menage_a_trois

No probs - if I were in a position to give you all the facts, I would. I`ve got involved late in this situation and am trying to help, is all. I`m sure you`ll understand I can`t speculate or do the woulda/coulda/shoulda thing - or give details in what is now a legal matter. I do find it worrying that these contracts or agreements have never, it seems, been tested in law, as the answer to my original question - has there ever been a similar event that has gone to court - seems to be No.

Many thanks for help - I`ll pass all the helpful ones on to the people concerned cheers. (in response to queries - I`m a friend of the rehomers - and I am trying to help because of the risk to animals involved)

The couple rehomed a boy and girl puppy on the understanding that they were to be neutered / spayed asap. The male was neutered AFTER the bitch`s first season , when she was in whelp. They are refusing to let anyone see the dogs so we can check to see if they`re OK. We think the pups were born last week. We suspect they will be sold, as they small `doodles`. A solicitors letter has gone out but there has been no response.

Has anyone managed to win a court case about a rescued bitch who has been allowed to get in whelp? We are in the process of going to court now to get the bitch and pups back, using a friendly solicitor, but she specialses in Family Law so any advice would be welcome. The adoption agreement stipulates that the rescue is the owner and that the animal should be neutered.

Hell is other people - that`s why we love our dogs! I get it the other way, having 3 big dogs, other people tend to run away (occasionally picking their little dears up, which is vastly amusing). Actually, 2 of mine would love to play, but rarely get the chance. I do sympathise with you - have you tried bellowing `My dog`s got ringworm! Best if yours doesn`t get too close!`?

Over? Over! bah humbug..the trains are STILL not running and I can`t get anyone on the phone from councils, schools or quangos. I don`t think the country wil return to normal till next Monday. Next year I`m hibernating.

Daisy: "Ve go for valk now? NOW? OK, so I throw the ballie at you till you change your mind. Ve haff vays of making you valk!` Laddie: `Eh? What? Is it dinner time yet?! I don`t beleeeeeeeive it! Bran: Durrrrr.

There is a free (to private users) spamfilter here http://www.spamfighter.com/Product_Info.asp I use the paid version and it`s very good

you have clicked on a site that has allowed them to track your computer. You can google them and find ways to remove them if you are fairly PC savvy, but TBH they really aren`t worth worrying about. I assume you already have anti-virus soft-ware? This will take care of the real nasties. If you haven`t you can get free anti-virus software from AVG (click on the free / trial version to download)

Toy guns are fine - as long as they are obviously `toys` - e.g. bright green plastic ray-guns! The ones I wouldn`t let my 3 sons play with are the ones that look like the real thing. `Toy` ones stimulate the imagination - `realistic` ones bring the violence of the real world into childrens lives.

my local vet group has a vet who`s also a trained acupuncturist - it doesn`t seem to be that unusual now. And I`ve taken my dog to a qualified chiropractor who is also trained with animals - I think that`s rarer. I would alway look for proper training in these therapies because an `amateur` could do tremendous harm. It may be worth travelling for these treatments - we found them really helpful with a dog who was almost crippled with spondylosis

In my area spaying fees vary widely from vet to vet, so it`s worth phoning round. That price seems very high - my GSD will cost £130 and she`s a big dog.

As someone who is working hard (and succeeding, thank goodness) with a people-agressive rescue dog, I would like to add that I found it really difficult to get help from behaviourists, trainers and clubs. I was really lucky to finally find a club with a trainer who could help us. Previous to this, I met with unanswered emails / phone calls, exclusion from clubs, and inappropriate advice. One `trainer` forcibly wrestled my muzzled dog to the ground, and as a result she is understandably suspicious of trainers. I understand from speaking to our dog warden that the problem is growing, as fewer people socialise and train their dogs, and I have found the `compensation culture` problem make dog clubs wary of admitting aggressive dogs. However, I think my greatest concern is to protect the unsuspecting public. Basket muzzles are a wonderful invention! I would recommend your friend use one - if only because if someone else gets bitten by her dog, he could be pts.

wood-gatherer garden ornaments (well, I like looking at them...)

surely it is never `acceptable` for a dog to bite? At the club I go to, the antisocial/aggressive dogs are introduced to agility when they are starting to behave themselves because then their owners need to learn to control them when the dog is excited.