A dog's travels

This the story of Ben Ben the dog and his travels from China to Australia.

Ben Ben at about 4 months

Ben Ben was born around December 2005 in Han Ting, a small county in the city of Weifang, Shandong Province, China.

Anji's brother found him and gave him to Anji when she was visiting her home.

We were living in Weifang Number One Middle School at the time, on the second floor of the teachers dormitory.

He became quite popular with the students and played with them on the sports field at lunch time.

 

Ben Ben playing with Anji.

In April 2006, we moved to Weifang University to a 6th floor roof apartment.

It had two levels. The normal living level and a mezzanine floor which was designed to provide extra cooling in summer. It had a little balcony and Ben Ben loved to go there. I couldn't find him one evening. He had discovered he could get onto the building roof and wander along the whole complex. How he never fell off amazed me. We blocked it off so he couldn't go there.

On the roof

  

Inside on the stairs with his mate, Meggsie.

           

From Uni we went to Weifang Medical University. A second floor apartment with a lovely blacony over looking a river park. Ben Ben and Meggsie used to like sitting on the bedroom window box because that's where the central heating was.

 

Cosy on a winter's day.

Meggsie was Ben Ben's companion. They used to walk together, much to the amusement and surprise of our Chinese neighbours who had never seen a dog and cat who were such close friends.

  

Walking together and they loved to sit together on their favourite chair in the sun.

 

Playing in the snow

 

This lady really loved Ben Ben and so did this little girl. He also loved them.

And then another move. We went to a TAFE/Vocational college for our final year in China. Back to a 5th floor apartment. Ben Ben and Meggsie continued their walks together but, because we now lived in the centre of the city, Meggsie wouldn't venture outside of the building complex.

At the end of the school year in June 2009, it was time to return to Australia and Ben Ben came with us. Unfortunately, we couldn't bring Meggsie because we live on the edge of a national park with lots of bird life and he was too quick. So, with many tears, he went to a friend's farm where he is still living to this day and chasing mice and being loved by an old lady.

At the end of July, we moved to Qing Dao in preparation to move back to Australia. Ben Ben had a round of visit to Vets for vaccinations, micro-chipping and tests so he could start the long journey to Australia. From Qing Dao to Killcare would take seven months. No, he didn't have to swim. Australia is a country blessed with being disease free as far as animals go and we intend to keep it that way.

Some countries with diseases such as rabies, are totally closed to animal imports. Animals from those countries have to spend 6 months in a Rabies free country before being allowed into Australia. So Ben Ben Lived for six months in Singapore.

On the 23 of July 2008 Anji and Ben Ben flew from Qing Dao to Beijing and then Beijing to Singapore.

 

In his travel cage.

 

The other pretty lady with Ben Ben is Pan Meilin.

She was one of my students in Weifang and now studies Architectural Art in the leading Uni in Beijing, as smart as she is good looking. She came in to Beijing airport to visit us before we left China. We now call her friend. She also knew Ben Ben very well.

And that's were we left Ben Ben until recently. At a pet farm called Pet Movers in Singapore.

On the 4th of February 2010, Ben Ben completed his third aeroplane ride and arrived in Sydney. His journey was not over yet because he had to spend 30 days in Australian quarantine at their AQIS centre at Eastern Creek west of Sydney. 

While this place looks like a maximum security prison, the animals are well looked after by Vets and carers who really love the animals. Ben Ben was looked after by Kali and he instantly bonded closely with her.

Owners are allowed to visit their dogs and cats any day, Monday to Friday, in the morning for half hour walks and in the afternoon on Tuesday and Thursdays in their kennels for two hours.

So we made the trip of 100 kilometres twice a week. On the first day, Kali took us to his little room and he jumped around when he saw her and then saw Anji behind Kali. An explosion of excitement ensued with whining, barking and a lot of joy to see his mommy.

 Left and below: Our first day visiting Ben Ben

 Enjoying a chewy bone.

 Ben Ben with Kali his carer

On Saturday, March 6 2010, Ben Ben came home. Actually, he went to my sister's house first because I had to do some work there. But he was home in Killcare in his new house and yard in time for dinner on Saturday night.

 On Sunday morning, his second day of freedom, we took him to a park beside Brisbane Water,the lake that is the centre piece of Gosford. It was his first chance to walk and sniff and leave his messages on the the trees.

Ben Ben seemed a little lost for the first few days. A little upset if we left him at home. I guess because he had been in so many different places for the last 7 months and then, when he saw us for the first time, we kept leaving.

It is now one week and he seems quite at home now. I think he recognises that his yard is his now. He loves to go out in the car. He always did in Weifang but our Toyota Camry is a bit more spacious and more comfortable than our Weifang Egg that some of you would have seen and remember fondly.

He also likes to sit in the front yard on his keeper chain after his morning walk. There he can sit and watch the world go passed and watch the local kids catch the school bus which picks them up at the front of our house.

 Watching the world at the front of our house.

 

Above & below: His first morning in his new back yard

He has only been home for a week so there aren't many photos of him in Killcare yet. We are so pleased to have our good mate home with in good health.

Thank you to all those people who made his journey a smooth if lengthy one.

And thank you to all friends for simply being our friends.

 

August 17 2020

Today we said goodbye to our lovely boy, our friendly wolf. After 15 years with us, old age finally caught up with him. He could no longer go on the long walks he loved and was losing his sight and hearing. When he could no longer stand up without assistance, we knew it was time to say goodbye. It seems like he has always been with us but now our yard is empty. No chasing Turkeys, no racing around the yard or taking visitors by the hand.

Goodbye, our lovely boy and thank you for making our lives so much happier.