Loving Lab
The little boy is wary of the dog at first, but the Labrador keeps trying and her patience is rewarded in the end.
The tenderness shown by the Labrador is intense, she just wants to mother the little boy.
Amazing and so beautiful.
I was in the middle of surgery when my colleague walked out and said, get ready for an emergency caesarean. Layla,a 12 month old Great Dane, had been scheduled for a pregnancy ultrasound later that afternoon. Her owner had wanted to check how many puppies were present and to make sure the pregnancy was going well.
Overnight, Layla went into labour..
http://rayyathevet.com/2012/12/03/are-you-sure-you-want-to-breed-from-your-dog
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My Girls – Poppy & Penny
Poppy
http://dailypost.wordpress.com/2012/10/01/weekly-photo-challenge-mine
In an act of kindness, the police took the dog, which was a female greyhound, to the Nuneaton Warwickshire Wildlife Sanctuary, which is run by a man named Geoff Grewcock, and known as a haven for animals abandoned, orphaned, or otherwise in need. Geoff and the other sanctuary staff went to work with two aims – to restore the dog to full health, and to win her trust. It took several weeks, but eventually both goals were achieved.
Jasmine
They named her Jasmine, and they started to think about finding her an adoptive home.
Jasmine, however, had other ideas.
No one quite remembers how it came about, but Jasmine started welcoming all animal arrivals at the sanctuary. It would not matter if it were a puppy, a fox cub, a rabbit or, any other lost or hurting animal. Jasmine would just peer into the box or cage and, when and where possible, deliver a welcoming lick.
Geoff relates one of the early incidents. “We had two puppies that had been abandoned by a nearby railway line. One was a Lakeland Terrier cross and another was a Jack Russell Doberman cross. They were tiny when they arrived at the center, and Jasmine approached them and grabbed one by the scruff of the neck in her mouth and put him on the settee. Then she fetched the other one and sat down with them, cuddling them.”
“But she is like that with all of our animals, even the rabbits. She takes all the stress out of them, and it helps them to not only feel close to her, but to settle into their new surroundings. She has done the same with the fox and badger cubs, she licks the rabbits and guinea pigs, and even lets the birds perch on the bridge of her nose.”
Jasmine, the timid, abused, deserted waif, became the animal sanctuary’s resident surrogate mother, a role for which she might have been born. The list of orphaned and abandoned youngsters she has cared for comprises five fox cubs, four badger cubs, fifteen chicks, eight guinea pigs, two stray puppies and fifteen rabbits – and one roe deer fawn.
Tiny Bramble, eleven weeks old, was found semi-conscious in a field. Upon arrival at the sanctuary, Jasmine cuddled up to her to keep her warm, and then went into the full foster-mum role. Jasmine the greyhound showers Bramble the roe deer with affection, and makes sure nothing is matted.
“They are inseparable,” says Geoff. “Bramble walks between her legs, and they keep kissing each other. They walk together round the sanctuary. It’s a real treat to see them.”
Jasmine will continue to care for Bramble until she is old enough to be returned to woodland life. When that happens, Jasmine will not be lonely. She will be too busy showering love and affection on the next orphan or victim of abuse.
Jasmine surrounded by some of her “family” – a super surrogate mother!
Pictured from the left are: “Toby,” a stray Lakeland dog; “Bramble,” orphaned roe deer; “Buster,” a stray Jack Russell; a dumped rabbit; “Sky,” an injured barn owl; and “Jasmine,” with a mother’sheart doing best what a caring mother would do… and such is the order of God’s Creation.
Update : Sadly, Jasmine passed away in October 2011 and is sorely missed by both humans and furry friends.
Related Article http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1103645/Meet-Jasmine-rescue-dog-surrogate-mother-50th-time.html
In spite of the wet weather, (believe it or not, it is not always hot and sunny in Oz!), we enjoyed a BBQ outside today with some friends.
Chicken Kebabs on a skewer with salad and potato salad – yummy!
The hub made his special chicken kebabs – chicken, mushrooms, onion, tomato, red, green and yellow capsicums, fed onto a skewer. I marinated the kebabs overnight in a recipe given to me by my friend, consisting of
plain yogurt
horseradish
juice of one lemon
grated lemon rind
Oops – caught out!
I made my famous potato salad which is always very popular with my friends.
I say ‘famous’, because when friends invite us to a BBQ, they always request that I bring one.
They say “it’s to die for” and I’m sure it will be brought up in my epitaph!
Here’s how I make mine:
Red skinned potatoes cubed & boiled al dente
2 hard boiled eggs chopped finely
mayonnaise
wholegrain (seeded) mustard
cooked pieces of bacon
red onion chopped small (raw)
dash of Italian Salad Dressing
Mix together & dress with a little parsley or chopped shallots
Also, TODAY was a canine birthday celebration.
My friend’s dog Sheba reached the grand old age of 14,
and she enjoyed her special day with our dog Poppy.
