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"What have you eaten" Parallel Chat

Alistair tells me that there has been little interest in the pups so far and the woman who was going to take Ginnie has changed her mind. One way and another, they all have to go so they have been trying to find a rehoming centre but every one they have found is full. One, in Aberdeen, says they may have some space at the end of February, so call back then. It is not looking good for these dogs. Even the RSPCA inspector is saying that they have to go and the neighbours are uncomfortable with them even keeping big, placid Banksie. People around here like wild, partially trained collies, some of which are vicious killers of cats and sheep, but anything bigger is not wanted in the village.

It's a problem.
 
Annb said:
Alistair tells me that there has been little interest in the pups so far and the woman who was going to take Ginnie has changed her mind. One way and another, they all have to go so they have been trying to find a rehoming centre but every one they have found is full. One, in Aberdeen, says they may have some space at the end of February, so call back then. It is not looking good for these dogs. Even the RSPCA inspector is saying that they have to go and the neighbours are uncomfortable with them even keeping big, placid Banksie. People around here like wild, partially trained collies, some of which are vicious killers of cats and sheep, but anything bigger is not wanted in the village.

It's a problem.
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Oh my, this sounds like a real bad situation.
 
Antje77 said:
Oh my, this sounds like a real bad situation.
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Braidie accidentally let Ginnie out a few days ago and a woman from the village reported that she had been walking on the road and seeing Ginnie, she missed her footing and fell over. Whereupon Ginnie ran to her and licked her. That was the initial story that was told but the woman went to the police to report a "dangerous dog" displaying a graze on her arm and saying Ginnie had knocked her down and bitten her. The police came to see Alistair but accepted that the only danger she poses is of licking someone to death.

As I said, people here don't like anything bigger than a collie. She will be safer in a mainland environment, if one can be found for her.
 
Antje77 said:
Is your family on Facebook?
I just had a search on Facebook for 'Rehoming dogs Scotland' which came up with quite a few active groups and pages.
Definitely worth a try in my opinion!
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Yes DIL is on Facebook and has found quite a few places that can rehome dogs, but none of the ones she has found have any spaces. She'll keep trying.

I should have added earlier that the woman who fell over actually grabbed Ginnie by the harness and took her back to where she belonged, which is when she told the original version of the story before deciding to make a formal complaint and adding imaginary details. If a big dog had just bitten you, would you lead it home or try to drive it away?
 
Annb said:
Yes DIL is on Facebook and has found quite a few places that can rehome dogs, but none of the ones she has found have any spaces.
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It's not just facebook pages of rehoming facities but also groups where people help eachother.
If I were in her place I'd definitely join all those groups and share the story and cute pictures.
 
Antje77 said:
It's not just facebook pages of rehoming facities but also groups where people help eachother.
If I were in her place I'd definitely join all those groups and share the story and cute pictures.
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She's pretty good at communicating online, but I'll make sure she is looking for those groups to join.
 
maglil55 said:
Energy suppliers are beyond the pale. Some of you know I complained a few months back when they decided they were going to increase my direct debit payment despite me being substantially in credit and my existing payment more than covering my usage. I eon't go through the tale again but, suffice to say, they left the direct debit payment alone and I received a refund of most of my credit plus a "payment" for inconvenience (compensation but they don't seem to like admitting that).

All was fine until 19 December. We had gone into a colder snap before that but still my payment plus credit covered my usage. I also decided that since we're into a colder period, I'd pay an amount by BACS transfer to ensure there was sufficient to cover usage in the next month.

To my horror, the energy supplier once again decided they were going to increase my direct debit payment by £50 pm. No ifs, no buts. This is the disagreement I had with them before as their method is flawed.

My complaint on 19 December failed to get a reply until I was forced to complain again after they said they had increased my direct debit. At this point I told them I would be complaining to Ofgem (their regulator), leaving them as soon as I could, and cancelling my direct debit to pay via BACS. That eventually got a response on 28 December.

They admitted they had "overestimated" the increase on the direct debit - it should have been £9 not £50!!

They admitted, despite saying previously you cannot pay by standing order, you actually can pay this way. Also you can pay by BACS BUT, both these methods incur a higher tariff.

They admit they ask for a higher lump sum up front as an alternative to increasing the direct debit payment. In my case m, the amount was £620!! That is just like a retailer saying pay me for what you are buying now but you will receive the goods gradually over the coming months - oh and we'll be taking a monthly subscription from you too So they really think we're all idiots.

The £8 pm I decided to live with for now, but I told them in no uncertain terms, I am far from happy, I will be leaving them as soon as I can in the coming months and I will continue to keep a close eye on usage. Finally, any sign of excessive credit building up and they had better reduce the direct debit (or I'd cancel it).

I then proceeded to ask a number of questions about their methods, the main one being why they charge a higher tariff for the very efficient BACS transfer or standing order.

