Hi,
not sure this is the right category. I am looking for a puppy and am not sure where to look for. I am located in Victoria. I have had a look on gumtree and trading post. Any other sites or forums where to look?
My first choice would be a male German shepherd about 8-12 weeks old.
Thanks for any input
Lol, sure s/he meant dysplasia! But doggy indigestion, noooooooo! redecorating your kitchen in shades of nutty brown not nice!
I appreciate the correction as the good people of ozB wouldn't have known what the hell i was on about!
I think I jinxed myself by posting here earlier about it being important to consider vet bills (esp. emergency ones)…
One of my rabbits is now in the vet hospital. Rushed him there last night, completely unexpected as he had the all clear in a recent full check up. That's animals for you. I still don't know what's wrong with him but with bunnies it tends to be gastrointestinal issues…
Anyway, I'm already $750 poorer than yesterday - and that's just for the emergency consultation and diagnostics to find out what's wrong before even beginning any treatment.
Worse than the money side of things is the heartache and worry you do when something does go wrong with your pets. OP, good luck with whatever you decide to do. Just be very prepared!
That sounds like a lot of money for l diagnosing a rabbit. I am not suggesting your vet is taking advantage of your kind heart, but I would ask for a detailed breakdown of the bill and get a second opinion. In any case I hope your poor bunny is feeling better soon.
Yeah they always give an itemised bill at the end. I haven't actually paid the whole lot yet, just a $200 deposit and the rest is paid when the pet is discharged (and he's still at the hospital now).
It was $290 alone for the emergency consultation as it was after hours (4am). They explained to me the procedures he'd need diagnostically before even giving me a bill estimate, and they all sounded warranted. I'm experienced in human diagnostics so it wasn't unfamiliar territory - ie. I knew they weren't just throwing stuff on the list to bulk up the fees :) He needed x-rays (alone would be up to $200), a blood test, fluids to treat the obstruction, blood glucose work up, urine analysis (he had chalky urine with some blood during the emergency), plus an overnight stay.
Thanks for your concern though. It is a lot of money but I've been charged a crapload more at other vets who know nothing about exotic pets but pretend to. The vet my bunny is at now is quite far away but well worth the travel just for their expertise.
Seems it will be a while or never before you can get bunny insurance in Australia - Australian scientists are too busy wiping out feral rabbits using diseases for an insurer to cover them.
Which is why I took out a pet insurance policy on my dog.
Around $200 per year, on the first year luckily i already had the policy when my dog broke its leg, and had to get around $10,000 worth of surgery. 80% of this was covered under insurance!
It is EASY to rack up a Vet Bill, and even easier if they refer you to see a specialist.
Not sure if you can take one out on a Rabbit though, I think they only support Cats and Dogs.
Yeah, from what I've read, pet insurance doesn't cover rabbits and the other type of animal I have lol.
Great to hear it covered 80% for you though! A $10k bill would've killed me!
A heartfelt thank you for not giving up on your rabbit.
We had in the past adopted an abandoned rabbit with a lot medical needs. His vet bills run up to almost 1k… After his surgery he had to be hand feed 4x a day with oxbow critical care. It's a lot of hard work but when he comes and snuggle up to you on his own accord… Your heart just melts :) He passed away peacefully 2 years ago. He is missed dearly.
Sorry to hear about your bunny passing :( He was lucky to have found you and been cared for you when he did though. How old was he when you adopted him? Did he still manage to live to a ripe old age?
My rabbit (Binky) was actually discharged yesterday. Took him home but he wouldn't touch his hay, pellets, veggies, treats, or water. He was eating at the vet but I think the stress of moving back and forth must've made him go backwards. So I took him back at midnight last night. He's still in with them - they started him up on a drip again, some motility meds, and some pain meds to help his UTI I think (he was already on antibiotics but they obviously take a while to get rid of his symptoms).
