My name is Bela and after I left mum (Hello Mum - I know you are out there…) I went to spend the next three years of my life with a family in Newcastle.  It wasn’t always easy for me though.  I think I am a smart girl who LOVES being around people and most of my life consisted of being stuck in the back yard.  Naturally I escaped once or twice after getting bored - after all I am a Husky - and ended up in the RSPCA on one occasion. Eventually my family (I don’t use the word pack) were going to move anyway so I faced an uncertain future and wasn’t feeling too sure of where I might end up (I have heard nasty tales of dogs being “put to sleep” and I understand that this does not mean getting a good night’s kip). But my family had the sense to call Siberian Husky Rescue and to my surprise a nice man arrived one day to collect me and gave me a drive back to Sydney (even though I didn’t get McDonalds on the way).

I soon met his two huskies and enjoyed the new attention I was getting.  He did some work with me including getting me used to be handled all over - I had been poked a bit at my old home and was a bit sensitive in some areas. I was enjoying myself at his home but I also heard that I would be off to the country if someone didn’t like my nice face (who could resist) on the website where my details had been posted. So although I was happy to have two playmates for a while my future was still uncertain.

One night another nice man came over to see me with something I hadn’t seen before - a food pouch (Yum - takeaway!). This new man encouraged me to come to him and take food slowly as well as interacting with me and giving me lots of praise. I liked him very much and was sad to see him go but he returned the next night with his niece and her two year old. I loved the two year old very much and was really excited when the man said he would be taking me to a new home!

One Sunday I was dropped off to my new home in Baulkham Hills. I had lots of fun that day playing with the two other dogs that lived there - Deakin (Collie Rough) and Buster (Golden Retriever).  It was also exciting to learn that I can actually come inside! My new owner is very understanding and has taught me lots already. I have been trained to the word “toilet”, learned about what toys are best for me (yes - the stuffing does come out of stuffed toys) and even learned to fetch! I have now started at obedience school and I have been doing very well (I think that my owner is very impressed that I can focus on him for the whole hour). I’ve head a few humans say I am having a “sea change”. This means that I have quickly gone from yard dog to house dog and I am loving it! I get lots of walks, training and plenty of time to romp with my two new canine friends in the yard!

But when I wake up on my dog mattress inside my new home I have to wonder about what may have happened to me without a new home that makes me feel really appreciated.  Just think about all those lovely huskies out there who through no fault of their own end up in pounds and shelters (after all - they can’t help it if their owners won’t train them). What will happen to all of them? Please, please don’t let all those nice dogs who have so much to give if only they can find the right owner end up in death row (I am getting tears in my eyes now-this sounds a bit like Prison Break or some other prison movie). Siberians have so much living and giving to do-please do all you can to support the club’s rescue service and to give nice dogs like me a second chance!

WOO! WOO!

BELA HUSKY
Baulkham Hills, NSW, Australia
January 2006