RAFFI
(approx. 1997 - 20 March 2012)

Pekingese

My special little man Raffi the Pekingese who came to me from a country Pound in 2003 after a car accident that gave him head trauma and an injured eye that had to be removed. I used to call him my Ragdoll Peke as he was so floppy when you picked him up that he was just like a Ragdoll cat. Raffi was more like a baby than a dog and used to cry like one when he was unhappy about something. Raffi went into heart failure and left me with an empty heart and he cannot ever be replaced. 

TEDDY
(approx. 1995 - 5 September 2012)

Shih Tzu X Silky Terrier

My little Teddy Bear who looks like butter wouldn't melt in his mouth but would let no-one touch him except myself and Tracey Etchell and even then we took our lives in our hands! Teddy came from Burwood Pound in 2001when I was volunteer co-ordinator there and I knew I had to get him out fast or he would not make it out at all! Teddy had dementia in his final year and when the time came to say goodbye my heart broke. Teddy was also my baby although in personality both he and Raffi were so very, VERY different. 

HENRY
(approx. 1992 - 15 February 2010)

Grey and White Tabby DSH
 

Henry was such a special cat with a very 'laid back' personality. He loved his two girl companions (known as 'Henry's harem) and would often be found washing their heads all over. Henry joined the family in 1997 having had a few homes in his life and I was told that at one time he was advertised in a lesbian newspaper as 'big pussy needs a new home'! Henry went into kidney failure in his last two years of life and stoically accepted me sticking a needle into him for his saline 'flush-out' every 3 days for almost 18 months. Henry is very much missed by his harem and myself ....

TOBY
(approx. 1996 - 15 August 2011)

Spaniel X Poodle
 

Toby was the very first dog to join the family in 1997 not long after being found in the park across the road by a neighbour humping another dog. She knew I was involved with Burwood Pound and came to the gate saying 'there's a dog in the park that needs you'. Toby was less than a year old and was probably one of the first designer dogs. He was never an affectionate dog, in fact he was quite stand-offish and I used to say that he granted you an audience rather than give you any love. Teddy also succumbed to dementia at the end and I was hand feeding him for many months before I knew the time had come to say goodbye.

OSCAR
(approx. 1997 - 6 December 2010)

Maltese X
 

Oscar was the second dog to join the family in 1999 and also came from Burwood Pound. His personality made him a bit of a challenge and I used to have to throw a noose over his head to walk him in the early days and he used to chase me trying to bite my legs when he was in a bad mood. Oscar mellowed with age and although you could never fully trust him he was more affectionate than Toby surprisingly when the mood took him. Oscar went into heart failure very suddenly and died at home within 15 minutes of collapsing and lapsing into unconsciousness.

CASEY
(approx. 2002  - 5 May 2010)

Chihuahua X Terrier
 

Casey was another dog found by a neighbour in 2006 after he spotted him in the same park across the road as Toby. The neighbour came to my gate saying there was a limping, stray dog (that he called a Chihuahua) rooting through the rubbish bins for food. I took my lead over and discovered the so-called Chihuahua was over twice the size I expected! He bolted when I approached and went under another neighbours car parked in their front yard but I managed to get enough people together to surround the car and was able to get the lead over his head and get him out. Casey went to the Pound and the kennel hand thought he had escaped somehow as there was no sign of him in his cage the next morning. He was discovered huddling under his bed in fear and given his temperament and leg problem it was decided that he could come to me under duty of care as it was very unlikely he would be claimed. Casey's leg injury turned out to be a congenital bowed femur so it could not be fixed but he was also an affectionate boy although, like Oscar, you could never fully trust him. Casey also went into heart failure quite suddenly and I wish he had been with me longer as I feel the poor boy had a very hard life.

BYRON (R)
(died 23 April 2011)

Arfur (R for) Rabbit was adopted from Burwood Pound around 1998. He was a very sweet, tame bunny and in the photo you can see his bottom teeth which grew out horizontally so had to be clipped every month.

Byron came from Sydney Dogs Home in 2004 as a girlfriend for Arfur after Mopsy died. Byron was also very sweet and tame just like Arfur and they both liked to snuggle! Byron had a slight head tilt and was already blind when I got him.

MOPSY (R)
(died 14 June 2004)

Flopsy and Mopsy were adopted from Burwood Pound and were supposed to go to a pet shop for rehoming. I discovered that they would have been split up and they were so bonded I thought that would be a real shame so decided to keep them both.