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Remembering Rusty
Friday, June 18, 2010 10:20:57 AM
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My story begins with Jacqualine's 13th birthday in 1999, when she awoke
to get her presents on cold winter's day. She immediately went searching
for a dog which she really had wanted since our dog Tiger had died a few
years earlier. We told her when had not bought a dog for her, but she
insisted there was a dog here for her. 'She heard it barking last night'
well once again we explained there was no dog or puppy here and we asked
her if she wanted to undo her presents. 'no' and she marched out to the
garage and looked for dog in there, no dog hmmm. She sadly walked back
and undid her presents without so much as cracking a smile. 'Mum I heard
the a dog last night, it must be at the
RSPCA
'. Yeh right. She then
worked on her dad to take her out there and just have a look, you know
just look. As pets were not encouraged in my home as a child, I did not
think that I would be so besotted with this little dog.
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Eventually
that worked on her dad and we were headed for Yagoona's RSPCA to the dog
pound for unwanted stray dogs. The chit chat on the way was were not
going to get a dog, you know JUST LOOK!
We took a number on our
arrival and we awaited for our number to be called. This seem to take
for ages and seemed a complete waste of time, as we were not going to
bring a dog home, were we?
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When our number was called, we dutifully
walked out with the assistant to the area where the dogs were housed and
we split up to take a quick tour of the dogs to chose from. Jacqualine
and I paired up and moved steadily around the compound, and met up with
her dad to see if and what we had come up with probable prospects of a
dog that we maybe be able to take home. Yes conversations now had moved
up a notch to YES, a new dog for Jacqualine's birthday. Both Jacqualine
and myself had seen two small dogs that looked a like in pen together
and with that we marched back to find the assistant to take us to the
pen to see the dogs first hand. The assistant opened the gate on one of
them just bolted out running aimlessly around and she had to catch it
and return it to the pen. Hmm maybe that dog was off the list a bit wild
perhaps. So we had some time with the other dog they called Dallas and
it was decided that this dog was a it.
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However this dog could not come
home that day as it had to be desexed, but we could come back Monday to
put him up. So now this dog was ours, a birthday present that brought a
huge smile on Jacqualine's face and the dog that we were not going to
have melted all our hearts came home to spend the next 11.5 years with
us. For me, I was thoroughly convinced a baby, a rabbit, two dogs had
died here I could not take any more pain of losing something that you
loved so much, that I would ever get another pet, too many tears. But
was so wrong, Rusty just simply melted my heart forever. Now I find
myself saying that again, but this time I know I cannot do it again.
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On a wet Monday evening we picked up Rusty after his little operation
and set him up inside for the night, as we thought. He had other ideas,
he never, ever slept outside, he always wanted to be near us INSIDE.
Come Tuesday morning I was headed for our monthly visit to the Blessed
Mary MacKillop Chapel at North Sydney with my mother in-law and
Jacqualine who had already headed for the school bus, I put Rusty out
the back door to stay whilst I was gone an I was about to open the front
door to leave and it was Jacqualine with Rusty in her arms. Oh my
goodness, magic.. How was this? Our brand new dog had burrowed under the
side gate and followed her to the bus stop. She noticed a noise of his
collar and name tag as she was about to board the bus and looked over to
see Rusty. He had followed her to school and from that day forward, they
were truly a close and loyal bond between them. Bonded by that strange
and mysterious bark through the night of her birthday to come and live
with us. He sat on back of lounge looking out the front window each day
at the same time to wait for her to come home from school.
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From
the day we brought him home we decided to call him Rusty as he was that
that sort of colour. He was aid to be half Fox Terrier and half Corgi, a
delightful mixture with the sweetest face and distinctive Corgi feet.
He managed to get bitten by dog next door by sticking his foot under
fence, his first scuffle in around August 2008. This was able to heal
and he was nursed by sleeping in washing trolley, so we could wheel him
around. On a few occasions he seemed to be overcome by heat and had
small fits or TIA's and he had to have his nails done regularly as one
curled over under his pad and gave him a bit of discomfort, and we
always chose the Vet to do this for us. Over the years he did not
tolerate milk and often was sick. But in his later years he seemed to
overcome this and loved a bit of cereal in the morning.
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Early
this year he went off his food and water, so off to the Vet we went.
They could only find a slight temperature and a slight liver chemical
abnormality. They gave him some antibiotic and we took his home. He did
improve then March we returned again to the Vet, and we thought on both
occasion he has had nibbled a bit on Pork bones and we decided to keep
them out of the diet. April same thing again but no Pork Bones and Vet
noticed he was jaundiced and he we need ultrasound immediately and we
were referred to
Animal Referral Hospital Strathfield.
