Not looking flash for Nathan
Graeme Fawcett’s hopes of raising the $15,000 he needs to get his beloved dog Nathan home to New Zealand are slowly sinking.
As of late last week his appeal (www.givealittle.co.nz/ cause/help-bring-nathan-hometo-his-family) had raised $615. The page closes on December 1.
“I’ve been feeling a bit disheartened, as there hadn’t been any donations for two weeks, then today there was a burst of action,” Graeme said last week.
“I don’t know what prompted this, but I’m very grateful. I reach out every day to people I think may be supportive, often without response, but that’s okay. Hopefully persistence will pay off.”
The former Takahue resident and his wife Che plan to return to New Zealand from the Philippines early next year. They are hoping to bring their dog Nathan with them, but that will depend upon the response to their appeal for help.
Graeme said he had left Nathan, now about seven years old, in New Zealand when he went to the Philippines, but the dog was abandoned by the people he had entrusted him to. He was only saved from euthanasia because his microchip info included Graeme’s email address, and, after an anxious and stressful time, he was able to get him to the Philippines.
Having decided to return to New Zealand, he was “shocked and dismayed” to learn that the process of bringing his dog with him would take up to eight months, and cost an estimated $15,000.
“This is far beyond my means, as I only receive 50 per cent of my married NZ superannuation entitlement because I am living overseas,” he said.
“The alternatives are to leave him here, but believe me, the Philippines isn’t a good place for a dog, or have him put to sleep. Having rescued Nathan from an abusive owner when he was nine months old there’s no way I’m going to abandon him now.”
Any surplus from the appeal, or if things didn’t go to plan, would be donated to the SPCA.