Dog's Stories From The Shenton Park Dog's Refuge Home...(1948 - 1953)
There are some wonderful stories about the lives of dogs at the Shenton Park Dog's Refuge Home from the early years of it's operation both in West Subiaco and Shenton Park.
These stories about dogs with larger than life personalities who decided what they wanted from their human carers both at the Dogs' Refuge Home and members of the public were shared by the Home Superintendent with local newspapers in the hope of encouraging donations which the home depended upon for operation but also to encourage adoptions.
My favourite story is about a Subiaco man who picked a dog out called Rusty from the Dogs' Refuge Home in Shenton Park in 1953 on a previous post 'A Story About A Dog Called Rusty' is included here. Rusty continually escaped from the backyard of their owner and followed them everywhere until he decided to take the little dog him everywhere.
The articles and photographs are from Trove, the national database of the National Library of Australia. No copyright infringement intended.
Daily News, 17 August 1948.
Unwanted Dog May Be A Champion
DOGS' REFUGE HOME superintendent McConnell with the Irish setter which was unwanted by its owner and left at the home and which, according to McConnell, may be one of the best bred of its type.
On Friday a man left a dog he did not want at the Dogs' Refuge Home at Shenton Park. He did not realise that the dog is one of the best-bred Irish setters in the world. Home superintendent Norman McConnel said yesterday that he intended to nurse the dog into perfect health. It could then be entered next year in a famous dog show at Madison Square Garden, New York, or at Morris Essex. New Jersey.
A licensed international dog judge, Mr. McConnel has bred and judged many dogs throughout the world. Said he: 'I've been waiting all my life to get a champion of this, type, and one lands on my doorstep. The setter was in poor condition at present, and few people would recognise it as a champion, he said, but if he took it to America, dealers might offer him more than £300 for it, or tell him to name his own price. Mr. McConnel left yesterday for three weeks' holiday. His departure was postponed a week to enable him to place three dogs on ships for Brisbane and Singapore.
Daily News, 16 June 1949.
Pose By A Pekinese
THE PEKINESE with superior air sits up at Shenton Park Dog's Refuge Home and takes notice of the cameraman.
Pomposity of A Pekinese.
The characteristic of conceit is not confined to humans, according to Superintendent N. McConnel of the Shenton Park Dogs' Refuge home. He has a 'puffed up' Pekinese to prove his point.
The haughty-looking Pekinese, which has a registered pedigree, was brought unwanted, to the dogs' home about six months ago. Since he arrived the dog has taken no pains to conceal his air of superiority. For the few humans to whom he takes a liking, he 'shows off' by sitting up, begging or by walking in a circle on his back legs.
But to others his attitude is one of obvious disdain. He has bitten a number of people who approached him to admire his handsome head and brown coat. Even Mr. McConnel cannot touch the Pekinese. In canine company the dog considers himself a fighter, will tackle all comers, despite his poor combat ability.
Some time ago a young woman who was impressed by the Pekinese decided to buy him.
But because the prospective owner did not impress him, he bit her three times and the sale was declared off by Mr. McConnel.
Now the Pekinese must decide whether he will accept another prospective owner.
Sunday Times, 28 June 1953.
THEIR NIGHTWATCHMAN WOULDN'T STAY SACKED
An establishment in Shenton Park has tried to sack its night watchman several times in recent months, but he just won't keep away.
Night watchman is a little red Pomeranian dog "Sulky" and the establishment is the Shenton Park Dog's Refuge Home.
In 10 months, since he was brought into the Home by a Council dog-catcher as a stray. "Sulky" has been sold 4 times. But he keeps coming back like that old song, and now the management have given it up.
They've decided to keep him on as night watchdog.
"Sulky" never took to the other dogs. He would fight any dog who approached him and the management had to allow him a free run outside the kennels.
A few months ago, a lady in Scarborough bought him for £1.
His anti-social attitude had been attributed to not having a home of his home, and it was thought he would be satisfied in Scarborough.
But no. A few days later a Dog's home keeper heard a whining and found "Sulky" standing on the step. He had walked from Scarborough.
Three times within the next few weeks, the Scarborough lady collected "Sulky" but inside a few days each time, he was back again at his old lodgings.
Finally the Scarborough lady gave it up, and "Sulky" was purchased by a Bayswater resident. True to form, the little fellow ran away again.
Two other people have purchased him since but have been walked out. During the last couple of months of his interrupted stay at the Dogs Home 'Sulky" has been employed as watchdog.
His aggressive nature makes him a good one. "We've adopted him into the household now," a spokesman of the Home said yesterday. "You just can't keep him away."
Sunday Times, 26 July 1953.
SEEING A DOG ABOUT A MAN
When Ted Dray of Subiaco picked out Rusty from a bunch of barking tailwaggers at Shenton Park Dogs' Refuge Home he didn't realise what was ahead of him.
Three times this week Rusty has sought out his owner in Perth after being left at home in Park-street, Subiaco. Once he found Mr. Dray in Boans, another time at Nicholson's and then one afternoon at the Shaftesbury Hotel.
So Mr. Dray has now decided that when he comes to town he'll bring Rusty with him. Maybe that second glass is for Rusty Dog's Life At The Shenton Park Dog's Refuge Home.
