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Pets and Vets — Western Australia
Some dogs leave paw prints not just on the hearts of those who knew them, but on an entire nation. Red Dog is one of those dogs.
The Story
Dr Rick Fenny, founder of Pets and Vets in Western Australia, worked for many years as a veterinarian across the Kimberley and Pilbara regions. During that time, he became the unofficial vet to one of Australia's most beloved canine legends — Red Dog, a free-spirited kelpie-cattle dog cross who roamed the Pilbara making friends at every stop along the way, never quite belonging to one person, yet somehow belonging to everyone.
"Dr Fenny's connection to Red Dog is not a footnote in the story — it is central to it."
He cared for Red Dog throughout his wandering years, and it was Dr Fenny who made the heartbreaking decision to euthanise him in 1979 following a suspected strychnine poisoning. It is a decision that speaks to the quiet, compassionate dedication that defines good veterinary practice — and good people.
Red Dog's remarkable life was later immortalised on the big screen in the 2011 Australian film Red Dog, bringing his story to audiences across the country and beyond.
The Books
Book One
Pip – My First Red Kelpie
The opening chapter of Dr Fenny's life story. Growing up in the Perth Hills and later in the coastal town of Albany, a ten-year-old boy and his red kelpie Pip form a bond that would shape everything to come. A love letter to childhood, the Australian bush, and the ocean.
Book Two
Kelly – My Second Red Dog
Veterinary school. A distant city. Financial hardship. And Kelly — a red dog with trusting blue eyes who walked beside Rick through the turbulent years of 1966 to 1971. A coming-of-age story told with warmth and honesty.
A planned four-book series — further titles forthcoming
Learn More
With Dr Rick Fenny's kind permission, I am pleased to share his story here. Visit the Pets and Vets page to view original photographs, read archival articles, and explore the legacy of one of Australia's most iconic dogs.
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