CAWI’s Dog Tales

Sometimes CAWI hears interesting stories about how some of the dogs it has rescued are getting on in their new lives, and occasionally CAWI itself has a story to tell. Some of those stories find their way onto this page.

 

George’s Story

 

George was hit by a car while on a quiet stroll in a country lane in December 2010. George’s leg was smashed – multiple fractures. He ran on three legs off in fear into the bush, leaving Harry devastated and searching for 12 mths for his beloved dog. George was sighted occasionally but was elusive and could not be caught.

Then on 12th December 2011, a landholder at Myocum borrowed a humane trap for a dog she had sighted on her property. George was finally captured and the rangers came to fetch him and delivered a very fearful dog to Rowan and Nichole at Byron Vets. CAWI was contacted to help with the cost of amputation and treatment while the vets volunteered their time and skill to make George more comfortable. Nicole spent many hours with a roast chook in the cage with George to get him used to humans again. He would gently lick her hand as she bathed him in preparation for his operation. Everyone fell for George’s deep eyes and gutsy survival instinct. The leg was taken off and CAWI started searching for a suitable foster family.

 

Then a Christmas miracle happened and George’s owner Harry was found. Harry hotfooted it down to Byron vets to see if the incredible story of his long lost dog could be true. It was the sound of Harry’s voice … then George saw for himself the person he loved the most in the world. Harry had to sit down. George ran on his three legs to jump into Harry’s arms and spent the next five minutes licking the face that meant so much to him.

Harry never stopped looking for George and in the end, his search was rewarded. Harry has another dog that he rescued now; Polly the red kelpie. George and Polly checked each other out when first introduced and seemed to hit it off.

Everyone who witnessed this fantastic reunion was totally overcome with emotion. A great outcome for a great faithful little dog and his committed owner.

 

 

Sandy’s Story

by Tiann, her new owner

Sandy has brightened up every day since we started fostering her. You just realise how smart she is (as we’ve been fostering Scruffy who isn’t as bright)*. Sandy and I have so much fun just being around each other, every morning we both go up to mum’s bed and have cuddles, then Sandy sits on the couch and watches me get ready for school. Once I’m ready Sandy knows what time it is:: “time for school”. So Sandy jumps into the car (she loves going in the car) and off we go to school. While I’m at school Sandy sleeps on her bed in mum’s office. When I get back from school Sandy, me and mum go to the beach or if not we go home and me and Sandy run around the block together.

*Editor’s note – not that anyone is suggesting Scruffy is dim!

 Sandy takes first prize!

At the Bangalow Show Sandy achieved more than I thought she could do, one of the judges wanted Sandy to win everything I entered her in but the other judges didn’t. Sandy really shined in most talented pet thanks to paw power for the great advice on training. Just as the judges were watching Sandy sat, laid, stayed and then rolled which she had never done before. At that second the judges came over to me with a huge ribbon which only meant one thing – me and Sandy won!

 

Billy’s Story

When CAWI rescued Billy he was a mess of demodectic mange, almost furless and itching like crazy. Bill’s positive demeanour and strong character saw him through his troubled times and with great foster carers, he staged an astounding recovery.

 

 

Bill made friends in the neighbourhood, played ball at the beach, sat on the lounge to watch tele, ate two square meals a day and was lavished with love. Amy and Victoria nursed Bill back to full health, and Bill repaid them by tidying their shoes (seriously – he is a neat freak), giving them total devotion and growling at suspicious visitors.

 

But underneath the growl, Bill is a big baby and like all dogs just wants to be loved. Poor Victoria was torn. Travel plans were drawing closer and Bill hadn’t been adopted. In the end, the decision was made… Bill was packed into the camper van and they were off to Margaret River.

 

Bill’s now been more places than your average dog and he and Victoria are a team.  CAWI is full of great stories like Bill’s.  Dogs bring joy into the lives of many.

 

BJ’s story (a cautionary tale)

BJ lost his life-long home when his doting owners were forced to surrender him towards the end of November 2010. Big trauma for all concerned. To compound his misery, he’d run in front of a car a couple of months previously (August 2010). The rest of his story is not for the squeamish, but, thanks to CAWI, there is a happy ending, as you can see from this “after” picture.

 

BJ breaks one plate, bends another

Immediately after the car accident a metal plate was screwed to BJ’s left shin-bone to support it whilst the two ends re-fused. That metal plate broke. Ouch. A second repair was attempted, this time, with a stronger metal plate. When BJ came to CAWI, he’d just had this plate removed, and he was limping badly. It turned out that he’d bent the second plate. The broken ends of the bone hadn’t managed to stay in touch, let alone form a lasting bond.

