April Newsletter
The numbers of dogs needing homes keep rising. 10 dogs were placed in new homes this month. What started out as a quiet month saw 4 dogs in one day needing homes. We have picked up from New Plymouth and adopted up in Auckland and had a dog released from an Auckland Pound and adopted down to a family in New Plymouth.

We have many applications in for the up to one year old age group but don't often get dogs in that age range. More often around the 3-5 year old mark seems to be the age of most of them. Mind you, it is said that Shepherds don't mature until they are 3 years old so that really is a good age group to have. All the adolescent worries are over. I know my now 4 year old male GSD is so much more laid back than he was when he was 2 years old.

Several people have dropped off or sent towels and collars this month and a very big thank you for that. All dogs that we get out of the pound we give them a much needed bath, have a ceremonial dumping of their existing collar (which quite honestly the condition of which would shock you) and they all get new clothes.

Some of the more memorable moments this month have been locating a young dog that had been missing since last Auckland and informing the owner. Unfortunately they were now not in a position to have her return to live with them so she has been adopted out and is now a very much loved member of an Auckland based family. The original family now have the peace of mind as to what may have happened to her.

An emergency airlift from Nelson to Auckland saw a lovely 9 month old long coat boy go into a new home instead of being put to sleep as his owners had decided to do. Thankfully the vet would not put down a perfectly healthy dog with a nice temperament. Sarge - which is his new name now is in a new home with another GSD for a playmate.

I was contacted by a family who had taken on a dog that had been rehomed by its owners (not via us) and were having problems with him to the point the wife was scared of him. I contacted someone in the area who had known this dog previously and knew he had been a big softee. I asked her to visit to let me know the situation.

End result was we took this dog into care, just one year old. Things were fine the first day and for safety reasons as the foster mum had small children and erring on the side of caution, it was decided to house this boy overnight in a large kennel and run. Well the next day there is no way this dog was going to let anyone near him to even let him out of the kennel and run. I contacted the original owner to find out if this was usual behaviour which I was told was not.

To cut a long story short (and it became rather a long story) the family who originally had this boy and who were now living in the South Island, dropped everything and made the trip to the North Island and on seeing them, this ferocious beast became a pussycat, so totally changed in his behaviour. This dog is now reunited with his original family and all is well in his world. He was happy to be reunited with his friend that cat and if his previous behaviour had not been witnessed you would find it very hard to believe he could ever have been any different to the soft, cuddly, cat friendly, people friendly dog that he is.

I was disturbed to receive an email from a person which stated "I know you buy dogs and sell them into new homes"

I want to categorically state that it is totally against my policies to either buy or sell a dog. There is no price tag on any dog that I find a new home for. If I pay to have it registered, vaccinated and desexed, YES I expect that to be reimbursed. Heck I would be broke otherwise. These are expenses anyone would have no matter where they obtained their dogs.

The emergency uplift from Nelson was covered by Trust funds, air freighting dogs is not cheap but that is why I do fund raising by producing our rescue dog calendars and various other things. Most of our adopters give a voluntary donation for these dogs which is gratefully received and these are used exclusively for the rescue dogs for food, medical bills, transporting to new homes and air freight charges.

I really took exception to that email and felt the need to clarify my side in case anyone else is under that impression.

We have just accepted two additional dogs into care, both from the same home, two 3 year old, one male, one female, I am hoping that I will be able to place them both together. A hard task, but hopefully not impossible. Both are lovely looking dogs with excellent temperaments.

That's all from me,
Until next time have a safe and happy month.