How a man missing his dead dog gave another one a chance at life
He was the “mangy mutt” abandoned by his owner and as the months went past, RSPCA workers feared for the future of Booka, the four-year-old shar pei cross. That was until Clint Semmler, mourning his own dog, met Booka.
NSW
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He was the dog RSPCA workers feared would be left behind — unwanted by those who dumped him and unwanted by those who came to centre’s Clear the Shelter Day.
And as the day dragged on Booka — a four-year-old shar pei cross — was one of only four dogs left.
He was left in cage outside the Sydney RSPCA shelter last winter with a heartbreaking note. He was a beauty trapped inside an itchy beast. Chronic mange covered his entire body, his hair had fallen out, his skin was cracked and bleeding and his paws were swollen and inflamed with infected toenails. His owners, in an apologetic note attached, explained they not afford to treat his condition.
“I have a genetic form of mainge [sic]. It is not contractible to other animals, though the treatment is quite expensiv [sic].
“He is a lovely dog. We can no longer afford his treatment … Please give him a chance, he is much loved and hard to let go,” the note read.
“He would have been very uncomfortable,” Ms Carlisle said.
“He needed very heavy antibiotics before we could even start to soothe his skin and walking for him would have been very painful,” she said.
The RSPCA paid for his treatment, cured him and searched for his owners to reunite them, but they never came forward.
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Months dragged on as Booka waited to find a forever home.
The RSPCA’s Nicola Carlisle had become attached to Booka, but as the day dragged on, she fretted for the kind pooch who donned a bow tie in the hope of attracting attention.
“I was scared no-one would adopt him, when the last ones are left your heart starts to break. But then this man dropped out of heaven,” Ms Carlisle said.
It just so happened that weekend Clint Semmler, missing his former dog who had passed away, felt a rescue dog would complete the new Riverstone home he had set up with his girlfriend Olivia Majcan.
‘I just told Liv we have to get a dog and I was looking around and checked out the shelter, I didn’t even know it was the clear the shelter day, but when I arrived I was given a ticket and there were only four dogs left,” the 30-year-old mechanic said.
There were two Maltese, a Jack Russell and Booka.
“I walked passed his cage and then had a private meeting and he would not leave me alone and yep, I thought this is him, but I think he chose me. I thought he was gorgeous and well-mannered but I didn’t’ know the backstory,” Mr Semmler said.
There were tears shed and hugs from Ms Carlisle has she handed Clint a box full of Booka’s toys.
Olivia was a little taken aback when Booka arrived.
“She was OMG what have you done and then it was OMG he is so gorgeous and melted,” Mr Semmler said.
“He is very loving and it amazes me the love and trust he has given to us,” Ms Majcan, 31, said.
“110 per cent I made the right choice, he is dead set just a bog sook, he does zoomies in the front yard and is just attached to my hip,” he said.
And in that special dog way, Booka has melted away the rules of the house.
“We did not intend him to be on bed or the leather couch, but he now just jumps up for a snuggle,” he said.
Originally published as How a man missing his dead dog gave another one a chance at life
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