Animal rescue issue ‘gets worse every year’
Unfixed animals acquired in the 2020 lockdown have been attributed to an increase in demand at South Canterbury animal rescue organisations.
Waimate rescuer Toni de Rooy has been saving abandoned and unloved animals for more than a decade and said the situation is as bad as it’s ever been.
At the moment, 16 are being cared for by Pound Paws fosterers and in the space of less than a week late last year, 13 dogs were taken in by Waimate fosterers – a mother dog and her six puppies and another litter of five puppies from the Waimate District, and an adult dog from Ashburton.
‘‘It gets worse every year,’’ de Rooy said.
This comes after Temuka woman Salena Hodgson reported earlier this month Pussn Boots Kitty Rescue was swamped with calls, cats and costs.
For seven years de Rooy has volunteered with Oamaru-based dog rescue group Pound Paws, which covers South Canterbury and increasingly further afield.
Having to say no is ‘‘heartbreaking’’ especially when ‘‘in some instances, we know the dogs will be euthanised’’, she said.
De Rooy said the group is receiving requests from all over the South Island.
‘‘We had six inquiries from Christchurch families recently and were only able to help two. The next day there was another request from a local council wanting help, and local families need assistance too.’’
There are various reasons people seek help – people move, or get unwell, relationships break down or they have to relocate.
‘‘For people working in rescue it can become quite overwhelming,’’ de Rooy said.
Pound Paws is entirely volunteer-run with every cent raised going on vet bills and food.
‘‘We don’t recoup what it costs us to spay, neuter, microchip and register with our adoption fees, but we’re trying to make a desexed pet affordable for families that ordinarily might be out of their reach.’’
De Rooy said the group has seen an increase in abandoned and unwanted older puppies, including more from council pounds.
‘‘Either they’ve never been registered, or they have but the owner’s decided they aren’t going to get the dog out of the pound.’’
De Rooy said most people who call desperate to rehome an animal have already been declined by other animal charities.
‘‘We’re the only [dog] rescue in the area, which is why we cover from Ashburton to Oamaru and beyond.’’
She said donations of new and used pet products are always welcome.
‘‘We’re always on the lookout for things like crates, leads, collars, worming tablets, flea treatments, the practical help.
‘‘And we always need more fosterers – people with dog experience are ideal, but we just need secure fencing, a good basic knowledge of dogs and friendly companions if they have other dogs.’’
De Rooy said fosterers look after the dog or pup until they’re ready to be adopted.
‘‘We make sure the dogs coming in will suit the foster homes, and we provide everything they need – food, toys, bedding – they’re given support if there’s anything they need.’’
They had mostly avoided the spike in abandoned or unwanted dogs after Auckland’s most recent lockdown, but were seeing ramifications of the same phenomenon during the first lockdown.
Waimate woman Olivia Bell started fostering with Pound Paws when her eldest daughter was a toddler, these days acting as a relief and emergency fosterer, as well as assisting with socialising dogs using her own 11-year-old pet, Tezla.
‘‘Fostering for Pound Paws and the support they provide has probably been one of the greatest things that’s happened in my dog ownership journey, because I’ve learnt so much,’’ she said.