Living Like a Small Green Hairy Fruit

We Adopted

Beginning of September 2007

Some of you might already know but we had the unenviable and heart-wrenching task of re-homing our beloved family dog, Rimmer, before we came here.  Rimmer was very special to Mark as he'd had him since he was a puppy and he was such a clever, loveable, expressive dog.  But Rimmer was old and had a heart murmur and after months of deliberating the very best thing we could do for him was to find him a good home in the UK, which we did and he know has a lovely lady, Helen, who he gets heaps of attention, treats, walks, play time and cuddles from.

This is Mark and Rimmer

Now, it was never our intention to get another dog.  Rimmer was irreplaceable and we quite liked the freedom of not having get back to walk/feed the dog if we were out for the day.  When we came for our recce in March we hardly saw a dog but since moving here we've seen loads, albeit they are mainly working dogs riding in the back of utes!  But here we go and about to so many great places that a dog would love to explore and run around in, unlike the UK.

Mark has always wanted a wolf, or failing that a huskie.  We were at a party one evening at our friends Helen and Steve's house, when Helen mentioned there was a huskie on Trade Me, free to a good home.

The next day I was on Trade Me but the huskie had already gone.  Mark had recently mentioned that he'd had a dream about a brown dog that didn't look like Rimmer, but was.  Weird.

I did find on Trade Me though a lovely 2 year old Alsatian/Collie cross called Possum who was free to a good home so after discussing it with Mark we went one evening in September just to have a look.

A lovely English couple, Liz and Graham had taken Possum in.  He lived in their neighbourhood but was always running away from home as he wasn't always treated well there.  Liz, I think, had had enough of taking Possum back each time when he clearly didn't want to go back and his family didn't want him. So Liz and Graham took him in and gave him a good home and lots of love and training and got him vaccination and 'fixed' at the vets.  They already had 2 dogs and their first baby due in November.

The night we saw Possum he'd just been 'fixed' and had a lampshade on.  Molly, one of their lovely other dogs was very boisterous and considering Possum had just had an op the day before and a daft annoying lampshade he was very good natured and not bothered at all about being jumped all over etc.  The kids adored him, as did I, but really the decision was Mark's.  Before we left Liz said she had other families coming to see Possum so we had a few days to think about it, but Mark replied 'what's there to think about'.  He obviously was quite taken with Possum.  As we pulled off the driveway Liz came running out, she'd had a quick chat with Graham and they'd decided that they'd put the other families off viewing and that we could have Possum once his stitches were out! The kids were so excited and we spent the journey home trying to think of new names as we really didn't want to be out and about shouting POSSUM! (Possum's are nasty, vicious vermin).  I chose the name Leo, as he has the colouring of a lion and a mane. But there were plenty of other suggestions, like Pirate (in honour of Johnny Depp as Captain Jack Sparrow as Possum has black eyeliner too!!!)

Mark set about constructing gates either side of the house for the impending arrival of our little escape artist. 

Saturday 15 September 2007

Liz and Graham and a lampshadeless Possum arrived at tea time. We'd stocked up on dog food, lead, collar, toys, tennis balls etc. and received a lengthy and informative email from Liz about Possum's history and routine and temprement which was so useful.

We felt sorry for Liz and Graham. They seemed so sad to be leaving Possum as they'd become very attached to him over the previous 5 or 6 weeks. Not surprising really as he is such a loveable, affectionate dog.

After they'd left he just wanted lots of hugs and tickles on his tummy. We tried out various names to see which one he'd respond to and Leo seemed to do the trick.  Liz gave us his Pet Passport and I was amazed that we share a birthday - 1 August - so Leo really is a very apt name for him.

This is Leo and me:

Leo helping in garden with obligatory sun hat!:

Leo and Kaela:

Leo on safety inspection:

Leo. Not terribly brave or courageous but very loving and trusting and loyal and we love him.