When Michael* and his then girlfriend adopted their rescue dog, Bowie, it seemed like a great idea. The couple had already adopted another rescue dog; had taken in three other dogs for shorter care periods until permanent homes were found for them, knew a fair bit about dog training; and were passionate about animal welfare: if they knew a dog was going to be put down, they did the best they could to stop it – even if it meant taking it in themselves.
But life with Bowie didn’t pan out the way they’d hoped. Bowie, a kelpie, needed constant stimulation and walking, was prone to destructive behaviours and was “very highly strung”. Eventually, the couple made the difficult decision to move him on.
