Anything to say mr pack or are we all to be tarred with the same brush
Terry

Seems to me like he was talking about people who haven't really got a problem but claim anyway.

So it looks to me like you're either calling yourself a fraudster or you're trying to start something, which i'd prefer you didn't thanks all the same.

I do know that Mr Pack doesn't have regular access to a PC at present which may be why he hasn't replied

I guess it's quite hard not to get riled up about it all. I had to stop a similar conversation with my boyfriend the other day over benefits and the government taking 20% of your earnings and 40% if your a high earner because I was getting annoyed about it. I'm only just starting my working life but it is clear that such topics are sore ones with pretty much everyone.

It just seems a real shame to me that the money we give to support those who really need it have to fight to get it and those who aren't in a financial position to have children blink and get it and often more than the honest workers working their socks off each day to keep afloat. I know I'd be happy to see it come out of my paychecks every month if I knew it was all going to go to the people really deserve it.

DLM 

No to both,
just concerned that it looks like all dog owners on benefits must be some sort of fraudster, each and every case is different, but as you seem to think its alright for one person to imply that if you have a dog and show/work your dogs you shouldn't be claiming any benefits, if you do you are defrauding the general public.
So end of story, censorship wins,
Terry

There are degrees of everything.......

Without wanting to start a "my disability is better than yours" war  I've had arthritis since I was a child, but that is not why I get Mobility Allowance. The assessment of whether your disability makes you "unable or almost unable to walk" is down to a doctor who is supposedly trained to assess your ability to get about. Perhaps if I were able to get new joints I might be a bit more mobile, but I've already been told that the new ankles, knees and hip that I need are not going to be allowed until I am basically too old to find them useful anyway. Even then it wouldn't sort out the nerve damage, deformed spine, muscle wastage and partial paralysis. 

Personally I hate sitting by the ringside watching other people show my dogs - it makes me feel rather a failure and cuts me off from something I should be able to enjoy with them. I'd happily give back the £140 a month I get given towards running a car (it doesn't go very far, believe me!) if it meant I could run around a show ring.  I am sure Terry would feel the same if her joints got worse.

I'm glad I have the degree of mobility I have.....does anyone remember Susie who used to run her team in a full body brace? She would get Bruce to lift her onto her rig (tiller of course!) and her helpers led the dogs up to the start. She then stayed where she was until she finished the race - which she did with good times and excellent dog control.

If I ever get miserable about finding something difficult about working the dogs, I just remember Susie and give myself a mental kick up the backside - if I ever get to be half as good at running a dog team as she was, I'll feel I've acheived something. She, like me had to sit and watch others show her dogs, and I know she found it as frustrating as I do - but one of her girls made Champion, so I've got that to aim for too. 

Catherine i dont know susie but she sure sounds like a remarkable women! like when i first moved up your way i was amazed  my mother was moaning about her swollen joints the other day and iam not very good at pity and i was like well if you walked more etc she was like if only you knew and i was like ! if only you knew my mate catherine who has a pile of dogs and a job and she runs her dogs!  think people like yourself cut the grade! Iam just happy an old doll like me had the guts to go back to uni keep all my dogs working while running after a crazy 6 year old

Totally agree with you Cathrine,
I too have been told that I need to have both knees replaced and now have a pin in my lower back, I would give back every penny to have my health back, I loved to show my dogs. I don't know if anyone on here remembers, but I used to show 5/6  dogs at every champ show, now I struggle with 1 or 2 at the most,
The insurance company offer me  x amount if I gave up showing the dogs, Due to the damage from the fall, I said that no way in hell was I giving up my lifestyle no matter how much it hurts, and god it can hurt. also just finished 12 weeks of chemo,
I have slowed down I guess in showing etc, but now I have my electric buggy, the dogs still get walked and i can get about more,
So I believe that yes we do take part in a active hobby, BUT I truly believe that is better than sitting at home feeling sorry for myself
Terry

I well remember Susie, and yes she was remarkable! I don't lnow what she is doing now but the last time I saw her she was about to compete in an athletics championship, something like the paralympics.

Terry,
Read my two posts again.
Cam

Have read both Cam. very ambiguous you will agree and has opened great discussion,
Terry