Our amazing senior pets competition

Gentle Kuyan

This article appeared in the Geelong advertiser Saturday 28th May 2011. By Amelia Grevis-James

Many people associate the Doberman breed with ferocity and aggression. Used throughout history as a war dog, police dog and personal protector, Dobermans are not typically perceived as gentle giants.

But Ocean Grove resident Elaine Longshaw told the Geelong Advertiser her beloved Doberman Kuyan, an aborigninal word for “honey bee,” was sweet, quiet and loveable. And he has to be in his line of work.

Kuyan has been working as a community companion dog for almost six years, visiting nursing homes in Grovedale and Ocean Grove every week. “ The residents absolutely love him,” Mrs Longshaw said. “He spends time with them while they pat him and give him treats and if they want to have a bit of a chat with him he lies beside them patiently.”

As an experienced therapy dog, Kuyan’s task is to make people feel good. But Mrs Longshaw, who rescued Kuyan from and animal shelter when he was 18-months-old, also used Kuyan as a mobility aid. “ I have had many hip operations and replacements, as well as a knee replacement, and Kuyan’s size and gentle nature means I can use him to get myself up off the couch and around the house,” she said. “He is just a sweetheart.”

Snoopy

Snoopy is an 11-year-old beagle who suffers from arthritis. This does no stop him from enjoying his runs along the beach with his owner Bert.

He loves sleeping on the mats that are in almost every room of the house. But above all, he loves food! The sight of food rejuvenates him, especially granny smith apples (not the core!).

Ally and Jed

This is a photo of Ally and Jed (brother and sister) celebrating their 12th birthdays, with a run on the farm near Apollo Bay on Queen’s Birthday weekend.

Their favorite hobbies: chasing motorbikes, model aircraft, kites; barking at motorbikes (and anything with a 2-stroke motor); eating and sleeping (longer sleeps now between farm assignments)!

Richard, Victoria

Chandler, the amazing senior pet

Our amazing senior pet is our Cavalier King Charles Spaniel, Chandler. He will be 15 on September 11th.

Despite being pretty much deaf now, Chandler still has lots of life in him. Coming home at the end of a long day, we are greeted by our senior dog who, knowing that it is dinner time, prances around like a spring lamb.

Taking him for walks down to the local oval, where he is allowed to be off leash, Chandler loves to have a run with Baxter and Fletcher (his "brothers", aged 10 and 2), although Fletcher has a tendency to almost bowl Chandler over in sheer excitement and high spirits: on more than one occasion, Fletcher has jumped clean over Chandler to avoid a head on collision.

During a recent trip up to our family's holiday house up at Lake Eildon, despite not having been up for several years, Chandler recognised the place immediately, and wasted no time in heading straight into the very full lake for a swim.

In mid-2009, Chandler underwent surgery to remove a growth of fatty tissue from his side. On its removal, it was discovered that it weighed in at 1.9kg - a lot of extra weight for a little dog. However, it gave Chandler a new lease on life - it was as though he was ten years younger.

To the left is a photo of Chandler as an 11 week old puppy, in 1996, and another of him having a frolic up at Lake Eildon in 2010, aged 14. As you can see, he is a very happy, healthy little guy: he truly lives up to the adage "there's life in the old dog yet".

As you can see, my partner and I are very proud of our amazing senior pet!

Penny, Victoria, Australia

Rascal the amazing

Our beautiful Rascal (Wascally Wabbit) went to God on 13th May this year and as I write, the tears well up.

Memories remain of the night when the wind chime jingled (a cat one of course). It hangs inside on the back of front door. I called out 'Who's there?' No answer. How my legs carried me toward the front door is beyond me and my heart was thumping. The door had to open for that wind chime to jingle, (so I thought at the time).

When I got there looking up at the door, was a beautiful, white, fluffy angel. He turned to me and looked as if to say, 'What took you so long?'

Since that day, my angel stretched up, pawed at the chime to let me know he wanted to sit on the verandah. Bless his heart, his whiskers, his paws, his little pink nose, and whacks on my cheek (and Daddy's) at two in the morning when he wanted rubs and most of all his beautiful Spirit. He worked it out all by himself and I think our Fuffle Bum (another nick name) was amazing.

Carmel, Victoria

Eddie

After receiving your newsletter I felt that Eddie was an appropriate contender for the amazing senior pet.

Eddie has had three homes he started with a young girl when he was a kitten after about 6 months she decided she couldn't spend enough time with him and he was adopted by my mother. He lived comfortably with her for about 15 years. During this time he had many ailments forcing my mother to spend thousands of dollars on him. Among many things he became diabetic and required an insulin shot twice a day.

My mother became unwell and had to go for a lengthy stay in hospital. It was decided that I would take Eddie on for a few months till she returned home. He moved in with me was positioned in the back room for sleeping arrangements and I took on the twice a day injection.

After nearly two years he is still with me, has moved himself on to my son's bed and amazingly has gone into remission (no longer diabetic). He has had many hiccups along the way but Eddie is a survivor and we all love him very much.

Nikki, Victoria

Nala

Our cat, Nala, doesn’t realise she is senior just yet, she still has her kitten moments. One of her life-long eccentrics is to race around the house barking. She sounds just like a dog.

