When Masie’s owner found himself unable to pay her vet bills after the five-year-old Staffy was mauled by two dogs, he surrendered her to RSPCA.

Quiet, flighty, and recovering from facial and neck injuries inflicted during the attack, Masie was struggling to cope with what life had thrown at her.

Luckily for Masie, the RSPCA vet and dog care teams were able to treat her injuries and begin assisting with her anxiety.  Although she remained timid, she gradually began to accept a little love from the people wanting to help her.

It was Ilainia’s rescue staff Zeus who picked out Masie to join their family

While Masie was recovering in the care of RSPCA, a rescue Staffy named Zeus was living comfortably alongside his owner Ilaina and her family. But Ilaina felt that one thing was missing from Zeus’ life – a dog friend. Ilaina spent a year browsing the RSPCA website for a potential canine companion, and eventually found herself at the RSPCA Lonsdale shelter – and that’s where Zeus met Masie!

“Zeus is the one who actually chose Maisie,” says Ilaina, “She was not interested in him or us at first, but Zeus seemed smitten and when she was taken back to her area, he stood and watched her from the other side of the mesh for about half an hour before we could coax him to leave.”

When she realised just how much Zeus loved Masie, Ilaina knew the shy little dog would be coming home with them.

Maisy has slowly accumulated the nicknames Statue and Houdini

Despite initial disinterest in Zeus and sometimes struggling to get along with other dogs, Masie soon became incredibly affectionate towards the Staffy. By the time the family began their drive home from the shelter, her anxiety seemed to have disappeared.

Masie quickly found her place in the family, bonding especially with Ilaina’s adult daughter Libby. The pup has earned herself a new nickname – Statue Masie – as she has made a habit of waiting, frozen by the door until Libby returns home from work each evening.

The Staffy’s background is largely unknown aside from the fact she was attacked by other dogs, which could explain her fearfulness. Whenever she feels frightened, Masie is guaranteed to flee. This wouldn’t be too much of a problem, says Ilaina, if it weren’t for the fact she is able to jump six-foot fences in a single bound. This was how she earned her second nickname – Houdini. Masie is timid around men, and has a tendency to be frightened by any sharp noise, so Ilaina tries to avoid situations that frighten the pup and is vigilant about preventing her escape from the property if she is scared by something. It isn’t easy!

 

Masie’s daring rescue from the River Torrens

On one occasion, just three months after arriving in her new home, and flew over the fence before Ilaina could stop her. Although she laughs about it now, Ilaina admits it was one of the most nerve-wracking moments of her life. The whole family found themselves splitting up to search the neighbourhood, and Ilaina quickly had the idea to search the walking trail she usually takes Masie on, down by the River Torrens.

It was there that she spotted a dog on the other side of the water, and she shouted out Masie’s name hoping the figure in the distance was her canine companion. Sure enough, Masie came running towards her owner, although the pup was not out of the woods yet. With a great leap, she came down the bank of the river, then tried to scramble up the other side to be reunited with her owner. But the bank was far too steep for Masie to climb, and she found herself stuck.

Ilaina called the family to help retrieve the pup, and the team hurriedly began their rescue by tying Masie’s lead around Libby’s waist and helping her to lower herself into the river. Once down, Libby got a hold of the pup but found that, although she could climb the steep incline on her own, she was not strong enough to haul a now reluctant Masie up with her.

Ilaina believes that without their love for each other, Masie would have never stopped running.

Running out of options, Ilaina decided to dial triple zero and get some professional help. Before the fire brigade made it to the scene, however, a surprising new helper joined the team.

“She must have been sixteen” says Ilaina, about the girl who ran almost 2 kilometres from the other side of the river to help the family in the rescue operation. The young girl joined Libby in the water, and the two of them managed to lift Masie to safety. Ilaina quickly secured the now very wet dog on her leash, before asking the girl her name and offering a reward. But the teenager said she simply wanted to help – and then went on her way.

Masie was safe yet again, and Ilaina says the rescue was meant to be. “It was amazing she knew her name,” says Ilaina, noting that the pup had only joined their family a few months before the incident. The trust the two had built together was what saved Masie that day.

Masie has finally settled into the family

These days, Masie’s anxiety is becoming less and less of a problem. With help and recommendations from the RSPCA’s dog care team, Ilaina is learning how to best manage her pup’s stress.

Masie happily spends the days with Ilaina and Zeus, whining for food as her owner attempts to eat her lunch and playing Zeus’ favourite barking game, where the two pups bark back and forth to each other until they run out of puff.

“She’s a real gem,” says Ilaina, as Masie relaxes nearby. The pup is well-loved by not only the household, but by everyone who meets her. “She has some stories to tell I am sure, [but] she is beginning to realise this is her forever home.”

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