Rescuing this dude wasn’t on our bingo card for 2024, but after losing Frankie our dear old Phoenix just wasn’t coping. At all. Monty’s owners were going through a separation and neither of them were able to take him to their new homes. It was a sad situation for everyone, us with Frankie passing and Monty’s first humans going separate ways - neither of them wanting to give him up. We drove to Bendigo to meet him and see if Phoenix liked him. Their chemistry was instant, a miracle, really, as Phoenix has a long list of requirements and she’s very picky with who she will talk to, let alone share a house with. Any worries we had were instantly melted away as Monty took to her and us immediately. He came from a loving home with 2 full time working humans, he lived in a backyard all day and as such he had almost zero obedience or basic training. He was a bouncy, energetic, jumpy, bendy noodle that’s the fastest dog I’ve ever seen run and he came to us with zero recall. He was like a chocolate lightning bolt running through the paddocks. He’s now mastered almost all commands, enthusiastically performing his response to our commands in the bounciest way possible.

He’s busy, so funny, obsessed with food and is calmed down by holding hands. He no longer greets adults by trying to climb into their arms when they’re standing upright rather, he now knows he has to sit to get a pat. He’s very smart, very silly and has helped bring youth, spark and joy back into Phoenix’s world. She was the youngest of the three and now she’s almost 12 and the oldest of two The change in her has been beautiful to see; she loves him to bits.

What a gift Monty (Montgomery Montague Pink Diamond) has been to us. Happy birthday, dude