JOHN AND PENNY FYFE COUNT THEMSELVES LUCKY FOR FINDING THEIR GORGEOUS GOLDEN RETRIEVER MAISIE NINE YEARS AGO. MAISIE, WHO STILL THINKS SHE’S A PUPPY, LIVES WITH THEM AT GEMLIFE MAROOCHY QUAYS.
“We’ve been here for almost two years and one of the stipulations we had before we signed was to bring Maisie with us, otherwise we wouldn’t have bought here,” John says.
Maisie is a happy pup that’s well known at the resort, even visiting the sales staff regularly.
“She loves (sales manager) Jo Michalowsky who has her own retriever, and (sales associate) Julie-Anne Turner who has two and always keeps treats for Maisie in her drawer. Every time we visit, Maisie knows exactly where to go,” John says laughing.
Penny says finding Maisie was a stroke of luck.
“We’ve had dogs all our lives who’ve lived for 14 to 15 years, but Maisie is by far the best dog we’ve ever had. Best natured, just beautiful. Everyone wants to pat her, kids run to her and she’s so attentive,” Penny says. “A friend of ours who minds Maisie has an assistance dog, and the dog’s trainer said Maisie would make such a wonderful mentor to assistance puppies.”
There’s a special story behind Maisie’s adoption.
“After our previous dogs passed, we promised ourselves we wouldn’t get any more because we finally had freedom for trips,” John says. “Ten months later, we started looking at puppies in pet shop windows, then Penny spotted Maisie advertised in Buderim – an 18-month-old golden retriever needing a good home.
“The owner was in the Defence Force and got transferred to Darwin with his wife and kids and they couldn’t take Maisie,” Penny says. “We visited, fell in love and adopted her that day. They had two young kids and wanted us to take her straight away before they came home from school. It was all quite sad really but that’s how we got our beautiful girl.”
“She loves the boardwalk and walking along Fishermans Road down to the river,” John says.
“She’s also happy at home and doesn’t bark. We’ve checked with neighbours who assured us. She loves pulling the eyes off and stuffing out of cloth toys. We have about a dozen half-chewed toys that she picks from and continues to chew.”