A sinking feeling overcame me as I left the veterinary hospital, realising that in trying to save a little Chihuahua I had found wandering the streets of Condell Park in south-west Sydney, I may have delivered him to death’s door. I was told he would be passed onto Bankstown Council, which meant he would probably end up at the pound. Without a detectable microchip
there was no way to contact the owner.
Having a quiet cry in the shower, I wished I’d brought him home. I was worried that being an older dog with arthritis in his legs he wouldn’t be rehomed. People usually adopt young dogs, puppies if possible, often overlooking older dogs that are just as deserving of loving homes, very often not wanting the financial responsibly that comes with caring for them.
I started thinking that I should have taken him home, given him a bath and a blow dry. I could have popped him in a bag and taken him out with me, so he didn’t have to walk on his sore little legs. I should have made sure he lived out the rest of his days loved, not alone in a pound.
Then reality struck – I’m allergic, I signed a lease that prohibits pets, I’m hardly ever home, which means I wouldn’t be the best companion. It also dawned on me that someone must have loved him a lot to get him to the age he was at, whatever that was, so they were probably looking for him. If I’d kept him, I would have ruined any chance of a reunion.
My faith was renewed, but as someone who always has a Plan B, I started thinking about a back-up. How could I re-rescue this little fella if he wasn’t claimed by his owner? As the director of Jagged Edge Communications, I put my businesses social media network to good use, posting a photo of the cute little Chihuahua on Facebook, with a brief description of where I’d found him and taken him.
I was overwhelmed, inspired even, by the warm reception he received in just a few minutes. People showed so much compassion; individuals offering to take him in if his owner didn’t claim him and organisations, like Little Legs Dog Rescue, keen to step in if he didn’t end up being adopted.
This generosity was in stark contrast of the uncaringness of people I’d seen swerving to avoid him as he tottered down the street, obviously disoriented and lost in the middle of the road. Facebook comments and emails flooded in until the wee hours of the morning.
Little did I know, at around the same time, his owner was frantically searching for him in the rain, torch in hand …
The next morning I rang to check he was still with the vet and he was. At lunch I braved the wet weather and pounded the pavement, putting posters up around Condell Park and Georges Hall – a big thank you goes out to the shop owners who let me utilise their windows and noticeboards – with his picture and current location, thinking that he couldn’t have gone far in his
condition so his owner must be local.
condition so his owner must be local.
I called every animal hospital in the Bankstown area to see if anyone had been looking for him, even phoned one of my contacts at the RSPCA, with one vet telling me someone from that area had rung up to see if a dog matching that description, but with a microchip, had been handed in. There was a glimmer of hope, but I needed something concrete, so I pestered council
and contacted Renbury Farm Shelter, which is where Bankstown strays are sent.
and contacted Renbury Farm Shelter, which is where Bankstown strays are sent.
Shelter staff were anticipating his arrival, following my previous night’s post on their Facebook page, which created a bit of online noise. Touched by the outpouring of love for the little guy, I was told a Save our Strays volunteer was going to foster him, should he not be claimed or adopted. I breathed a sigh of relief. Whatever happened now, I knew he was safe.
Meanwhile, his owner decided to call the only other veterinary hospital in the area …
When my phone rang and a female voice thanked me for finding her little dog, I couldn’t wipe the smile off my face. His name was Cheeko and he had been reunited with his owner of 12 years, Carol White, who lived just up the road from where I’d found him. I told her how many fans Cheeko had and she agreed to let me visit, so I could put together a blog to let everyone know the happy ending.
This afternoon, after taking down all my posters, I was welcomed into the home of a true pet lover. Framed pet photos decorated the lounge room, which Cheeko presided over from his big comfy bed, complete with doona. He looked much perkier since I’d last seen him, probably because had spent most of the day sleeping and eating, something he apparently didn’t do much of while at the hospital.
When a lost pet is handed in, it’s rare for the person who did the handing in to meet the owner, which made this afternoon’s meeting particularly special. As well as finding out about Carol’s experience so I could convey both sides of this story, it was heart-warming to see Cheeko at home with his family, instead of only having the image of his sad little face as I patted him goodbye at the veterinary hospital imprinted in my mind, wondering whatever became of him.
The reunion came at a good time too, with Carol yesterday receiving the ashes of her 16-year-old Chihuahua, Gonzalez. However, she wasn’t the only one missing him. Adopted from a family member at the age of four and turning sweet 16 himself on October 31, Cheeko lives with three of his four sons. Plus, Carol also owns another dog, two cats and a bunch of birds, including a 50-year-old Galah!
Carol showed me the photo she had given to a neighbouring primary school student to show around in the hopes that a classmate may have spotted Cheeko, who is pictured wearing Christmas attire, topped off with an ever so slightly over-sized Santa hat.
“I was frantic,” Carol said. “I was in tears every five minutes. When the vet said she had him, I was over the moon – I don’t think she could understand what I was saying to her, because I just burst into tears. She said I could come in anytime to pick him up and I said I was on my way”.
As I flicked through a stack of pet prints and a photo album, Carol explained that years ago she had a lady come up from Moss Vale to microchip all of the dogs, which she has the paperwork for and will be following up to find out why Cheeko’s microchip wasn’t detectable. Carol also expressed her surprise at Cheeko’s sudden celebrityism and her appreciation of the care and consideration shown by so many.
So everyone, I’m happy to report that this is the happy ending we were all hoping for, especially for Carol’s little escape artist, Cheeko!
Jagged Edge Communications is a Sydney based SEO website copywriting and public relations mentoring service. For more information, visit www.jaggededgecommunications.com, email director@jaggededgecommunications.com, or get in touch via Facebook.
Carol Nemes - 07/06/2012 at 3:13 pm -
That's great news! Kudos to you for finding Cheeko, and to Carol White for being a wonderful and loving mum to Cheeko and all her other furkids & featherkids.
Jo Van Dee - 09/06/2012 at 12:50 pm -
What a roller coaster journey this was for so many people who saw, fell in love with, and wanted to help little Cheeko! Thank you for writing this lovely story Kirsty, what a relief for so many to know that a loving owner was desperately waiting to reunite with this special boy. We don't see that side of it too often in the rescue world so it was a lovely, heart-lifting end to this story 🙂
Happy 16th birthday for October Cheeko!!!
Jo (Little Legs Dog Rescue) xxx
Fran Carleton - 13/06/2012 at 8:31 am -
Hi. Lovely story. I saw Cheeko on Facebook the night he went for solo walkies. If only the person who had picked Cara had had the same commitment to finding her owner, me.
Thanks