31/12/2025
As 2025 comes to a close, it’s time to look back at another year in business, our 12th year hosting wonderful furbabies at our Retreat. Personally, I’ve been able take a step back and let my wonderfully capable staff handle more of the day to day operations. I passed the 70 milestone in October and the body is telling me to ease off a bit. As I reflect on the last twelve months, the strongest impression is the realisation that we humans live far longer than our canine companions. We only have a handful of clients who were with us from year one and the worst part of this wonderful lifestyle is the heartbreak that frequent phone calls and messages bring. In the last year we have lost at 32 of our dear friends and those are just the ones we know of, so apologies to anyone we have missed but let’s remember the ones that forced their paw prints into our hearts.
Wilson Sankey, probably the fastest dog ever to roam our fields.
Two of our own, Harley the kelpie who was surrendered to us, spent half his life here and was adopted by one of our former staff members. And grumpy old Rusty, the 17 year old Jack Russell whom we homed for his final years.
Max Chan, a regular visitor with his sister Sushi.
Nugget Harmon the Schnauzer who left Mum Jo devastated.
Sprocket, the grand old beagle.
Buddy Purvis, such a regular visitor and best friend of Kate.
Franklin, the feisty Dobie that left us far too young.
Johnson, best friend of Sandy’s workmate Ursula.
Evie Moore. Thought you’d be with us forever. Now Poppy is keeping your family on their toes.
Shep and Maze, the beautiful New Foundland litter twins who died so young only five weeks apart devasting their devoted owner Chris. It seems Maze just could go on without her brother.
Boyo the boxer, who we tried to keep alive long enough for his dad to get back from Europe but alas he was too ravaged by disease to last and thus became the first guest in eleven and a half years to die on the property.
Frank, the old lab, 24 hours later became the second one to pass here. Passed away peacefully in his sleep. Finding him the next morning with Peach and Toad his little siblings giving him kisses still haunts me.
Pluto the Spaniel leaving best mate Charlie behind.
Bonnie, dear old girl who came here for years, joined Rocky.
Foxy, dear wee girl that shared our house many times.
Iggy, the poor young rescue who’s owners spent thousands trying to ease his hip displacea till the pain just too much to bare.
Spero, who started life in the Channel Islands and lived the best part of his life on the other side of the world.
Thor, the big gentle husky that’ll be sadly missed.
Wally Barrett. Such a regular in the house with us and greatly missed by Sandy whom he kept company 24/7.
Chevy, the former FIFO dog that spent so much of his early life with us.
Woody, the new immigrant that started coming here just after we opened. Been a regular visitor with sister Belle for 12 years.
Pixie, the Pomeranian who ruled the house when she came to stay!
Noobis, a regular for many years.
Rosy, known to be a bit stroppy but always good on her stays here.
Bodhi. The grand old Mastif, one of our originals. Will be missed.
Simba the Groodle who gave just the best cuddles!
Nulla. The grand old man of the house. The only pug that got to sleep with me as he didn’t snore! Kept owner Sheree company for 17 years.
Bella the bird chaser. A beautiful standard poodle who never adapted to kennel life and stayed in the house with us.
Doug, the Heeler, brother of Bella who passed just three weeks after her only 12 months old but riddled with cancer. A heartbreaking double loss for Debbie and Kevin.
Dobby, our dear Weimarana who was adored by all our staff, came to say one last tear filled goodbye to us after losing the use of his back legs meant no more daycare that he just loved.
Willow, the grand Great Dane that had only one short stay here but forced her way into our hearts.
And lastly, the hardest of all because we were only advised a couple of hours ago. Our dear Henry the border collie who has been a guest since being rescued from a disgusting puppy farm in NSW a few years back. He has left sister Lily and Mum Karin devastated just as we all are here.
Our mission statement is to love all our guests as if they were our own. We won’t change that even with the heartbreak it causes and let’s hope 2026 has less of those dreaded phone calls and messages. Happy New Year to you all.
