Abandoned pups too cute to resist
Maggie-Lee Huckabee calls her self the ‘‘crazy dog lady’’.
Without her three beloved dogs – two of which she adopted from SPCA Canterbury – the associate professor says she would work far too much.
Huckabee opened the University of Canterbury Rose Centre for Stroke Recovery and Research at St George’s Medical Centre six months ago.
‘‘I work a lot and if I didn’t have dogs I would work way too much because I love my work.’’
In November 2014, the SPCA’s animal ambulance was called out to rescue a litter of six black, white and tan puppies, aged only two or three weeks, who had been left abandoned in a Christchurch park.
The ambulance officer found the young pups were extremely cold and hungry.
They were fondly named the T puppies – Tori, Tobi, Tallulah, Tippi, Tonto and Tarzan – and after several weeks of being treated back to health, all were put up for adoption.
Huckabee lost her mixed-breed dog Charlie-Pete unexpectedly at 8-years-old, due to a tumour on his heart.
‘‘It broke my heart into a thousand pieces when I lost him.’’
She got another person to take care of her other dog, 15-year-old Jessie, who was blind and deaf.
‘‘She got so many cues from Charlie-P so when he wasn’t there anymore she was really in a bubble. I thought she needed a buddy.’’
Although interested in another dog who ‘‘looked a little too full of himself’’, it was one of the abandoned litter that won Huckabee’s heart.
‘‘He was awfully cute. I saw his picture online and then went out.’’
Scout, formerly Tobi, was a bit of a ‘‘scaredy cat’’, but became ‘‘quite rambunctious’’ as he got bigger.
Huckabee returned to the SPCA eight-weeks later to get a buddy for Scout and found his sister Skye (Tori), who had been returned by her owner due to a change in circumstances.
‘‘He was walking by all the other big dogs that were barking and he was a little insecure, and not too sure what was going on. As soon as he saw which kennel she was in, he ran to the kennel and did a play bow.
‘‘They clearly knew one another after a couple of months apart and have been best friends ever since.’’
The two rescued pooches, now nearly 10-months-old, will make appearances with Huckabee at The Press Summer Starter event on November 29.
The SPCA is one of six charities being supported in the fun run and walk. SPCA Canterbury currently has an overload of pups available for adoption. If you are interested in giving one (or two) a home, phone 0 349 7057 or visit online at spcacanterbury.org.nz.
They clearly knew one another after a couple of months apart and have been best friends ever since.