Also, where is the documentary evidence that customers should be at least one month in credit.

Unbelievably, the reply I got said they are glad I'm happy!! No answers to any questions. I've politely suggested they read my email again but, to make it clear I am far from happy and, in case they missed it, here are all my questions again.

Rant over!! I'll be interested to see if they come up with a reply. The Telegraph the past couple of days has exposed that energy suppliers are hanging onto around £2billion of funds from customers in credit.
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I had fun and games of the not fun at all sort with BG at the start of the year.

For no reason at all, I decided to look at our account. It is virtually always in credit, often significantly, and when our last bill arrived in November, it was settled from DDMs already paid, and still left a credit balance. I guess in the interim, November > January there was a price capo increase announced, but even so there was plenty there, provided I continued to pay my DDM.

Lo and behold, when I looked at my account, they had unilaterally, and without informing me, increased my DDM by well over £100. I was a bit grumpy at that - especially as we were about to run away from winter, thereby decimating our energy usage for a period. Obviously, they had no clue about that latter part.

I went to the area saying something like "Adjust your Payment" to find I could certainly adjust my payment but on upwards. That being upwards from that which thay unilaterally decided was the amount they wanted.

Needless to say the AndBreathe grumpy face was deployed, and I got to it, like you I would pay differently if necessary.

Cutting to the chase, after a bit of discourse on their Chat system the young man sorted it out, and offered to escalate my concerns regarding the unilateral increase, without notice, or even being informed of it.

As it stands, we are further in the position that MrB received the pensioners' winter fuel payment, which we immediately transferred to an account of it's own and we add the monthly rebate each month we receive it. At this rate HM Government will have paid for one of our tickets to the sunshine.

We are living in a crazy world at the moment. I know I drone about it all the time, relating to health, but applies to all of life right now. We must be our own strongest advocates in all of this madness and keep a keen eye on what is going on around us.

Now where did I put that step ladder to get down off this soap box?
 
Looks like I'll be having a couple of guinea pigs in my living room again until it gets warmer.
This morning I noticed one of them had scratched open its shoulder/side. The wound was dry but quite large. To my surprise, I managed to catch it right away (lucky moment, definitely nothing to do with my guinea-pig catching skills).
Which left me with a guinea pig in my arms and no place prepared to put it, all before my morning coffee!

So I decided it could spend some time in a bucket in the bathroom with a stick of celery while I took time for coffee and to think about the next step.

Vet was an option, but they're not very knowledgable on guinea-pigs so chances are you pay a lot of money for the wrong diagnosis and treatment.
Decided to call the guinea-pig shelter where I usually adopt them for advice. They're only open on wednesdays and saturdays but someone picked up the phone anyway! :)
They offered I could come by on saturday with my piggie so they could have a look and decide on treatment.
Even if they're not vets, they work closely with a vet and see countless guinea pigs with ailments, much better than a general vet and cheaper too, even though it takes me almost an hour to get there by car.

I didn't want to put it back outside, chances on catching it again this quick are slim, and the weather is foul too, not good for a guinea pig in less than optimal condition.
So I set up the old pen again, caught a second guinea pig to keep it company and accepted I'll have no room in my living room until may.

Kittens seem to enjoy the new set-up, their favourite sleeping spot is now much higher! :)

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Antje77 said:
Looks like I'll be having a couple of guinea pigs in my living room again until it gets warmer.
This morning I noticed one of them had scratched open its shoulder/side. The wound was dry but quite large. To my surprise, I managed to catch it right away (lucky moment, definitely nothing to do with my guinea-pig catching skills).
Which left me with a guinea pig in my arms and no place prepared to put it, all before my morning coffee!

So I decided it could spend some time in a bucket in the bathroom with a stick of celery while I took time for coffee and to think about the next step.

Vet was an option, but they're not very knowledgable on guinea-pigs so chances are you pay a lot of money for the wrong diagnosis and treatment.
Decided to call the guinea-pig shelter where I usually adopt them for advice. They're only open on wednesdays and saturdays but someone picked up the phone anyway! :)
They offered I could come by with my piggie so they could have a look and decide on treatment.
Even if they're not vets, they work closely with a vet and see countless guinea pigs with ailments, much better than a general vet and cheaper too, even though it takes me almost an hour to get there by car.

I didn't want to put it back outside, chances on catching it again this quick are slim, and the weather is foul too, not good for a guinea pig in less than optimal condition.
So I set up the old pen again, caught a second guinea pig to keep it company and accepted I'll have no room in my living room until may.

Kittens seem to enjoy the new set-up, their favourite sleeping spot is now much higher! :)

View attachment 58850
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Are you sure there's room for you as well? Those kittens are coming on quickly and certainly seem at home now.

