Bambi Owners Club

[theoptimists]

Hi All, I didn't realise we had a pet section. Have been busy slapping paint around the house since I retired last month so hav'n't been on here for a while. Anyway, our Sweep and Sophie have just had their rabies jabs to sort out their passports (Sweep's just needed updating although she never actually used it) as we are hoping to take our little van across the channel in September. Unfortunately they have to report back to the vets for their bloodtests on the 11th March so not sure if we'll make it to the three magpies rally but may do.

[rosalie]

Not many people use the website in the winter months they must hibernate somewhere.
Those pet passports are not easy are they?
I would have to be a millionare to take my little lot abroad, as we have 7 possible 8 if my husband has his way, as we foster for a rescue until they find their forever homes.
What dogs do you have are they small ones?

[soniao]

Hi Rosalie, do you foster for Many Tears Rescue? We got a little Shih Tzu from them back in November and she has settled in really well and is a little poppet. I thought about fostering but thought I might end up keeping them all! I do keep looking on their website however and some of the little faces are very tempting to apply to adopt.
Hope to meet up with you this year,
Sonia

Sorry to The Optimists who started off the thread, I am not an expert on pet passports. Some of our neighbours use them and seem to have it sussed but one had a problem with a sandfly disease in her labrador & had a bit of a rough time of it, I think in France. (It was something they can catch out there, but not in the UK).Good luck with it all and I am hoping to get to Melksham, weather allowing.

[rosalie]

Hi Sonia, I foster for a Yorkshire Terrier and Toy Breed Rescue.I have stopped looking at the many tears website it is heartbreaking to see them, I adopted 2 Yorkies from there, the last one Xmas 2008. I have picked up a few dogs and keep them until a foster home is sorted for them, usually a couple of days, some i have had for 4 weeks, or 2 weeks to assess their characters and any health problems, spaying or neutering which are seen to, until they are adopted.
Having 7 of my own it is always very tempting to keep another one.
We have a Jack Russell x chihauhau at the moment, he has had some health problems, I am keeping him here until he is 100% as he has been messed about a bit going here and there, different homes and different foods very stressed with tummy problems, Dave would like to keep him even though he moans about the 7 we have. So our family may increase with a poor little dog very very small.
May have to use 2 Bambis to go to a rally.
Sometimes if we have an active dog 16 month Yorkie it is a relief when they are adopted. It is nice to foster you can have the fun of having a dog and giving it back so you don't have them all the time, knowing you have helped in the rescue of another unwanted or can't afford a dog any more.
A lot of families are having to go out to work.
Our rescue has had 3 Cavaliers in recently, exbreeding very overweight Blenheims 2 girls and a boy. All 3yrs old.

[theoptimists]

Hi All, Glad to see that there is actually someone out there, was beginning to wonder! Of course I have just retired so have more time now. Worst thing with the passports (aside from the cost!) is the timing. Working out the gaps between the blood test and traveling (you can leave when you want but can't come back until 6 months have elapsed) and the tick thing on the way back involving a 24hr min 48hr max gap which could be tricky if a ferry or two got cancelled for some reason. Nonetheless, I am determined to get across the channel this time with the dogs so that we don't have to rush back. Our two by the way are first crosses. Sweep's a llapso x yorkie (short-legged, long, hairy and too fat) and Sophie is a chug. If you ask the vet before you go I believe they can supply any extra jabs they might need. We are hoping to make it to the Three Magpies next barring complications. Regards Joy

[rosalie]

I often wonder what would happen to the dogs if the owners were taken ill and had to come home, or there was a crisis at home, would the dogs be able to come home also

[theoptimists]

Our pet insurance should take care of that. Been paying it long enough, and never had to claim as yet.

[rosalie]

I just wondered about the treatment they have to have before they can return home.

[theoptimists]

It's for ticks and tapeworm, but a particular kind that we don't get here, so a spray or drops, and a tablet I supose. Anyway medical facilities in France and Spain at least are generally as good if not better than here so hopefully there shouldn't be any need to dash back. BTW just heard from one of my daughters that her golden retriever is about to have a hip replacement! Whatever next! Fortunately 'he's' insured too!

[rosalie]

Hope everything went well for the hip operation.

[theoptimists]

Not come off yet, the proffessionals are still deliberating! However, 'Tom' is having hydratherepy at a private heated pool every week at £20 a go and has managed to lose some weight which should help. Incidentally, one of ours managed to develop a limp and was on painkillers and 'rest' for a week. The 'rest' didn't work as she wouldn't be left behind at walkies time and took a dim view of being shoved in a shopping trolley for part of the trip! Anyway the limp looks better, and if I could just convince my other half (chief culprit) that she needs to lose some weight I doubt she'd have any more problems.

[rosalie]

The trick to loose weight is to find out what weight she should be, and give the amount of food for that weight, not the weight she is now, and very few treats for a while.
They will loose it eventually, my 2 cavalier k.c were overweight when I got them, I was told to do the same, and it worked for mine.

[theoptimists]

Hi, We were in Cardiff over the weekend collecting our O.U. degrees, so the dogs were in kennels for two nights and I'm sure they look slimmer already. Vocanoes permitting we are off down the Nile for a week next month so hopefully they will lose a bit more weight in kennels then! It is difficult though it's not so much their official meals that's the problem. They spend every minute of the day with us and it's become a bad habit of ours to share our meat with them. They tend to lose weight when we're camping cos we eat out more, leaving them in the van; even then Tim smuggles scraps out to them! He's hopeless.