I didn’t intend to get another dog so soon after Peppa’s passing. I follow a few animal rescue pages on Facebook and in early June 2021, there was a notice requesting a fosterer for 2 American Bulldogs (1 male, 1 female) who had been surrendered to a pound in Northern QLD. I briefly considered it but Peppa’s loss was still too raw and I didn’t feel like I was ready. I also thought that there would be plenty of fosterers willing to take them in.
Billie #1
About 10 days later, an urgent call went out calling for a fosterer for the female of the pair. The male had been fostered but the female was nearing the end of the line. Of course, it was a no brainer. I had the space in my home and my heart to care for an animal in need. So, at midnight that night, I filled out the application forms not really expecting anything to happen. I thought that there’d be a long list of people volunteering to take her in. Next morning, I got a call from the animal rescue site. The dog, Billie, was one day away from being euthanised. I said yes, we’d take her. I still had to check it with my sister but I was pretty confident she’d be on board. She was.
Billie ended up getting taken in by the RSPCA in her region who were confident that they would be able to rehome her without too much fuss. So, Billie didn’t come down to us but she was safe and that’s the result we needed.
Lola
We were then told about Lola, an American Bulldog living in less than ideal conditions. Confined to a small area with not much shelter along with her friend, Asher, a male Maremma. Asher had a place to go to but Lola needed somewhere warm and safe for her and her belly-full of American Bulldog X Maremma puppies.
She was due to arrive on Friday 18th June, however that arrangement stalled when the owner became reticent to relinquish Lola and Asher.
Zot
Then we were offered to foster Zot. A 9 year old English staffy male. He required amputation of a leg due to an old fracture that was left untreated. The shelter was going to cover the costs of amputation and then Zot would come and live with us for his rehabilitation. Once he was mended, he would then be found a forever home. In a devastating turn of events, Zot passed away in recovery following the amputation. By all accounts he was a sweet, lively and lovely little chap who had become a favourite with the workers at the two shelters he was housed in. His loss was felt deeply by all who had worked to get him so close to a safe and loving home.
Rest in peace lovely boy. I’m so sorry you didn’t get the life you deserved in your forever home but at least your last days were filled with love.
Billy
Losing Zot before even taking guardianship of him was heartbreaking. I love all dogs but staffies are a special favourite. Their joy of life, their energy and their ridiculously awesome smiles make them so much fun to be around. I’d already started imagining him in my life, thinking of the nicknames I was going to give him and looking forward to the journey of helping him heal after the surgery. His passing was also a grounding moment. It was a reminder of the sometimes dire circumstances that these little creatures have come from and the toll that can take on their bodies and their psyches.
The woman from the rescue group was devastated and apologetic. She said she’d never had this happen where a prospective and keen fosterer has three foster options fall through. But, she had another proposal. There was a doggie, Billy, who was a palliative care foster with a family nearby. He had terminal cancer and had just had some tumours removed. The poor little chappie was having separation anxiety and not coping when his family went out to work during the week. We were asked if we would like to do doggie day care and take care of him a few days a week. Not too soon after agreeing to do this we got a message asking if we could take Billy on as a fulltime foster, he and the family’s dog were not getting on. Of course, we said yes and within an hour, Billy the American Staffy X was making himself at home on our couch.
The experience of having 3 fosters fall through and then taking on a terminal foster reminded my sister and I of the initial talks we’d had about dog fostering many years ago, when Peppa first started to get old, (She was 19 and a half when she died, she was old for a loooong time!). We talked about how we’d like to foster senior dogs. Those dogs that are surrendered or abandoned and are never going to be adopted because they are old and people generally wanted young dogs or puppies. We thought it would be nice to offer a place for these old doggies to live their final years in safety, comfort and love. And with Billy the Lab, we had found our ideal foster.
When we were offered the first Billy to foster and my sister and I were discussing it. We said that we had the space here so why not. My sister said “Peppa’s Place is here to pay it forward and help other dogs in need”. So, now we welcome Billy to Peppa’s Place.
Peppa's Place 