I'm told that all but 3 of the pups are spoken for now. Mum is going to a rehoming centre in Aberdeenshire at the end of February. If all else fails, the remaining pups might be able to get in there as well. DIL will take 7 of the pups southwards, some to new homes in Scotland and some in England. Alistair will take Ginnie and one of the pups north to Aberdeenshire, and maybe the other 3 as well. First they all have to be vaccinated and microchipped. The vet has been making good money out of these dogs this year!
 
Annb said:
Are you sure there's room for you as well?
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There is for me, but but not much for getting around to my clothes closet, the doors or my bed (the blue part in the picture). And definitely no room for chairs for visitors.
Oh well, I'll survive, and I do like hearing the guinea pigs, especially at night so all is well!

Good news on the pups and Ginnie, three pups and a grown dog to rehome is very different from 12!
I hope they'll all find a wonderful place. :)
 
Had a visit from a little cross bred puppy called Uno. He was the oldest of the 11 and the biggest. Mostly white with a black head and one black patch on his side. Very cute. I still don't have a camera, so couldn't take a pic. He'd just had a bath so his fur wasn't very fluffy, but once dry, it will be. Alistair is having to wash the whole litter every 2nd day at least because they get into such a state - having to be kept in the house at present because it is too cold to let them out. That's a relief to their mum because she has had enough of them and can't wait to get outside away from them. She's not even trying to keep them clean which is why they have to be bathed so often.Their dad is much more tolerant of them, but he doesn't have to feed them.
 
DIL and Em's big sister will be taking 8 pups to their new homes at the end of February. The first to somewhere on the Scottish Borders and the last to Norfolk via Liverpool. It's a long drive, but it does ensure that the pups are welcomed to good homes. One Scottish household has agreed to take a second pup, to keep the first one company.

Al will be taking the mother and one pup to Aberdeenshire and, probably the 2 remaining ones that are still not spoken for and hope the rehoming centre will take Ginnie and the 2 pups. The remaining one does have an Aberdeenshire home to go to. But I heard last night that on the way back, DIL will be picking up a basset hound which she discovered needed rehoming while looking for homes for Ginnie's brood. Apparently Banksie needs a companion, never having lived alone in his life so far (he does hate being alone and when it happens he howls constantly). At least the new one (called Hugo) is a male so no more pups.

A major repair and renovation seems to be required once the house is empty of pups. Floors to be replaced, walls to be repaired, new furniture and so on. I like dogs but, other than scratching furniture, cats are much less destructive as pets. My house still bears the scars of the time when the family plus dogs lived with us for a while - mostly the doors which were scratched as dogs tried to get to places they weren't allowed. Washing on the line suffered a bit too, the big Great Dane they had just loved to pull it off the line, making holes as he did it. That was another one they bought as a pup which outgrew all expectations and had to be rehomed due to local hostility to big dogs. He was blamed for killing a sheep despite the fact that, seeing the injuries, he would have had to have been laying on his back to do it and in any case had an alibi. Notwithstanding that, it was safer for him to be rehomed on the mainland.

Dogs!
People!
As troublesome as each other!
 
The pups all have homes to go to - even the one that has a dry-eye problem and will need eye drops for the foreseeable future. Ginnie is going to be accepted by the rehoming centre in Aberdeen. That's all sorted. unfortunastely, this time the ferry operators are being difficult and saying that the pups have to be left in the car for the crossing - last time, as long as they were on leads, they were allowed on the passenger deck (there is an area there set aside for dogs). Must be a new policy. So they have to be left in cages in the cars.

As I said before, people here don't like big dogs and yesterday someone complained about dogs barking in the afternoon - Ginnie and Banksie had been put into the outside pen to get them away from the pups and let them get some fresh air. Why they complained to the SSPCA, I don't know, but they did. When they came to the house, the pups were all out in the pen. It had been raining and the pups (apart from the one with the eye problem) were very muddy, but obviously in good health. This was a fault, apparently and improvements were demanded immediately, even though they are leaving for their new homes next week. Ginnie is to be kept separately from Banksie, although she is not back in season and she has to have a pregnancy test before she goes to Aberdeen. What that consists of, I have no idea and what happens if she should be pregnant, I also have no idea - abortion? She's not anyway. They also want an e-mail from the rehoming centre saying that they will be taking Ginnie. The alternative seems to be "euthenising" her. All this because someone doesn't like dogs barking! The thing is, there are yappy, barky dogs all over the village, but they are mostly collies, not big softy and gentle dogs bred to rescue people. Banksie, when a pup, had a game where he chased hens, picked them up gently and carried them back to the hen house, releasing them there, unharmed.

These are probably the same people who complained about the cockeral crowing so he had to be put down, despite another cockeral answering his crowing from further down the road.

It seems that DIL and Alistair can't do anything right for their neighbours. Can't think why people who don't like country sounds chose to live in the country.

People!
 
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