Year in review: Pet page

Cat walk

ABC Shepparton breakfast show host Nic Healey adopted two cats named Salem and Lola.

Salem was a stray cat who used to visit Nic’s old house in Dubbo, and he used to pee everywhere until Nic eventually caved and let him stay permanently.

Lola, on the other hand, was a rescue cat who had gone through tough times before becoming part of Nic’s family.

When Salem arrived, he had a big wound. Nic decided to take him to the vet for treatment and make him an indoor cat.

Nic used to take Salem out for walks in a harness every day.

Although Lola and Salem got along well, Lola preferred to rest while Salem liked to play.

Nic encourages people to adopt stray and rescue animals, as they deserve a happy life and can prove to be great animals at home.

Indy’s lifelong friendship

Kialla native Chloe Warburton shared her heart-warming story about her beloved dog, Indy.

Chloe and her mother went to the RSPCA in Bendigo to adopt Indy when he was just three months old.

It was a lucky day for Indy, as he was due to be euthanised the very next day.

Chloe’s dad wasn’t thrilled initially about the new addition to their family, but he eventually warmed to Indy.

Indy was a handful as a puppy, but he settled down as he grew older.

Chloe has learned a lot about being a responsible pet owner.

Indy, at 15, was a stubborn old man, and Chloe tried not to leave him alone for too long.

Chloe was grateful for the time she had spent with Indy during the pandemic and was thankful for the amazing companion who had been with her through all the ups and downs of her life.

Cujo sighting at Victoria Park Lake

Shawn ‘Plemo’ Pleming and his dog Cujo had become inseparable since Plemo had rescued him from the pound.

Cujo, a hybrid indoor/outdoor dog, loved to go on a rampage, sprinting around like a madman.

Although he was generally good with new people, he didn’t get along well with cats.

Cujo accompanied Plemo everywhere, even on adventurous canoeing trips, and loved aquatic adventures.

Plemo described Cujo as intelligent and always on the move, keeping him on his toes both physically and mentally.

Cujo’s enthusiasm for water was matched by his ball obsession; he was practically inseparable from his beloved tennis ball.

Plemo considered Cujo his best friend and a constant source of love and cheer.

Penchant for peculiar pets

Jasmine Talarico, 16, had a unique passion for uncommon pets.

In her home, she had a python, two frogs, two lizards, a turtle, a hermit crab, two dogs and a cat, all of which she loved and cared for.

Jasmine had collected her pets from a variety of places, including adopting one from a local school.

Her parents supported her passion for animals, allowing her to take in more pets and care for each one.

Jasmine’s pets had unique personalities, and she learned more about them every day.

However, taking care of unusual pets led to unusual challenges for Jasmine. Feeding, for example, was gross, with all the bugs and dead mice, even though the creatures thought the food was delicious.

Jasmine had recently renovated her three scaly mates’ dens, making a handmade three-tier home for them.

Three is company

Shannon Orlandi fell in love with shiba inus during a trip to Japan, so when he returned home, he had a plan to adopt one of every kind.

The first and oldest was Mochi, who was white all over and full of leadership skills.

Since her puppy days, she had been in the care of Shannon, having moved in in 2019.

Although she ran the house, according to Shannon, she valued her alone time and beauty sleep.

Tofu, on the other hand, defied the stereotype that shiba inus scream loudly and are full of confidence.

Three-year-old Tofu was the so-called sook of the three, so it was important she got the attention she deserved.

Soba was full of beans — he loved to run around.

Like many siblings, Mochi, Tofu and Soba had their ups and downs, fluctuating between best friends and mortal enemies.

Like most parents of adorable four-legged friends, Shannon spoiled his three pups with any toy they desired.

General Caesar

Three years ago, Luke Southall got a husky named Caesar. Before that, he had two fish, one of which ate the other.

Caesar was a surprise addition to the family, appearing in their garden while Luke’s parents were away.

Caesar was shy around new people due to time spent at home during the pandemic.

He was also very active and required long walks every day.

During lockdown, he developed a strange obsession with socks and would steal them, creating a game of chase.

Caesar was an independent dog but would get excited for food and walks.

Despite his intelligence, Luke considered Caesar “the stupidest smartest dog”.

He would often run into walls, doors and windows, but his silly moments were hilarious.

Overall, Luke loved having Caesar as a part of his family.

School helper

All Saints Anglican School in Shepparton had a furry and friendly greeter at its Wyndham St office.

Harry, an adorable corgi, was the faithful companion of school principal Jim Laussen.

Harry was named after Mr Laussen’s grandfather and was purchased from a breeder in Mt Eliza when he was just eight weeks old.

Harry’s favourite toy was a plastic bone, and he enjoyed dry dog food.

He was a happy dog and loved to cuddle, and his simple needs made him even more charming.

Mr Laussen and Harry loved exploring the river on their walks.

Mr Laussen wanted to register Harry as a wellbeing dog at the school, which he believed would be a good process.

Harry not only brought joy to Mr Laussen’s life, but he also charmed visitors to the office and might soon be brightening the lives of students as well.

Miracle dog

Lily the Labrador was a remarkable three-legged dog.

She was hit by a car when she was just three months old, leaving her owners with a difficult decision: to either fix her or say goodbye.

The Roycrofts chose to keep her, and she became a valued member of their family.

Despite having only three legs, Lily was an energetic and playful dog.

She loved to play tug-of-war and chase her chewed tennis ball. She was even able to dig holes in the backyard like any other dog.

The Roycrofts got Lily to help their sons overcome their fear of dogs, and she became an integral part of their business, Aerodrome Automotive.

Lily was a true testament to the power of love and resilience.

She was a symbol of hope for those facing adversity, and a reminder that even in the darkest times, there was always a reason to keep going.

Young eggsperts

Millie and Patrick Holgate, two siblings, decided to get three silver-laced Wyandottes as their pets.

They named them Princess, Ruby Red, and Mildred.

Princess and Ruby Red were named after characters in the book Banjo and Ruby Red, while Mildred’s name was chosen by their father for sounding silly.

The chickens had been nesting in their backyard since February.

Millie and Patrick had faced challenges with them, including having to clip their wings to stop them jumping over the pool fence.

But despite the challenges, the Holgates highly recommended them, especially if one liked eggs.

Gremlin

Audrey, a shih tzu-cross-kelpie, was a lockdown acquisition of Rosa Ritchie and her husband, Rigel.

Audrey’s breed was a mix between Fantastic Mr Fox and Lady and the Tramp, making her look like a cartoon character.

Audrey had a kelpie mum named Xena and a shih tzu father.

Rosa found Audrey through an online listing from Barb, a genuine person who just wanted to cover vet bills.

Audrey was known for her complex personality, mischievous glee and ‘Gremlin mode’.

Despite Audrey’s occasional weird behaviour, Rosa wouldn’t change a thing about her “huge character”.

Audrey whispered sweet nothings to her frisbees, trying to convince them to throw themselves for her.

For Rosa, getting Audrey was the best decision she had ever made.