The bill so far is just over $1k lol. Ah the irony after this thread starts up…
Do hope that Bunny is o.k. We have had some in the past - they are lovely creatures with more intelligence than are given recognition for. Do keep us all posted on the outcome & good luck.
Thanks for your concern :) He's finally home (again) now, hopefully for good! Just got him back a few hours ago and he's already slurping up water and pooping - both very happy signs for a healthy bunny! haha. Such a relief. He's still on a few different medications but it's all looking good.
You see dumped dogs are not the exception they are the majority. So breeding or buying from a breeder/seller is contributing to the problem. If you buy one puppy then the breeder profits even if he kills the rest he will breed another litter because he profited - so that one puppy you bought is responsible for a whole litter of puppies.
People like to contribute to the problem and walk away and not have to think about it or think its not their fault and they get absolutely argumentative and full of BS excuses about it when they are told they are the irresponsible ones.
The day that we have a sustainable level of rehomeable dogs/cats - i.e the pound is not overflowing (and killing dogs weekly) and the demand is meeting the supply then we wont have to get the word out.
If you have the money to buy a puppy you have the money to donate to rescue - but you wont
If you buy one puppy then the breeder profits even if he kills the rest he will breed another litter because he profited - so that one puppy you bought is responsible for a whole litter of puppies.
whoooo cool your jets, turbo! back it up there a little bit. your WAY wrong on this one. when i was breeding it used to cost me around $4000-$5000 per litter in added costs. theres extra food, extra dog milk (had large litters so needed to supplement mums feeding with multiple daily hand feeding), mum needs a special diet (IE needs puppy food from conception) theres vet visits when shes pregnant, theres another vet visit the day she delivers (mums health was always paramount to me) and then theres more vet visits if you have any issues with the pups and yet more vet visits when you get them wormed/vaccinated/microchipped before the pups ship off to there new homes.
sure you can, and people do, miss out on a lot of these costs, but its irresponsible and the reason for the push to ban puppy farms and (most) back yard breeders. i am only a "back yard" breeder breeding non pedigree dogs (if my avatar didnt already give it away, i bred full blood (not mixed breed) rottweilers but without pedagree papers http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/nosdan/Puppys/S6303… ) and used to sell them for minimal profit (usually adding up my costs and adding around a grand for 6 weeks of full time "work". i bred because i wanted the experience of it (there is NOTHING like running around the back yard with a sea of happy little faces chasing you around) not because money was my motivating factor.
that's registered breeding, puppy farms don't pay vet bills, don't buy extra food or medicines, dont buy special diets. they don't care if most of them die because one puppy makes profit
how much did you sell your pups for each?
that's registered breeding,
no, im just a "dodgy back yard breeder", not a registered breeder (tho even my large local vet was calling me to ask if some of there favourite clients could contact me to buy pups) i just care about animals and there welfare and wanted to give the pups i bred the best chance as a good life i could.
how much did you sell your pups for each?
i used to basically add up all my costs (vets/milk etc) plus used to make up "care packages" to give with the pups which was things like printed info (mostly from the net) and our own experiences, a big bag of iams food (which was what they were already eating by that time) small collar and lead which they grew out of quickly anyway and some other things you need for about the first month of there new lives, then divide the final cost by how ever many pups and…. i think the last litter we sold them for around $600 mark.
the care packages were a great way to weed out people i didnt want having one of my pups, if after us explaining to them the value in the packages and need to keep them on the same diet at least in the short term (pups often get upset stomachs if you change food type) if they still asked if they could save money by not taking the package we wouldnt sell them a pup….
Ok I get that you are following the same ethics of registered breeding but without the actual paperwork - which is why I first said responsible breeding then when I tried to change it to responsible/registered I accidently wrote over that. Your calling yourself dodgy? I wouldn't call that dodgy. I have seen Rottweilers sell well above $1000 with no papers.
