Barnaby

"The Wolfhound is Melbourne's saddest dog."

(Herald Sun)

Thank you so much for your compassion for Barnaby, who has become a symbol of all the homeless animals who die lonely deaths in pounds and shelters, and have no one to grieve for them or give them a last pat or cuddle. Fortunately, this special boy has now gone from death-row to Melbourne's darling!

Barnaby Is Home

After breaking many people’s hearts by being called ‘Melbourne’s Saddest Dog’ in the Herald Sun, we received hundreds of adoption applications for Barnaby from caring animal lovers around the state. He even made it into the international media! It was inspiring for us that so many of you out there truly care about homeless dogs and cats – particularly those who haven’t been given the love and kindness they so deserve.

read how Barnaby picked his home »

So many applicants...

From all the kind applicants, we whittled the number down to a handful that could fulfil Barnaby’s special needs. So many wonderful people applied that we had to decline, because they perhaps weren’t going to be home enough, or didn’t have another dog as four-legged company for Barnaby. We are very grateful for your interest and kindness, and hope you take our saying no in the way it was intended – that is, we simply wanted to find a home that would suit Barnaby perfectly. Thank you all for being so generous in your offers, and we do hope you'll consider saving another dog like Barnaby whose time has run out. Almost all dogs who end up in the pound are there through no fault of their own, and deserve a second chance. The most amazing thing of all, however, is that they are prepared to give US a second chance.

The one Barnaby choose

The next stage was to arrange for Barnaby to visit a handful of shortlisted new homes and see how he coped. Would he be frightened, and retreat to his crate (the only place he feels safe?) Or worse, would he try to run away? We were as nervous as he was. On Adoption Co-ordinator Lisa’s first visit with Barnaby to one of the shortlisted couples, Barnaby went in and promptly lay down by the fire. It was as if he knew he was home.

And he was.

Barnaby himself chose his forever home, which is exactly how we would wish it. We have seen this happen before where our foster dogs just seem to recognise their new forever family. I’m particularly reminded of our lovely Scudley who was very withdrawn on his first meet-and-greet for no reason that we could see, but on his next meeting he immediately attached himself to the couple who were to become his new family.

Barnaby’s new mother and father are a lovely middle-aged couple who live on acreage on the Mornington Peninsula, so Barnaby will have room for long walks with his family without leaving the safety of their property. On the rare times that he is left alone, he has a dignified older sister-dog called Miss T to keep him company – and last night she let him share the couch with her for the first time. Before that he was lying full-length in front of the fire, covered by a blanket, with his lovely new mum getting up during the night to check on him. And of course his crate sits in the living room for him to retreat into when he needs to. At the moment he only goes in there when his new family are out, which is a wonderful sign of how safe he is now feeling.

A Big Thank You From Barnaby

Thank you to Rudducks for kindly offering to donate a new inside crate for Barnaby as well as an ‘extra’ for the carport, so that Barnaby will always have his security blanket in sight.

We’re so glad we saved you, Barnaby. We’re so glad a caring ranger asked us to help you, just in time. And thank you for letting us tell your story, and reach out to so many people who, next time they want a new companion, might just remember you and choose to save one of your kindred at their local pound or shelter.

We thank everyone who has supported us through our work with Barnaby and with our other foster dogs and cats. A foster-care network supported by our volunteers and our fantastic adopters is such a great community of compassionate people who care for our beloved four-legged friends.

Thank you all again for caring about Barnaby, and all homeless dogs and cats like him. We are still accepting donations to help us rescue more dogs like Barnaby - all donations over $2 are tax-deducitble - and please look at our other wonderful rescue pets needing homes: » Dogs Needing Homes

Please consider Felice...,

who came from a situation similar to Barnaby: She and her litter mates lived in an enclosed 'puppy pen' till they were 5 months old. The child of the family used to go into the compound to play with them but apart from that they didn't receive any human contact. When the assessor visited them in their pound cell she said it was an amazing experience - they were all over her: tongues licking, tails wagging and wanting as much contact as they could get. However, when she tried to take them out of their cage they were so terrified she had to carry them out as they urinated all over her. We took Felice and all of her siblings from death-row , worked on their confidence and, when they were ready, found them loving homes.

Unfortunately the family Felice was first rehomed to broke up and she has been back in foster care with us for quite some time. She is an affectionate, loving, very normal girl in her own environment but timid of strangers and new places. Another very special dog like Barnaby, can you give Felice the loving home she deserves?

Barnaby In The News

Read the articles in the Herald Sun:
"Barnaby the wolfhound is Melbourne's saddest dog"
"Barnaby steals our hearts"

and watch the video: http://player.video.news.com.au/heraldsun/#1532714815

Listen to Saskia on Melbourne Talk Radio 1377:
Interview with Luke Grant (opens in a new window)
Interview with Glenn Ridge (opens in a new window)