KathyM

Not one enquiry about these boys as yet.

How are things going? Don't forget they need seperating at 4.5 weeks. Would love to see pics, have you picked your keeper boys yet?

I would imagine if the baby fell off the table, there would be some physical evidence to show for it, although that's not always the case I know, just more likely than not from that sort of height. I would also trust the report of the coroner, they have no reason to bias things against the dogs even if the press like to. However like others I am appauled that the grandmother faces no comeback for leaving a baby in a dangerous situation with no supervision. I can only assume if the legal system was fair (and I concede it's far from!) that the grandmother had some sort of mitigating factor/s affecting the situation that was/were unavoidable. I cannot see what they could be though, and regardless of the way in which the baby died, he died because he wasn't being supervised. You can't put the sole blame on the dogs, because it simply wouldn't have happened if he was supervised properly.

The smoke-wafting has the opposite effect on me now. Despite having said I'd never be one of those whining ex-smokers, I find myself feeling very (inwardley!) resentful about being subjected to smoke around doorways, outside the bus station and supermarkets, on the train platforms (where it's non-smoking). I never say anything but it's hard not to gag. It's not the people I feel angry at, it's the fags lol.

We used to have rules here too, ahhh those were the days. Now we just have a list of things that it would be nice if she did when asked, but that none of us expect her to do really. Then if she does it's a bonus. I'm sure she has a list for us.....

Yes

I received an email just now from a pet rehoming yahoo group saying she actually has kept these two dogs in her home, they're not in the pound like she said. What a surprise, they'll have a price tag on soon!

I haven't thought about using JWB because of the whole Mars/Pedigree/animal testing side of things, but that was a while back, are they still owned by them? Orijen is just way too overpriced for us here, Dharma's a bullmastiff and it's cheaper to homecook daily than to buy that for her. Anyway, this Challenge food looks ideal and isn't vastly overpriced, so we're going to see what the free bag that's on its way is like

Ooo no I don't deserve a well done, it's not hard to give up at all. I do however have to thank Sam for helping Baz and I to do it - he gave up too and we're a completely smoke free family now. My son Dan was bullied into trying a cigarette at school (he neither sucked nor inhaled lol) and we went through some of the points in the book and he feels much stronger about things too. Thanks Sam, and thanks everyone else who helped make us make the decision to do it. You don't lose anything from trying and there's so much to gain. I'm honest when I say Baz and I didn't have any cravings at all once we'd had Sam's help. ps: I'm reading the fat book now.....

I have gallbladder probs without stones, it's called biliary diskynesia but I've spelled it wrong I think. Basically you get the pain of stones with no stones and no chance of it getting better. And I have it all the time. Which is nice. The pain is bearable when you've had it every day for a year. No it's not really, that's what the tramadol are for, mwahahaha! On the plus side, when explaining it to others, you get to say the word sphincter, which always leads to Wayne's World quotes. Hope you're feeling much better soon, you have my sympathy on the pain side of things!!

Well reporting back on this..... Dharma gained a lot of weight on this food, maybe because of the spuds? We put her onto the "Light" version and she gained even more. Only Dharma eh? She hated the stuff too and I suspect having to mix in low fat cottage cheese or sardines every day to make her eat was one issue! Zooplus had initially had this down at a competitive price, but then hoiked it up to over £50 a sack the other day. It then got reduced to £39, but it just isn't worth it to her (I'm not saying it's not good value at that price for dogs who do well on it as it is and it's a 20kg sack). We now are waiting for a trial pack of a new food called Challenge Salmon and Potato. At £27 a sack this might be the one. I bloody hope so! http://www.challengedogfood.com/productrange.html Sharon from Challenge is really lovely and helpful, and the food comes in two different protein levels, which is ace considering it's hard enough finding grain free from a company, but having two to choose from is fantastic!

13 months and not one craving!

Baz and I were looking at taking the kids and Dharma away this summer. Decided against Ireland as neither of us want to pay into the country as long as their laws are so ridiculous. Even if we didn't get caught I'd be paying into the tourism side of things when I don't agree with their laws. I suppose if you're definite on going, it would be advisable to be prepared to have to follow the restrictions as you don't know you won't get stopped and it would be risking the dogs I would imagine? I don't want to go overboard and compare it to having a spliff on the beach in Thailand.......

Parents are not taught how to teach their children dog safety, so you rely on parents having dog savvy. I don't think even the "worst" parents are "arrogant" about dog safety. Complacent maybe, ignorant definitely in some cases. I think it's bound to look disproportionally bad in places where there are high concentrations of children and dogs. You're well within your rights to ask people not to approach your dogs, and if they don't listen, more fool them. I wouldn't dwell on it too much, as we're not all bad.

I noticed people were assuming the baby was left alone, but I did read on one link that the baby was actually left in a Moses basket on the floor and it was "unclear" whether the gran was in the room. Completely agree with this post. My son was attacked by a dog in our home and suffered facial injuries when he was pinned to the floor and shaken. I was in the room, it was like slow motion, I couldn't stop it.

Let's not go making assumptions or even suggestions here about the staffie being previously aggressive - lots of people buy dogs to make them feel more secure, doesn't mean they're aggressive! From what I've read there isn't even any proof that the dogs had any part in it so far - noone saw any blood on them, but there was plenty on the grandmother. I'm not saying they didn't do it, but this is why we don't jump to conclusions before the facts are known.

Don't tell anyone, but I got a life. I know, shocking to me too! :laugh:

Let me get this straight - the complaint was about using a toy (and by that I mean fake, not the size) dog to narrate a story, on the basis that it is a dog, not because the ad has graphic portrayal of the effects of drug use? LOL - that is so the wrong way round, putting a fake dog first. I love the advert myself, I think it's brilliant. ETA: Sorry didnt see how old this was! Been quiet here hasn't it!

http://www.mirror.co.uk/2009/02/07/tot-mau...15875-21105296/ This is the way some of the news stories are starting to go - how predictable. There has been no official comment on which dog (if any, as there hasn't even been a postmorten yet!) was the "ringleader", and already it's all down to the staffie with the only mention of the other dog being that when one dog attacks another might join in.

Doesn't sound like it makes a difference now - open and awful or shut and nowhere to go, noone wins

This is so near us. I wish I could help but I can't risk an unvacc'ed unknown quantity here. This is very sad news

Thank you - she said on the other board that they were already reported to Doglost (after lots of pestering by me), but they weren't put up, but then I haven't looked this morning.

Reporting it now as breaking news - baby killed in Wales by (reportedly) staffie and jack russell. http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/wales/7876508.stm

Donna at the Akita Trust will be checking into this. I'd rather not get any more involved (I have very good reason for this, you know I won't stay out of something this important unless there is good reason). I wish I could, but my family needs me to step back from this one after some threatening comments were made.

They are apparently in a Manchester pound, it's just she doesn't want anyone to know which, which I thought was understandable until others shared info and made me feel really gullible. It has come to light that she has two animal related convictions and rescues have had to go in in the past for other species, and I'm concerned that she has ulterior motives and will go back for them. I've contacted akita rescues.