KathyM

Thank you ever so much, I haven't stopped thinking about him all day and have even sneakily walked past his house to nosey on him (it's on the way to the allotment and he wasn't in the yard anyway lol). When I was cooking the roast chicken this aft I was fantasising about him smelling the chicken and coming to us like the Littlest Hobo His owner wasn't horrible - he obviously isn't great but then noone's perfect and it was clear he wanted to give him to us. He did say if he "got too much" he would ring us. I have a feeling I'll be waiting every day and never hear from them again though. ETA: It's weird that I feel a bit like I broke up with a boyfriend (that's not pervy lol), perhaps this has brought Seth's death back to me. I didn't really allow myself to consider another because that was so traumatic to everyone, Dharma especially. If he ever comes back, him and I might have to run away together!

LOL that was my initial thought, but since I got up I've been sat with the door open hoping if he jumps his fence again he'll come and live here. How pathetic am I lol.

Thanks for your help, you're ace, thanks. He's back home now. His owner said he only escaped this morning but he's forever escaping as he jumps up on the outhouse and over the fence. Recommended he gets his nuts off and keeps an eye on his chest as he had the beginnings of a cough (probably KC). He said he doesn't want him but his kids won't let him give him away. We have offered to take him if he gets past that. Thank you ever so much for your help.

Can someone run me through the legalities of holding a stray dog at home when you know where the owner lives? A dog came in our house today, and it's rare there's a stray up this end so we bobbed a lead on him and walked around the area until we found his home. People up and down the street said he's been out since yesterday. Found where he lives (thanks to a child that remembers him) and when we got there, there was an open gate and a nearly empty bowl of dog food that was swimming in rain water. We saw a bloke hanging round the street and asked him if he knew the dog. He said it belonged to the people at that house and they're his mates. He then went on to shout in a growling voice "GER 'ERE you little F-er!" and said he'd sort out the little "s" word, that he barks and escapes all the time. I said I wasn't happy leaving him without the owner being back (he wanted to just shut him back in the yard) and said we'd take him home til his owners ring. We have left our phone number. I don't want to make any assumptions but I wondered if anyone had any ideas for what to do. I am going to offer to take this dog if they don't want him, but the idea of handing him back makes me nervous and I'm tempted to say he ran off.

Did they say if any are neutered?

Max is now in a new home!

Thanks ever so much! I do love the look of the Tuffies. How waterproof is the woven one?

Cheers, will do! Hopefully they'll do a mattress or beanbag type one.

Thanks both of you! I'm afraid my DIY skills are not up to building her a bed, shameful as that is! I like the look of the Kudos ones, wonder if they would make me one about twice as deep though as we've had ones of similar depth that were rolled out by her. The polyester filled beds don't seem to last for her at all, they just end up flat within a week. Perhaps she needs a Silentnight mattress, they're made for hippos! ETA: I read about Tuffies too, which look spot on but I've read loads of people saying they're a waste of money as dogs refuse to sleep on them. Does anyone have experience of these?

I'm so sorry

Hi you lot I was wondering if anyone could recommend an extra large and super tough, preferably hosable dog bed? I remember someone posting about giant beanbag type ones that were along the lines of what I need. Dharma is huge, she needs a 120cm+ bed (probably bigger). We have had foam bed off eBay and have used more recently a Danish Designs fake leather mattress type one, but none have lasted. Foamy/donut style ones are rolled out to a pancake within minutes under her weight and the leather type ones have the coating scratched off as she likes to dig her bed up. I need something made out of super strong fabric that's waterproof and scratchable. It needs to be big and v. deep/thick as she is getting on and has a bad back/neck. More importantly it needs to keep it's shape/support long term, as most other beds claiming to have not. If anyone could help me find one that would be ace. Budget always an issue but not so much so this time as I have my grant in September, whoo lol. Thanks Kathy

Cage is sold.

Max is still looking for a new home. I do have a huge cage up for sale/swaps for dirt cheap if it helps get some interest in him.

Contact details: PM me Location: Keighley, West Yorkshire Number of groups: 1 ------------- Group: 1 Number of rats: 1 Sex: Male Age(s): Approximately 1 year old. Name(s): Nicknamed "Max" because of large size. Reason for rehoming: One of two male rats handed to me after being badly neglected. Other rat has had major surgery and cannot be paired back with Max, so Max is now looking for a lovely new home where he can be introduced to baby/young boys. Will the group be split: n/a Transport available: To local area otherwise rat train? Other (please include info on health, temperament, colour/variety, etc): Max is a lovely (and large!) siamese hooded dumbo rat. He is very cuddly once out of the cage, a little bit shy about being picked up but Connie (10 year old daughter) has no problems getting him out so nothing major lol. Unfortunately Max's former cagemate can no longer live with him, and Max is in need of a new home where he can be introduced very carefully to other rats, preferably young boys. I always offer to take rats back should introductions not work out, but provisions must be made by the new owner to house Max seperately until intros are complete (as with any rat). New owners will be expected to complete a questionaire and sign a contract promising to return Max should he ever need rehoming in the future.

Thanks, looks like we're out of the woods now and we have been very lucky indeed that we have had no losses. Other people affected by this outbreak lost up to 20+ in two days. We are still in quarantine for now but are feeling very lucky. Thanks for the support, it was lovely of you all xxx

Thank you all so much! Both boys are still with us. Double D has nearly recovered, I am pleased to say. He was not as ill as Sirius. Sirius is fighting it, he is still desperately ill but is stronger than the other day, just. I am not ready to give up if he's not, he is at least not in pain now as he has good pain relief now. It is a very painful illness for them to have apparently. All others are now recovering well. This is such a bloomin' awful disease. I am very grateful to the NFRS for all their help and support and am glad that all the rat clubs have cancelled shows til autumn now. Unfortunately some people are still selling and homing rats while infected, so it will still be going round no doubt. We are in lockdown for the next 6 weeks, nothing in, nothing out. Please everyone be very vigilant with your rats.

