cav mom # 1

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Before anyone comes at me with some off the wall nasty comments please search UC Davis early spay and neuter guidelines.

We have all done what we thought was the right thing to do for our dogs for years. Now the guidelines have changed. UC Davis has discovered that early spay/neutering of our dogs puts them at a higher risk for cancer and joint problems due to the lack of hormones during the growth period to maturity.

UC Davis is now recommending tubal ligation for female and vasectomy for males so the pups are still getting the hormones their bodies need for maturity. For responsible pet owners that can keep their dogs in a safe and controlled place and get them spayed/neutered when they are mature and the danger is over that is another thought. Even with the tubal ligation for females the female can still get pyrametra and need to be spayed later.

Read the research and make your own decision. This is not popular with SPCA, Humane Society and other shelters. They still won't release pups for adoption until they are spayed/neutered giving the adopters shorter times with their new family member. I understand why I just find it sad.

I pet sit for a client that has 2 Pitt Bulls and a Pitt Bull/Mastiff. All are the sweetest dogs. My question is about one of her Pitt's Nellie. I know the difference between the red nose and blue nose pitt's is just coat color and nose color. Nellie is the only Pitt I have seen that has a tan/pink coat depending on the light but she has the Blue Nose and the blue gray color around her eyes and the front of her mouth.

I did some research on the Blue Nose and found that they are more susceptible to skin problems. Recently Nellie has developed two bare patches one on each side in front of her hips. She doesn't do any itching and the patches seem to be getting a little bigger since I first saw them 2wks. ago.

Nellie is a rescue so there is no information on her parents but it isn't hard to figure out that there is Blue somewhere behind her except for her beautiful tan/pink coat which I am guessing comes from some Red Nose somewhere in her back ground.

Nellie's owner has an appointment with the vet. next week but any information I can pass on to her from knowledgeable Pitt Bull owners/breeders would be appreciated. Thanks

Today I took one of my dogs and a resent rescue to a parade my small town has every year. While waiting for the parade to start a lady came up to me and said she had 4 Cavaliers one of each color and she had 2 Ruby puppies left to sell and did I have puppies. I told her no and that I don't breed my dogs unless they are fully health tested eyes, heart, hips/patellas. She looked at me like I was speaking a foreign language. I didn't want to get into a heated discussion in the crowd of people so I bit my tong and changed the subject. Not easy for me as I am adamant about health testing, BYB and puppy mills.

Then I was having a conversation with a man that had a cute little dog that is Shih Tsu/Poodle cross and he is telling me his dog is in tact and he wants to find a small female to breed him to and he doesn't care what breed/breeds the female is as long as it is small. All the time he is looking at my 3yr. old female. Bit my tong again and went to sit on a bench. Am I the only one that wants to scream what the he** are you thinking.

This is a must read for pet owners.I love Robyn's writing. She makes you laugh and she made me think about where my pets fit-in in my life. I always knew that my dogs where my family and now I know. Think I'm crazy ? I guess I am but I wouldn't have it any other way. Has anyone reed this book?

Has anyone heard of someone selling puppies threw ad in the news paper and the sellers are being contacted by dog brokers?

I would never sell pups threw an ad in the paper. I only go on a special list with my breed club. My cousin is helping her daughter sell some Jack Russell puppies and they did put an ad in the paper. Before everyone starts trashing them they are not BYB and this is only the 2nd. litter in four years and the mom is being spayed now. They are very experienced in dogs and did exstensive contacts with the puppy buyer's.

they have both been contacted repeatedly by dog brokers offering to buy all the pups, this didn't happen with the first litter. They were schoked and told brokers where they could st**k it but the brokers keep calling, it is always a 800# with no name.

Has anyone else heard of this going on.

I live in a small mountain town. Two friends and I do a small scale rescue in out area. we all have over 30yrs. experience with dogs and have worked in large rescue organizations. I also do rescue for my breed club.

Many of the rescues we take are on their last day at animal controle, some are strays from town that owners won't take care of, etc.

One of our little group focuses on pit bulls, I do the small breed/mix dogs because my home is very small with small yard and the last friend takes bigger breeds. We bring these dogs into our homes to get a feel for them and what would be the best type home for them, are they dog friendly, housebroke, good with kids or what ever.

We spay/neuter the dogs, micro chip, bring all shots up to date before they are placed and place a very nice add in the paper. We ask $150 adoption fee, screen adopters and visit their homes. Do you think this is a fare adoption fee? We make no money on these dogs. We can't save all.

thank you

I know it is in March but haven't heard what date or time for west coast. Thanks