Dog's Refuge Home in West Subiaco (1936).
This is a wonderful story about the dogs of Subiaco and their human friends who came together to create a home for dogs in 1936.
In 1935 an honourary committee was formed to establish an organisation that would help care for the dogs in the local area. The aim was to return lost and wandering dogs to their owners and keep others until a suitable home could be found. Those dogs of old age or with disease that could not be kept would be put out of their misery by humane means. The committee also wanted to provide free veterinary advice and treatment to the owners who could not afford it.
A year later the community had provided enough funds that the construction of a dog's home in Nicholson road, West Subiaco commenced on land provided by State Government (West Australian 3 July, 1935). In 1936, the West Australian newspaper reported that after a year of operating the West Subiaco Dog's Home had serviced over 1 100 dogs that included paying boarders and admitting strays.
The buildings were complete and over 500 dogs had been found good homes in the city or country and a number of lost dogs had been restored to their owners. "Over 140 dogs were painlessly destroyed at the 'interests of mercy, for such reasons as incurable disease, severe injury or advanced age...There were many dogs waiting adoption...Each dog has its own temperament and personality which fits it for some useful sphere in life-perhaps a worker, a guardian, a watcher, a playmate for children, or a good constant pal..." The Dog's Home was run entirely on voluntary contributions from the public (West Australian 22 October, 1936).
In 1943 the Dogs Refuge Home at West Subiaco closed for the duration of the Second World War. (Daily News, 15 March 1943) and reopened after the war ended on the 1 September, 1947.
The article and photographs are from Trove, the database at the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Sunday Times, 8 March 1936.
Perth's Strangest Boarding House
PAID FOR GUESTS AND GUESTS
WHO LIVE ON CHARITY The Daily Round at West Subiaco Dogs' Home
PADDY
Perth's strangest boarding-house ? We nominate Dogs' Home at West Subiaco, where boarded dogs, rich men's dogs, poor men's dogs and dogs who have no home to go to and who would otherwise have to run the streets hungry, are under healthy conditions and receive all the care and attention.
With the waifs among the dogs it was once against time. Every day strays were impounded, for some soul came along to take them away, them nearer to their doom.
Now it is all so different, for every stray who wants a home can get it and a good one at that at the new home at West Subiaco, made possible by generous if limited subscriptions and donations from prominent business people and others.
Though all members who, special praise must go to Denson, who along with his ensure the success of the une to go along with others and which had to be completed spacious and spotless kennel the thoughtful few who banded together and formed a committee to make the Dogs' Home possible.
The committee have been untiring in their noble to the president and joint trustee, Mr. H. E. Denson and his wife who have devoted most of his spare time to the under taking. Mr. Denson has not been frightened to take off his coat and set about the manual labor before a dog ever got inside one of those where his lot was to he made a happy one. Mr. Denson the home is still a dream, lix its completion, for he hopes to make it one of the show places of Western Australia and bring it into line with similar institutions in the Eastern States.
lt is not a very long look back to the days when the home was just a vision, but after zealous endeavour the original committee's work saw fruition with the opening of the institution little over six months ago by the Lieutenant-Governor (Sir James Mitchell), himself a dog lover and the patron of the movement).
Delighted at the opportunity to let "The Sunday Times" have a look over the place was the superintendent, Mr. Ingram Moody, who was busy bandaging the paw of an old stager when our representatives happened in on him.
Mr. Moody for many months gave his services voluntarily, even though he was loathe to discuss this phase of bis association with the home.
"I love dogs and I am always happy amongst them," he told us as he filled his pipe and prepared to take us on a tour of inspection. "I have always been interested In dogs and I used to breed them and show them for many years. Those are à couple of little cocker pups over there.''
Be motioned to a nearby kennel! where two goo-goo-eyed, long-eared little silky coats were frolicking In the sunshine.
"Both of those are very well bred, and I have great hopes for them."
But all dogs are alike to Mr. Moody pedigreed or not he loves them all equally.
And there ls plenty of reciprocity on the part of the dogs, for of the sixty housed out at the home at present, playful dogs, moody dogs, barking dogs and dogs of all temperament.
Mr. Moody revels in his kind and unselfish work. all chum op with the keeper. He knows and calls each one by name, and they all do his bidding;.
The splendidly constructed kennels are so divided that boarded dogs, which at present constitute the majority by a huge percentage, are separated from the waifs as are the bigger dogs from their smaller brothers.
"We have been remarkably successful at getting good homes for waifs who come In here, and many a lucky dog seeker has left with a
FINE ANIMAL,"
the Superintendent told us. "At present there are only seven or eight waifs left and yon can look them over for yourself."
By this time we were in the kennel housing the bigger dogs among the waifs, and as the gate clicked behind us a big roo dog came bounding at us. "He only wants to play, don't you Paddy?" and Mr. Moody showered affection on Paddy, that good looker who peeps out at the top of this page. Paddy came to the home from near the Lemnos Hospital.