Sirius and Double D both have secondary pneumonia now. I would imagine they will be making their final journey tomorrow.

Sirius now has secondary pneumonia and needs a miracle if he's going to make it through the night. He has had all treatment and is sleeping after some brandied and honeyed milk. Anorexia needs to be added to the symptom list, some of my affected rats are refusing food and water and are having to be syringe fed.

Can I advise rat owners and rescues to be particularly vigilant at the moment due to SDAV doing the rounds? http://www.nfrs.org/sdav.html 17 of my rats are poorly after attending two shows (most likely picked up at the first). Several other ratteries are infected up here, and a rescue is on lockdown following a spate of deaths. Lisa has lost 3 so far, I haven't lost any but that is more than likely set to change. The main symptoms we have seen are: Most cases are fluffed up Some have weight loss Some are lethargic Some have throat swelling to varying degrees, mostly minor Some, but not many, have v. slightly enlarged eyes - not so much to notice usually, but because we're watching for symptoms Some are sneezy, but not many Some have porphyrin round their eyes and/or nose Lisa's first death was quite dramaticly obvious as SDAV, and given that enlarged lymph glands and/or eyes are diagnostic symptoms, we are certain we have it here. My rats have been ill for 2 days with no deaths so far. Most healthy adult rats will survive this virus depending on whether they develop secondary infection. If you think you have a case of this, can I please beg you to contact the NFRS and let them know. xxx

Just another thought - how does he know these people are permanent residents? If you were visiting another country and needed help, you might use a Post Office, might you not? Fancy being told to sling your hook because you're not X nationality or fluent in the language. I could understand if he decided to have leaflets for local groups that help people coming into this country with the language (and they are out there, they're not rare). I can't understand us condoning (let's face it) racism just because the guy's Asian. People are right that political correctness has gone mad because I could put a fiver on this story having the opposite spin in the papers if the guy was white and British. Hang on, this was in the Daily Mail wasn't it? I take it back, he'd still be patted on the back....

Thanks you two! I am pleased to report that Connie is feeling much better now. I think things have sunk in a bit more for her (and for me!). I am completely blessed with all my kids, even when they drive me insane (like tonight "Honest mum my room's nearly done!").

Aww shucks you lot! Thanks. I always feel like I'm screwing it up but the kids are great so that's got to mean summink (maybe more about Baz being fab lol). We have suggested to Dan (without mentioning finance) that he gets his littler pressies on the day then we plan a day out to get the big one (a bike we think) together. We're also planning either bowling, a BBQ or a pub lunch to celebrate too. I quite fancy the latter if I can find one on a bus route but somewhere where there's a nice walk. But it's ultimately up to him obviously lol!

Ooo I dunno about that. I've got Dan recovering from a head injury he got at school today (some bullies slammed a gate into his forehead and he is now officially Klingon), and just found out my grant is no longer arriving on 6th, but is now coming on 20th. Dan's birthday is 15th and we were relying on the grant Wonderful! God knows what we'll do now but I doubt he'll be getting either of the two things he would like (not that he expected both)! It's my own fault - Mother's Day was kindof shite, so we said we rerun it today as "Family Day" and obviously whenever anyone's planning anything nice in this house something has to go horribly wrong.

The Figure 8 collars might be ok for narrower nosed dogs like greys/lurchers but to a dog without a thin muzzle they're awful. I tried one on Dharma and it hurt her like hell as it tightened right up and squeezed her smoosh into a tight puckered up knot. Horrible. I've got a Kumfi Dogalter here but it just slid around on her face. The Canny Collar was ok as it doesn't squeeze the muzzle, just lowered the head - but the strap was thin and easily twisted so rubbed a bit. I think she's basically got a problem with head halters with a face like hers, but the body alternatives like the Walkezee aren't an option any more because they exacerbated her neck problem by squeezing her shoulders and making her scream (and I doubt I'd use them again on any dog on reflection as I don't think that's the kind of control I want over any animal ).

Well we've just got back (nipped to Morrisons for essentials for Connie too, like chocklit ). She had stage fright when the doc asked her to produce a sample at the docs, but was busting by Morrisons so we nipped a sample back to the docs for the nurse to test. She doesn't have a wee infection (but then her wee was literally colourless and diluted by drinking tonnes through the night and morning). Apparently nothing shows up at all. Doc didn't think she had a wee infection anyway as apparently her symptoms and where the pain is don't fit. He thinks it's something puberty related and has given her some ibuprofen tablets. He's taken her at her word for the bleeding and she has therefore had her first period. Wish mine had been like that!!! Her wee in Morrisons and her subsequent wee at the docs (lol only after the sample was done!) were painless, so we're hoping if there was anything brewing it was flushed out by the amount of liquid she's had. She is now sat on the end of the sofa oblivious to what I'm typing on here and munching on Bombay mix and chocolate orange segments. A good healthy diet there. I suppose it's a downhill slippery slope from here to chocolate, Bombay mix, Always Ultra and Clearasil. She is, jokes aside, much more relaxed this aft and is she says very relieved that it's all sorted. I am amazed how unphased she's been by this, she's talked to both Baz and I about things of her own volition so I think we're ok there. Phew! Thank you all for your help!