Queensland rescue groups profile their most difficult to home animals
Whether they’re deaf, the wrong colour, too old or too anxious – these are the animals no-one wants to adopt from Queensland rescue groups. Could you give one of them a home?
South West
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EVERY animal rescue organisation has at least one.
They’re the dog or cat that’s repeatedly passed over when potential new owners visit looking to adopt a new family member.
Maybe they’re deaf, the wrong colour, have a heart murmur, are too old, too excitable or too reserved.
But the foster carers who’ve taken them in know the joy they can bring to their new owners if only they got the chance.
Here are their stories:
Harper:
Harper has been in care with Hear No Evil – Australian Deaf Dog Rescue (HNE) since early last year.
The fact he hasn’t found his forever family yet does baffle the HNE team, but they know that sometimes some dogs just have to wait a bit longer than others until their happily ever after appears.
Harper is a three-year-old deaf Catahoula cross and while he is a big boy, he’s also dog friendly and loves having a buddy to play with.
He is scared of cats but can live with them as long as he and his feline housemates can have enough room to give each other some space.
Harper adores children and loves being able to spend as much time as possible with the small people in his home.
He’s big on cuddles and nap time with gentle, friendly kids, and is easily one of the most affectionate dogs HNE has ever had in care.
HNE is a nationwide rescue that specialises in rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming deaf and other special-needs dogs and cats.
HNE was established in late 2014 with the motto ‘deaf isn’t a death sentence’.
The HNE team saw a need to ensure that the old practices of the past - euthanising healthy animals just because they couldn’t hear - were stopped.
These practices were based on a range of misconceptions about deaf dogs – that they’re hard work, untrainable, unsafe, and not good family pets.
HNE says all of these things are untrue and the hundreds of dogs that HNE has rescued and rehomed in the last four and half years are testament to that.
HNE says deaf dogs are just dogs who require a different form of communication, and they’re just as trainable as any hearing dog and make amazing family members.
If you think you can offer Harper or any of the other dogs HNE have in care the perfect home, the HNE team would love to hear from you, so email austdeafdogrescue@outlook.com
You can also find Australian Deaf Dog Rescue on Facebook
Toofy:
Toofy had a tough start to life. The two-year-old Staffy x Ridgeback was just a pup when her mum chewed the toes off one of her feet.
She was rescued by Animals in Need Brisbane who arranged for her to be fitted with a custom prosthetic paw so that she can still run around.
Her rescuers say she has a lovely personality and aren’t sure if her disability is the reason she’s been overlooked time and again.
She is currently living with another dog and while she is typically a house dog, is okay with being outside.
She protects her home and will alert you if anyone comes close.
She would prefer a cat free environment, and loves being around humans.
For more on Toofy, click here
You can also find Animals in Need Brisbane on Facebook
Bree:
Bree has been in the care of Precious Paws Animal Rescue for 15 months - more than half her life.
She has been repeatedly overlooked for adoption, but rescuers aren’t sure why, and can only think her brindle colouring might be putting potential owners off.
She’s a large Bull Arab mix who’s friendly with humans and other dogs, and might be best suited to a home with another dog.
She can get pretty excited when with her humans, so bigger children are recommended.
She loves swimming, chilling, chasing balls, and going for runs and walks.
She has great manners too.
For more on Bree, click here
You can also find Precious Paws Animal Rescue on Facebook
Champ:
Champ is a young Stafffy/Shar Pei and has been looking for his forever home with Precious Paws for well over a year.
He loves going for rides on the back of a ute and feeling the wind in his fur.
He also has a heart murmur which doesn’t need medical treatment nor does it cause any problems, other than he needs a rest after a big play.
He also loves his favourite teddy bear (that has a few missing limbs) and it keeps him company when his humans are away from the house.
He’s high energy and runs everywhere.
He is gentle with young children, but not so great with cats and livestock.
Champ is very food-motivated and this can be used in his training.
For more on Champ, click here
Joy:
Joy is a big-boned Bull Arab mix beauty.
She would be best suited to a home with no young children as she sometimes isn’t aware of her size.
She is smart and knows basic commands, and after seven months in foster care with Precious Paws, is well and truly ready to find her forever home.
Her carers at Precious Paws Animal Rescue say no-one will ever look at you with as much adoration as Joy.
She’s sociable and submissive, and loves being allowed to come inside to sit with her humans. She can live with a cat but can get a bit excited by sudden movements.
For more on Joy, click here
Big Boy:
Big Boy was the much-loved cat of an elderly lady who reluctantly surrendered him last year when she fractured her hip and moved into an aged care home.
The 10-year-old domestic shorthair is one of the ‘golden oldies’ at Southern Downs ARK who say it’s very hard to rehome an aged cat.
They say everyone loves a kitten, some people like young adults, but very few people are interested in taking on an older cat.
But older cats have generally learned the rules of living with humans, so don’t scratch furniture or jump on the dinner table.
Big Boy is very affectionate and has become a firm favourite of his foster carer.
