alleycat

Christmas Cake Recipe Ingredients: * 2 cups flour * 1 stick butter * 1 cup of water * 1 tsp baking soda * 1 cup of sugar * 1 tsp salt * 1 cup of brown sugar * Lemon juice * 4 large eggs * Nuts * 1 bottle wine * 2 cups of dried fruit Sample the wine to check quality. Take a large bowl, check the wine again. To be sure it is of the highest quality, pour one level cup and drink. Repeat. Turn on the electric mixer. Beat one cup of butter in a large fluffy bowl. Add one teaspoon of sugar. Beat again. At this point it's best to make sure the wine is still OK. Try another cup... Just in case. Turn off the mixerer thingy. Break 2 eggs and add to the bowl and chuck in the cup of dried fruit. Pick the frigging fruit up off floor. Mix on the turner.. If the fried druit gets stuck in the beaterers just pry it loose with a drewscriver. Sample the wine to check for tonsisticity. Next, sift two cups of salt. Or something. Check the wine. Now shift the lemon juice and strain your nuts. Add one table. Add a spoon of sugar, or some fink. Whatever you can find. Greash the oven. Turn the cake tin 360 degrees and try not to fall over. Don't forget to beat off the turner. Finally, throw the bowl through the window. Finish the wine and wipe counter with the cat. Bingle Jells! "The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated " - Mahatma Gandhi

She's got a lovely kind face - she would certainly be an asset to a lively family and do a grand job of keeping the critters out of barns etc., whilst having fun!  They really are cracking little dogs but certainly not compatible with cats and small pet animals like rabbits etc....... that is true!  Someone will want her for sure, hang in there!

I wish more people would post such a complete and honest description of pets that need rehoming - well done. She sounds like a little gem in many ways and I am sure would probably be ok with older children who wouldn't perhaps fuss with her too much on her level (her toys and food in particular) as they could be made to understand not to for her sake - also older children would most probably love to throw a ball for her etc.  So a family home need not be ruled out just because she has snapped at toddlers to warn them off her food and in any case she is a youngster also and will more than likely grow away from that in the right environment.  I had one like her years ago and they are just marvellous companion dogs and so easy to manage when they behave well like she does clearly.  I do hope you find her a nice home and it sounds like you are going to be very selective which is so good - then again I'm sure you will find it a wrench parting with her also.  Best wishes - some pictures of her is all that's missing as other have said.

Just to round this one up - Henry has found a lovely home and has settled really well - one happy ending anyway!

It's more than likely stress related as it's too much of a coincidence that it has only started since his episode in the hedge.  I asked a friend of mine who is a vet and she said the same.  Whatever you do don't shout at him as he's probably trying to get your attention out of need for security - getting you up for a walk round the garden etc.  Move his bed closer to you for the night and try giving him some Bach's Flower Rescue Remedy half an hour before bed to soothe him before he starts to get anxious (even though he may not seem to be visibly worried) - it's harmless and safe to give on a long term basis.  Patience and do what we all did when the kids had us up all night, get some napping in during the day.  I hope he gets over it as it won't be doing him any good either.

I agree with cooperola - not a lot you can do.  Our two have had a couple of doses of the tape that keeps our horses fenced and yes they did yelp and make a bit of a fuss but they soon learned........ they now go under it the monkeys!

Thanks Peachy, that's great........ how is the little black and white fella you rescued from Spain doing?  Anymore for anymore knitters please?  I suggest if there are more ladies (or gents for that matter.... my husband knits!) willing to join in, we aim to get really going for January when the Christmas fray is over as those preparations might be putting people off from joining in which I understand.......... but hey January and February have long chilly nights and the poor doggies will need some comforts especially well into Spring and beyond for that matter.  Every poor soul shoud have a comfort blanket in his little cell..... come on get the knitting needles and crochet hooks out!  Peachy I suggest we do 6in squares what do you think?

This site is excellent Christine!  Having just rescued our little Spanish Podenco (like a little whippet spider dog - she's all legs!) three weeks ago, I have delayed getting her a special harness till she's up to her proper weight - she's actually a little 'tubs' by comparison to what she was the day she arrived and that was AFTER she had been fed well at her rescue safe house!  So she's going to get a harness from this lady!  Also the dog beds and sleeping sacks are just great on this site - I know that all my dogs would love them!  She has also given me some ideas as to how to utilise some old (washable) duvets that I keep for emergency dog beds for the back of the car etc.  I'm not great with the sewing machine but I am determined to make some dog beds out of these duvets in the new year to take to the local SPA.  Also I remember some years ago that all the old dears in my Mum's little Sussex village used to knit or crochet squares to make blankets for the local rescue cat and dog home - they were so easy for all to do and they ended up with lots of blankets for kitties and puppies etc.  I wonder if people on here would do it?  I would be happy to be the collection point and sew all the squares together to make the blankets.......?  Not difficult or expensive to post in small amounts and they will all mount up - winter evenings watching telly in front of the fire, a square every couple of days??  I would post pics of the finished blankets and the places they ended up... what do you think ladies?  Frankly if they are oddments of wool and cotton even if they get thrown away once they are not needed it wouldn't matter as they would have served their purpose till more came along - but they could easily be washed in spring etc.  Let me know if anyone is interested and we can agree a size for all the squares and away we go!

