… with Linda Wilkoff from St.Lunaire-Griquet
Linda Wilkoff (Photo Mark Wilkoff)
It is the merit of Linda`s dog Sydney that she and her husband Mark have settled in St. Lunaire-Griquet. Originally, this American couple wanted to go on a trip to Alaska in 2002. But they had adopted an Australian Shepherd named Sydney the year before and Linda did not want the puppy confined and staying at the vet`s while they went to Alaska.
So they decided to travel by RV to Newfoundland instead. They came to the Northern Peninsula and fell in love with the landscape and the people. In October 2003, they bought a house in St. Lunaire-Griquet.
For years, they traveled back and forth between Virginia and Newfoundland. But now, Mark and Linda are both retired and they live here fulltime. So they can thank Sydney for discovering Newfoundland!
Sydney and Charlie, two Australian Shepherds (Photo Linda Wilkoff
Linda, why are you a volunteer for an organisation in the U.S. that rescues Australian Shepherds, The Aussie Rescue and Placement Helpline Incorporated?
Because they saved our dogs` lives. These dogs were in a kill-pound in Atlanta, Giorgia. When a dog comes in, the town officials will call a representative from various rescue organisations and say for instance: We have an Australian Shepherd here.
There are representatives for most known breeds and rescue organisations for mixed breed dogs as well. If the dogs at the shelter are not rescued from a formal rescue organisation or an individual who has gone to the shelter to adopt a dog, the dogs are put down.
So what do you do as a volunteer for Aussie Rescue?
Before we moved to Newfoundland, we fostered dogs, we transported dogs to their forever homes, and I did home visits to evaluate prospective homes for dog adoptions.
What I am doing now – because I am not in Virginia – I do the reference checks of people who have applied online.
How do you find out whether somebody is a responsible dog owner?
I call their vet and inquire whether the applicants have had a dog and whether they went to the vet and had the dog neutered or spayed and vaccinated.
Why should we give dogs to people who don`t look after the dog they already own?
Then I call their references and make a recommondation from the information.
You were screened, too, didn`t you, because you got Sydney from Aussie Rescue?
Yes, and it went very fast. Our dog had died and our family missed having a dog. We really wanted another dog. We had to go through the entire adoption process.
Sydney was part of a litter that been taken to the shelter. She had been adopted by somebody else but she was returned after 4 months.
We drove 10 hours to Atlanta, Giorgia, from Alexandria, Virginia, to adopt Sydney.
Why did you want an Australian Shepherd?
My family had Australian Shepherds when I was growing up.
Both my husband Mark and I grew up with dogs. We like having dogs as part of our family. Our dogs go with us when we do errands, visit friends and go on vacation.
I always say, only get a dog if you want it to be part of your family.
Now you have two Australian Shepherds. How does that work out?
Sydney who is 13, is a very high-energy dog but Charlie, who is 10, is laid-back. Sydney always wants to come first, with eating, getting into the car, with everything. And Charlie is very easy-going and lets her be in charge. He doesn`t care. He is just glad to be alive and happy.
Charlie was an abused dog, wasn`t he?
Yes, terribly abused. He is still distrustful of other people but he gets along well with dogs. When people come to visit, Charlie does not even go near them until Sydney has given her approval. Charlie does not care about other people. He loves his family. And he loves our 3-year-old granddaughter. She started walking with Charlie! She would hold his leash and he would walk lovingly beside her.
Thank you, Linda, for this interview.
This is the website for The Aussie Rescue and Placement Helpline Incorporated
http://www.aussierescue.org/