He’s also dog and cat friendly.
Anyone interested in meeting Big Boy can email Southern Downs ARK here
You can also find Southern Downs ARK on Facebook
Raven:
With fur like black velvet and pale amber-green eyes, Raven is an eye-catching young female cat born in 2017.
She was dumped at the pound as a juvenile and has been with Southern Downs ARK rescue ever since.
She has a very sweet temperament, loves a cuddle, but she’s black - and her rescuers say black cats can be very hard to rehome.
Raven takes frequent trips to the local markets with the rescue, and while she’s very playful, no-one has loved her enough to give her a home.
She’s a little selective about the feline company she keeps, and is tolerant of dogs.
Anyone interested in offering Raven the safe and secure home she deserves can contact Southern Downs ARK
Isabella:
Isabella is a female Wolfhound mix.
Southern Downs ARK rescued her from death-row at the local pound in November, 2016, when she was about six months old.
She was initially placed in home-based foster care, where she thrived in the company of her foster family and their dog.
But Isabella was teased and taunted by the dogs living next door and, as a result, developed an aversion to all dogs, other than her foster carer’s dog.
She was adopted by a full-time worker but was returned to ARK after a month because she became destructive and anxious when left alone during the day.
Due to Isabella’s aversion to other dogs, it has been very difficult finding a foster home for her.
Most foster carers have dogs and cats of their own, so Isabella has been living in the kennels for the past 18 months.
In a kind of ‘day release’ program, she goes to work three or four days a week with a local man, who loves her but is unable to adopt her.
Isabella is a very sweet and affectionate dog and loves her humans with the passion and intensity of a Wolfhound, but she has quite specific requirements that unfortunately limit her options from an adoption perspective.
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She is a very loyal dog and is not keen on sharing her home or family with other dogs or with cats.
She loves being around her humans, so having someone home most of the day suits her best. She especially loves cuddle time on the lounge at night.
She also needs a yard with high fences.
Her ideal family would be home-based workers or retirees with a decent sized yard, extra good fencing and no other animals.
Anyone interested in meeting Isabella can complete an online expression of interest form on the Southern Downs ARK website.
Rugrat:
The RSPCA rescued Rugrat - a 10-year-old Kelpie in December last year, and he’s still looking for a forever home.
His rescuers say he’s a sweet affectionate old man who still has a spring in his step.
He likes being with people and will need to be allowed indoors with the family.
Daily walks would also be beneficial for him.
He can be anxious when initially left alone so will need a few days to help him settle in.
He can be tense and unsure with other dogs, so he would be best suited as the only dog in the family.
He’s not a fan of dog parks or off lead areas.
For more, find RSPCA Queensland on Facebook or email the RSPCA
Geraldine:
Geraldine’s carers say she’s anti-social - and that it’s always difficult to rehome an anti-social animal.
“Cats in general are difficult. We still have three adult cats needing to be fostered who we have been searching for carers for months now and to no avail,” Safe Haven Animal Rescue’s Jessica Seen said.
Geraldine is fragile and prefers the life on an inside cat.
She does not like to be picked up for cuddles.
Her ideal home would be child-free.
Contact Safe Haven Animal Rescue for more.
Safe Haven are also on Facebook
Sterling, Tallis, Trey and Tanner:
These four all came into Safe Haven Animal Rescue around the same time after being flown in from north Queensland.
“We find these general mix breeds result in a normal non-specific looking dog that don’t seem to catch people’s eye, even though they are the sweetest,” Ms Seen said.
Sterling falls in love with his humans and will snuggle up to them when given half a chance. He loves watching TV, particularly nature shows.
For more on Sterling, click here
Tallis is independent and loves cuddles.
For more on Tallis, click here
Tanner is a sweet submissive dog, who has just realised he’s safe and will never be hungry again.
He loves every dog he’s come into contact with and wants to be everyone’s best friend.
For more on Tanner, click here
Trey is the life of the party.
He would like a canine friend in his new home and is also friendly with savvy cats.
For more on Trey, click here
Bernard, Serena, Tomic and Ash:
These four dogs all came in at the same time from two different litters found at the same pound.
Their rescuers think their colour - brindle and black - seem to be the reason they’ve been overlooked.
“Black and brindle dogs for some reason just don’t grab people’s eye and in general end up being difficult to rehome,” Ms Seen said.
Bernard is a loveable goofball with a huge personality.
He is very smart and a quick learner.
He would love a family that has lot of time to spend with him and a companion to keep him company during the day.
For more on Bernard, click here
Serena is a bundle of energy but loves cuddles as much as she loves running around.
For more on Serena, click here
Tomic is dog friendly and learns quickly.
He loves to play outside but is equally happy to snuggle on the couch.
He’s also great with kids.
For more on Tomic, click here
Ash is a pocket rocket, and will need an active family and ideally a companion to help use up her energy.
For more on Ash, click here
You can also find Safe Haven Animal Rescue on Facebook
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