koalathebear

I felt like I had to post here where it all began ... 14 years later, 173 thread pages later, we had to say said goodbye to Elbie today.  We were lucky to have almost 14 years with him and he stayed with us as long as he could but he let us know today that it was time for him to go.  

We learned so much from him and we have met so many wonderful friends through him.  There are so many memories that are inextricably linked to the little black dog who stole our hearts in 2010.

He was happy to the end - giving tail wags and happy kisses to the vet who came to our house on a Sunday.  He fell asleep peacefully, happy and without pain or fear.  He was safe and surrounded by people who loved him and that was all we could have wanted for him even though we didn't want him to go.  

Sadly we lost our beloved Hoover yesterday.  We had hoped so much that he would make it to another Christmas and perhaps one more visit to South Durras - but he did make it to his 13th birthday and had a wonderful time ... so we are very thankful for the very precious time that we were able to have with this beautiful boy. 

He was a beautiful Kelpie with absolutely no badness in him.  Calm, gentle and sweet-natured, we brought him to all our yard checks so we could see how the potential adopters treated a dog, how their kids treated a dog, how their resident dogs treated a dog ...   As you can see from this album, he was the best foster carer in the world especially with puppies.  We will miss him terribly.

A while since I last posted but here are some photos from Elbie's birthday yesterday.  He turned 13!!!  I can't believe it.  He's very grey now but still very lively and spry and has no idea that he has a senior dog :)

Meet foster dog #23 Derby  He's a little bit cute <3

Although he's currently going through an Awkward Ears Phase :D

They're unimpressed that foster dog #23 is here, though :D

Annual trip to South Durras

Strudel's new family

Meet foster dog #22.  Her name is Strudel

Former foster Evie <3

Little posers

South Durras this year

It's been a while between updates because of toxic smoke and other reasons.  But Esme's found her forever home.  Here she is with her brother Stevie.

Thanks all.  Glad you liked the photos of Esme. Some Christmas photos sent through from the adopters of former fosters   We are incredibly lucky that we get updates in relation to all 20 of our previous foster dogs.  Some are more sporadic than others, but all the adopters still keep in touch.  Some of the foster carers in our group never get any updates, so I know that we are very fortunate.  It also makes handing them over 'easier' in a way given that we don't lose touch about how they're doing - it always feels like they've joined an extended family.

Former foster Evie, adopted in August 2017.  Here she is on Christmas day with her 'cousin' Piglet the cav and her human 'brother'/friend Finley.  Finley learned throw a ball for her before he could even crawl!

Former foster Dyson, adopted in December 2016.

Former foster Jack (was Takeshi).  Adopted January 2019.

Former foster Frida.  Adopted in October 2012.  Here she is with her brother Niko the Kelpie

Former foster Monkey, adopted in June 2018.

Someone melted in the sun

Hoover, always long-suffering

Cutie

Call me, maybe?

So sweet

"Play with me!"

She comes to the gym every Friday morning for HIIT class

Ridiculously cute Christmas tree photos

Tried to get a group photo.  Our dogs remained in position but Esme was a pest
  

Thanks so much all.  She's settling in nicely.  She's sensitive to correction and guidance so doing well.  Some very mild separation anxiety but we are working on it. 

Mega Stinkeye

Getting into the Christmas spirit.

Not happy, Jan.

Little bit cute

"Notice me senpei!!!"

Standoff

Kelpies are still bemused by the interloper in their midst..

On 10/19/2019 at 1:10 PM, PossumCorner said:

Expressive little faces - did they have the desired effect?

Yes :D I'm a softie.

In other news, we have a new foster dog.  Not our usual working dog ... our resident dogs are ... perplexed and nonplussed.

She's otherwise very cute, though ...

Here she is with former foster dog Jerry

And here she is with turtles

She looks like a toy ...

Foster dog #21 has arrived.  We've been on a break this year from fostering, but Esme showed up last Sunday.    She's 12 weeks old and was taken to the vet for a check up by her "breeder". When the vet said that she had an underbite and a mild hernia and shouldn't be bred from, the breeder told the vet to euthanise her on the spot ... The vet felt uncomfortable with this so called our rescue group.  We were temp caring Esme until the carer who was supposed to be fostering her adopted out her other foster - the other dog was adopted pending fences being boosted so Esme was to be with us for a few days only.  When the other dog's adoption fell through because of allergies within the applicant's family, we ended up with our first non-working dog foster.

So meet Esme. 

She's not a Kelpie

She looks like a drowned rat when you bathe her

"We want a walk."

On 8/24/2019 at 9:20 PM, persephone said:

They certainly are ! looks as though they had a long walk!!

They enjoyed it prodigiously! :D

Happy dogs

Former foster Rookie is also doing well.  His family have advised us that he achieved his Rally Novice title earlier this year. He has also started competing in Agility and on the weekend Rookie got his first ‘qually’ in Novice Jumping plus he came first in his height category. In the photo, he is showing off his certificate and ribbon. Rookie is also doing Noseworks and some tracking as the weather cools. His family say that he is a happy and busy boy and a joy to have around. 

Former foster Evie has turned out to be very child-friendly

Our dogs having a blast at A Pooch Affair last weekend

Former foster Frida, adopted in 2012 and now living in Victoria