This sooo cute!  Thank you Christine.  Passed it round the family for smiles all round!

Lucky Brutus - so nice to read a good ending!

Posting a picture and the whereabouts of the dogs helps get them noticed.  I have to Beauceron X GS (one also called Lilly as it happens) and I can thoroughly recommend them as wonderful family pets, brilliant with children and other dogs, very kind and gentle!  I hope they find loving homes soon.

Hi Fi  - dear me he is a 'Taffy' isn't he?  We make our own peanut butter so don't pay shop prices but I take your point.  If you get a Kong - they sell similar items in the pet shops here, basically a heavy rubber toy that has a hole in one end, and get some doggie treats that are large enough to stay inside.  I used to jam the largest dog teats I could find (Bonio type things) inside so more than one sometimes and that was enough to get them very interested.  Also, do you feed him twice a day?  If not, try dividing his main meal between breakfast and supper and make sure he is getting enough for his size?  Perhaps you might consider bulking his food out a bit with some dog pasta (very cheap from the supermarkets' pet shelf) quick to make up as all you do is soak a handful in a boiled kettle of water for five minutes and then add it to his usual food when cool.  He's not likely to get fat with his energy and it might just help.  Failing that there are some dogs who are natural born 'thieves'.... I had a Bassett Hound who stole food off the work surface - butter, frozen chops, sausages, a whole chicken...... the list was endless... all the days of her life and she lived to the ripe old age of 17!  We just had to remember never to leave stuff where she was able to get at it.  Perhaps Eco has something in his history that makes him grab food whenever he can, it's hard to know and hard to judge and it may take a while to train him away from doing that - it's early days for you and him so you will have to be patient with him and vigilant on the food front!  I'm sure he will be worth it even though he is trying you at the moment.  All mine were and the two little 'monsters' (2 year olds) that I have now have got so much better, so take heart.

Get him a Kong and put some peanut butter inside....... it will keep him busy for an hour or two!  Ours used to be terrible chewers and still have a go on the odd occasion if they thing we've been out shopping too long (couple of hours no more as we hate shopping) socks and gloves if they can find them..... imagine this, I once had an Irish Wolfhound (love of my life!) who chewed nearly a foot off the corner of my pine dining table whilst I was waiting in casualty with one of the kids one day!!  But I ramble - looks like your fellow needs some toys and distraction till he settles in a bit more, lots of exercise and treats when he's been good.  He's just 'testing' his new surroundings and in time he'll subside I'm sure and be a lovely chap.

I have just rescued a little Podenco from the link Mimi has posted above.  She is a little treasure and just like a little whippet/manchester terrier with big ears!  She's the cutest thing and despite all her shocking background she is kind, gentle and now beginning to be full of fun.  She can run like a gazelle and a nose like a ferret!!  She is amazingly good in the house and loves nothing more than to sit on my knee by the fire in the evenings or in a sunny patch in the garden during the day - extremely loving and affectionate and has been patient and so very willing to learn to trust.  The LED association mentioned above that rescued her and brought her over from Spain are great people who do the most wonderful work over there - when we went to collect her there were 25 other rescues in the van and they were all sweet and gentle.  I cannot recommend them enough and intend to become a foster 'mum' to some of these lovely creatures as soon as we have more of our renovations done and I can dedicate the time needed to looking after them and help find them homes.  I have translated the English adoption booklet for them so go and look and be moved by the faces you will see looking back at you!

This is very important advice from Rob Roy!  All large dogs should eat with their bowls lifted up so they don't 'wuff' down their food from a horizontal position - this is particularly relevant to tall dogs!  I used to have a Wolfhound and we nearly lost him one day when he took in too much water from a bowl on the floor at a friend's place after a run - he rolled around in agony for several hours poor chap but we were lucky as I sedated him and he slept and came through it!  The breeder we got him from stipulated special raised bowls or nobody got the puppies!  One could say what do they do in the wild but then again most outside dogs take their chunks of meat and go and knaw at them on the floor.  We have a very greedy GS cross rescued from a puppy and if we didn't put her bowl up to her shoulder level she would most certainly be in trouble as she positively inhales everything you give her in seconds and nothing we do makes her slow down - our latest little rescue bolts her food also but she was starved and so it's understandable and I think she will slow down eventually once she realises nobody is going to take it away from her.  We feed our dogs in the four corners of the kitchen also and they know there is no 'pinching' - never leave them to it either, till everyone has finished.  A twisted gut is a horrid horrid thing to watch happen and there is very little you can do once it's done even if you can get them to the vet.

