Dog abandoned, now looking for new home

Mia the dog with Alisha Martinez at the Papamoa Kennels and Cattery. Photo / Ruth Keber

A new home is being sought for a dog left at the Papamoa Kennels and Cattery for a lengthy 18-month stay.

Kennels owner Chris McCulloch said Mia, a boisterous black staffy-cross, was dropped off for a short stay as her owner was temporarily moving into a flat that did not allow pets.

"It was supposed to be for a couple of weeks but his situation changed over time and he kept extending her stay. Eventually he rang us at the end of the year and said 'look take her to the SPCA I can't have her back'."

Mia has been at the Papamoa Kennels and Cattery for more than 18 months and needs a new home says staff member Alisha Martinez.

The owner had placed ads to try and give her away and was paying off kennel fee arrears but the business had footed the bill since December, alongside Royal Canin which was sponsoring Mia's food.

"We want to find her an awesome home, not just any old home. She is very busy, very full on and so intelligent she picks stuff up quickly and you only have to teach her once."

Ms McCulloch said Mia would suit a family that did not have any other dogs and children aged over 10.

"We would all take her if we didn't have our own pets ... she is lovely and we're quite attached. We will really miss her when she goes but she needs a great home."

Mia is not the only dog in the Bay to have an extended stay at a kennels.

Pyes Pa Kennels & Cattery owner Robyn Sangster said a pet owner had left two boxer dogs in their care originally for a period of 10 days. Eventually five-and-a-half months later they were re-homed out of the region.

The exercise cost the business thousands of dollars in unpaid fees, "but we felt sorry for the dogs ... they were beautiful and deserved better".

"They were here for six months but the owner couldn't afford to pay the boarding fees. He was living in a car at the time, the dogs didn't have a stable home that they could go back to. We tried to work through the issues but eventually we contacted Boxer Rescue, so the dogs could go to a safe, loving and permanent family home."

It was a highly unusual circumstance Ms Sangster said, as most clients would do anything for their animals and were highly responsible. However, she had dealt with small number of people who said they could not afford it when it came time to pay but they managed to work through most issues, she said.

Westridge Boarding Cattery owner Kelly Plumpton said she had never had any abandonments but was aware of instances in other catteries.

"With the kind of clients I get here it would be like leaving your mother behind," she said.

Recently someone asked if his cat could stay for a year but she declined to take up the offer.

"I said no because I think they do become institutionalised at that point in time."

There had also been a surge in inquiries from people that had to move into rental properties that did not allow cats, she said.

"It is a big thing because I don't think people factor in there is quite a huge cost to house a cat long-term you have your rent and then $16.50 per day for the cat."

Home For Mia:

* Three-year-old black staffy cross.

* Loves running, playing and fetching.

* Intelligent and full of energy.

* Contact Papamoa Kennels and Cattery on 542 0730