Happy Birthday, Prince Charles

Well today, I am very happy to say, that it is my dog’s fourth birthday today.

It seems like just yesterday that we saw an ad in the Trading Post for Cocker Spaniel puppies bred in the Gold Coast hinterland and decided we wanted to ad to our little family.

Like every other proud parent, I am intending on spoiling my little one rotten. Pig’s ears, new toys, an extra-long walk this afternoon… the works.

Some people blog and gush over their babies, well I write about Charlie.

I will say that this dog is more like a human than most kids his age are. He so much personality that he has a range of different barks so we know when he is scared or angry. He spends 90% of his time inside with us (just how he likes it) and thinks that being put out in the yard is a death sentence.

At 10 weeks old - Charlie was in a GC Bulletin pet feature

He sleeps inside and gets fed breakfast and dinner and has a play routine that works in well with our daily schedules. He asks to go outside and is very accommodating and puts on his best behaviour when we have visitors.

Yes we might sound crazy, but we really believe that this animal is giving us great training for when we have kids.

I am not the only one who dotes over their dog – my old Year 10 science teacher had two German Shepherds that slept in her bed with her… not sure how her husband felt about it, but I think he must have loved it as much as she did. They never wanted children (human children that is) – all they needed was their dogs and they loved them unconditionally.

We would do anything for Charlie, he’s one of the family. Our parents have treated their dogs with the same love and affection and they all lived to ripe old ages, happy til the last wag.

So thanks for indulging me in this little post dedicated to my favourite little hound – Charlie your bark may be loud and your business does stink, but we will forever love you and your crazy ways! 

March 12, 2012

World Animal Week and Collars not Cruelty campaign

After a bit of a break (hey, it was my first wedding anniversary) I am back and wanting to discuss something very close to my heart.

Animal cruelty.

My husband and I are the type of people who will honestly tear up about a news reports about an animal that has been abused at the hands of a person or hearing about how it is customary for other cultures around the world to torture animals as part of their food processing...

My beautiful Cocker Spaniel, Charlie. Dogs deserve to live happy and full lives without cruelty and torture. No animal should have to suffer at the hands of a human unnecessarily.

I want everyone to remember this - animals don't have a voice and they can't fight back when they are trapped, scared or abused. It is not acceptable to treat any creature, no matter how big or small, young or old in a way that is not respectful of its life.

According to the WSPA website, 20 million dogs are killed every year in a cruel way. That's 38 every minute. People believe that killing a dog will end rabies - this is not true.

From today until October 10, it is World Animal Week and WSPA Australia is running a 'Collars not Cruelty" campaign to protect dogs from being drugged, gassed, strangled and tortured to death in the fight agains rabies.

I think that education is key - people need to know about what is going on so that they can inform others. Please go here to show your support: http://www.wspa.org.au/

This is a really important cause, and if you're like me and love your dog like it is your own child, you'll back this very important cause.

Remember that animals don't have a voice and it's not fair for humans to treat them in an inhumane way.

Woof - a dog's life

I've often said to my better half, that if I were to come back as any animal, it would be a dog. As I go to work in the morning, I will often look at my dog, basking in the morning sun and think "urgh I wish I could be doing that right now".

How hard can their lives be? Dogs have it so good - they live to make us happy, and are at their happiest when being walked, bathed or fed. They don't need to worry about mortgages or interest rates, world famine, appointments, work commitments or school fees.

My dog, Charlie, is a Cocker Spaniel and is a seriously pampered pooch (to the point where I think we have ruined him...) but I wouldn't have it any other way. What he does to my shitty, black temper on days where I come home from work and am literally red in the face with frustration, is amazing and definately therapeutic. One lick on the cheek and wag of a tail from Charlie boy makes it all seem so stupid.

If you have a dog or any well-loved family pet for that matter - take a leaf out of their book and take happiness from the most simple things in life - don't sweat the small stuff.