Bevd

Oooh how weird Jeff I was on all my other forums/internet haunts yesterday (as was Lisa) but this was the only one we both couldn't access. I then tried to go to www.greytalk.com (rather than the forums address) but had no luck with that either. You know how when you go to a site but there's a problem, it often takes a while (maybe 5 or 10 seconds) to find that the page isn't going to display? Well yesterday, when I was trying to get to GT, it just immediately gave me the internet explorer (is it 404?? - the one which lists three reasons why I might not be able to get the page). Also, when I typed www.greytalk.com into my address bar, it didn't take me to the home page but took me to a google listing, where greytalk was at the top. (If I type it into my address bar today, it takes me to the home page as normal). I'm only telling you all this in case it turns out that others had the same problem and it's something you needed to know about. Over and out

I apologise if this has been mentioned elsewhere and I've just not seen it but wondered if the whole of GT (not just the forums) were down for everyone yesterday or just me (and Lisa73, also in the UK). I (or rather we) couldn't get anything at all, other than an immediate error page.

I'm really sorry to hear of Lily's passing It must have been such a terrible shock for you to come home and find her that way

I suppose the way I look at it is if you had a human child, there is no way, regardless of how complicated it was, you'd not have an insurance policy to cover the childs health. So my advice to you is to contact a few different vets, speak to the admin people and ask which insurance companies seem to work well for their clients (ie cover the sort of stuff you want covering, pay out promptly etc). You *may* find that some vets are not allowed to promote any one particular insurance company - thats sometimes the case over here but I'm not sure if its the same in the USA. Once you've got an idea of which, say, three insurance companies may be good for you, you can then look at their policies and ask each one for specific details before you make your choice. One thing I will say regarding choice of policy (and again, be aware that I'm speaking from a UK perpective so this needs checking for USA companies) is make absolutely sure that you go for a covered for life policy. I'll explain what I mean by that. You may find two companies offering what look to be pretty similar policies but one is a good few dollars a month cheaper than the other, so it looks more inviting. Ask the company the following:- "If my dog were to get an illness such as diabetes for example, you would cover him during that first policy year?" (They'll say yes) "Will you then go on to cover him for diabetes once we go into the next policy year??". The cheaper company is likely to say no. The more expensive company is more likely (hopefully) to say yes. If the company says no, their policy is not worth having full stop. There is no point having a policy which only covers the dog for one year for that illness and then refuses to pay out for the same illness once you finish that policy year. You need a company who will not only pay out for the first claim but who will continue to pay out to cover that illness for the duration of the dogs life. Does that make sense?

You see, fingers crossed for healthy and accident free hounds just doesn't do it for me. It's absolutely fine if a person is very well situated money wise (where no amount of money would be difficult to find if it became necessary) but for normal everydy people, thats just not the case. I adopted a Westie from rescue in September 06 and she was four months old. I insured her the day we adopted her. At seven months she was diagnosed with Perthes Disease and on Valentines Day, she cost my insurance company well in excess of £1000 ($2000) having part of her hip joint removed. I have paid 5 months worth of insurance premiums for her, so approx £50 ($100). She may need the same on on the other side at some point. Her not being insured doesn't even bear thinking about. My greyhounds have all made the most of their insurance policies, as have some of my mutts. I struggle to pay the insurance premiums each month but they are an absolute must for peace of mind. Sometimes, even the best insurance policies can't 'fix' the dog but at least you can throw every single (suitable) treatment at the dog and not have to worry about where the money is coming from. I'm sure I come across as a little blunt sometimes and I really don't mean to be but I've just read your thread re vet fees and then came back to this thread and re-read the quote above and I honestly and truly cannot fathom why you are still on the fence You said yourself that you barely make enough to scrape by and that this one injury is going to take you months to pay off.....so what on earth will happen if your dog has another accident or develops an illness? You are now paying off a big bill, plus massive interest, on a monthly basis. Instead, you could have been paying a nominal, monthly fee to an insurance company which would have not only covered your dog for this accident, but for any other accidents too!

Oh little Queenie Sleep tight and do lots of playing. We'll miss you little chicken.

That was lovely - thank you I spotted my four and smiled a lot (between the tears)

I'm very sorry

I'm very sorry to read of your loss

I'm sorry to read of your loss There are a lot of us foolish people around, aren't there?

I'm so sorry Diane Night night Rob Roy

Goodnight Tigger I'm so sorry Jenn

I'm so, so sorry

Thats my favourite greyhound piece

I'm so sorry to hear of Megans passing I have some music playing on the computer and as I started to read your post, the song that came on was Bridge Over Troubled Waters. Quite fitting I thought

It's taken me an hour or so to be able to type anything at all. DeVon - my heart aches for you. All the hounds we come across on GT are special but to me, there was always something just that bit extra special about Lori Ann. I absolutely loved seeing her pictures and reading about her little quirks I can't tell you how sorry I am to come here today and read this thread. Lori Ann - you will always, always be remembered and we'll miss you very much. I hope you've met up with Jessie and Del and Maddison and Flo and all the other GT hounds who will show you where all the best cookie trees are and how the stuffie bushes work Play hard up there, until you meet your Mummy again.

The two parcels I sent out have landed at their destinations and the two parcels that were sent to me have both arrived. (I've pressed all relevant buttons in my funky events thingy which I love) Thanks for a great GT SS 2006

I'm very sorry

I'll listen out for some thunder and then smile Hannah - I was thinking of Mono on Sunday because we were on the motorway and we went past something (can't remember what it was now) that had the word MONO on it in giant letters

Welcome! My advice is that you invest in a camera if you don't already have one

Welcome! It sounds as if you're doing all your prep really well

I'm really sorry Play hard at The Bridge Tyler and say hi to all the others for me

I'm sorry I've not seen this until just now. I'm very sorry to hear that Beanie has gone to The Bridge. I always loved his pictures

I'm very sorry to hear this news

I'm re-matched. Thank you