The Past Few Months

Having made the move to the "country lifestyle" and being a "city chic" all my life had messed a little with my head and my emotions over the winter season. I have always disliked winter, the cold, the dark and coming home to black skies.  Well that had nothing on being on a farm -  add mud, cows, horses, poo and more poo!  A very cold 1800's cottage and a house full of dogs because no wanted to be outside, unless it was of course to roll in cow dung!

To say the least, I hated it - the outside of my house looked like squaller and the inside smelt like it! My daily calls to vent to my Mum couldn't be anymore, she always found a way to "put my chin up" my Friday night drive home use to be a 30 minute chat to Mum about what the weekend held, what the week was and just general mum/daughter stuff - I now hated driving home on Friday nights - I cried all the way home, they were such long drives - my mentor was not there anymore.

During these dark months I fostered and cared for some amazing souls - doggies that truly left pawprints on my heart;

"Leo the Lion"

Leo - "Leo the Lion" a rescue boy from Mildura, just 1 year old had been run over.  He arrived timid, shy, skinny and wanting love.  He reminded me so much of one of my darling boys that has crossed to the bridge, Buddy.  His characteristics were uncanny, in the 4 months he was here - he grew and developed into on of the finest rescue boys I have had the pleasure of helping.  He began to play with toys, play tug of war and love and snuggle me just like Buddy did.  He came to MPHQ to help me grieve the loss of dear Buddy - a loss I had truly been struggling with - Buddy died through vet error at only 5 years of age - and it breaks my heart every day.  Leo was a way of telling me Buddy is alive in spirit, I formed a bond so close that I wondered if I could ever bring myself to re-home him.  He and I got each other!  Deep down I knew my job was to find him the best home for the rest of his life. I made a wish list of the home I wanted for Leo.  We received more applications for Leo than any other dog at MP.  I vetted them with the help of a friend and fellow foster carer just to make sure I wasn't being biased.  But Leo told me who he liked and who he didn't.

When the right application came through I knew this was the one.  After the meet and greet I got the nod in my head that this is where Leo needed to be - on a farm - 5 acres with a young, happy little fur sister and a work from home Mum.  Leo loved to run and this home had space for him to enjoy.
The following week was handover day - I prepared myself each and everyday, I told Leo what my job was and that I was not giving him up, he will be with me always and forever in my heart.  Some dogs are no problems on handover day - but Leo - he was different.  He wondered why I was leaving him, after all we were the best of mates - we loved each other?  His new Mum watched him that day and night why he pined for me.  When I text to see how he was - she said OK - she lied - she lied to help me, but I knew - I knew because I cried for 5 hours non stop - I missed him, I missed his presence, his love and our bond and I knew he would be too. I just wanted him to know I did this for him.

2 weeks on - he is loving life - his Mum adores him, his fursister adores him and he runs all day - what more can a foster carer/rescuer want?  He will have a long, happy life with undivided attention in a secure, loving home - and I will always be a text away.  And I hope one day I will get to babysit him and keep in touch.

Bella - she is a beautiful poodle that was given up because she suffers from seizures, given up in

"Beautiful Bella"

Taree a place with little options, except euthanasia.  When I got a message from another rescue group asking if we could help - I always help when and where we can - I knew Bella had to come to MP.  The day she arrived she was overgrown and matted, but a simply loving soul.  She fitted in straight away.  She would sit on my lap at night and snuggle with me in bed, she was a gentle, loving girl.  Once her vet work was complete and I had a full understanding of her seizures I prayed that a loving home would want her with her special condition.  And they did.  Saying goodbye to this girl tore my heart strings (like they all do), she was special.  Her new Mum and Dad took her for a walk on handover day as we drove out the driveway, I will always remember this sweet girl turning around to say "where are you going" - I said onwards and upwards darling girl.  My job is done....and cried the way home.  The tears are of joy, fulfillment and love.  How do some people walk away so easily from the life of a precious doggy and some other like me fight so god damn hard for them?  Do I see something others don't? who knows - I am just so grateful that there are loving people like Bellas new home that will make sure she has the bestest life going forward.

"Barley Boo"

Barley - OMD - little tiny, pomeranian.  Anyone who knows me - knows my love for the pom!  The logo of MP is my 2 precious poms, Ruby and Toby - my first 2 doggies - the 2 that gave me the love for dogs I never knew I had.  Barley's story made me cry big time.  He was adopted from one family to another when their dog was stolen to be a companion for their disabled daughter - then a few months later the stolen dog was found.  He and Barley did not get along and Barley suffered from small seizures so the family decided to put Barley to sleep.  Luckily the vet discussed the option of surrender.