NOT-TO-BE-PARTED PAIR
Toddy (left) with his mother Pommy, from whom he refuses to be separated. Taking him away means nothing to Toddy, who always finds the way back to the Dogs Home and his parent.
Don't the pair look contented?
His all-defined lines show that there was an aristocracy about his family in a not-far removed generation. Perhaps he was lost off a country truck, and his owner was unable to find him even though Paddy was advertised soon after his arrival at the home.
Two fine-looking Airedales got their share of pats before we passed on to the next kennel, where we were met by Tushca who bounded forth in greeting. Tuscha is a wire-haired terrier. And has that dog intelligence? Just take a look at those pleading eyes of Tuscha (pictured here). Wouldn't anyone be proud to own a doggie like that?
In a corner of the kennel reclining near the wire fence we were introduced to Pommy. We had no sooner made our introduction to the little Pom than there was a scratching at the wire outside.
"What's his name?" we inquired.
"That," said the superintendent, "is Toddy, a little son of this little dog.
"I must tell you a story about them. Toddy and his mother were brought to the home and left during the night. Toddy escaped over that fence and was waiting outside for his mother for two days. In the evening of the second day I took his mother out on a lead to try and catch Toddy. She slipped her collar, and she and her son
SLIPPED AWAY
to the house at Victoria Park which some kind owner may be able to make them even happier by taking them both away to live privately.
The round of the waifs concluded and we passed along to look over the paid for guests, the dogs who are boarded out by people holidaying or away from the State. There they barked and frisked about and enjoyed each other's company.
"Dogs love company, and they are all very happy here," the superintendent remarked.
"When the home was started boarders were scarce, but a number of people soon gave us their patronage, and the boarding fees and donations now help to keep the place going. Usually the percentage of waifs and paid for dogs ls about equal, but at present we have only the few waifs I have shown you.
"This will be a fine place some day," he continued. "We have a grant of about seven and a half acres of land down here, and we hope to make a home, when funds permit, for sick and resting horses."
On our way back to the superintendent's quarters we encountered Brownie, who stretched his legs and walked forward to claim the affection which had been given to a lot of the other inmates.
"Dear old Brownie! " escaped from Mr. Moody, as he bent down to give the old chap a pat. "He is nearly fourteen, and he has been with us since the home opened. I wish I had met him years ago."
TUSCHA
There's intelligence written all over that face. Tuscha at present is living on charity down at the Dogs Home they formerly occupied. Not long after, the Government Inspector caught the mother and brought her back to me, and two days later Toddy returned.
"In search of her and was caught after two days Toddy was sold to a Cottesloe resident, but he and his mother were not to be separated, for only a s week had gone when Toddy, thirsty and exhausted, turned up at the home and lay down near his mother's kennel. Now they are together again and both are happy. I don't think they could ever be parted."
Don't the pair of them look happy and contented in that picture in the centre of the page? Perhaps. "For nearly thirteen years his former owner had him and she brought him here about six months ago. She has never been to see him since, and not even a telephone ring has come from her inquiring how he is doing. I can't understand some people."
Perhaps she will claim him some day, it was suggested. "Claim him! Brownie is never going to leave me. The place could not get along without old Brownie. It would take a lot to get him away from me now. He sleeps at the end of my bed every night."
You could have a lot more dogs here? was inquired. "Yes. Some time ago a letter was sent to the City Council asking that all the stray dogs impounded be sent here. For a time there was no reply, but later we got a letter saying that we could have the unclaimed lot those that nobody wanted to take back or did not want to buy. Still, these things happen."
Here we left the dog lover to his unselfish work. But there was need to reflect on the attitude of the City Council. This seems rather absurd. Why pay poundkeepers and why destroy the left-over dogs when they can get a good home out at West Subiaco ?
The City Council might well let the home have all dogs picked up on the streets. Why should any dogs go to the lethal chamber, and if a few shillings is to be made by sales why should not the dogs' home get the benefit ? After the home has done more for dogs than the City Council is ever likely to do.
Every animal lover would prefer to see the straying, unlicensed, and not wanted dogs thus accommodated. The dogs' home is an institution long wanted, and those who have now been told of its functioning and the work it is doing will surely give any little help possible.
For people who want a dog the location of the home is under the subway out near the West Subiaco station and along the road to the old speedway. Anyhow, road signs will give ample directions, from then on.
Though a lot of the dogs to be secured for a nominal amount, pensioners and old people who can't afford it are not asked to pay anything. There are many who are not pedigreed, there are some fine little and big fellows out there.
After all, they are all dog. And that ls all that should matter!
"Does anybody want a little yellow dog without a pedigree?" Thus run the words of the welt known song. Yellow, brown, white, black or brindle, there are always lovable, four-footed waifs out at West Subiaco who would never forget a kindness l
Brownie. No matter how much Brownie appeals, the home superintendent won't part with him. Brownie is nearly 14 years old, but there's lots of life in the old dog yet. He is another of the "star" boarders.
