Dog rescue group barking glad over win

fridge Dick Frizzell has decorated for the charity cooking for change. Freezzell 4 for Community photo supplied 16th February 2017 by Emily Crowther Emily@818.co.nz NZH 12Mar17 - Dick Fr

Ruakaka's fairy dogparents are ecstatic after winning a fridge decorated by well known Kiwi artist Dick Frizzell, but are unlikely to be keeping dog tucker in it.

Ruakaka Dog Rescue founder Jackie (Jax) Boyd said the group will auction the multi-door appliance it won in the nationwide Cooking 4 Change funds and awareness-raising campaign.

Five charity groups from 250 around New Zealand were picked to go to the public vote, and Ruakaka Dog Rescue was named one of three overall winners.

"We're very excited. We just want to enjoy the moment for now but the money we raise from selling the fridge will fund a lot of our dog rescue work, most importantly the desexing programme," Ms Boyd said.

Auckland-based Frizzell - co founder of the best-selling Cooking 4 Change recipe book - designed a fun wrap for the Haier multi-door fridge, dubbed 'a Freezell', based on a shopping list.

The winning charities can keep their prize or turn it into a fundraiser.

The other winners were The Incubator community art gallery project in Tauranga and Christchurch's Bellyful, which provides meals to families with young children who are struggling with illness.

Ruakaka Dog Rescue was started by Ms Boyd and Sacha Berger in 2014 after concerns about the number of stray dogs in the township.

Each puppy that is rescued, fostered and then rehomed costs the donations-reliant group about $500.

A Facebook post from the group yesterday read: "To the fairy dogparents. We are so proud to announce that we have won a Dick Frizzell Haier fridge from the Cooking 4 Change project!!!!! And all because of you guys!!! Thank you so so much for all your support and votes and shares. There is no way we could've won without you all. Big thanks also to Haier New Zealand, Cooking 4 Change and Dick Frizzell for the amazing opportunity. Much aroha xox"