 

BJ skips through pain barrier

Even on three legs and a soft-tissue-bone combo, BJ would not stop wagging, wiggling, twizzling and skipping whenever he was happy, which, unaccountably, was just about all the time. Despite all his troubles, he remained brave, trusting, sweet-natured, gentle, friendly and affectionate. The way he handled himself was admirable and humbling.

 

BJ plays his trump card

CAWI faced a tough choice: save the leg or amputate. Both options would involve BJ in more surgery, discomfort and long-term rehabilitation. When CAWI committee members went to meet BJ before making a final decision, they were torn. Now, BJ (like most male dogs) is left-handed – he was in the habit of using his damaged left paw to tap at the door, attract attention, lead off with, reach with… and he still had a trick up his sleeve.

 

He sealed the deal by lifting his injured paw dead on cue, just as the committee members bent to say their good-byes. It looked uncannily like an earnest plea or an offer to shake on it, depending on your perspective. Of course, it was pure reflex on BJ’s part, but that exquisitely timed gesture tipped the odds. CAWI made an appointment with an expert to save his leg.

 

BJ’s bionic leg

The surgeon reckoned there was a good chance of success as BJ was young, fit and healthy. CAWI started fund-raising and a few weeks later (Jan 2011) the third attempt at repairing BJ’s leg went ahead. The broken ends of the bones were tidied up, his ankle and toes were turned around to face the way they should, two heavy-duty metal plates, several pins and a lot of screws were inserted to keep it stable, and tissue from a donor site on his shoulder was packed around the repairs to aid bone re-growth and healing.

 

BJ the patient

BJ was pretty much confined to barracks, walked only very short distances on a lead and carried up and down stairs for weeks. Initially his movement was (handily) somewhat restricted by mile-wide Elizabethan collar he had to wear. The harness was to help his carer take some of the weight when he cocked his leg (is that too much information?).

 

BJ’s numbers

It took two further operations to remove the metal plates, screws and pins inserted in this final attempt to save his leg.

 

That’s 4 metal plates, 7 operations, probably twice as many x-rays, countless metal pins and screws, anaesthetics, antibiotics, pain-killers, anti-inflammatories, ointments, dressings, check-ups, follow-ups -  9 months of procedures, recovery and recuperation, plus fund-raising efforts by CAWI and some generous donations, to put right the consequences of a moment’s carelessness.

 

BJ bounces back

BJ is a very lucky dog – his leg is now as solid as ever, albeit about a centimetre shorter. More than nine months after coming into CAWI’s care, he was taken to Tallow Beach and given completely free rein for the first time since the car accident a year earlier. It was simply fantastic, and worthy of  a few photos at least. Unfortunately, he took off so fast when his carer mentioned “snaps” that there’s no permanent record of the historic moment. He eventually slowed down enough for these:

 

 

BJ is now part of an adoring family in Ballina. He has two young lads that play with him every chance they get, and he runs and paddles at the beach almost every day.

 

Sooti’s Story

Sooti is an ex-CAWI dog that was adopted by Lenna. Sooti and Lenna joined the Story Dogs team in September 2010.

 

Story Dogs by Lenna

Story Dogs’ mission is to make reading fun for children, so they become confident lifelong readers. No child should be left behind in literacy. 

 

After some initial training for Sooti and myself we commenced the program at Brunswick Heads Primary School where we found the principal, staff and children very enthusiastic and supportive with this method of helping children especially those struggling with their reading. We help a broad spectrum of children although most are selected by their teacher from years 1 and 2 who need help with literacy skills. Some are chosen for other reasons such as low esteem and to enhance their communication skills.

 

Dogs have no bias and they are non-judgemental! We select a suitable place in the playground, spread a rug and some cushions; the student will then read out aloud a story at their level of literacy. Sooti often sits in their lap or between us, she gets lots of pats and cuddles and a treat at the end of the session.

 

The children soon gain confidence and I keep a weekly record of progress plus the names of the books read. The children often laugh at their own mistakes, and I will prompt and assist when necessary. Sooti listens, she remains quite focused and will rest her paw on the page!  Each reading session one on one lasts about 20 minutes and then the student will take Sooti for a run around the playground and give her a drink of water.

 

Sooti represented Story Dogs at the Byron Bay Writers Festival this year and rubbed shoulders with the stars on Kids’ Day.

In less than 2 years we now have 28 dog teams visit 20 schools in the Tweed Shire plus Brunswick in the Byron Shire, helping over 120 kids to become lifelong readers. We hope to add Lismore and Byron Shires in 2012.