Happy Birthday Today, Sheba!
http://ilovemandaue.wordpress.com/2012/06/02/weekly-photo-challenge-today
This story and picture was sent to me by a friend (Thank You John A.) and I thought it was such a beautiful story that I would share it with everyone.
This is told as a true story, however I do not know for sure, Regardless I am sure you will be smiling after you have read it. :)
Tired Old Dog…
It’s not unusual for an orphaned infant of one species to be adopted by another animal of an entirely different species, especially when that animal is a nursing mother.
Females will often accept another species’ offspring into her own litter and raise it like one of her own, and the inter-species bonding begins . . .
A squirrel, just a few days old, was found injured and malnourished in the Seattle area in 2005. He was brought to Debby Cantlon, a local resident who is passionate about animals. Debby is known in the area for taking in sick and injured animals, and nursing them back to health.
The following photographs say it all.
When Debby took in the tiny creature and began caring for him, she found herself with an unlikely nurse’s aide - her pregnant Papillion, Mademoiselle Giselle
Finnegan and new mama - a dog!
Finnegan was resting in a nest in a cage just days before Giselle was due to deliver her puppies. Debby and her husband watched as the dog dragged the squirrel’s cage twice to her own bedside before she gave birth. Debby was concerned, yet ultimately decided to allow the squirrel out and the inter-species bonding began.
Finnegan rides a puppy mosh pit of sorts, burrowing in for warmth after feeding, eventually working his way beneath his new litter mates
Two days after giving birth, mama Giselle allowed Finnegan to nurse; family photos and a videotape show her encouraging him to suckle alongside her litter of five pups. Now, Finnegan mostly uses a bottle, but still snuggles with his ‘siblings’, rolling atop their bodies and sinking in deeply for a nap.
Finnegan and his new litter mates, five Papillion puppies, get along together as if they were meant to
Finnegan naps after feeding
Finnegan makes himself at home with his new litter mates, nuzzling nose-to-nose for a nap after feeding
As the puppies grew, they got a bit boisterous for Finnegan, so he found his own ‘safe place’ – a pocket in Debby’s jeans hooked to the back of her bedroom door!
Letting Go
When Finnegan was eight weeks old, Debby felt that he was old enough to be on his own, and began putting him outside. He would run around, but stayed within the confines of the yard, and every night he would scratch at the back door, or at Debby’s daughter’s window to be let in for the night.
Update
One night he didn’t come back, but he did return two weeks later with four other squirrels. He wasn’t seen again until Thanksgiving Day but wouldn’t let Debby touch him. He was wild and free – just what Debby had been hoping for – and doing exactly what he was supposed to be doing!
Wouldn’t it be nice if we could all get along like Finnegan and the gang?
Moral of the Story: Keep on loving everyone, even the squirrelly ones!
When I retired, I wanted to get away from the hustle and bustle of city life. I wanted to find somewhere quiet where I could relax, and also enjoy my passion for photography, somewhere I could listen to the birds sing and enjoy seeing and photographing some of our unique wildlife in their natural habitat. I love the ocean, so it had to be near a beach, a place where I could enjoy long walks with my dogs, and not too hilly so I could ride my bike in comfort.
I found such a place that has all that and more . . . a sleepy little fishing village called Burrum Heads, a four hour drive north from where I lived in the city, or three hours from Brisbane, the capital city of Queensland. Peace and tranquility abound in this little backwater of only 1,200 residents.
Burrum Heads
It isn’t a town you pass through on the way to some other destination, so if you miss the turn-off sign from the highway, you miss the town – there is only one road in and the same road out! The town is surrounded by National Park right down to the beach, so wildlife abounds! My passion for animals will be quenched here!
Everyone is friendly and most people know one other, at least by sight, and there is always someone ready to stop and have a chat.
One Road In . . . One Road Out
The aroma of coffee filters through the air as you walk past the shops – go grab one and sit at one of the outside tables along the row of shops across from the beach and watch the world go by. Unwind and relax - it’s that kind of place!
There are not many shops here, but enough for the necessities of life – the nearest reasonable sized town is half an hour away.
Burrum has a
Fancy eating out? Try the Pub or the Bowls Club, both serve delicious meals. There is a Library in the Community Centre where you can take a Yoga Class, or enjoy Thai Chi on the foreshore and have a laugh with the others who can’t get their co-ordination right either!
There are two caravan parks to cater for the influx of tourists who return here year after year to enjoy the fishing and sailing for which Burrum Heads is renowned. One of the caravan sites is right on the beachfront so you can wake up to an amazing ocean view every morning!
A fishing competition is held annually at Easter over two days, and people come from far and near to try their luck, as there are tempting prizes to be won! Fishing is a serious business here – the place is buzzing!
There are a few stalls selling hot and cold foods, drinks, ice cream, cotton candy, beachwear, a jumping castle for the children – and you can even take your dog!
Have a boat? No worries – there are two boat ramps to choose from to get your boat into the water. Explore the rivers and creeks in a small boat (we call them tinnies), or canoe, or just take advantage of the clear, warm water.
