HOBSON
Before I give you my contact details I would like to tell you about this photo. This is my English Setter whose name is Hobson when he was 6 weeks old. Hobson is the great-grandson of Bandit who I rescued from the Gold Coast council dog pound in 1995. The circumstances of how I found Bandit are extraordinary. After Bandit passed away on 14 December 2000 I became friends with the lady who bred Bandit's father whose name was William.
I planned to purchase a puppy from this breeder in March 2001 but the litter did not eventuate. I ended up purchasing Beau from another breeder in June 2001 after the sudden and traumatic death of my beautiful horse, Misty Blue.
"Out of the blue" Hobson's breeder telephoned and asked me if I was still interested in one of her English Setter puppies because a litter was being born soon. I knew in my heart that a puppy was meant to come to Jessie and I at that time.
I committed myself to purchasing Hobson as soon as he was born on 10 June 2003. I knew Hobson's breeder was trustworthy and I have always loved the "English" type of English Setter. I had no idea of the trauma that awaited Jessie and I.
I said to Jessie: "You and I will grow old together and we will watch over our young boys as they grow up."
Unfortunately, this did not happen. Our lives became a nightmare instead.
It was wise of me to trust my intuition because I really do not know how Jessie and I would have coped without the arrival of young Hobson.
Hobson travelled up to us all the way from Tasmania in a Dogtainers cardboard box when he was only 8 weeks old. I was criticised by one woman who visited my website about this. (Human beings are quick to judge even though they know nothing about the particular circumstances). Hobson's breeder would not normally transport a puppy of this age but she did this because Hobson was so healthy and to help Jessie and myself because of our great distress for Beau.
Within a day of his arrival Hobson decided his place in the car was sitting on the console beside his mum and this is where he sat for the remainder of his life. Even though he was so young Hobson sensed my distress and Jessie's distress. Hobson was always "a wise old soul".
Some time after Beau was stolen, Hobson and I were coming back from the garbage dump and the tears started to stream down my face because I was thinking about Beau. I said to Hobson: "I carry a deep sadness in my heart for Beau and no matter how hard I try for you because I love you so very much, this terrible pain in my heart for Beau just won't go away".
Hobson looked at me and then he held his head very low against his chest for a little while. Then he turned and pressed his head against my heart. I put my arm around Hobson and I cried and I cried, not for Beau, for my beautiful boy, Hobson because he has always understood.
Many human beings have assumed incorrectly that I loved Beau more than my other animal children. How could they consider they could know? These people knew nothing about me and my family. The trauma of having your dog stolen from you is indescribable if your dog means a great deal to you. Everyone involved suffers. Life can no longer be "normal". 
No one knew the Guilt I carried inside of me for years for not being able to find Beau, for the time I spent searching for Beau, for the time I did not spend searching for Beau. I had to care for Jessie, Hobson, Khomet and Bonnie as well as find Beau. I loved them all with all my heart and soul.
I felt I let Hobson down badly because he was only a baby and I was under so much stress when Beau was stolen. With counselling I was able to let go of my Guilt because I realised I was not to blame for Beau being stolen and my only Intention was to love and care for Hobson and Beau and all my animal family. This is a photo of Hobson with me when he was 2 years old. I believe this photo captures our unconditional love for each other. I would have given my life for Hobson, and he knew it. The relationship that developed between Hobson and I, mere words cannot describe.
I have never stopped loving Beau and I never will. I will always feel this pain in my heart because no matter what I tried to do, I could not find Beau. Beau was taken away from me when he was only 2 1/2 years old. Hobson shared my life with me for 12 1/2 years. I have suffered many major losses, many betrayals and a great deal of trauma since Beau was stolen. Hobson was always there by my side, supporting me and keeping me strong. Hobson and I have survived some very tough times together since 5 August 2003 the day he arrived to share my life. It is understandable that Hobson and I became extremely close.
It is with huge sadness I write that on 28 December 2015 Hobson passed away in my arms at The University of Queensland emergency veterinary hospital in Gatton. We had been visiting this veterinary hospital on a regular basis since 14 May 2014 because Hobson had developed serious health problems from the misdiagnoses of several Gold Coast vets. My beautiful boy Hobson defied the odds and continued to make amazing progress because of his courage and his extraordinary will to keep living. Despite his serious health problems he was always such a happy boy. Hobson always knew how much I loved him.
Hobson had been suffering from Demodectic Mange and orthopaedic problems for years without being diagnosed despite the number of vets and natural therapists I paid to help him. On 14 May 2014 Hobson was at serious risk of being permanently paralysed. Again, it was fortunate I trusted my intuition. The University of Queensland veterinary staff saved Hobson's life. The University of Queensland veterinary staff and students could not help but fall in love with my precious English Setter boy, Hobson.
Then tragically and unexpectedly on 9 October 2015 Hobson was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma, a rare and aggressive blood cancer. Despite this, Hobson continued to fight bravely and even though surgery was not an option he fought with all his might for another 11 weeks. I did not leave his side. I did not let Hobson down.
When Hobson was diagnosed with Hemangiosarcoma he was unable to get up or walk without my assistance because he had already suffered an internal bleed which compromised his ability to also cope with his chronic orthopaedic problems. Hobson was unable to eat, drink or go to the toilet without my assistance. If he had a fall, Hobson was at extreme risk of bleeding to death.
This is a photo of Hobson on 26 October 2015. His coat had recovered amazingly well but he still had some areas e.g. on his front legs that had not completely healed. Despite the aggressiveness of this cancer, Hobson was on his way out to the verandah to go to the toilet in this photo. Amazingly Hobson was showing signs of improvement on 26 October 2015 despite his diagnosis. This is why this photo is so special to me. Hobson was now able to stand up and walk a little way on his own though he still needed me to be with him to ensure he did not fall. Sadly, Hobson suffered two internal bleeds on 4 December 2015, the cancer spread into his chest and his health deteriorated. Sadly, Hobson and I lost our battle on 28 December 2015.
Hobson was the most extraordinary dog I have ever owned. I honestly do not know how I could have survived the last 12 1/2 years of my life without my beautiful English Setter boy, Hobson.
All of Beau's family have died, and Beau has died. None of us were given the chance to see our Beau again. My time with Hobson when he was a puppy was spoiled because Beau was stolen from us. Jessie's time with Hobson when he first arrived was also spoiled because she was traumatised from what happened the day Beau was stolen. Beau would have suffered incredibly after he was stolen from us.
I will persevere with my book 'Finding Beau' for Beau, for all the other stolen animals like Beau, and for all of my family who suffered from the stealing of Beau.
Human beings who steal dogs (all animals) who are beloved family members do not care about the trauma and grief they cause and they do not care they are committing a criminal offence because they know they can get away with it. It is long overdue that something is not being done to stop this criminal and cruel behaviour. Unfortunately due to the continuing lack of humanity in our society, I do not believe this will change in my lifetime. The animals and the earth continue to be destroyed by human cruelty, greed and corruption.
My contact details are :
No longer relevant because I could not find Beau before he passed away.
