My family & I decided to try a little fostering. Having years of experience with smaller terriers we decided to go breed specific. Having had contact with various breeders over time I started looking at their sites, as well as rescue sites.
A show breeder near Milwaukee contacted me after I expressed interest on an Australian Terrier rescue site, they had a 9 year old female in a high kill shelter they pulled & were transporting to her place. They were also bringing in a 9 month old male, same breed, who needed leg surgery & rehab before rehoming. Having much more experience than us, we agreed to take the older female to free her up to work with the younger male.
Besides showing Aussies, she breeds, and had her hands full with a litter of pups ready to go, a litter on the way, a couple of really nice show dogs coming up, along with her others, who are retired show winners. We’ve run into her a few times at the AKC show in Chicago, I’ve corresponded with her for quite some time online. I don’t know how she does all this, she wonders how I do all these fish things, she must have a system, I know I do.
This is Izzy;
She was an owner surrender in Iowa, transported to Wisconsin the day after Christmas, we drove up to bring her here the day after that. For all the time she spent in a cage or crate she slept peacefully in a crate in the back seat for the two hour drive back. This is pretty amazing to me, as she was in a shelter, with a breeder for a bit in Iowa, on a transport with a couple dozen other dogs, at another place overnight, in our car, then here.
When she got here she was introduced to my two guys, both Aussies, they get along with everyone. It was no surprise they all got along.
What was a surprise was one of the first things she does once things calm down is go into Kazimer’s crate for a long nap. After all the time crated during this she is apparently crate trained. She is also well behaved & totally housebroken, not to mention quite a bit more mellow than my younger guys. Her only apparent problem is being a couple of pounds overweight.
Having yet to receive a good vet exam we get the OK from ATR to take her to our vet. After an exam & bloodwork she has a low thyroid level, requiring medication. Cheap meds, no big deal. She also needs some dental work, requiring some extractions.
So after a family discussion, we see that we have a 9 year old overweight dog with bad teeth that requires meds. It seems that it would be quite some time before she was adopted, if ever due to these conditions. It also wouldn’t be fair to have her settle in here long term, to go someplace else should someone decide to adopt her.
We contacted ATR, told them we have a place for her; right here. We told Izzy she is staying, welcome home; she smiled;
So now the terrible terrier twins are now the thundering trio of terriers. Being a bit older she’s the referee when the younger two start playing rough outside. She’s also pretty slick, sneaking in & grabbing whatever toy or goodie might be causing their mock battle of the moment while they’re distracted with each other. They seem to know she’s a bit older, and don’t waylay her like they often do to each other. It’s just a pathetic “awww man, she grabbed our stuff!” bark/howl, then off to something else.
Our biggest job with her is loosing a bit of weight, this shouldn’t be too tough, as the younger guys keep her running. Her biggest job, besides referee, is toe warmer.
Welcome home Izzy!
A show breeder near Milwaukee contacted me after I expressed interest on an Australian Terrier rescue site, they had a 9 year old female in a high kill shelter they pulled & were transporting to her place. They were also bringing in a 9 month old male, same breed, who needed leg surgery & rehab before rehoming. Having much more experience than us, we agreed to take the older female to free her up to work with the younger male.
Besides showing Aussies, she breeds, and had her hands full with a litter of pups ready to go, a litter on the way, a couple of really nice show dogs coming up, along with her others, who are retired show winners. We’ve run into her a few times at the AKC show in Chicago, I’ve corresponded with her for quite some time online. I don’t know how she does all this, she wonders how I do all these fish things, she must have a system, I know I do.
This is Izzy;
She was an owner surrender in Iowa, transported to Wisconsin the day after Christmas, we drove up to bring her here the day after that. For all the time she spent in a cage or crate she slept peacefully in a crate in the back seat for the two hour drive back. This is pretty amazing to me, as she was in a shelter, with a breeder for a bit in Iowa, on a transport with a couple dozen other dogs, at another place overnight, in our car, then here.
When she got here she was introduced to my two guys, both Aussies, they get along with everyone. It was no surprise they all got along.
What was a surprise was one of the first things she does once things calm down is go into Kazimer’s crate for a long nap. After all the time crated during this she is apparently crate trained. She is also well behaved & totally housebroken, not to mention quite a bit more mellow than my younger guys. Her only apparent problem is being a couple of pounds overweight.
Having yet to receive a good vet exam we get the OK from ATR to take her to our vet. After an exam & bloodwork she has a low thyroid level, requiring medication. Cheap meds, no big deal. She also needs some dental work, requiring some extractions.
So after a family discussion, we see that we have a 9 year old overweight dog with bad teeth that requires meds. It seems that it would be quite some time before she was adopted, if ever due to these conditions. It also wouldn’t be fair to have her settle in here long term, to go someplace else should someone decide to adopt her.
We contacted ATR, told them we have a place for her; right here. We told Izzy she is staying, welcome home; she smiled;
So now the terrible terrier twins are now the thundering trio of terriers. Being a bit older she’s the referee when the younger two start playing rough outside. She’s also pretty slick, sneaking in & grabbing whatever toy or goodie might be causing their mock battle of the moment while they’re distracted with each other. They seem to know she’s a bit older, and don’t waylay her like they often do to each other. It’s just a pathetic “awww man, she grabbed our stuff!” bark/howl, then off to something else.
Our biggest job with her is loosing a bit of weight, this shouldn’t be too tough, as the younger guys keep her running. Her biggest job, besides referee, is toe warmer.
Welcome home Izzy!
I dont know anything about Australian terriers - what were they bred for?
Typical terriers, 90% angel, 10% devil.