When this sweet boy arrived in care I thought to myself how does such a good dog end up in this situation - why do people not want them forever? Barley was adorable, polite, toilet trained, loving and just a "munchkin".  My team never thought I would re-home him - but I had to do what is right for dog - its always about the dog - he needed a quiet, loving home.  Would someone love Barley like I do? Will they look after his seizures, will they make sure he eats the right food as he suffers from hypothyroidism? will he never move again?  You got it - he found the perfect home! OMG - I could not have asked for anything better for this little one and most of all a loving Mum who will always remain in contact.

When your foster bubbas move on - you always miss them, you miss the routine you do for them, the little conversations you have with them and I think about them all the time.  They never leave me.  But as soon as one bag is packed another one is arriving....

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We were asked to holiday care a sweet old gent while his owner was in hospital - this day will stay with me until the day I die.  Sharon and I arrived at a home (after spending an afternoon at a MP function) that was housing a hoarder and there lay a dying dog surrounded by his own faeces and urine.  My heart sunk.  Sunday afternoon our vet opens for us as we rush this dear boy to help.  We were told not to hold much hope this dog was in a bad way, I was shaking, my heart pounding and my head spinning - do what you can I ask....please, I do not wish for any animal to pass away in this condition.  I said to Sharon - Shaz, even if we get one day with this boy, he will pass away on the grass, in the sun with loving arms around him.
That night I came home exhausted.  I prayed to my dearest Mum in the sky to see this boy through the night.  I had a shower and I simply cried my eyes out - another view of our world and animal cruelty I had never witnessed.  Life can be very hard for those with mental illness but do we really think of the furry friends that suffer too?

8am the next morning Sharon and I are at the vet our dearest Raphael is sitting up - oh lord - is this for real? 6pm that night he is home!  His blood tests were perfect - Raph was dying from depression.  We made it to his rescue just in time.

Marlee - a 9 month old Poodle - obviously interbred - he is deaf with neurological disorder, rescued from a breeder because his testicles didn't drop? thank the lord - or no doubt they would have kept breeding from him.  The dear family that adopted him made the hard decision to surrender him as they could not put the care into Marlee that he required.

Will and Grace - 3 years and 6 months - Mother and Son found as strays wondering the streets of Mannum.  Our local vet asked if we could take them in - of course we can I say!!!

My house went from a retirement village to a kindy yard over night!!!!  OMG - young dogs are such hard work.  Marlee and Will run amok!  Marlee is so challenging, his deafness creates new trials, but with his neuro disorder and being a puppy I am learning and researching daily on how to help this boy to have a happy, long life.  He doesn't understand a lot and gets very frustrated with the pack and there are lots of scraps (but no injuries) and I am becoming very good at sign language, his bark is a high pitched squeal and goes on forever!

Tara - arrived with her sister Lizzie - but together they form a "pack" and guard - guard badly.  Their history is another sad story.  Having lived in a bedroom their lives together in their own urine and faeces looking out for each other.  Why have a pet I ask?
Tara is an adorable girl, all she wants is to be loved, loved by her human.  Have a human all to herself. But she is a challenge, she likes me to herself and tells my pack that with authority - we have had a few scraps and when I am here I can take control but when I am at work I wonder what she is doing to be the "boss".  She doesn't like being separated and will find her way over or under fences to be part of the family.  I truly hope that I can find her the best home where she will be an only dog and be truly adored - she craves it and she deserves it.  Stay tuned....

Then I was asked to help a dear boy who's human Mumma is in a shelter due to domestic violence.  This dear boy - Mr. P. was so utterly scared at the vet clinic no one could touch him.  Sharon and I arrive to collect him after work - he slipped the collar and got off - oh hell! what a nightmare.  20 minutes later we grabbed him after 2 nasty bites on my arm and plenty of bruising!  4 days at HQ he was left separate as he was scared as hell, he would show his teeth and growl if I was to go near him, he took shelter under my garden setting and I let him be.  On the 5th day he ran to the fence for cuddles and pats - my heart sang!  He had turned the corner, he knew he was not going to be hurt here.  2 weeks in this boy is part of the family already - even sleeping in bed with me!!!  He is here for a 6 month stay and I hope he gets to see some real happiness.

  I think back 5 years or so and wonder where did all this patience come, because trust me patience is not something I have every been big on?  I think it is just because if everyone gives up on these guys who will be left to truly help them - we cannot all put our head in the sand so to speak - and if I give up - what would I do with my time?  to be honest - this is my passion, this is my heart and my soul - it is bloody tiring, it hurts my head and my heart but once you know something - you can never un-know it!