sproggie14

I agree with every word you have said Billy, that's totally my view. Every time I've heard one of the BNP lot speaking it has been really embarrasing rubbish. Not just their views but they just come across as thick and rude. So I'm hoping, like you, that tonight they will simply show themselves for what they are and become a laughing stock.

Correct me if I'm wrong but I would imagine cat food is only bad fairly long term. Presumably because it is higher in protein and therefore puts extra strain on the kidneys? There's no nice way to say this but perhaps now it's just a case of giving her whatever she will eat even if it's not all that good for her in the medium to long term

The population thing is sort of a myth. They're not as out of control as they might appear, they're simply more visible than they used to be. Their population size is regulated by territory and food availability so it certainly can be affected by feeding them. What it can't be affected by is methods of pest control which remove the individual either lethally or through live trapping. If an individual is removed then the remaining animals will breed to replace them as there is then spare food and territory. But yeah, they're no danger to cats or hedgies really. My cat used to play with the fox that lived in the garden next door and I've seen plenty of foxes be chased away by territorial cats

The thing to bear in mind when you feed wildlife is the effect it will have on them and other species. Most animals breeding is regulated by food supply so n feeding them you're not just helping those individuals you are encouraging them to create more. And anything that they don't eat will be left for other species and then encourage them to breed. With badgers I think encouraging an increase in their numbers is generally recognised as a positive thing. My only caveats would be a) are you in a rural area where an increase in numbers might prompt a cull b) are you in an area where there are hedgehogs. Hedgie numbers are more threatened than those of badgers so I wouldn't personally want to increase numbers of badgers where they might have a negative impact on those of hedgehogs c) be careful not to leave waste around and encourage the sort of species which others might wish to cull such as rats and squirrels. In general I would advise against feeding foxes certainly regularly or in any great quantity. There is a fair quantity of negative feeling about them especially concerning their numbers and how tame they are becoming. Feeding them encourages both of these problems. Although local councils won't get involved in the control of foxes private companies will. So increasing their numbers could potentially lead to individuals being killed. It's one of those situations like feeding pigeons and gulls where although you are doing something nice in the short term, in the long term you could potentially be doing more harm to the animals.

Yeah I definitely thought he seemed like he was on something

1) you don't know who the animal will end up with. It is known that some snake keepers for example look for rodents advertised free in order to get food for their snakes. Or it could be someone who will be cruel or who collects animals. It's hard enough for a rescue to filter out the bad homes, it's pretty much impossible for an individual to do it. Serial rehomers get clever and know what to say to people. 2) if the person the animal is homed to can no longer care for them, what happens then? If homed through a rescue the animal gets life time backup and is guaranteed safety for life but who knows how the next person might choose to dispose of the animal or how careful they would be about choosing the new home. 3) Entire animals might be collected for breeding in order for someone to make money 4) Animals might be collected in order to train fighting dogs by being bait 5) freecycle is about preventing things ending up in landfill. One would hope that this isn't the alternative when animals are advertised there. Allowing animals to be advertised on freecycle suggests that they are objects and property to be disposed of when no longer wanted.

But I think their point was that Kandy Rain couldn't really be whinging one minute that no-one liked them or took them seriously because they used to be strippers and then come out dressed in little more than their underwear. Yeah Danni and Cheryl have dressed similarly and I think it's sad when any female artist feels she needs to dress like that to get attention but I do think they were silly to dress like that when they particularly want to get away from that image. I wouldn't be surprised if they leave tonight. Although the twins were worse I think there is a certain amount of sympathy for them now which might save them. But Kandy Rain were the second worst singers and did themselves no favours in terms of winning the public over.

On Monday I realised that Mollie was turning 10 and a half. So, given her great age, I thought we'd celebrate Celebrating for Mollie of course means her favourite things - bread and digestive biscuit Tiring stuff all this celebrating

Fabulous Milly really is amazing

They do fine on three legs but usually I find that the decision needs to be made more because the lump is dragging on the ground than because the leg itself is affected. It is amazing what they can cope with - in fact here is the above mentioned Lily with her big lump. As you can see she charged about and refused to let it hold her back. It was once it began dragging on the floor (which can then lead to wounds and infection and, obviously, pain) that we made the decision to let her go.

I suspect you're doing the right thing. Two popping up and growing that quick does indeed suggest that they are cancerous Hopefully she'll be around for a while yet though. I had a girl diagnosed with lymphoma and was told to take her home and make her comfy for her last couple of weeks. She lasted another 7 months!

Yes it's unlikely that a week will make any major difference. I personally don't usually get the lumps tested. In all honesty it doesn't usually make any difference to the treatment. If a lump is removable I have it removed, if it isn't I don't, regardless of whether or not it is cancerous. Sadly there is no chemo or similar available for rats. But £110 for a lump removal is rather expensive - in fact it's double what I usually pay near enough. Are you still in Dartford? If so you could get to my vet in half hour which you might think is worth it for a very experienced vet at half the cost. Or there's http://www.trinityvetcentre.co.uk/ who is an excellent vet and an exotic specialist although I'm not sure how much he charges.

In a rat of her age with a lump in that location I would usually opt to have the lump removed (unless the vet recommends otherwise for some reason). Yes most mammary lumps in rats are benign but they can grow very quickly. Although a benign lump wouldn't spread and cause organ damage like a malignant lump, they can grow to the point where they cause so much discomfort and so many issues with mobility that the rat needs to be euthanased. So, better to remove the lump while the rat is as young as possible and the lump is as small as possible.

My only suggestion would be to find a good, specialist vet. If after 4 visits this vet hasn't done something (eg tests, x-rays etc) then they might need replacing. Although buns are common pets, they're sadly of the sort that many people wont' spend a lot of money on vet bills for. Subsequently your average vet might not be very well experienced in their treatment. I would advise going to an exotic or rabbit specialist.

Ooh that's made my day that has

Today we went to Animaline in Sussex to deliver a pigeon we have been looking after. The lovely people at Animaline kindly agreed to let her live out her days in their aviary as her wing was too badly damaged for release. Anyway, we met lots of lovely animals but a definite favourite was Theo the Akita/Lab cross. He's been there a few months waiting for the right person. He had issues when he arrived but is now a wonderful, playful lad but needs a home who can keep his ego in check a little Isn't he dreamy? Tiring work being this handsome His carer at the sanctuary luffs him lots He might be a teensy bit tarty!

Such great news that it's not cancer Wishing him a speedy recovery from the break

Still thinking lots of positive thoughts

Lots of good thoughts for Nog

So sorry What next? Is chemo an option?

So sorry Karen

Yes pale gums can be anaemia or shock. I'd maybe give the vet a call just to see what they think

Thanks everyone

I'm so so sorry the news wasn't better Milly is a merle dog and therefore made of pretty stern stuff. Everything crossed that she copes well with three legs. Otherwise would there perhaps be some way we could do a little fugee appeal to try and raise what yourself and the insurance cant cover for a prosthetic limb? I know we'd contribute and I'm sure plenty of other fugees love you and Milly enough to contribute a little if it's decided that this would be in her best interests.

Lots of healing thoughts being sent. Loki had a foot lump a couple of years ago which she had removed. There was worry about amputation for her too but thankfully it turned out to be benign and it wasn't needed. My Mum's greyhound had a terribly damaged foot when they adopted her and had a toe removed. It actually made things much better for her and she copes just fine