Christmas is fast approaching and the Animal Protection Society have had many kind and generous donations both for the animals and the volunteers.  People are so unbelievably good and it is very heartwarming.  I would just like to say a big thankyou to all who have donated their gifts of food, toys etc and also to the people who come in and work so hard for no monetary gain.  Best wishes for a very Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year. 

A HAPPY ENDING

Two sisters, Minnie and Dottie (Tess at APS) aged 11 yrs were finally reunited after Tess had been missing for a month prior to their owner having to relinquish Minnie to the pound due to hardship.  Tess ended up in the pound and had already been taken in by APS before Minnie arrived at the pound.  A good bit of detective work put these two girls back together again and they were rehomed to a lovely lady, Alison, who was willing to take the both of them when she knew they had been together for their entire lives.  They are doing really well in their new home.

On 4/11/09 our dear Georgie girl(Rhino to Roan) passed away with Roan kissing and cuddling her until she closed her eyes for the very last time. Roan you are one very special person to take her on knowing she had lymphoma, giving her the chemo to extend her life and also giving her a friend in Hannah, your other special girl. We are all so grateful she got to spend the rest of her days in a home environment and on our visits to see her she was always happy. Our deepest sympathy to you.

R.I.P. Georgie/Rhino, you touched a lot of lives.

Zander the cat, written by Shelagh

Zander is a courageous male ginger kitten who came to the refuge mid July at approximately 6 weeks of age and was seriously injured with a fractured pelvis. He spent the first week with our vet Shelley Wilson at her Bicton practice. When he came back to the refuge he was put on strict cage rest for the next eight weeks. (this certainly paid off as without any surgery his fractured pelvis healed and he can now walk and run, a miracle to see him now) The only time he had a little more room was when he was allowed his daily exercise hour in the cot which is twice the size of this cage. (such a shame for a young otherwise lively kitten) He was never happier than when chewing on your arm, taking out his frustration but he is a lovable little soul who you couldn't help but love.

The vet recently gave him the all clear to go up to the kitten shed which was fantastic news but he must have over done it and became unsteady on his back legs which worried us. He had to go back to the hospital cage for the vet to check him again to make sure he had not undone all the good work achieved over the nine weeks of cage confinement. Shelley advised us that Zander should have another week of cot rest just to see how he was going. Fortunately all was fine , he had just been a little too boisterous for his back legs. (who could blame him for he had a lot of lost time to make up) Zander has grown into a lovely, friendly handsome kitten who is now waiting for that very special home, preferably a quiet home without young children.

UPDATE: The vet recently x-rayed Zander's pelvis and although the pelvis has healed it is now deformed and has left him with a slight problem with his right leg but nothing that will bother him. To see him running around you wouldn't know he had a problem. Last weekend a special family came to the refuge and took Zander home. Even with his previous medical history they were more than happy to pay the usual price of $150.00. Miracles do happen and it is another story with a lovely outcome thanks to everyone who cared for him. May he have many happy years with his new loving family.

It is with great sadness that I relate to you that our dear Hercules has passed away. He came into the shelter on 9/3/09 and stayed with us until 17/5/09 when Karma and Paki gave him a loving home. They renamed him Lazarus and sent photos of him in his new home and he looked so happy there. He was recently diagnosed with a brain tumour and suffered seizures and blindness. This all happened within two weeks. On the 24th August his very caring parents made the only decision they could and with much compassion and sadness he was sent to Rainbow Bridge. We thank Karma and Paki for giving this darling boy love, freedom and affection until he passed. RIP Hercules/Lazarus.

Clare and I visited Roan at her home to see Georgie and her new friend, Hanna. No one would have thought that Georgie would have been able to share a home with another dog but it seems Georgie and Hanna get along well. Georgie has had one dose of chemo and at the present moment her lumps around her neck have gone down so it seems the chemo is working well. Of course, it could come back at any time but at the present moment she is happy in her new home and enjoying life. Here is a picture of Hanna and Georgie playing tug-o-war. Georgie had the stick and Hanna went over to take it off Georgie, hence the tug-o-war. No aggressiveness, just play. Hanna was a rescue dog as well and is such a gorgeous girl.

Our dear dog Georgie was returned to us recently and since her return we have found out she has lymphoma. We are very fortunate to have Roan, a vet, come forward to foster her. So far Georgie is undergoing chemo and doing well but we believe she will only have up to two years of life left. Georgie is such a character with a great personality. Clare, our head carer, asked her to smile while taking her photo and she did! See top photo.

