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Health & Fitness

Their Faces Haunt Me

As I post the pictures and bios of these homeless animals I wish I could rescue every one of them. Some will find homes. Many of them will die. All of them are beautiful and deserve a chance.

My best friend Kai Blue, an Australian Cattledog aka “Queensland Blue Heeler” puppy, came into my life fifteen years ago.  A good friend of mine had an Australian Cattledog (first one I had ever seen) and decided to breed his ACD with his brother-in-law’s female ACD.  I was fortunate enough to be gifted with the Pick of the Litter.

Kai Blue was my first dog and he was a fear biter

At a loss as to what to do, I joined a Yahoo group for the Australian Cattledog Club of America and got myself educated on his proper care and training.  Through the ACDCA I met a wonderful local breeder, Rita Favreau

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I spoke with Rita about breeding my Kai, and after checking him over and agreeing with me that he was the most Handsome, Brilliant, Charming and Impressive Cattledog Ever! She asked me the questions that would change my life.

“Would you say that Kai Blue exhibits all the positive qualities of an Australian Cattledog?  Herding instinct?  Specifications according to Breed Standards?  Temperament?  Clean bill of health regarding genetic diseases?” she asked me.

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“Er, no” I replied.  There was already that fear biting issue and I suddenly remembered that Kai’s mother was also a fear biter that had aggression issues.  Ruh roh.  Then there was the fact that Kai Blue was larger than your standard-issue Cattledog – running roughly twenty pounds over the average 45 lb. ACD.  Not standard to the breed.  Not genetically positive temperament.  Not a good candidate for breeding and that was that.

I had Kai Blue neutered and began to learn about the difference between Ethical Breeders and Backyard Breeders.  I realized that the world did not need more Kai Blues (as much as he was certainly MY ideal dog), and that rather than bringing more dogs into the world I would concentrate on rescuing some of the dogs who were already here and had no homes.  That decision has kept me busy for the last fifteen years and brought me more joy (and tears) and satisfaction (and heartbreak) than I ever imagined.

My Kai Blue passed to the Rainbow Bridge last September.  I continue to do rescue but now I do it in his name.

I utilize Facebook as Australian Cattledog Rescue, San Diego  to get the word out about rescues as far and wide as possible.  Every day I am contacted by people looking to rehome their dogs for a variety of reasons… in San Diego a common issue is military deployment, but in recent years the requests have increased as more and more people lose their homes or are forced to downsize to apartments. 

As I post the pictures and bios of these homeless animals I wish I could rescue every one of them.  Tears run down my face as I read each of their stories and study their faces.  Some will find homes.  Many of them will die.  All of them are beautiful and deserve a chance. 

And their faces haunt me.

Rocky - Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler): An adoptable dog in Joliet, IL

"Meet Rocky.  He is 8 yrs old.  He likes other dogs and does not seem to bother the cats.  He loves car rides.  Rocky likes riding in the front seat of the 4-wheeler.  He craves attention.  Rocky has an old eye injury; perhaps he was kicked by a cow.  This eye does not need any special treatment and it does not bother him.  Rocky would like to find a home where he can get lots of attention.  He has great recall and wants to please.  Rocky is crate trained.  Rocky thinks he is still a pup; he wants to help move the cows.  Rocky loves to work cows.  He cries when you are out with the cows and he can't come.

His adoption fee has been reduced to a small donation to the rescue.

Rocky is located in Southern IL. but could be moved to Joliet."

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