If you love your dogs...

[Escape]

Tim, unfortunately these problems with certain owners / breeders (not breeds!) are very real, so I don't think there's much harm in discussing it, as long as we all stay polite and respect each others point of view (instead of enlarging the differences).

We all seem to agree the irresponsible owners and breeders are the ones to be exterminated. But that's not gonna happen... It would be a start to solving some other problems like overpopulation as well though, so I don't see the problem. 😁

On a more happy note, I'm very much looking forward to a long walk with our furry friend tomorrow. 🙂

[pete]

[C8RKH]

On 14/02/2024 at 07:00, Escape said:

We all seem to agree the irresponsible owners and breeders are the ones to be exterminated.

100% absolutely agree with this.

I don't "hate" dogs per se, I just want dog owners to respect that not everyone likes dogs and not everyone is comfortable around dogs.

It's actually about respect.

Seeing a well behaved dog, with a responsible owner, both having fun, but respecting peoples individual rights, is a joy.

[pete]

My dog insurance has gone from £24 a month to £88😠

[jep]

Due to vet costs as the sector has fallen victim to big businesses. Costs are running out of control and there are fewer and fewer independents. 

The big firms have layers of management and shareholders to feed. They've put up basic charges across the board and steer customers to buying medicines from them at inflated prices. 

It's gonna get worse, Government needs to intervene.

Justin 

[oneshot]

The CMA are already investigating https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68563427

[Escape]

It's the same over here. The shelter where I help out used to have a real good vet close by. She obviously cared genuinely about the animals and would make sure costs would stay withing reason. But then her practice expanded, with several other vets, becoming a company instead of a one-person operation. Prices started rising (in some cases doubling) and no extra efforts were being made for the shelter, just treated as another number in the line. Which meant they had to look for another vet, as the cost became too high to bear. 😞 

Luckily they have found an alternative, fingers crossed that will work out in the long term. Still a shame, as Carla, the original vet obviously has a heart for animals and really helped out when the shelter moved to their current location. But now she too has to play by the company rules...

[jep]

1 hour ago, oneshot said:

The CMA are already investigating https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-68563427

Yes but it will take years before they legislate, if they ever do. Too many other problems for government so I fear the pet food tin will be kicked down the road

[C8RKH]

If you've not noticed, this is exactly what has happened to GP practice in the UK.

Only this time it is the NHS that is getting ripped off and patients are just left to suck up and increasingly poor service and experience as the GPs partners fill their boots.

[Chillidoggy]

16 hours ago, C8RKH said:

If you've not noticed, this is exactly what has happened to GP practice in the UK.

Only this time it is the NHS that is getting ripped off and patients are just left to suck up and increasingly poor service and experience as the GPs partners fill their boots.

Isn’t it the case that GP surgeries are a independent, that they’re contracted to the NHS for a fee?

[Bibs]

Yup, they're private businesses and the partners do very well out of them. 

[C8RKH]

1 hour ago, Chillidoggy said:

Isn’t it the case that GP surgeries are a independent, that they’re contracted to the NHS for a fee?

Yes, they are mostly independent businesses who charge the NHS fees. Not many realise that.

They often have "business managers", part of their job is to maximise revenues, and therefore profits, which comes from the NHS budget.

[Bibs]

Rachel has just started a job today once again as a Practice Manager of 2 surgeries and has worked as one in the past. Certainly down here they don't have that role, that's up to the Doctors and they're very good at it. 

[mayevora]

[Escape]

While on holiday in Brittany, we came across an old quarry with countless cairns at the bottom. So we had to build our own, in honor of our Cairn terrier (who stayed at home as he doesn't like car rides). And topped it off with an offering for the old gods. 🙂 

[Escape]