Tags: #celebrity #petcelebrity #petworking #petrescue #dog #dogs #animalwelfare #feythewonderdog #rspca #rspcasa
Fey the Wonder Dog has more social media fans than most people. From abused underdog to online celebrity, Fey’s connection with her audience gave her the happy ending she truly deserved.
Fey’s new owners believe that everything happens for a reason. “She’s our baby, we don’t have kids so Fey is it for us,” exclaimed Sonja Edwards, 36.
Sonja and Fey in the car on the way home – day 1 of adoption. Source: Fey The Wonder Dog
Sonja and husband Dave first noticed the bull terrier cross in December when her Facebook video“I’m not pretty enough” went viral. Staunch animal lovers, the Edwards know that a dog is a commitment for the animal’s lifetime; it is a commitment they take very seriously. Initially they were not ready for another dog due the recent loss of a canine friend.
Fey’s viral video seeking adoption. Source: Fey the Wonder Dog
Two years ago the Edwards built their home at Valley View incorporating plenty of space for animals; Sonja’s 80 year old father Herbie Araszewski lives with them.
In January, Sonja noticed Fey was still in foster care, despite her many online fans. Recent trials with potential owners hadn’t worked out; Sonja realised that her family met all of Fey’s criteria.
After rigorous screening by the RSPCA the couple who adopted Fey in February; they couldn’t be happier with their little girl, seen here on her new parents’ couch.
“After losing my mum, we were a broken family unit…” said Sonja.
“Fey has completed our family unit…”
Herbie is quite smitten with his canine grandchild. Fey spends weekdays with her Opa and is never home alone.
“We all needed her in our own way” posited Sonja.
Fey’s humble beginnings
The six year old has a constructed past. She suffered repeated abuse and multiple births. Found wandering the street, Fey was taken to the RSCPA in October 2014. She had been in once before as a lost dog.
After receiving veterinary treatment for her injuries and skin disease, Fey was desexed and put up for adoption. She was emaciated, but slowly began to put on weight.
Eight months went by in a cage at the in Lonsdale RSPCA. Volunteers walked and played with her, but she remained a dog without a home. There was minor interest from potential owners but trial ‘dates’ ended in disappointment.
Remaining under the care of the RSPCA, Fey was in need of respite and went into short-term foster with the Matthewson family in August 2015. Gwen Matthewson, 32, remembers Fey’s adventures fondly. On day two, Fey bounced onto the family’s trampoline and over the fence into the neighbour’s backyard. On day three, she ran away and was found covered in dog poop! Gwen has fostered 70 animals, including birds, Guinea pigs, cats, and dogs.
Thanks to Gwen, the bull terrier cross was reborn via Facebook as Fey The Wonder Dog in October 2015. She didn’t realise at the time that this would be the start of a new chapter where Fey would become loved across the world.
The inspiration for the page came from a Canadian celebrity pig .
Gwen created compelling and sometimes heart breaking content ranging from sweet photos to a poem about Fey’s attributes, including her farts!
Famous celebrity pets have millions of social media fans worldwide and trade off the commodity of cute. Fey is unlike most celebrity pets, compare Boo or Doug the Pug; Fey is not small in stature and she is not traditionally ‘cute’. Weighing almost 30kg, you can’t pop her into your handbag. The six year old canine has injuries that leave her permanently scarred. Her connection with animal lovers seems to be based on a genuine regard for her wellbeing.
Fey in foster care at Gwen’s house. Source: Fey The Wonder Dog
In December Gwen posted a game changing video set to Kasey Chambers’ song “I’m not pretty enough”*. This simple video (see above), recorded on a mobile phone, accelerated Fey’s popularity. It showed Fey soundly sleeping whilst a flipboard explained what she could give to an adopted family. To date, it has had almost 400,000 views.
Fey went back to the RSPCA for “Fey Day” in the hopes of being adopted by one of her new fans. But no one came. Gwen took Fey home and cried that night; Fey spent last Christmas with the Matthewson family. Although Fey reached pet celebrity status online she remained a dog without a permanent home.
Facebook followers in America and Canada offered hope, willing to pay for Fey to move overseas. But Fey’s foster family didn’t want to put her though more trauma as months of quarantine and waiting are required for an international relocation. It was essential that the campaign resulted in a local adoption.
Around this time, Dave (aka comedian Big Al) found a chicken on the footpath and brought it home. In the two days the chicken lived with them, Herbie bonded with it naming it “Daisy”. But Daisy was a chook by a different name, belonging to a family who missed it. It was returned home, much to Herbie’s disappointment.
The trio had a family meeting about adopting Fey. “All big decisions happen at a family meeting” said Dave, 36.
Adoption success!
With Gwen’s blessing, Fey was adopted by the Edwards. The transition was carefully planned, with no human or animal visitors permitted for six weeks whilst Fey settled in to her new home. Sonja and Dave took leave from work to maximise bonding time.
Fey couldn’t have found a better home. With the Edwards, she is an “only dog”, lavished with attention in an environment where she is safe and wanted. She is an inside dog with beds in every room, toys and plenty of treats.
Her new family feels blessed to have her. Nowadays, when the couple arrives home, they are greeted by a welcoming committee– Herbie on his walker, and Fey fervently wagging her ‘tail of steel’; Herbie full of stories to tell about Fey’s activities from that day.
“It is so good to have new things to talk about with Herbie. It used to all be tales of the Bold and the Beautiful!” laughed Sonja.
The love the Edwards towards their pooch is obvious. As for Fey, she appears relaxed, and seems to be smiling.
Fey waited 493 days for her ‘forever’ home.
“It’s like for the first time in her life she can just sleep,” said Sonja.
Fey’s online celebrity continues with her fans ranging in age from 8 to 80 years old. Follow her adventures online @feythewonderdog.
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