Doggy Dundee

Rudy - Champ Dog Friends Big Heart

G’day, Mates! A few weeks ago Doggy Dundee announced that a couple of Chase’s neighborhood dog friends had recently passed on. We’d like to tell you a bit about schipperke Rudy.

Rudy Vision

Rudy was 10 years old when Carol and Fredric Berger of Talent, Oregon adopted Rudy from the Jackson County Animal Shelter several years ago. (Rudy had been a frequent “visitor” there as a stray dog, but his negligent owner lost him one too many times and Rudy was finally removed (saved?) from that environment and placed in the county’s care, so this stray dog could have a happy, secure home at last.

Rudy – Much Loved & Loving Therapy Dog

Both the Bergers are therapists, so… you guessed it – -Rudy easily passed his Therapy Dog Exam, and worked at the local VA every Wednesday since then.  The veterans there loved him.  Rudy also worked at the psych program in Medford, where the residents there loved him, as well.  Fredric took Rudy to the Ashland Dog Park (where Rudy ran very fast there off leash), and brought him to the Downtowne Coffee Shoppe in Talent daily.  Rudy was loved everywhere!  For some people, especially the vets, it was the first time they had reached out to softly touch another being in many years.  Rudy was sweet and calm, and he was able to share that feeling with anybody that touched him.  When any person pet Rudy, it was Rudy that touched the person.

Winner of Sweetest Small Dog Honor

In July 2009, Rudy was diagnosed with cancer. Just weeks before making the final decision to help Rudy cross gently, Rudy won Honorable Mention as “Sweetest Small Dog” (a category judges invented for him on the spot) at the Talent Coffee Shoppe’s annual Cutest Small Dog Contest.

Rudy, you did a good job, mate! We love ya…

Spirit Dog Rudy

Former Lost Dog Daisy Mae Is Doing Great!

Chase and I met Daisy Mae today at the Ashland Dog Park again.  For those unfamiliar with this tale, Daisy Mae is the furry inspiration for this Doggy Dundee blog – She was a stray dog, and it took five days of working with her before she’d trust me to come close enough to catch her – and when I did she

DaisyMae & Mom

 just laid her head on my lap and collapsed - her troubles were over.

Today, though, Daisy was with the woman who adopted her (Sandy), and just having a great time playing with one of her doggy friends, Sophie. I was standing far off, near the rear of the park, but gave the standard little whistle I’d used when trying to catch stray dog Daisy–As usual Daisy’s ears perked up and her eyes scoured the park searching. When she spotted me, she raced down the slope at full throttle and leapt into my arms. Dogs never forget a kindness!

It’s always great to see Daisy, and today’s meeting reminded me that I had pix of her and Sandy that I took back in late winter, so this was a good chance to post one (Daisy’s a bit wet from rolling in the frosted grass). These two make a great “couple.”

A Nifty Woofer

G’day mates! There’s always a way to tell when someone has a Doggy Dundee spirit. Sometimes it’s that look in their eye or the way they carry themselves or maybe just the tilt of their hat. Well, check out this sport – he’s got it down!

Victor

Nancy sent us this photo of Victor, the 8-year old Border Collie/Queensland healer X who adopted her brother’s family when just a pup. Well, Chase loves that jaunty hat and look in his eye, insisting I depart from our usual path of lost dogs, stray dogs and shelter dogs to show everybody how a Doggy Dundee dead ringer might dress.

Quite the bloke, ain’t he?

According to his aunt, Victor was born in Georgetown, CA. His favorite game is playing footie (that’s soccer in Aussie slang). Got his own ball and at local matches during half-time Victor entertains onlookers by chasing and retrieving his ball. “All the kids love him and with all the soccer balls out, he knows his own. He also loves to travel and seems to understand everything. He’s quite the character.”

Well, of course – Victor’s a doggy dundee – and quite a fun sport!

(More Aussie slang translations for you: Woofer = Dog; and Bloke/Sport/Mate = friend or male friend; and Footie (the ”t” is pronounced as a ”d”) = soccer or football/rugby; and Dead Ringer = likeness/replica/copy).