She is nearly 13 and we have had her since she was 6 weeks old. In September 1998 when we brought her home we were told that she had spent a short time at the dog kennels as the cattery where she had been dumped was full, I don’t have proof of this, but she had to have learnt to bark from somewhere!

One of our other favourite Nala stories is from when she was about 2, we had another cat (Jack Daniels) and the two of them would play chasey all day; out the back door, up the tree, over the two-storey high roof, down the front brick wall and in through the open front door. I didn’t realise they were playing this day and closed the fly screen just after Jack had come through, Nala hot on his heels, she ended up smacking into the fly screen so hard the door shook. She had a lattice print across her nose for some time and I swear her nose is slightly flatter and ever since, whenever she is happy, she drools (again just like a dog!).

Now she plays chasey with Wicket and keeps her younger brother in check. Hoping she has many more years of running about and controlling the house.

Neroli, Western Australia

Kaya at Eildon 

This is our Dog Kaya, she is German Short Hair Pointer cross with Staffie and Shorthair Border Collie.

Since day one Kaya has loved a ball, a stick anything that moves really!

We go to Eildon for part of out holidays which are a great holiday for a senior dog!! Kaya loves the water.

Any one playing with a ball, Kaya will be involved and has the drive to just keep going, until she gets the ball!!

Kaya comes where ever we go and will not be forgotton, she makes a point of siitting next to the car before any trip.

There has been a new addition to our family, Kip, she is a Jack Russell and has no end of energy. I think she has given Kaya a burst of youth, and a lot of frustration.

Kaya does not hold back on letting Kip know when enough is enough. Though a great game of tug of war is always in order.

Jenelle and Graeme, Victoria

My Beautiful Mindy!

Mindy is a Kelpie aged 16 and a half years old and is still going strong despite having had a severe heart condition for over 4 years. 

I am amazed at her will to live. She is still happy and full of life and has a wag in her tail and likes to chase the birds, she never catches them but the fun is in the chase.

I adopted my Mindy when she was 6 weeks old from an animal shelter, she came to work with me for many years (I had my own business teaching doll & teddy bear making) and she loved all the attention from my students and all the treats that they gave her.

She was always on the ball and was up out of her basket to let everyone know when it was cuppa time and treat time for her of course.

A beautiful girl who has been loyal friend and companion and bought me lots of joy and comfort when I am feeling down.

Brenda, Victoria

Jack the cattle dog

This is a short story about a Blue Cattle Dog I had called Jack. I bought Jack from a breeder on the northside of Brisbane when he was 6 weeks old. Jack was a one family dog only, and to our family was a kitty cat to deal with.

He would always do what he was told but to anyone that came to the house, he was not very friendly! Friends had a nickname for Jack it was Devil Dog!

Every time I mowed the grass Jack would be at my side. I could feel him breathing on my lower leg as I was pushing the mower along. Jack always wanted to be close. When Jack was 14 years of age he would struggle to be beside me as i was pushing the mower along.

 

One particular day it was raining while I was mowing and poor old Jack could not walk any further. He lay on the ground as it was pouring with rain. i had to carry Jack up to the house as he could not walk . T

This cattle dog was one of a kind. It has been over 10 years since losing Jack but his memories are with you for life.

Russell, Thornlands, Queensland

My Dog Ralph

I guess Ralph could now be called in his "senior years" as he is nearly 10 and after being assessed for temperament and health he comes with me once a week to a nursing home where we stay for an hour and chat to the residents. 

They love to see him each week, patting him, shaking hands. Here is a picture of him with his "working bib" on. So despite getting on in years himself he is working to help brighten up the lives of some of our own elderly citizens. More information about this program can be found at Delta Dogs Therapy 

www.deltasocietyaustralia.com.au

Sue, Victoria

Muscat the Burmese cat

Muscat, a Burmese, was called after a beautiful Victorian fortified wine of the same name because he was smooth and creamy. Wines from Campbells and Browns from Northern Victoria will suggest some parallels.

He gave up his life Sunday 29/5/2011. Over four house moves over his life he remained calm and supportive, always saying in his cat like ways - "don't panic, all will be well, the new house will be great". And after a trying day he would jump into our laps, not at the same time of course, and purr like mad, saying - I told you so.

He had a happy life, cuddled with his sister Bella until a major medical problem took her away. And then with little chocolate Burmese "Grace" who also kept him great company till his last days.

A tribute to a lovely pet, loved by us and our children and grandchildren.

Kevin and Judith, Victoria.

Our Harry Story

Our elderly Jack Russell, called Harry (because it seemed to be the only name that suited him after going through the whole alphabet!), is of course highly intelligent (can read our every move!) and is totally loveable and very much part of the family every evening, resting in front of the fire.

He pretends he is snoozing but, in fact, he is monitoring everything we are watching on TV! He disapproves of violence, particularly the domestic kind, particularly animals on TV like horse racing or wild-life shows (much to our disappointment!) and shows it with energetic barking.

When dogs are involved, he becomes very active & runs around the back of the television to try and check them out. Lately he seems to think that a waste of energy. Is he realizing that’s a waste of time or is he feeling his age?!

Although he completely organizes us, we both adore him and hope he continues to entertain us for a good while yet!

Jenny, Victoria

Do you look like your pet competition

Lyn and her Chinese Chinois Crested dog Crash

Maybel and her dog Max

Captions Competition

FINALISTS

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