Dogs need loving homes

As Ruby bounces around the garden her forehead furrows at all the different smells and noises she isn’t familiar with.

Her green eyes light up as she spies another dog or the enticing toy just out of reach.

But her wagging tail masks the five months she has lived at the SPCA Auckland shelter, after being surrendered by her owners.

Eighteen-month-old Ruby is one of 50 dogs up for adoption in SPCA Auckland’s half-price adoption drive. It runs until July 31 in a bid to find loving homes for the many shelter dogs and puppies.

Veterinary manager Dr Shalsee Vigeant says Ruby arrived at the SPCA after giving birth to a litter of 12 puppies.

‘‘She was very thin and her litter was so big that we had to split it up and switch her back and forth between them,’’ she says.

The SPCA has rehomed nine of the puppies.

‘‘All of our dogs are wormed, deflead, updated with vaccines and desexed, but Ruby’s biggest thing was her thinness. We had to get some healthy weight on her.’’

SPCA Auckland currently has no space to take in any other dogs, but has 30 adoption applications.

Adoption costs have halved to $142.50 for puppies up to six months, $132.50 for adult dogs up to seven years, and $80 for senior dogs over seven.