Dodgy backyard breeders who have the dog outside or in a cage, throwing them scraps now and then and cheap dog food can sustain a dog for less than $1 a day and not pay vet bills. up to 2 litters a year and well below the standard that you describe. This is how puppy farms operate. they can operate on about $300 year
People like to contribute to the problem and walk away and not have to think about it or think its not their fault and they get absolutely argumentative and full of BS excuses about it when they are told they are the irresponsible ones
I really do think you applied yourself to this situation:
You provided well looked after pups, you made some profit and you provided a breed that had an oversupply last year - I personally rehomed 3, and I couldn't save the other 1 year old with no behavioural or health problems no-one wanted him so they killed him. Do you know how many full blood Rottweilers were put down last year? did you donate any of that profit or any resources including volunteer to rescue?
I just cannot understand how anyone could have that mentality. Awful.
they use and abuse the animals and add more to an overpopulation for personal profit and you think that's ok?
so the abusers should profit and the rescuers should have all the burden?
It should be their responsibility and they should be paying tax on it but they don't because they don't report the income so they are breaking the law and those taxes don't come back to anyone so who is supposed to pay for rescue?
This is the problem they cause so why shouldn't they fix it?
Do you donate any money to any charity rockcriedout?
mate I think you need to relax and reduce the accusations. your passion for animals is incredibly admirable and inspiring but you don't do yourself any favours if you be a jerk.
nowhere did I say that the abusers should profit. nowhere did I say that puppy farms are ok. I have commented here saying that abandoning animals is abhorrent. I do not know how you came to the conclusion that I have endorsed puppy farming in any way.
above, I said about the person you commented to asking if they donated any of their profits to charity - since this person doesn't appear to be breeding unethically, I don't see why they should donate any profit to rescue shelters. in fact from what they are saying, it seems as though they don't make an actual profit, they just recoup their expenses including fee for their time.
additionally, if you read the comment I wrote to one of your earlier posts (admittedly I didn't tag you in it but I replied directly to your comment), you will see that I refer making contributions to my chosen pet rescue group, Golden Retriever Rescue in NSW.
if you would like to have an internet fight with someone, choose someone that actually disagrees with your views.
You haven't been agreeing with my views, Firstly you started by stating anti-adoption views, you have been supporting a breeder (who did profit) and saying they shouldn't support rescue, so don't pretend your on the same side. I think you need to volunteer and get some real perspective.
Edit: I would like to point out that Nosdan is obviously a great breeder with great standards and that is the next best thing to rescue.
I would like to point out that Nosdan is obviously a great breeder with great standards and that is the next best thing to rescue.
I think this is something on which we can agree.
Aawwwww - cute puppies
puppys are always cute :) there cute when they grow up as well also tho. 6 week old brother and sister from my final litter as well as a 4 year old "pup" from my first litter… big scary ferocious things rottwheilers are ;) http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/nosdan/Puppys/Novem…
@nosdan: Your dogs are beautiful man, if you have one next year during this period i will buy one from you.
Your dogs are beautiful man
cheers, i love em to bits :) i think my dogs are probably definitely the best dogs in the world… tho i could possibly be slightly biased… ;) ok, last pic i promise… just to show how vicious rotties are specially when thrown into a situation with a cute little fluffy defenceless bunny…. this is "stew-it" my bunny and "mum" when she was about a year old. http://i386.photobucket.com/albums/oo305/nosdan/IM001345.jpg
if you have one next year during this period i will buy one from you.
sorry "mum" is now to old, her last litter was when she was umm 5 years old i think. only ever wanted to breed her when she was still young enough to bounce back from it with little to no consequences and even my vet was astounded how well she came thought the 4 massive litters she had. i think it was 9 pups the smallest and 14 the biggest 47 all up over 4 litters which is a LOT of pups for a rotty.
@nosdan: She has worked hard. She is impressive. People have the back thought that Rotts are dangerous, but i believe the owners are, not the poor dogs.
Also comes down to the second hand mentality that people have.
Second Hand = Something MUST be wrong with it.
