Gisborne District Council’s animal control team strongly encourages dog owners who are no longer able to look after their pets to surrender them for potential rehoming.
The council control team has successfully rehomed 17 huntaways, all of which have gone to be working dogs on farms.
It has rehomed 28 dogs since July 1 - compared with 88 for the whole of last year.
“We put a strong focus on matching each dog to the right person, ensuring a good, lifelong fit,” said animal control team leader Ross Hannam.
“One of our dedicated animal control officers has been doing exceptional work in rehoming, especially with dogs heading to homes out of town.”
Dogs have been rehomed to areas ranging from Northland to Christchurch, with one dog heading to Auckland last week.
“The entire team contributes, from assessing each dog’s suitability for rehoming to reaching out to people who are looking for a new companion,” Hannam said.
“This way we can gather important information about the dog and are better equipped to find it a suitable new home.
“When a dog is dumped we lack critical details such as its name, temperament, or how it interacts with children or other animals, making the rehoming process more challenging,” he said.
“So, we strongly encourage people who have dogs they can no longer able to care for to contact us.”
