Why can't there be destruction orders for people. If things had gone this far where I live, I would be telling the police that I am personally afraid for my safety when these dogs are around - they'd have to investigate under the DDA.

I love the last picture of the lady and her dog together

What wonderful brown eyes. Sleep tight Lily.

In response to Purple Mog (can't find any way of replying with a quote or with smilies etc - really not liking this new website) I think people should be locked up for life purely so they are out of society. No other reason. Prison should be reserved for people who commit serious crimes, not credit card fraudsters and taking a life should mean the loss of one's own and if there's no death sentence, then life in prison. I don't think rehabilitation even comes into it. I don't know what you mean by any member of society can do these things. I can't. People are responsible for their own actions, there are loads of people out there with horror stories for lives and they don't kill babies.

Good news Wonderful

I can see why an individual would revenge a member of their family or friend but mobs and 'vigilantes' are seldom better than the people they target. I refuse to believe that the people you see on TV baying for blood outside of court rooms etc., give a genuine stuff about the issues. It's just an excuse to act in an aggressive way within a group. I find people like that as stomach turning as I find the people they're against. The mentality of the people who behave like this was summed up in the incident that Fee4 mentions - when people targeted a paediatrician's office, getting it mixed up with 'paedophile'. I don't believe there's much of a comparison between the children who killed Jamie Bulger and the adults who killed Baby Peter. I agree with the Bulger killers getting new identities. I don't agree with Peter's killers having the same anonymity as I think they were more responsible for their actions. However, if they're released, they've done their time under the letter of the law in this country. I wouldn't feel any sorrow for them if they were targeted but those doing so would be no better. Adults who kill other people should spend their lives in prison, sadly they don't. The place to demonstrate is to government - to change the law.

Has anyone got any information or links etc., to sensible information about this? I can't find anything credible or up to date using Google. Thanks

Rudi (rottweiler) had a TTA at the end of January - he's still not put muscle back on the leg although x-rays show the joint has healed.

http://news.bbc.co.u...ire/8182222.stm

Has to be the right exercise too. Apparently walking, even briskly, isn't "proper" exercise according to my terribly helpful doctor.

My rottie had this and I used Hibiscrub on it. I don't know how the other products work that people have mentioned, but I found I had to really rub at the sores and keep the scabs off so it healed quickly.

There is someone at work I find it difficult to like. She is a drama queen, disruptive but has no insight, often ill which isn't her fault but the fact that her problems are bigger than anyone else's possibly could be is. She speaks in a breathy, quiet little girl voice when she wants something but if you challenge her, the voice and demeanour change quite rapidly. She has a 'sick' voice that gets better as a conversation goes on. She lies about stuff and doesn't work very hard. She makes comments to our boss about other people to curry favour and always, always expects someone else to sort problems out for her (despite being paid a manager's wage). On the other hand she can have a very gentle way about her, she has compassion for the unfortunate and can be a good laugh. She invited me to her wedding a while ago, I asked if she was sure as we didn't really get on and she said she'd like me there, so I decided to start a fresh and since then have counted to ten when she's annoyed me or addressed the issue immediately, made a real effort to value her good bits and decided that I am probably equally as annoying (although I hope I'd realise if I was) On the other hand another colleague is spiteful and has no regard for anything or anyone to any meaninful level. I decided she was dead wood and when she left - I haven't made any effort to stay in touch. Some people aren't worth knowing. I tolerated her whilst I had to work with her as I think, in general, at work, unless being civil to someone really compromises your own idea of what being honest and truthful is, you just grin and bear them and remember that they're just people you work with.

I would not hesitate to use pain killers for arthritis, it's painful even in the early stages and debilitating when it's advanced. If medication makes the dog happier and more comfortable I don't see a reason for not using it. A low regular dose is probably more beneficial than giving it once in a while. Hydrotherapy can help alleviate some of the stiffness, and physios can show you some massage and stretching techniques, as can chiropractors. What about acupuncture - that can help, along with painkillers. Regular short walks also help, as can magnetic collars. I was able to halve the rimadyl my elderly rottie was on by using a collar and walking him three to four times a day, so that he kept on the move.