Bid for dogs ditched by accused fraudster
A national dog breed club is hoping to step in and rescue two dogs abandoned in a boarding kennel, after their alleged fraudster owner fled the country.
Nicola Anne Flint, the staffer accused of stealing over $100,000 from Christchurch Football Club while in charge of its finances and trust account, fled to Britain, leaving the family company and a $1 million home behind.
Flint’s two dogs, Winnie and Goose – believed to be of the Weimaraner breed – have been caught up in the alleged fraud.
Both dogs were left at a Canterbury kennel in December and have not had their lengthy stays paid for, Newshub reported.
The kennel did not want to be named, but someone hoping to get in touch with them is president of The Weimaraner Club, Mark Jorey. “Our concern is for the dogs,” he said. “The last thing I want to see is the dogs going to the pound, we’d be doing our utmost to find them a home.”
The club has members across the country who own both short and longhaired weimaraners, and is a recognised New Zealand kennel club that holds a championship show and field competition every year.
Flint has been part of the free online Facebook group that has more than 1000 members, but was not a paying affiliated club member, Jorey said. She was no longer a group member.
The group hopes to assist in rehoming the dogs through its rescue service, because “they’re probably never going to see their owner again by the sounds of it”, he said.
The rugby club filed a police complaint in November and The Press understands allegations made about Flint are subject to an ongoing police investigation.
It’s understood that authorities have located the 47-year-old south of London, after the English native, her Kiwi husband Andrew Flint and their two teenage children flew there business class after allegations surfaced late last year.
It was sad the dogs had been left without their owners for some time because “Weimaraner do like people contact, a lot of it”, Jorey said.
Winnie and Goose looked to be about 3 or 4 years old and in good condition, judging by images supplied to Newshub, Jorey said – but he had concerns the kennel would not be able to hold on to them forever. It was “probably down the tube a few thousand [dollars] already” while its bill was not paid.
Dog boarding and kennel facilities are entitled to arrange private adoptions or re-home if owners do not return to collect their dogs, depending on each facility’s terms of agreement signed by pet owners, said Parkavon Kennels & Doggy Daycare manager Jess Tansey.
Flint could not be reached for comment.