People view these pounds or rescue centers as selling second hand pets, which their pets are cheaper and must have strings attached.
Where as when people go to breeders, they are under the impression they are getting a first hand / clean slate pet. Which is why they pay the premium to do so.
Back in the 1970's, last time I bought a puppy, I went through the Kennel Control, RASKC from memory- they had a monthly magazine
so … checking now .. yep … same deal but websites now
http://www.dogsvictoria.org.au/Home.aspx
3 breeders with pups listed
Specifically German Shepherd
http://www.gsdcv.org.au/node/226
No puppies listed at the moment
These are for Victoria.
A good registered breeder is pretty fussy who they sell to and will give you the third degree.
Get one vaccinated from a rescue and give it a good life. I was physically sick the first time i went into a shopping centre in this country and saw puppies in little glass cages in a windows! it's like the 1970's!
Too many scrotes dump lovely dogs because they don't fit in with party life/new kids/the colour of the furniture! a GSD is ok, but will it suit your life/be left to howl? Only a few 'dog universals'. They need a pack, they need 'some' interaction and exercise (breed dependent) and they need to be loved. Unless you only want a dog as a weapon (sadly too common) then, well, get a mincing machine and wait until it attacks a child!
GSD's do tend as do a few larger breeds have some hip dysplasia, which is why they are often scored. When you hear 'pedigree' think "inbred for characteristics". 'Mutt's' have a wider gene pool and tend to have fewer but not no problems.
Good luck with finding a great family addition, there's nothing like a dog to make a home, but chose wisely for years of loyal loving companionship.
and pedigree can also mean looks over health/behaviour. dogs with epilepsy because the dog is unlikely to have a seizure in the ring and get caught out. you can get it to behave in the ring but how does it behave around children off leash in the backyard, around the neighbours cat etc
some people are of the opinion mutts have less problems but I haven't seen anyone back that up with facts. some people are of the opinion mutts inherit more problems because they get the problems from each breed then they also get more problems when the 2 breeds conflict e.g size and behaviour. I saw a tv show that said ligers and tions (lion cross tiger) are known to suffer some mental conditions because the different skull sizes didn't combine effectively they get pain and need to be euthanized. they have very bad behavioural and conflicts while developing during teens because of different insticts. if this is the same as dogs from different classifications could conflict spaniels, terriers, retrievers etc dogs are all bred for certain tasks and its still hard to stop some doing them
to be honest I think its a lot of hearsay and the fact that they have identified problems in pedigree is due to research (with money poured into) that hasn't been done on mutts, the ethics of registered breeders is now to breed out the health defects.
It's simple genetics. Unless you don't see the results of having children with your mother/father/brother/sister as an issue? There is reason why culturally it's been distastefulness, as even before we knew WHY children of close relatives had genetic defects from matching 'faults' . Close relatives = no-no (and yes genetics is genetics with dogs as well as humans! Are you from a VERY 'close' family?
2 sets of genes mean that the missing gene is likely to be present in the other gene (excepting males with 1 Y chromosome) OR that the same inherent defect won't be found in both breeds. it's not foolproof, but statistically more so than continually inbreeding for looks.
ALL dogs are technically 'mutts', it's just that similar enough "mutts" to establish a uniform look have been bred together. So todays "mutt' (utonagan?) could be next seasons must have!
I'm waiting for the sequel, Where to look for a pussy
Came here expecting a few jokes as usual on OzBargain, but it's very serious :-(
you can joke about a dry puss or incontinence or even erectile dysfunction. but it seems us OzPetOwners take the seriousness of our pets on a whole other level :)
We found our beautiful and gentle pomeranian from the Animal Rescue about 8 years ago when he was about 18 months. Had been moved around to a few different homes before coming to ours.. and we just can't work out why!! As part of their service, he was already vaccinated and desexed. Strongly recommend a rescue dog!!
I'm told that indigestion of the hip can be a real pain in the arse!