We had this the next day and they gave us the bad news he had
multiple tumours in his spleen and one huge one on the outside and a
tumour in the lung. They said it was a very aggressive tumour that he
most probably had. He had to be put down then or do operation next day.
If we went ahead at opening him up and there appeared no hope or any
other sign of tumours he was possible be suitable for Chemo, however if
was more tumours on could not come out cleanly he would need to be out
down there and then.
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He has operation next day a good outcome,
tumour come out cleanly and we brought him home two days later. He
recovered quite well for around then appeared to be in pain. He seemed
to be suffering neck or back pain and was given Cortisone for perhaps a
slipped disc as he still insisted on jumping around. He from this point
get some relief from the meds but as they were reduced his pain level
made him once again not want to eat or drink. More visits, overnight
stays Methadone for pain and he came home on Sunday the 6th June and we
were still not able to manage his pain as he would not take the meds
from us or drink. We had hand fed him water and soft Chicken, mince as
bending gave him too much pain. We came to the sad conclusion this was
his way of saying enough is enough he wanted to go. So we arranged to
have him put down that day and he is buried along side Petrie our pet
budgie of 15 years, that we had raised from his egg that his mum
discarded and hand raised him and we had kept him for so long.
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We were with him at the end of Rusty's life and mourn
and
miss him
dearly, as many of
you would know only too well how hard this is.
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He loved his
comfort and was named Prince of the Pillows and he slept in Jacqualine's
room in his dog bed his whole life.
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Another
page
with
our
pets
of
the
past
God and Dog lovable
clip at YouTube
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The list below is some of his quirks and
lovable Rustyisms that made him so dear to our hearts.
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 No
matter
how
long
you
spent
away
from
the
house
he
would
not
move
or
if
he
did
he
would
move
only
from
lounge
to
our
bed
where
he
would
re-arrange
the
pillows
to
get
some
decent
comfort
going
for
himself.
He
never
did
anything
wrong
in
the
house,
but
occasionally
last
year
when
we
were
away
he
did
do
ones
and
twos,
but
this
stopped
when
we
returned
again.
He
often
growled
when
we
took
too
long
to
place
a
treat
in
his
dish
or a
tasty
leftover
from
our
dinner
or
growled
when
he
was
ready
to
lick
a
bowl
or
we
were
taking
too
long
to
pass
a
little
treat
to
him
from
our
plate.
The
more
we
ignored
him
the
louder
he
got.
He
would
even
await
some
cake
mixture
when
I
cooked,
often
taking
this
treat
from
the
children
when
they
were
not
home
to
lick
the
bowl.
Get
right
under
your
arms
when
you
sat
on
lounge
to
be
patted
or
nursed
in
your
arms.
He
wasn't
fussy
whoever
sat
on
lounge
was
fair
game,
the
visitors
always
did
it
for
them
without
them
realising
they
had
fallen
for
his
charm.
Place
his
paw
on
your
arm
again
to
be
patted.
He
somehow
managed
to
fold
back
Jacqualine’s
bed
clothes
perfectly
neat
to
get
into
her
bed
whilst
she
was
at
work
and
we
were
overseas.
He
was
forever
jumping
into
your
warn
spot
on
lounge
when
you
got
up
for
short
while
to
get
something.
Tended
to
get
his
back
rubbed
on
the
underneath
of
Jacqualine’s
bed,
making
weird
noises.
Jumped
up
when
he
heard
David
or
the
children’s’
cars
pull
up
when
they
got
older
and
a
cars.
Rusty
would
see
you
get
your
shoes
on
hearing
we
were
going
for
a
walk
and
he
would
jump
up
to
where
his
lead
was
and
try
to
put
it
on
or
take
lead
to
wherever
you
were.
He
somehow
knew
words
like
walk
or
ball
and
jumped
round
excitedly.
If
I
called
Jacqualine,
Matthew
or
David
for
dinner
saying
dinner
is
ready
he
would
be
first
there.
At
the
end
of
our
dinner
and
he
knew
there
was
nothing
for
him
he
would
leave
the
kitchen
maybe
having
a
nibble
of
his
food
and
a
little
drink
and
proceed
back
to
his
spot
on
the
lounge.
At
Jacqualine’s
first
birthday
with
him
he
ate
the
complete
layer
of
chocolate
icing
off
her
cake.
He
never
did
that
again.
He
would
kind
of
yawn
type
HELLO
sound
when
David
or
Jacqualine
came
home.
I
have
this
sound
taken
with
my
mobile
phone.
