18/4/21 – At last, Star and DJ have gone off to their new home!
Star (Twinklestar) is a 14-year-old Jack Russell Terrier girl, and DJ is an 11-year-old Yorkshire Terrier boy. They came into the Oldies Club rescue as their owner was moving to no-pets-allowed accommodation. Star and DJ are in a foster home in Newcastle upon Tyne, waiting to find a forever home together.
Their ideal home: These little superstars would fit into most homes but it’s important they have quiet, peaceful times to just climb on you, or sit next to you and have tummy tickles. They could live with a small, friendly dog but we don’t know how they are with cats. They are fine with kind, gentle children who don’t pester them. Star and DJ want to be allowed to sleep where they like, in their own beds, and they’d love to sneak on your bed for cuddles in the morning.
In their foster home: Star took about 5 minutes to make herself at home in foster. She wanted to be stroked and petted and then she found a comfortable spot on the settee and settled down. By contrast, DJ was very nervous when he arrived and he hid behind the settee and tried to bite when approached (he has no teeth!). He kept peeking out all evening and gradually allowed his fosterer to stroke him, and he was a bit more confident the following morning. He takes his time to trust, but is the most loving little boy once he does.
Can be left: Star and DJ have been left for up to 4 hours. They just settle down and sleep, and DJ likes to have a nosey out of the window. Their foster carer is working from home and they settle while she works in the morning, they enjoy their lunchtime walk, then settle again for the afternoon.
Good with small dogs: They could live with a small dog – they are currently living with a 2-year-old Jack Russell and get along fine.
Unknown with cats; Good with tortoises: They haven’t met cats in foster so we don’t know if they could live with cats. Star sniffs the very large resident tortoises in the garden and is curious about them but not fazed at all. DJ isn’t interested in the tortoises. Neither of them pays any attention to the 2-foot lizard that lives in the living room!
Fine with gentle children: Star and DJ are good with the resident 14-year-old and visiting younger children. They like to be stroked by the children and are not wary, but the children do know to not approach dogs and only stroke them if the dogs come over to them.
Absolutely love walks: They LOVE their walks and are enjoying 4 walks per day of about 30 minutes each. Star squeals with excitement when it’s time to go out. They love to have a wander and a sniff. Their recall is fine and they don’t go very far from you and always return, or stop and wait, if you call them. In an enclosed field they love to have a run around off lead. Star runs like a miniature whippet and thoroughly enjoys herself. They don’t pull on the lead and the only issue when they are on the lead is that DJ doesn’t like big dogs near him and will bark at them to try to keep them away. If they persist he will growl and bark and this can then set off Star who will then join in.
Good in the car: They have a soft crate in the back of the car and they settle down nicely ready for the journey.
Favourite pastimes: Walking! They also love to sit right next to you on the settee in the evening and get some extra attention. DJ has mad 5-minute sessions with the resident dog, running round the garden, into the house, and back round the garden. Star and DJ don’t tend to play with each other so it seems to be the resident dog that instigates playtimes. Star prefers to play with you with a soft toy, she bites one end and likes you to waggle it about for her.
Dislikes: The don’t like big dogs being too near them. They aren’t bothered by fireworks or other loud noises. DJ doesn’t like anyone that isn’t in his ‘trust circle’ touching the top of his head, getting a hold of him by the collar, drying his head with a towel, etc. Regardless of how much he trusts you, he will not willingly let you trim the hair around his face so you need to be a stealth-ninja at snipping bits when he’s asleep!
Health notes: They are both neutered, vaccinated, microchipped, wormed and flea-treated. They have no current health issues and both were recently given a full bill of health from the vets. Star has a fatty lump on her front left leg and a benign cyst on her right side – the vet is not concerned about these. DJ has had an operation (2nd Oct) to repair 2 holes in his gum that never healed after his teeth were removed when he was in his former home.
More from their foster carer: These two have been my absolute favourite foster dogs. Star is such a dainty little lady and DJ is an adorable little feisty soul. It’s my first time ever dealing with a Yorkie and I thought I wouldn’t be a fan, but DJ could win anyone over.
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If you would like to offer Star and DJ a permanent home, please read our Adoption Procedures for information about the adoption process. You can then contact an Oldies Club rehoming co-ordinator as follows:
Email: rehome@oldies.org.uk
Telephone: 0844 586 8656
They can be rehomed within a 2-hour drive of their foster home, subject to a satisfactory home visit. Note that you will be required to travel to the foster home to collect them.
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If you would love to offer a home to an oldie but your circumstances aren’t suitable, perhaps you would be kind enough to sponsor one of the special oldies we are caring for that, due to health problems, are unlikely to be offered a permanent home.
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