Little more info on Henry - apparently he's gunshy and so almost certainly been dumped by the Chasse!  He's brilliant at coming to call, even responding to a new name!  He sounds better and better, smart lad.

Don't be sorry Will, it's good to hear others who are critical of that forum and I for one have been very unimpressed and downright angry, which is why I created a stir yesterday and found I was in good company!  The best thing it has done for me has been to introduce some really good people to me who have now become firm friends but I have kind of blotted my copybook there now and they scrutinise my every post I suspect - had one removed this morning regarding Henry again!  Someone asked if he had found a home and I replied that I didn't think so and were they interested!  Both our posts were removed - how sad is that!!  However, I have posted Henry's pictures on here under Pets and other folks from AngloInfo fraca yesterday have posted him on other forums also, so we must keep our fingers crossed for him!  One idiot person this morning (also on AInfo) suggested the lady call the Chasse and get them to come and get him.......!!!!! Unbelievable!  I have found people on here far more friendly and more informed and I am now going to promote this forum on the AngloInfo site as often as I can.  Also, another lady I bumped into on AngloInfo is putting together a Forum/website specifically for the Aveyron area (12) as we are so poorly represented on AF - I shall promote that also at every given opportunity!  I shall also make sure we give plenty of coverage to unwanted animals, rehoming advice and links and lots of chance for people to put up pictures and do things to help the rescue places that struggle to do such great work.  They should do a 'Animals in Need' programme on the TV - we should see if we can get dear old Terry Wogan to stick his paw in for us........ heard he has a house in the Aveyron..!!  think what you could do with 23 million...!!!  Hey don;t get me wrong, I don't begrudge the children, no way......they are as innocent and defenceless as the animals we try to help.  I'll get off my soap box now.  Have a good day everyone and if you hear of anyone who might do the right thing by Henry, then go and look at the Pets section.... under I Need a Nice Home - thank you.

This is where Henry is at the moment but as he only has a make shift shelter under a table on Mollie's terrace, he needs to find a home quickly - Bassoues (32320).  She tells me he looks lovingly in through the window God Bless him!

Meet Henry http://ineedahome.yolasite.com/ This lovely dog and kind lady need someone to help them out.  Read the link and you will see why. Thanks to all.  I will email Mollie to find out exactly where they are as she's not done this before and hasn't mentioned it Henry's "CV" ....

I have been reinstated on the previously mentioned forum by the way - they did accept my point but were still not prepared to allow the posting.  Win some lose some but you have to keep trying.

Have you BEEN to an SPA rescue, Chancer?  Some of them can be pretty awful though they try and you have to give them credit for that - also they are often terrifying to an already stressed animal so why would she not want to spare this nice dog that if she can and is willing to hang on to him for as long as she can - good on her I say!  Clair thank you for your link - I shall now post Henry's page.

This dog is not being offered for sale I hasten to add - just needs a home to care for him.

I have been removed from another Forum for helping a lady with some advice as to how to find a home for a lovely dog she has taken in found wandering in the road.  She can't keep him as she's full to busting with two other dogs, toddlers and has a small house, but bless her, she is looking after him and sheltering him on her terrace (under a table) till such time as someone can give this gorgeous dog a good home, rather than take him to the local dog pound.  She has made him a website and is doing all she can to help him.  Now because this dog is not microchipped or tattooed, the forum in question has wiped her posting and her pictures because it says they are contravening French law by trying to re-home a dog without a microchip or ID - can this be so?  She may not have the money to have him microchipped and she's not able to keep him but she's trying to save him from going to the local SPA.  Can I post his web-page on here?

That previous post - should read WITHOUT Frontline and the like...........

I have the name of a highly qualified English vet who also specialises in holistic treatment of dogs and he does 'phone consultations at £30 a time.  He might be helpful.  He is based in Bath with a practise in London also but has lots of clients in France - especially horse ones.  Just to be able to talk to him might give you some answers.  I have an appointment to chat with him next week about wormers as I flatly refuse to use chemical ones.  I have managed for three years to ward off ticks and fleas with Frontline and the like and so I am a great believer in holistic remedies.  Just a thought.  My brother in law lives with us, he suffers from CP and has occasional seizures which can be brought on like clockwork if he gets three triggers simultaneously - over excited, over tired, too hot!  A lot might depend on whether your pet's fits are neurologically connected and that is difficult to assess.  I hope some of this is useful.