He
would
want
to
be
with
us
at
the
dinner
table,
originally
he
could
get
up
to
it
himself
but
as
he
got
older
he
could
not
get
up
that
far
to
kitchen
chairs.
He
would
not
face
us
at
the
table
he
would
look
away
just
in
case
he
was
tempted
to
drool
over
whatever
was
on
our
plate.
He
knew
noise
of
garbage
getting
ready
to
be
taken
out
to
the
bin
and
he
would
be
there
to
follow
me
out
no
doubt
to
protect
me.
The
noise
of
the
washing
trolley
he
also
he
responded
in
the
same
way.
The
finish
noise
of
microwave
he
would
think
there
was
a
chance
of
some
small
morsel
for
him
and
he
would
come
into
the
kitchen.
If
you
wanted
him
to
have
maybe
unwanted
crust
from
your
toast
he
would
not
have
it
unless
you
pretended
to
eat
it
and
then
he
would
think
you
were
deprived
yourself
of
it
then
he
would
eat
it.
He
never
deviated
from
that
caper.
When
he
went
out
at
the
last
thing
each
night
to
go
toilet
he
wander
would
past
his
uneaten
dinner
eat
all
his
biscuits
and
drink
some
water
and
trot
off
to
his
bed
in
his
own
good
time,
often
leaving
Jacqualine
to
wait
for
him.
He
did
not
like
loud
noises/machines
etc
and
would
sit
in
his
kennel
outside
till
it
was
all
quite
again.
He
followed
me
around
all
day
to
wherever
I
was
and
protected
me
from
anytime
door
bell
went
adn
i
went
to
the
door.
On
two
occasions
I
heard
him
push
his
empty
water
dish
around
the
kitchen
floor
to
let
us
know
his
dish
needed
filling
up,
of
course
the
noise
brought
us
back
to
the
kitchen
to
see
what
was
going
on,
he
wasn't
silly!
He
knew
when
were
about
to
arrive
at
the
Vet's
and
we
would
have
to
slide
him
into
their
rooms
ot
pick
him
up.
Rusty
would
hide
in
his
kennel
when
ever
she
put
on
her
apron
to
wash
him,
he
simply
did
not
like
to
get
a
bath.
Don't
know
why
Jacqualine
always
blow
dry
his
fur
coat
at
the
end
of
it
with
warm
air.
He never failed to do
his NO 2s on newly mowed lawns.
He
never
failed
to
get
in
the
way
whenever
you
were
trying
to
make
bad,
vacuum
etc.
Yes
he
just
wanted
to
be
part
of
the
action.
He
seemed
to
know
when
David
was
coming
home
as
he
would
ring
to
say
he
was
about
to
get
here
and
he
would
jump
up
and
begin
to
wag
his
tail.
He
happened
to
get
up
to
greet
David
a
few
hours
before
he
died,
even
though
he
did
not
seem
to
know
much
of
what
was
going
on
here,
and
sadly
by
the
time
Jacqualine
came
in
that
night
before
we
headed
up
to
the
Vet
he
did
not
move
from the
lounge.
He
was
in
too
much
pain.
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JUST
A DOG
From
time to
time,
people
tell me,
"lighten
up, it's
just a
dog,"
or,
"that's
a lot of
money
for
just
a dog."
They
don't
understand
the
distance
travelled,
the time
spent,
or the
costs
involved
for
"just
a dog."
Some
of my
proudest
moments
have
come
about
with
"just
a dog."
Many
hours
have
passed
and my
only
company
was
"just a
dog,"
but I
did not
once
feel
slighted.
Some
of my
saddest
moments
have
been
brought
about by
"just a
dog,"
and in
those
days of
darkness,
the
gentle
touch of
"just a
dog"
gave me
comfort
and
reason
to
overcome
the
day.
If
you,
too,
think
it's
"just a
dog,"
then you
will
probably
understand
phrases
like
"just a
friend,"
"just a
sunrise,"
or
"just
a
promise."
"Just a
dog"
brings
into my
life
the very
essence
of
friendship,
trust,
and pure
unbridled
joy.
"Just a
dog"
brings
out the
compassion
and
patience
that
make me
a
better
person.
Because
of
"just a
dog",
I will
rise
early,
take
long
walks
and look
longingly
to
the
future.
So
for me
and
folks
like me,
it's not
"just a
dog"
but an
embodiment
of all
the
hopes
and
dreams
of
the
future,
the fond
memories
of the
past,
and the
pure joy
of
the
moment.
"Just a
dog"
brings
out
what's
good in
me
and
diverts
my
thoughts
away
from
myself
and the
worries
of
the
day.
