Hello and thank you for this opportunity to share my passion with you all. My name is Eiffion Ashdown I'm a 38-year-old father and I live with my family of ladies in a seaside city in the United Kingdom (UK) called Brighton. My passion which has now started a life of its own is why I'm here today chatting with you. Unofficially (for now) I own England's largest private bulldog collection.

 

WIGGLES

I started this about eight years previous and estimate that I own around four thousand different pieces from two-hundred-year-old Japanese baby faced figurines to custom made one offs and everything else in between. I'm doggy mad and grew up all my life with dogs around me and the reason why I chose the bulldog to collect was for investable purposes, my all-time favorite breed is the boxer dog. Our lifestyle is too small for a boxer, so we do have a real bulldog too called Wiggles whom we rescued late last December.

Two-hundred-year-old Japanese figurine

Over the past year or so I have found myself the interest of other websites journalists and well-wishers that love what I'm doing and send emails of encouragement, I'm currently working with a journalist whom will be doing a feature for one of our big papers over here in the UK called the Guardian. The journalist is one of two that are currently working with me to make a feature presentation and hopefully get some much needed exposure for my website Collectibulldogs.com.

So for a while now my front room at home has resembled a bulldog shrine, and a cross into an antiques shop. I get immense pride every time I go in as I myself still cannot believe I've finally found my calling and my only regret is I did not start this sooner. Apart from my own promotion I help out start up pages, groups collectors email responses. Well basically anyone that needs it and all I ever ask for in return for my work is a smile and a thank you. I believe in helping others not for a reward but because I think helping each other is much better than filling the pockets of greedy people just for the same privilege while we become slowly more hidden behind our screens paying for things like clicks and key words (tut tut).

Finally, let me say that I am not a business, I'm a collection and blogging website and I do occasionally sell to other collectors but as I'm not driven by money I prefer swaps to any other form of exchange, I know I have a Boston terrier in my collection as my friend from Poland got me one a while back. I will finish for now by saying thank you for reading my blog and for having a slightly different demographic doing a guest write up I love writing I love my collection so it's all perfect.  Do you have any collectibles that you would like to show me I sure would be interested and the breed doesn't matter in fact I love seeing pieces new to me as you can imagine I've seen literally thousands of bulldogs either mine or the groups.  Keep safe one and all and to anyone that does. Happy collecting.......Eiffion 

BOSTON TERRIER NETWORK NOTE: Please visit Eiffion's website  Collectibulldogs.com. you can also find him on Facebook at  Eiffion ashdown collectibulldogs . 

Summer has arrived and the weather it is hot, hot, hot!

The animals are feeling the heat the most. Your furry best friend may appear sluggish, panting and boiling in the humidity, in need of an ice cold drink to beat the heat.
If you do a quick search on the internet on giving your pooch ice water, you will find conflicting information. For many years, well-known wisdom has said NEVER give your pooch a bowl of ice water, even if they have been running around in the hot sun. But is there any real reason to avoid it?

According to Dr. Will Norris, of Veterinary Associates of Hattiesburg, “Giving your dog ice water is completely safe and acceptable 99% of the time. Many factors can contribute to this possibly being an unsafe process. If your dog is a voracious drinker or loves to eat or swallow ice, complications related to oral abrasion, overfilling of the stomach, or possible choke can occur (although this is not observed frequently in the clinical setting). “

If you give your pooch ice water, can it cause bloat? “Merely giving your dog ice water does not CAUSE bloat. Bloat is caused by overfilling of the stomach with water, food, or even air. Once the stomach is filled or gastric filling occurs, normally the stomach will mix and empty the contents into the small intestine through peristaltic contractions. In Bloat, these contractions cease and ileus occurs.” Dr. Will Norris.

Would that bloat lead to gastric dilation volvulus (GDV)? “Bloat leads to Gastric Dilitation and Volvulus (GDV) when after overfilling of the stomach with food, water, or air, the stomach torses, or twists on itself causing volvulus. Think of inflating a cylindrical balloon with air partially and then twisting it as a clown would. Bloat is overfilling without the twist and much easier to manage from a treatment vantage point. Once the twist occurs (volvulus), this is a serious and life threatening emergency.” Dr. Will Norris.

Would that bloat lead to gastric dilation volvulus (GDV)? In the process of torsion or volvulus, many blood vessels that supply the greater and lesser curvature and the pyloric region of the stomach will also become "twisted" and thus pinched off. This decrease in arterial, oxygen rich blood flow to the stomach wall can lead to necrosis (death of the tissue). Thankfully, up to 60% of the stomach can be resected or removed and the patient can retain normal function if they are attended too Quickly.

Oftentimes at surgery, necrosis can be so severe, that surgical resection cannot be achieved. Likewise, reperfusion injury can occur following untwisting of the stomach and lead to cardiac arrhythmias and other life threatening problems.

While providing ice water does not directly cause bloat or GDV, it is often considered a risk factor. Some large breed pet owners will choose to perform a prophylactic gastropexy at the time of spay/neuter to prevent complications related to bloat and GDV. I perform most of these on Great Danes, Standard Poodles, Labrador and Golden Retrievers, and other large breed, deep chested dogs following owner consultation.

Ice water or no?

So next time your furry family pet gets over heated give your precious friend a few sips of tepid water wait a half an hour and then give the ice-cube if you must. Most important is to moderate the drinking and don’t allow your dog to rapidly gulp the water – especially on those hot summer days.

The tepid water and the panting will cool them down without causing any possible health issues. Remember always give your dog a pat and a treat and NEVER leave your dog in a hot car even with the windows open. Opt out of taking then with you and leave them home in the safety of your air-conditioned home! They will thank you for it later.

Written by: Julie Bradford

Credited: Dr. Will Norris, Veterinary Associates of Hattiesburg

Hello Everyone

My name is Quentin Johnson. I have worked in the field of Animal Control for 22 yrs. I was honored when Donna asked me to contribute articles from a law enforcement perspective.

I have been so encouraged by the collaboration between animal control and rescue groups over the last several years. Our own agency only had two non-profit partners for the first 10 years I worked for them. In the last five years, that number has blossomed to over 100 different rescue groups that have helped us re-home animals from our shelter.

Please understand that for many years, animal control and humane societies/rescue groups were seemingly on opposite sides of the fence. What always baffled me was the fact that we were all trying to solve the same issues, but allowed differences of opinion and personal egos to take precedence over the primary goal of serving our furry friends. I have personally witnessed shouting matches and name calling between animal control workers, rescue groups, and volunteers. In almost every case, the outcome resulted in the loss of employment, the loss of good volunteers, and the dissolution of rescue partnerships. However, the ones who suffered the most from this disharmony were the animals in the shelter.

There are specific topics that I have been asked to address. I promise to do my best to provide a professional perspective, and offer insights to the world of humane law enforcement. If you have questions, or certain subject matter you want covered please let me know.

Your friend,
Quentin