MIRACLES DO HAPPEN

A kitten named Pumpkin came to the refuge suffering a broken back after a mattress fell on her and the owners couldn't afford to treat her or put her to sleep. Our fantastic vet, Shelley, asked if someone could take her home and massage her back legs daily and Clare, our head dog carer, did just that. After a couple of weeks of dedicated care from Clare, Shelley put splints on little Pumpkin. Two weeks later when the splints were taken off she was able to walk again. Such a miracle. Due to Shelley giving her the chance she needed, Clare's tremendous effort, love and care and Pumpkin's own strong spirit, she made this miraculous recovery. She now has a permanent home with Clare.

I would like everyone to see how Hope is doing now. She has a great home with Leisa, looks much healthier than when she first arrived at APS and has been sterilised, so no more babies for her. Yay!

Our dear old resident, akita x Charlie, sadly passed away on the 28th March. He was an old dog who should never have been left in the pound at his age. Charlie knew a lot of love during his days at the APS and seemed happy to be with us. I took him to the vet at Bicton recently and he enjoyed the journey, so interested in the world while looking out the window. He will be sadly missed by everyone who came into contact with him. His ashes will be brought back to the APS, the last home he knew. R.I.P. CHARLIE

DO I GO HOME TODAY?

My family brought me home,
Cradled in their arms.
They cuddled me and smiled at me,
And said I was full of charms.

They played and laughed with me,
They showered me with toys.
I sure do love my family,
Especially the girls and boys.

The children loved to feed me,
They gave me special treats.
They even let me sleep with them,
All snuggled in the sheets.

I used to go for walks,
Often several times a day.
They even fought to hold the leash,
I'm very proud to say.

They used to laugh and praise me,
When I played with that old shoe.
But I didn't know the difference,
Between the old one and the new.

The kids and I would grab a rag,
For hours we would tug.
So I thought I did the right thing,
When I chewed the bathroom rug.

They said I was out of control,
And would have to live outside.
This I did not understand,
Although I tried and tried.

The walks stopped one by one,
They said they hadn't time.
I wish that I could change things,
I wish I knew my crime.

My life became so lonely,
In the backyard on a chain.
I barked and barked all day long,
To keep from going insane.

So they brought me to the shelter,
But were embarrassed to say why.
They said I caused an allergy,
And then kissed me goodbye.

If I'd only had some classes,
When I was a little pup.
I wouldn't have been hard to handle,
When I was all grown up.

"You only have one day left,"
I heard the worker say.
Does this mean a second chance?
Do I go home today?

Author unknown

Faith and Courage, Hope's pups, have grown so much since birth and I am happy to say they have now gone to their new homes. Leisa has now adopted Hope and I am sure she will give her a very happy life. We are very appreciative of Leisa's help in fostering all the dogs and it gave the pups a better start to life. Here are some of the photos when the pups were about 6 weeks of age.

Sorry I have not updated for a while but it has been a very busy time. I hope everyone had a great Christmas and will have a terrific 2009. I have to share the news about Hope. She has become a mum of two dear puppies, a boy and a girl, Faith and Courage and all are doing very well. At the time she came to the refuge we were unaware that she was pregnant. Hope has been living with Leisa, a volunteer, who has been fostering her until she had her pups. Leisa is now going to give her a permanent home as she just can't bear to part with her. Thanks so much Leisa. I would also like to thank all the kind and generous people who donated money to pay for Hope's vet bills for her consultation and operation. It has been fully covered now and we appreciate the help. Here are some of the photos of Hope after giving birth and some of the pups a couple of weeks later.

A Story of Hope

This little girl, a sharpei x, was seen by a good samaritan after a car pulled away on Albany Highway. We believe she may have been dumped. When we took her in she was blind and very, very skinny. She was named Hope, in hope she might get her sight back and get a loving home. Hope has been to see Dr Colin Sherry, an eye specialist at the Champion Lake Veterinary Centre. A big thankyou goes to him for his expertise and generosity. He thinks she has never had sight and needs an operation for entropian of the right eye. This is where the eyelid turns inward and the lashes rub on the eye. Since she has been with us she has put on a lot of weight and is such a happy little girl. She does get a bit growly when dogs are near her but that is probably because she doesn't know if they are going to attack her, so she warns them off. We are hoping there is a special person out there to give her a loving home, preferably where she is the only animal in the home. If anyone would like to donate money for her operation it would be kindly received.