Life is simple here, nothing fancy, no skyscrapers, no bright lights, no crime to speak of, no traffic jams – heck, we don’t even have any traffic lights! Nope, I don’t miss city life at all!
Halloween is a crazy and fun time for humans, but for our pets it’s a completely different story – they can become confused and scared by all the different goings-on in their house. Parents are busier than usual making outfits for their kids, preparing food etc., and the kids are hyped up by all this activity. Their anticipation and excitement heightens as Halloween night approaches. Of course, everyone is so busy and pre-occupied with the preparations that our pet is often neglected at this time; they cannot understand what’s going on, why everyone is so excited, and they feel very confused.
So what can we do to keep our pets safe and secure?
1. Keep your pet in a safe place to avoid him getting stressed – as far away from the front door as possible; a back bedroom would be ideal, or an upstairs bedroom would be even better. Close the curtains to keep out the noises of the front doorbell ringing constantly and strange voices – people’s voices get louder when they are in party mode!
2. Pets can knock over lighted pumpkins, so they should be kept out of your pet’s reach. As we all know, cats are very curious and may want to investigate a lighted pumpkin and run the risk of getting burnt, so instead of using a candle, use one of those luminous sticks that glow in the dark – a great idea – and a lot safer, both for our kids and our pets!
3. Chocolate can be harmful to animals, so don’t be tempted to give your pet a “treat” just because it’s Halloween! Be careful where you put any plastic candy wrappers or cellophane, as your pet could be in danger if he swallows them. Remember – if you drop anything on the floor, it’s like a magnet for your pet. He will lick it up or try to chew it – and worse, even swallow it – so teach the kids that anything to be thrown away goes straight into the rubbish bin – out of harms way!
4. Party lights are very common on Halloween night so make sure all electrical cords and wires are well out of reach for the sake of both your pets and your kids. If your pet chews on an electrical cord, the result could prove deadly.
5. Some people act quite strangely on Halloween night and do things they wouldn’t normally do – it’s been known for people to steal animals on this night, and sadly, black cats are a prime target because of the superstition that goes with black cats. Some people will tease or even injure your pet, so keep your pets inside where they are safe and therefore cannot be the target of pranksters. Sadly, many pets are injured on this holiday in thoughtless and harmful pranks.
6. Kids want to take your dog trick-or-treating? Definitely not! The flashing lights and sounds of fireworks are very frightening to animals, and often cause them to run away to find a place to hide where they feel safe. Dogs may become uncontrollable, and may bite because of their fear. Cats should also be kept indoors at all times for their own safety.
7. If you have a pet bird, throw a cover over the cage to keep out the noise of the fireworks and the bright lights; they too can become easily stressed by it all.
It’s not only dogs, cats and birds that are afraid of the noise and flashing lights from fireworks on this night – or any night for that matter – the same applies to horses, chickens goats, etc.
The overall rule is basically to keep all animals contained in a safe place on Halloween night – for their own protection.
They look to us to protect them, so let’s not let them down.
Then you can enjoy Halloween night knowing that your pets are safe and sound!
I can’t believe it’s almost here!
In only ten days I will be flying to the UK for a whole month, catching up with family and friends.
Australia to England is about 23 hours actual flying time, so I’m not looking forward that part, but it will be worth it when I get to hug my family and friends whom I haven’t seen for seven years.
I’m really looking forward to seeing my mother again; she is 91 and had a stroke seven years ago. I flew over to Lancashire, in the North of England at the time, and spent three weeks with her before returning home. She lost the use of her right side as well as her speech and never fully regained either, so she has been in a Nursing Home ever since.
The hub has family in the same town and we both have old-time friends there, so we have a lot of visiting lined up for us!
We also both have family in Scotland where I have another brother and sister. I haven’t met my sister (long story) but my brother and his wife have arranged for us to meet on this visit. I feel quite nervous and a bit apprehensive about meeting her – I suppose she feels the same about meeting me, her big sister! It will be some meeting, that’s for sure; hope it goes ok.
We will spend a week in Scotland and then on the drive back to England, I have arranged to meet an internet friend at Gretna Green! We have been friends for years so we thought we’d grab this chance to meet each other whilst we had the opportunity – how exciting! Will tell you all about that when I get back!
Then we drive back down into Lancashire, England to spend the rest of our time there, visiting my mother and catching up with friends and other family members.
My friend is looking after our dog Poppy whilst we are away but I’m already paranoid about leaving her. Yes I know, she will be fine, I know she will, I keep telling myself that. I’m just a worry-wort and will really miss her.
Poppy
I’ll probably miss her and home so much that I’ll want to come back after two weeks – especially if the English weather is still as I remember it! I’m not used to dull, dismal rainy days! My brother told me to bring some woolly jumpers as it’s freezing in Scotland. Thanks bro!
Depending on internet connections where ever we are on our travels, I will try to write one or two posts just so you don’t forget about me!
And don’t worry, I will take lots of photos to share with you guys when I get back – and I’m sure I will have some stories to tell.
Hope you will still be here when I get back!
