Detection dog to regain his poise

LIFE SAVER: Neo the Whio, or officially known as Ozean's Elf, with Andrew Glasser from Doc at Te Puke Vet Clinic before his knee saving operation.PHOTO/RUTH KEBER

A dog has undergone a costly surgery to save his leg, which in turn will help conservationists preserve the population of one of New Zealand's rarest birds.

Neo the Whio, a German shorthaired pointer, is used in some of New Zealand's most crucial conservation work, helping his owner and trainer, Andrew Glasser, to locate endangered bird species across New Zealand.

One of 12 dogs in New Zealand primarily used to locate the blue duck, the iconic bird found on the New Zealand $10 bill, he plays an important role helping conservationists monitor the 2500 or so blue ducks left in the country. Neo also specialises in locating kiwis and petrels.

However, recently during routine exercise, the 9-year-old hound ruptured his cranial cruciate ligament and has been out of action for the last three weeks.

It was the first major accident for Neo after covering thousands of kilometres throughout his career across the New Zealand countryside - including 200km over six days through Fiordlands last summer.

Doc ranger Andrew Glasser said over the last few weeks options were decided for Neo's recovery with the best one being surgery at Te Puke Vet Clinic yesterday morning.

There was no question whether Mr Glasser's canine friend would get the operation he needed, and although the clinic kindly donated their consultation time free of charge, the ordeal put him out a few thousand dollars, he said.

"He's well worth it. Think what he has provided for New Zealand conservation.

"It's an investment and he's given me nine years and they can work to 12 to 14 years.

"He has been an incredibly valuable tool for conservation and found hundreds of these blue ducks around the country. He's travelled right through both the North and South Islands."

Mr Glasser, who has raised Neo since he was a pup, said dogs such as Neo were an incredible tool for assisting and locating endangered species.

"Without them some of the species would not be located, or it would be incredibly costly and time consuming to find them, but we utilise the dog's sense of smell."

A dog's sense of smell is ten thousand times greater than humans, he said.

Being the "laid back dude" he is with that "nose that does not stop" there is talk even to immortalise the loyal pooch into a cartoon character at some point, Mr Glasser said.

Neo's operation was a success yesterday. He is expected to make a full recovery and will be back at work as soon as his wound has healed.