A long life of travel, friendship and spicy food

The now 30kg red heeler-mastiff mix was born “a bit of a runt”, according to Mr Forrester, in Gatton, Queensland.

It was a five-hour round trip from where he lived in Brisbane to pick his puppy up.

Though he was born mostly white with patches of rust on his face, it wasn’t the reason for his name.

“He was a bit sick on the car trip and he threw up on me,” Mr Forrester said.

“I pulled over at a servo called Rusty’s, so I named him after that.”

Fittingly, around three to six months later, several more rust-coloured spots came out and dotted his white coat.

At the time, Mr Forrester had another dog, a blue heeler and border collie mix named Kootchar, whose colouring he described as black, blue and purple.

He was a prize-winning frisbee champion who sadly got a paralysis tick that took a few years off his life.

He died six years ago after spending around 10 years with Mr Forrester and Rusty.

As a tradie’s dogs, the pair were always on building sites back in the day, working up on different peaks and down in different valleys across the country.

Mr Forrester said he’d always willingly travelled with his dogs.

“I get a thrill out of taking them places and introducing them to all different kinds of foods,” Mr Forrester said.

“Rusty loves spicy food, spicy chicken.”

Their favourite haunts in Queensland included Nudgee Beach or the hills inland, but in Victoria they made special memories living in a van together and camping along the Murray River.

“We spent a year in Torquay on the Great Ocean Road and we were at the beach before daylight every day,” Mr Forrester said.

“They were the most beautiful sunrises I’ve seen anywhere in all my travels.

“It was the most memorable time, the time we spent there. The two dogs loved the beach.”

Rusty did a two-year stint performing panel shop dog duties in Bendigo before an injured Mr Forrester returned to his home town, Shepparton, with his trusty pal around seven years ago.

A couple of years later, Rusty’s back legs failed.

He collapsed and was unable to walk.

Veterinarians recommended he be put to eternal sleep.

Instead, Mr Forrester chose to put him on a cannabis tincture.

Soon his ability to walk returned.

Last October, the ageing pooch was dealt another health blow after being struck down with vestibular disease, which can cause a sudden loss of balance, disorientation or head tilt.

For weeks he had no balance and couldn’t stand.

While walking again with the help of Rose-Hip Vital powder, his back legs still play up and his head is still set somewhat off-centre.

He relies on Mr Forrester to, quite literally, have his back.

“If he falls over, he knows I’ll pick him up,” Mr Forrester said.

As we sat and chatted for 45 minutes, Rusty paced an imaginary circle collecting pats from us on each pass.

He didn’t appear to want to sit, and his constant toothy, open-mouthed grin would have you believe he thoroughly enjoys life.

“We cruise around walking every day, through the CBD, everybody loves him,” Mr Forrester said.

“He’s a heeler who’s a real healer. He goes to people who need puppy cuddles.”

Mr Forrester said having Rusty was like having kids.

“Your sleep is ruined,” he said with a laugh.

“He runs around in the night and sleeps in, in the morning.”

But once he’s up, the pair are out pounding that pavement again.

Mr Forrester knows his time left with Rusty is limited, so he’s put his own life on hold to care full time for his best mate in his twilight times.

“Seventeen years is the longest I’ve lived with anyone,” Mr Forrester said.

“Including my own parents.”

Dog’s best friend is man; man’s best friend is dog.

Theirs is a long tale of true companionship, love and loyalty.