MILO

DIXIE

The APS dog walk was held at Bibra Lake on the 26th October and what a great day it was. Miriam, our Thursday dog carer took Milo and I took Dixie. We walked the 6 kilometres around the lake and the dogs got along very well together. As we were walking around I noticed how much Milo loves Miriam. To see him look at her was so lovely. Both dogs enjoyed the sausage sizzle afterwards and caught up with some ex APS dogs, Smokey and Faith (now Kelly) who were also on the walk. Dixie and I spent time after the walk sitting on the grass area together and then took a short walk along the jetty. It was good for Milo and Dixie to spend time away from the refuge and enjoy a different day. I believe there was about 40 dog walkers on the day and the funds raised will go to help the refuge. Many thanks to all who supported our walk and to Tahlie (our Friday afternoon carer) for organising it. Dixie snoozed on the back seat of my car on the way home. When Dixie arrived back at the refuge she met Carolyn who showed interest in adopting her. After going home to think about it Carolyn came in on Monday and Dixie has now gone to her new home. I am sure she will give Dixie lots of love and a good home. Thankyou and best wishes to Carolyn. I will miss Dixie and will always remember our day out.

Shelagh, our head cat carer would also like to say a special thankyou to Deepwood vet who helped tremendously with all the cats who needed treatment during the time the clinic was in progress. We are very lucky to have the support of all these vets.

The APS Veterinary Day Clinic was officially opened by the mayor of Gosnells on Sunday 12th October and will be in use this week. We are all thrilled as now the animals don't have to be transported to and from outside vets making it much better for the them. Much gratitude goes to Bicton and Jandakot Vets who helped us out tremendously. Our new clinic was made possible due to the kind generosity of the late Mr Gerard Hendriks who had a great love of animals.

Don't forget we have our dog walk on the 26th October, 11am - 3pm at Bibra Lake (the park opposite Adventure World). Bring your pooch for a walk around the lake, the cost being $5. Refreshments are available and we have stalls and activities. We do ask that you keep your dog on a lead at all times please. See you there!

HELP NEEDED TO FIND CAT'S OWNER

Last week a stray DLH white cat from Hamilton Hill was taken into the refuge. Shelagh was elated to find that she had a microchip but sadly the database was not up to date so we were unable to track down the owner. Since then we have found out the cat's name is Belle, she was born in 1999 and did live in Wagga Wagga, NSW and the owner's name is Deb. The microchip paperwork has not been altered to show the new address. We were told the area in Wagga Wagga where she lived is where the army personnel live so maybe this is another clue as to her owner's identity. Please contact the APS if you have any idea who owns Belle.

APS UPDATE

The kittens that were found by the dustbin were all rehomed within 5 days after they went up for adoption. What a great outcome for them. Fortunately there are few kittens around this time of year so they soon get homes. A very good reason to promote sterilisation.

Mia, a young cat who came in pregnant to the refuge gave birth recently to four lovely kittens. One of our volunteers is kindly fostering Mia so she can have a pleasant home environment until they are old enough to be put up for adoption. Many thanks to Sue for her kindness. Photo above of Mia and kittens.

Nena, the fat cat(who did manage to lose some weight) who has been a resident for 6 years, has at last found her new adoptive family. How wonderful for her. We all hope she receives much love and affection for the rest of her years. A big thankyou to her new owners too.

Dear little Bob, the jack russell, went to his new home on Saturday with Rochelle who I am sure will love and care for him. Many thanks Rochelle.

BONNIE

This dear little female jack russell x who is approximately 8 years old is looking for a new home. She came into the A.P.S. via the pound and is a quiet, loving and gentle little dog. Fancy being in the pound at her age. She is waiting for someone to take her home and let her sit by the fire on cold nights. If you have love and kindness to give, please consider this sweet little lady and give her a happy "rest of her life."

Remember Copper?

She is now known as Ruby. Here are a couple of photos of Ruby with her new family in her home in Denmark. She certainly looks happy in her new environment. This is so rewarding to see one of our dear dogs in a home where she is loved and valued.

MORE LITTLE LIVES SAVED

On the 7th August, Shelagh our cat carer, received a phone call from a lady who found five kittens in a cardboard box in Westfield. These kittens were by a dustbin on bin day!!! They were brought into the refuge and estimated to be about 6 weeks old. Most of them are fluffy tabbies but one is a short haired grey runt. All are very cute. They were starving on arrival but are all now happy and content with full bellies and just love playing with their toys.

DOG'S PRAYER


Treat me kindly, my beloved friend, for no heart in all the world is more grateful for kindness than the loving heart of me.

Do not break my spirit with a stick for, though I should lick your hand between blows, your patience and understanding will more quickly teach me the things you would have me learn.

Speak to me often, for your voice is the world's sweetest music, as you must know by the fierce wagging of my tail when your footsteps fall upon my waiting ear.

