My foster mum Bec dropped me off to live with my new whanau on 14 November 2013. It was an
Me with Bec at my new 'forever' home. It has lots of space to run.
exciting (and tiring) day. I got to meet my new canine room mate Rica, a German Shepherd who came with us for a run in the park before it was time to say goodbye to Bec. Those humans are funny people, both of them were crying when it was time for Bec to go, but I wasn't the least bit sad! My new mum gave Bec a huge hug and I know was so thankful for all the hard work, love and attention Bec lavished on me. I am very grateful to Bec too for teaching me so well and kindly and for finding me a 'forever' home where I am loved and adored and have a really important job to do which I enjoy.
The very next day I was off to work in my new role as a fully trained Therapy dog for the Kotuku Foundation Assistance Animals Aotearoa (KFAAA)! It was very busy and I loved every minute of it. I met lots of wonderful people who wanted to give me pats, cuddles and hugs, sneak me treats (and take me home with them!). I met other Greyhounds at the same place who were learning how to become great pets so they could be quickly adopted. They were being taught by the women who gave me all the pats and cuddles. The women were so gentle and patient with the other Greyhounds and I could see they were learning very fast, as well as giving the women lots of affection.
Here I am with the One News team and some of the other Greyhounds
I had more excitement the next week when I got to star on One News! The reporter Georgina was lovely. She patted me while telling all NZ about the wonderful work of KFAAA in putting together with GAP and Women's Refuge a programme called 'Heeling Hounds'. It was all about how the women were helping the Greyhounds (who were helping the women!). I heard that three of the four Greyhounds who took part in the project got adopted out before the programme ended!
My next exciting outing was at the
Here's Rica and me. She had antlers and Christmas stockings and I had a halo (a bit hard to see in this photo) and angel wings.
Feilding Royal A & P show where I won the 'Best Dressed' competition and also a prize for the 'best spots'. It was judged by some people called 'Ken and Ken' who looked the same (I think they are also called the Topp Twins). Anyway, they said lots of lovely things about me and my new 'sister' Rica and how amazing we looked in our costumes. I went as a Christmas Angel and Rica went as Santa's Helper. Best of all, we got to catch up with Bec and my mum brought a shared lunch for us all. Later on I visited the GAP tent and made more friends and admirers (I am on a mission to get as many Greyhounds adopted as I can!). Bec took some photos of our day and one of them went on the GAP facebook.
On Christmas day we went to visit the Rest home Residents in our Santa hats. Everyone was really happy and wanted to say hello to me and Rica. We met lots of people and made sure not to miss anyone out.
Rica and me in our Santa hats.
After Christmas, some people came to visit us. They had two dogs - one that looked a bit like Rica only smaller and a different colour called Ada and another one that was almost my twin! I thought for a moment I was looking in a mirror! Her name is Snowflake and she is being taken great care of by her foster people as well as getting to visit lots of different places and learn many new things. Ada and Snowflake came all the way from Auckland to visit. Ada is a very special dog. She is the only Siberian Husky ever to be trained as an Assistance dog and will be helping her mum as New Zealand's first Diabetic Response Dog. She has been on TV as well!
Rica and I had our portraits taken by a lovely photographer. He also took some photos of us with Ada and Snowflake.