Sweet Juno has been looking for her forever home for almost a year now – and she doesn’t know why no-one wants her. Photo: Zoe Cartwright.
When I arrive to meet Juno, I’m afraid I’ve come to the wrong house.
As I approach the front door, there’s no barking or whining. When I knock on the door, I strain my ears and can barely make out a sedate tip-tapping of claws on the floor.
Juno’s carer, Erin Temby, opens the door, and instead of a hurricane on four legs (we have three of them at home) I’m greeted by a polite, gentle black nose and a pair of soft, cautious brown eyes.
The six-year-old staffy-German shepherd mix will mark her first anniversary in care with the Illawarra RSPCA branch on Friday, 1 August.
It’s a milestone staff never want a pet to celebrate – especially one as sweet as Juno.
Earlier this year, Erin put up her hand to foster Juno, who wasn’t coping in the kennels after spending months in an environment that can be loud, chaotic and lonely.
As Erin and I begin to talk, Juno lies down and rests a single paw on my foot.
“Juno really thrives on routine, so in the mornings we get up and she goes outside before I go to work,” Erin said.
“She knows the minute I get home we go for our walk, so when I arrive she gets the zoomies and jumps around like a bunny rabbit.
“Other than that, she’s really calm. Of an evening, she likes to sit on her bed in the corner minding her own business.
“She’s also figured out if the alarm doesn’t go off at 6 am, that means it’s not a work day, and she will jump up on the bed for a snuggle.
“Her favourite thing in the world is car rides. She just wants to hang her head out the window and feel the wind in her hair.
“She knows she’s not allowed on the furniture, and she’s very respectful around food, there’s no resource guarding.”
It’s unclear why Juno’s forever family hasn’t found her.
She doesn’t love other dogs, but can walk past them calmly on a leash as long as she has a bit of space.
She’s quiet and adores men, women, children and the elderly. She’s not needy and is happy to snooze the day away while her people are at work or school.
Erin said that due to Juno’s size, she was recommended for families with older children; however, she was a gentle girl who had spent time with smaller children and could be suited to a home with little ones given the right set-up and supervision.
She doesn’t have any destructive habits or significant health needs.
Juno is most likely a victim of her own appearance.
Black dogs may be less likely to be adopted than other colours, and staffies or staffy mixes can often be overlooked in favour of more ”fashionable” breeds, like border collies, German shepherds, or oodles.
Even if she doesn’t have the kind of looks that turn heads in the street, Juno’s soulful eyes, pretty face and athletic build make her a good-looking gal in her own right.
She’s the kind of dog who would look equally at home perched on the back of a ute, going for a jog in the bush, playing with the kids in the backyard or taking a walk next to a stroller.
Erin has a sneaking suspicion that she knows what Juno’s ideal home would look like.
“In my head, a newly retired man, kind of Men’s Shed vibes,” she said.
“Someone who likes to walk down to the shop for the paper in the morning and then hang out at home.
“She likes a bit of daily adventure but she doesn’t need a lot.
“Someone who wants a little bit of exercise and a little bit of company would be perfect.”
If you’d like to meet Juno, contact the Illawarra RSPCA on Tuesday to Sunday, 10 am to 3:30 pm, on 4271 3410.
