Classifieds give comfort after family dog dies

Image: Dog meets kitten. Courtesy of Tenterfield Terrier Club of South Australia Incorporated.

THANKS to all who have expressed condolences over the recent loss of a much-loved family member, our 10-year-old desexed Tenterfield bitch.
The most heart-warming element of the feedback on my obituary of Penny (Classie Corner, February 1) was that no one seemed to worry about me writing about a dead dog when people are dropping off like flies.
But that is simply the attraction of the ‘Mini Foxie’ and the cousin breed, Tenterfield terrier, which Penny represented.

MY research into the Tenterfield breed during this state of mourning has scratched up some interesting tidbits for all the ‘minifoxiephiles’:
Former TV producer and presenter Don Burke claims the credit for naming the breed, "Tenterfield terrier", in the 1990s.
The website, www.burkesbackyard.com.au, says: "The Tenterfield terrier was first known and bred around the Tenterfield area -- hence the name suggested by Don Burke. They were originally bred as farm dogs …"
This seems to be a bit of modern history but don’t let it turn you off a great little dog. Such a discovery during the wailing and gnashing of teeth in grief failed to dampen my enthusiasm for Mini Foxies.
I simply shut down the computer – as one would – and turned to the Classifieds Pets column for comfort.

HERE, I found a Macleay Island family that shares our deep love of the tiny dogs whose ‘nervous’ shiver disguises a warrior’s heart.
Jenny and Chris Power and their daughters, Liarna and Tamara, moved to the island from Inverell about a month ago.
The couple operates building firm C and J Power Constructions. Breeding Tenterfields has been Jenny’s hobby for about four years since she brought her first T. terrier, Miffi.

JENNY will always remember the move, with three terriers: Miffi; a puppy that was the last of Miffi’s most recent litter; and the Powers’ desexed male Tenterfield, Boss.
"We could even stay at motels with the three of them on the back of the truck," Jenny said. "They didn’t bark, or cause one little bit of fuss.
"That is to me what is so good about the breed – they are just so loyal, you can just about take them with you anywhere."
Jenny advertised the puppy – and found it home – just as our Penny either went to the dog basket in the sky or stayed below to spook a rat or two.
Luckily, the rest of my family was crying too much to read the Classifieds that week. I will have to hide the paper in a few months because Jenny is looking for a good match for Miffi around the southern bay islands.

THANKS for joining me to meet the great people and other creatures in the marvellous community of classified advertising. This story has appeared in The Redland Times, Cleveland, Redland Shire, Queensland, Australia.