Travel Tips

Send Photo to a Friend

December 1989 - just a few months old...

Sydney - my first and surely not last dog!

As a little girl, I happened to mention once that if I were ever to have a puppy, I'd like it to be a cross between a Scottish West-Highland Terrier and a German Poodle.
Years past, and I begged my parents every Easter, every Birthday, every Christmas for a dog, any dog.
Just after my 9th birthday, my father (the perfectionist!) set-out to find a dog. He called all breeders in the area, asking for the strange 'mix' I had once mentioned... and he had to take a lot of abuse from insulted breeders: "What do you think I run here, a home for bastards? We only have pedigrees!"

At last, he stumbled across a small breeder in Bavaria who said: "That's strange that you ask - we had an 'accident' here a few weeks ago. Why don't you come and have a look?"
So my daddy drove for 3 hours, picked one of the 4 'accidental' puppies, but was only able to pick Sydney (you guessed it: the name is a tribute to the city I grew up in) up after a month, as he was still too young and had to stay with mum.

If you've ever seen the look on a kid's face when presented with a puppy/kitten/etc. you know exactly how I felt when Sydney finally came into our home! It's one of those moments you never forget!

Send Photo to a Friend

Sydney in Germany - Spring 2004

Retirement in Germany...

This must be one of my all-time favourite photos of Sydney. This was taken by my aunt (who now looks after him) on the fields behind her house in Horrenberg.

Send Photo to a Friend

Jess & Sydney - 2001

Leaving UAE (Never liked sand in my paws anyway!)

This pic shows me with 'Sydney' in our old house in Jumeirah.

As he and his 3 siblings were an 'accident' at a breeder's in Bavaria - he was kind of a rescue-dog; nobody wanted him!)

He now lives in 'retirement' back in Germany with my aunt.
The summer-heat of Dubai is very tough for dogs, and it's better for his health to be back in Europe... but I miss him though! :-( buhuu!

Send Photo to a Friend

Sydney wearing "Doggles" (Germany, 2006)

Sydney was born in 1989 and understandibly he's developing some problems with his eye sight.

As they are quite light-sensitive, you can now see him sporting his "Doggles" sunglasses :-) I always used to think that this was one of those useless pet-gimmicks, but ever since he wears them on his walks he is a lot more confident and doen't bump into things anymore... and they look cool as well!

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

UPDATE JULY 25th 2008: my aunt informed me that today she has put Sydney to sleep. His well-being had deteriorated and she found that it was time to let him go.

Sydney fell asleep at her home, on his favourite spot on the sofa. He was almost 19 years old, and will never be forgotten.

Goodbye dear friend...

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

Send Photo to a Friend

He's wearing a cat-harness cuz he's so small!

Those darn irresistable puppy eyes!

Well, here's our newest and naturally completely unexpected "rescue project": Haloumi, the Labrador/desert dog puppy!

We were looking at apartments in the emirate of Ajman (Thur. 8th March 07) and suddenly spotted this tiny pup on a construction site / garbage dump near a busy road: broken glass, toxic chemicals, deep & open manholes with water in the bottom... this was no place for a tiny puppy!
He was petrified of the contruction workers, cowering and trying to get away from them. But as soon as I approached him he started wagging his tail & let me pick him up (clever dog!).

He had a red plastic rope tightly around his neck; looking like it had been chewed-through. It hadn't grown into his skin yet, but another week and a wound would have started. We decided that he couldn't stay in this place and survive on his own. We took him into the car and said "we'll see what we'll do with you later..."

The workers told us in their broken English that he had been there for at least 3 days, no mother-dog or siblings in sight. His stomach was bloated and he was starving.

Send Photo to a Friend

Our new puppy, "Haloumi"

So now, in the meantime he's been to the vets, been de-wormed and de-ticked, had a bath, is eating well and is a healthy and happy pup that is desperate to make friends with our 3 currently confused cats... we're getting there. He's smart and loving, so I don't anticipate any major problems :-)

Send Photo to a Friend

Sleeping at the pub... typical!

(Haloumi's first outing to the Irish Village beergarden in Dubai...)

No new pet ever "replaces" a pet I have or have had in the past. Nobody takes anyone else's "place". Each animal is an individual, with its own story and own loveable personality. I love all of my animals dearly and equally. There are no favourites... and they know it :-)

>>> UPDATE: Saturday, 24th March 2007.

After much thinking, debating and worrying we decided to not keep Halloumi, but to look for a good home where people would have enough time for him... something we are not able to give at this moment in our lives. Today, I dropped him off to his new "parents", a lovely couple with a huge house, nice garden and even a pool for him to swim in :-) I miss him dearly, but I know that he has a bright future ahead of him (and maybe I'll visit him sometime...)

Update: 2nd June 2007:
We visited Haloumi (now called "Jack") at his new home today. His new family absolutely adore him, and he has developed into a happy, friendly and healthy pup. He has his own garden, is spoilt with snuggles & treats, is allowed to sleep in their bed (clever pup!) and even enjoys his very own swimming pool... I'm so pleased!

---

... on that day (above picture) in the beergarden, Snow Patrol's "Chasing Cars" played 3 or 4 times on the radio while we were there.
Now, everytime I hear that song I remember that day. John and I call it "Halloumi's Song" because the lyrics fit so well to that day:

"Let's waste time, chasing cars,
around our heads...

If I lay here, if I just lay here,
would you lie with my and just forget the world?

Forget what we're told,
before we get to old,
show me a garden that's bursting into life."