Please take me inside when it is cold and wet, for I am a domesticated animal, no longer accustomed to bitter elements. I ask no greater glory than the privilege of sitting at your feet beside the hearth.

Keep my pan filled with water, for I cannot tell you when I suffer thirst.

Feed me clean food that I may stay well, to romp and play and do your bidding. To walk by your side and stand ready, willing and able to protect you with my life should your life be in danger.

And, my friend, when I am very old and no longer enjoy good health, hearing and sight, do not make heroic efforts to keep me going. I shall leave this earth knowing with the last breath that I draw, that my fate was always safest in your hands...

I will always be your best friend.



author unknown

Copper

Our dear girl Copper is going to her new home in Denmark on Saturday. She is well loved at the refuge by everyone who meets her and I am sure the dog walkers who usually take her out will miss her dearly, as will all the volunteers and carers. Many thanks to Rebecca who has sponsored her to date. We will all miss her but she has a lovely new mum, Anne, who I am sure will give her a wonderful life from this day on. Thankyou so much Anne.

Kittens Safe and Sound Now




Shelagh, our head cat carer, has relayed some stories about kittens that have been brought into the refuge in the past week.


On the 2nd July a female tabby kitten was found in Armadale car park by the trolley boys. These kind boys fed the kitten until a lady came, took her home and after a few days of tender loving care, she brought the kitten into the refuge. We have called the kitten Kylie. She is about ten weeks of age, very cute and affectionate. How she came to be at the car park, we will never know. It is incredible after what she has been through how trusting and friendly Kylie is, she is a real cutie.



On the 3rd July a kind lady brought a tabby and white male kitten to the refuge after she drove over the top of the kitten in her 4 wheel drive, luckily the wheels missed him. Gerry, as he is now known was very skinny and full of fleas. After being de-flea'd, wormed and given good meals he is hardly recognizable now. He is a cheeky little puss who just loves a cuddle. He has now been put in with Kylie and they are good mates already and can be seen playing together and when worn out they cuddle together and go to sleep.

Two kittens were brought in on the 9th July from Huntingdale. They had been on a property for 2 days without being fed. The first thing Shelagh did was feed them as they were ravenous. She had to be careful not to overfeed them after their lack of food. The food, followed by a bowl of milk disappeared in no time. They are about 14 weeks old, one is a black male and the other is a pretty female, semi longhair tabby. Now safe and secure, they will spend two weeks in quarantine before going to the re-homing sheds, from where hopefully soon they will go to their purr-fect home.

Good News!

Our APS dog Kiri has gone to her new home. She has been in and out of the refuge several times and hopefully she has now found her forever home. Thank you Emma and Andy.

LYNETTE NEEDS A HOME

Today I have a story told to Sharon (one of our cat carers) by Lynette, a resident cat needing a loving new home.

Hello, my name is Lynette. Quite stunning as you can see. I have been called a "glamour puss" but that's really my opinion!! I have been residing at the APS for about one year now and although it's a lovely place to visit I would really love my own home and some people to own as well. It's getting a bit chilly at night here so I wouldn't mind a nice lap to snuggle or a warm bed to curl up on. I don't really like other cats, so a home all of my own to live in would be the bees knees. I may require a little light brush of my beautiful fur once a week (not too much to ask).

Please if you would like me for your own, come down to the APS any day 10am - 4pm, you will be able to pick me out (remember, I am the glamour puss, you can't miss me!) and pay rather a cheap amount of money, $150.00, for me. (although I'm worth MUCH more.

Hope to see my new family real soon.

Purrs and licks

Lynette

Hi, my name is Kerry and I am Wednesday's dog carer (along with Julie) and I have taken over the blog from Clare Della-Franca, the APS president. This is all new to me so here goes.

This little verse, author unknown, is for all dog owners and I hope you like it.

TO ALL DOG OWNERS

He is your friend, your partner, your defender, your pet.
You are his life, his love, his leader.
He will be yours, faithful and true to the last beat of his heart.
You owe it to him to be worthy of such devotion.

Here is our gorgeous Caleb who we all love.

Just wanted to say that beautiful Marlon has at last gone to a new "forever" home and the last time we spoke to his new family they said Marlon had settled in well and they love him.

It is just wonderful when when of our babes goes to a new home, especially after being at the refuge for such a long time. We all cry when they go but they are happy tears that finally they get what we all want....our own family to love and care for us and we to care for them!

We have Caleb who needs a home now and a family to call his own. Caleb is a staffy x aged 3 years and he has the most beautiful temperament, is loving and quite obedient and would make a fantastic companion to any family. Georgeous boy who does need a bit more training but hey, dont we all!