Possibly rescuing JRT - need advise!!!

tesster · #1 25th May 2005, 05:39 PM

My Aussie friend was recently laid off from her company in the US and was required because of visa stipulations to move back to Australia within 10 days of the end of her employment. She left her Jack Russell Terrior, Jill (5 yr old female) behind with a friend until she could arrange quarantine (which is like 5 months in AU) and bring her over.

My friend is really considering finding a permenant home for Jill because she thinks it would be too traumatic to fly her to AU and then quarantine her for 5 months in a kennel 1 hour away from their home. I tend to agree with her.

Jill and Tess (2 yrs old) have spent time together when Tess was very young and they seemed to get along very well. Jill is very submissive and Tess is more dominant. Do you think it is a good idea to take in a dog so much older and smaller than Tess? I'm taking her this weekend on a trial to see how they get along. I'm worried that this is not the right decision for either of them. I really worry about the female/female thing. Is that just a problem with 2 female boxers??

**gmacleod** · #2 25th May 2005, 06:01 PM

If you have one very submissive female and one very dominant one - and they're both already adults - then you've got a reasonably good chance of them getting along. Your trial weekend should give you some clues.

On the Australia thing though - there is no need for her to enter a 5 month quarantine. The minimum quarantine period for a dog imported into Australia from the US is 30 days, not five months

Of course, that does rely on a fairly standard process being followed before the dog leaves the US. She must first be microchipped, then vaccinated against rabies, then a blood sample taken/tested, and then after 6 months (180 days) may travel. That is pretty standard for travel to rabies-free countries.

Obviously, it still means there is a six month wait before the dog could join her owner in Australia. But there is no need for her to spend that time in quarantine - she could just as easily be dog-sat if there's anyone in the US willing to do it. More information on Australia's quarantine and importation requirements can be found here: http://www.affa.gov.au/content/outpu...ntType=outputs

tesster · #3 26th May 2005, 10:50 AM

OK - that sounds more reasonable.

I was mixing up the total time in quarantine with the total time Jill would have to stay here in the US before she could be sent to AU. Jill is currently staying with another friend of my friend who can keep her for now, but not forever.

I'm going to see how the weekend goes, but I'm starting to think that it might not be the best thing for Jill or Tess. She's very timid and fragile and Tess is so boisterous and playful. I'm worried that Tess will accidentally hurt Jill. It could easily happen. My other fear is that I just won't have enough love to give Jill. I love Tess SO much and Jill is the opposite of what I want in a dog on almost every count. I don't want Jill to feel like Cinderella, the unwanted step-child. She deserves to be loved like the princess she is. AHHHHH - I'll let you know how the weekend goes. Maybe Tess and I will fall in love with Miss. Jill.