I
hope
that
someday
they can
understand
that
it's not
"just a
dog",
but the
thing
that
gives me
humanity
and
keeps me
from
being
"just a
man
or
just
as woman."
So
the next
time
you hear
the
phrase
"just
a dog"
just
smile...
because
they
"just
don't
understand."
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Why
Dogs
Are
Man's
Best
Friend
Dogs
will
forgive
you
for
playing
with
other
dogs.
The
later
you
are,
the
more
excited
dogs
are
to
see
you.
If a
dog
is
gorgeous,
other
dogs
don't
hate
it.
Dogs
don't
notice
if
you
call
them
by
another
dog's
name.
A
dog's
disposition
stays
the
same
all
month
long.
Dogs
like
it
if
you
leave
a
lot
of
things
on
the
floor.
A
dog's
parents
never
visit.
Dogs
do
not
hate
their
bodies.
Dogs
agree
that
you
have
to
raise
your
voice
to
get
your
point
across.
Dogs
like
to
do
their
snooping
outside
rather
than
in
your
wallet
or
desk.
Dogs
seldom
outlive
you.
Dogs
can't
talk.
Dogs
enjoy
petting
in
public.
You
never
have
to
wait
for
a
dog—they're
ready
to
go
24-hours
a
day.
Dogs
find
you
amusing
when
you're
drunk.
Dogs
like
to
go
hunting.
Another
man
will
seldom
steal
your
dog.
If
you
bring
another
dog
home,
your
dog
will
happily
play
with
both
of
you.
A
dog
will
not
wake
you
up
at
night
to
ask,
"If
I
died
would
you
get
another
dog?"
If a
dog
has
babies,
you
can
put
an
ad
in
the
paper
and
give
them
away.
If
you
pretend
to
be
blind,
your
dog
can
stay
in
your
hotel
room
for
free.
A
dog
will
let
you
put
a
studded
collar
on
it
without
calling
you
a
pervert.
A
dog
won't
hold
out
on
you
to
get
a
new
car.
If a
dog
smells
another
dog
on
you,
they
don't
get
mad,
they
just
think
it's
interesting.
On a
car
trip,
your
dog
never
insists
on
running
the
heater.
Dogs
don't
let
magazine
articles
guide
their
lives.
Dogs
like
to
ride
in
the
back
of a
pickup
truck.
Dogs
are
not
allowed
in
David
Jones
or
Myer.
If a
dog
leaves,
it
won't
take
half
your
stuff.
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CAN
WE
LEARN
FROM
A
DOG?
When
loved
ones
come
home,
always
run
to
greet
them.
Run,
have
fun
and
play
daily.
Be
always
true
and
loyal.
Just
be
yourself.
Allow
the
experience
of
the
wind
in
your
hair
and
face
to
be
pure
ecstasy.
When
it's
in
your
best
interest,
practice
obedience.
Take
naps
and
stretch
before
rising.
If
what
you
want
lies
buried,
dig
until
you
find
it.
When
someone
is
having
a
bad
day,
be
silent,
sit
close
by
and
nuzzle
them
gently.
Avoid
growling
when
a
simple
bark
will
do.
On
hot
days,
drink
lots
of
water
and
lay
under
a
shady
tree.
When
you're
happy,
dance
around
and
let
your
body
language
show.
No
matter
how
often
you're
scolded,
don't
buy
into
the
guilt
thing
and
pout...run
right
back
and
make
friends.
Delight
in
the
simple
joy
of a
long
walk.
Don't
hold
grudges.
Let
my
eyes
be
my
soul.
Smile
with
my
eyes.
Always
make
eye
contact
when
making
my
point.
Show
my
love
unconditionally.
When
loved
ones
come
home,
always
run
to
greet
them.
Run,
have
fun
and
enjoy
each
moment..
Be
always
true
and
loyal.
Just
be
yourself.
Allow
the
experience
of
the
wind
in
your
hair
and
face
to
be
pure
ecstasy.
Take
naps
and
stretch
before
rising.
If
what
you
want
lies
buried,
dig
around
until
you
find
it.
When
someone
is
having
a
bad
day,
be
silent,
sit
close
by
and
nuzzle
them
gently.
Avoid
growling
when
a
simple
bark
will
do.
On
hot
days,
drink
lots
of
water
and
lay
under
a
shady
tree.
When
you're
happy,
dance
around.
No
matter
how
often
you're
in
trouble,
don't
buy
into
the
guilt
thing
and
pout...run
right
back
and
make
friends.
Delight
in
the
simple
joy
of a
long
walk.
Don't
hold
grudges.
Let
my
eyes
be
my
soul.
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