Pound death row for dogs

Almost 1800 dogs were seized or impounded in Hamilton last year and despite the best efforts of animal control officers to rehome the animals, more than 600 were put down.

Figures obtained by the Waikato Times show seizures have jumped by 30 per cent in the last two years, and owners are often to blame, officials say.

Most seizures are for roaming or unregistered dogs, and city animal control staff say they constantly deal with dog owners who don't know the rules.
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"We'll hold a good dog for [adoption] as long as we possibly can," he said.

However, seized dogs are battling the odds. Only 8 per cent find new homes, while 37 per cent are euthanased - more than 1140 in the last two years.

In an effort to avoid an influx of abandoned animals being put down in the new year, animal safety campaigners are urging people to think before they give a pet as a Christmas present.

New Zealand Veterinary Association veterinary resources manager Wayne Ricketts warned of the associated costs involved with the cute ball of fluff that is presented on Christmas morning and people need to consider this before signing up to own a pet.

"Think about how it will be looked after, when will it be de-sexed, vaccinations, health checks, how much it will cost on a daily basis and whether it will still be loved when it grows out of the cute kitten or puppy stage," he said.

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The city council is legally required to hold seized and impounded dogs for seven days to give owners the opportunity to collect them.  which means that if you have a friend caring for your dog, make sure they pay the fine !! otherwise you might come home to NO dog!!

The dogs then become the property of the council and are all put through a behavioural assessment to decide whether they're suitable for rehoming by adoption.

All dog owner rules and responsibilities are explained on hamilton.co.nz, and dogs available for adoption are listed on hamilton.co.nz/adoptadog.

Call to kill dogs that mauled sheep

Two "cute" spaniels that ripped the skin off a terrified sheep and ate it alive should be destroyed, says an Invercargill woman who witnessed the attack.

Angela Castle said she tried to shield her children from the "gross" spectacle as the two dogs attacked the lamb in a paddock off Kew Rd yesterday morning.

"I saw them ripping at it, I kept saying to the kids, ‘don't look'. It was gross, they were really pulling it to pieces, they ripped its skin off."

It reminded her that dogs, no matter how domesticated, were still primal animals, she said.

"I wouldn't have expected those cute-looking dogs to have done that."   why not? dogs are dogs@

She believed the dogs should be destroyed so they could not do the same to other sheep.  At least she made sense in so much that the farmer said no, they were someone's pet. So if the dog is cute, they don't get killed, but if it's an ugly dog, then slaughter house?!?

When the sheep's owner, Selwyn Helms, was alerted to the attack he rushed to the scene and caught the dogs, who did not resist.

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Despite this (3 times dogs ate his sheep), he was not so sure the dogs responsible for yesterday's attack should be destroyed, saying they were someone's pet.

He said he wanted the owners to keep better control of their animals, before adding: "I don't really want to see them put down but if they do that when they are around sheep they have to be."  Aren't farmers happy that sheep don't kill! 

Police and city council animal control officers were quickly on the scene. The bloodied dogs were led to the animal control wagon, put in the back and taken to the city pound.

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Helping man's best friend to be a lifesaver too

Man's best friend has long been a solid companion for many people around the world. But one Kiwi charity is working hard to raise special pups that will act not only as a companion but, in some cases, a lifesaver for dozens of New Zealanders with disabilities.

Assistance Dogs NZ, based in Te Awamutu, will receive $10,000 as part of the Auckland Airport 12 Days of Christmas giveaway this year.

The money will go towards raising and training a pup that will one day be paired with a child or adult with a disability.

Dog trainer Julie Hancox, who founded the trust in 2008, has successfully trained several dogs which are now working with child clients. MORE>>

Third talented driving dog still homeless

While adoption offers have been pouring in for last night's two canine stars ofCampbell Live, a third driving dog is still homeless.

Last night Porter, a 10-month-old beardie cross and Monty, a giant schnauzer cross, got behind the wheel of a Mini Countryman on TV3's Campbell Live.

Viewers had since shown "a lot of interest" in adopting the dogs, said Auckland SPCA CEO Christine Kalin.

But the people ringing in only seemed to want the rescue dogs with the most airtime.

"Probably the least interest has been in Ginny... I think because she has less profile driving the car," she said.

One-year-old beardie whippet cross Ginny also went through the same eight-week intensive training course but didn't front on the day.

The Auckland SPCA has not yet received any offers of adoption for the equally intelligent Ginny, said Kalin.

"We've had people offer to adopt Monty and Porter. We've had less interest in Ginny so she's the one we'd really love not to have in the shelter too long."  MORE INFO>>

Dogs get a sniff of remedy

Dog owners in Christchurch with pets stressed by the earthquakes are turning to an unusual remedy - aromatherapy.

Bottles of the anxiety treatment brewed up by trained aromatherapist Jo Thomas are being snapped up and Christchurch customers now make up about 20% of her business.

 Aromatherapy uses essential oils from herbs, flowers and other plants and has been used for centuries to treat humans. For dogs, a few drops are placed on their chests or their bedding.

 The medical profession is divided on how it works - or even if it works - but Mrs. Thomas, who operates from her home at Wallacetown, near Invercargill, said the proof for post-earthquake Christchurch was relieved dog owners and happier pooches. MORE>>

Decadent dog's life at Waglands

Wellington canines can have their own holiday while owners are away. At hilltop Waglands Dogs' Holiday Retreat in Belmont, dogs are "guests", fed gourmet food and given special areas for afternoon naps, a sandpit to play in and grass to run around on.

Couple Ben Adams and Arlene Hawkyard, previously an engineer and financial services analyst respectively, bought the property three years ago for a lifestyle change after eight months travelling the world. They have turned it into the envy of dog accommodation establishments nationwide.

Waglands was recently awarded Best Small Business at the 2012 Westpac Hutt Valley Chamber of Commerce Business Awards.

"We were looking for lifestyle properties on TradeMe and this one just popped up. We loved the property and the area," said Hawkyard, who once swore she would never work with dogs after growing up surrounded by the animals with a father who bred siberian huskies and border collies, and who was also a New Zealand canine competitive obedience judge. MORE>>

Good on them for following their dreams... we don't all do this, so cheers!!