**rhi-eal meals**: Getting Sentimental

Yesterday, our dear old boy Tyson got his little fellas chopped off. Tyson is a stray who found us almost four months ago, and just seemed to never leave. We tried looking for his owners around the area, handed out leaflets and put up signs. Rang the local pound and asked vets. No one knew who he was. As our neighbourhood is a new residential area where there is still a lot of building going on we think that his previous owner was a tradey, and just never cared enough about him to try and find him. I used to get so angry about it. But now I have come to accept that some people just dont give a shit about the beautiful animals they call 'pets'. So he is staying with us now.
Tyson is a pure staffy, and so often will get subjected to, and blamed, for being aggressive towards dogs. Our dear old boy has scars on his ears where he has obviously been in a fight, and although not aggressive, he does get defensive if dogs are 'rude'.
At the beach probably just over a week ago this dog (he looked like a rottweiler cross) came up to us and Tyson (on a lead) growled at him to back off. The dog left and come back over growling himself. I had no idea where the owner was. This dog came up to us probably three or four times, and I abandoned any efforts trying to get Tyson's focus on me as he was so agitated, so all I could do was hold Tyson's front up against my chest so that I could control him better. At one stage the dog just came up and bit, grabbing Tyson by the leg. Tyson latched onto the closest thing he could, the dog's lip, and maintained his grip. Meanwhile the owner had obviously spotted us, and came over almost hysterical. I was having a hard time holding onto Tyson as he is so strong, and I asked my sister, Lacey, to come help. She twisted Tsyon's ear (something that pack leaders do to maintain dominance) and Tyson let go of the dogs lip. As the lady walked away, however, all she could say was " F******* staffies". My sister went off at her, as did another kind man who watched the whole thing happen. She should be responsible for her dog. Tyson was on a lead and I tried to control him as best as I could while her dog kept coming up and getting in my dog's space. Grr! it makes me angry.
So anyway, we decided to get him neutered as it is the safest thing to do, in terms of disease and living longer, cheaper (to register him) and to possibly quieten his defensiveness down a little bit.

Tyson on the way home from the vet yesterday - very doped up the poor dear.

Tyson !

This is Tandy, my refuge dog. Her and I have been best of friends for almost three years now.

Princess Tandy

These are our horses (or ponies rather). Popeye the grey one in the background (Popeye as he only has one eye), and Tom is in the front. I miss them so!

This is my sister, Lacey (on the right) and I. She got upset that I didnt put a photo of her up in the "my canvas" post.
Same, same but oh so different!