Sue Forrester and Enzo at Dixons Creek.By Kath Gannaway
SUE Forrester has never been able to turn away from an Airedale in trouble, and 11-year-old expat Enzo was no exception.
Enzo was facing euthanasia, thousands of miles away in the Czech Republic, when Ms Forrester, a Dixons Creek resident was asked to help.
Ms Forrester and husband Bill Molyneux run the rescue arm of the Airedale Terrier Club of Victoria from their property, Wombat Bend.
She explained that after Enzo was taken to the Czech Republic by his devoted Sydney owner Atia five years ago, the terrier was left stranded when Ms Atia had to suddenly return to get urgent treatment for her seriously ill six-year-old daughter Maia.
Up until July last year Enzo had been looked after by people in the town of Bruno but he had run out of mates.
Ms Forrester said Atia and Maia were heartbroken to leave Enzo behind and distraught at the consequences if a permanent home could not be found for him.
She put out a plea over the internet to the more than 1000-strong Airedale network.
“Atia adores Enzo with every cell in her body, and we all know what that means,” she wrote.
The response was instant and overwhelming. It seemed people around the world – America, Canada, South Africa, Europe and England — wanted to see Enzo reunited with his family.
Even if Ms Forrester and friends could find a way around the stringent quarantine requirements to get Enzo back into Australia, it would take almost $5000 to pay for everything.
Still undaunted, Ms Forrester set wheels in motion. A safe house was found, and a vet to ensure Enzo met the quarantine protocols.
Five months later he made the 241-kilometre trip to Vienna for his 22-hour flight to Melbourne.
In the meantime, Ms Forrester had organised an internet raffle with a main prize, which was sure to appeal to Enzo’s growing legion of supporters.
“The first prize was a quilted Airedale wall hanging designed and made by Lilydale artist Jeannie Abbott. Other prizes came in from all around the world and all with an Airedale theme,” Ms Forrester said.
Requests for tickets poured in and the quilt, nearly finished, will soon be on its way to the winner in Canada.
It was a huge relief when Enzo arrived in Australia on 12 December. After spending a month in quarantine he returned with Ms Forrester and Mr Molyneux to Dixons Creek for a bit of R&R.
“We visited him twice a week in quarantine at Spotswood and got to know him,” Ms Forrester said.
“We fell in love with him, in the flesh this time, not just from photos.”
Enzo’s resilience and his beautiful nature after all he has been through has been inspiring.
“I see him as almost philosophical, with an amazing capacity to deal with life,” Sue said.
“He seemed to understand everything was a process and he accepted it, somehow knowing there was a reason for it.”
The reunion with Atia and Maia on 5 March was worth all the waiting, and the work.
It was exactly 12 months to the day that Atia had to leave him behind in the Czech Republic.
“It was extremely emotional with lots of happy tears,” Ms Forrester said.
She said it took Enzo about an hour to settle into full recognition of Atia and little Maia, remarkable considering the separation in dog years is equivalent to a child being separated for seven years.
“It really was wonderful to see the coming together of these three closely bonded individuals,” Ms Forrester said.
All this for one dog? And an 11-year-old dog at that?
“To me the whole thing is like ripples … and where those ripples have reached around the world,” Ms Forrester said with a big smile. She hasn’t questioned for a moment whether it was worth it.
“It’s not just about the rescue of one dog, it’s about a world of people who care enough to do something to help someone else.”
Ms Forrester’s personal account of Enzo’s journey can be read on www.alldogssite .com/paradeenzo1.html.
