Northland dog lover gives canines second chance

Stray dogs impounded by the Far North District Council are going to new homes in greater numbers thanks to an Okaihau animal lover.

In the two years before the council contracted former SPCA kennels manager Sue Dennis to run its southern area dog pound in November 2008, it managed to rehome only 14 - just over 1 per cent - of the 956 dogs it impounded. A further 194 dogs (20 per cent) were returned to their owners, while 748 dogs (78 per cent) were destroyed.

But Ms Dennis has found homes for 465 (20 per cent) of the 2278 dogs the council impounded over the three years she has managed the pound at her rural Okaihau property.

A further 421 dogs (18 per cent) were returned to their owners, while 1392 dogs (61 per cent) were destroyed.

Ms Dennis puts that improvement down to advertising the homeless dogs on the internet.

"Most of the dogs go to homes out of the district. Some go as far as the South Island. I sent a wirehaired German pointer to Picton recently."

She also uses her contacts in the animal welfare movement, such as the Tokoroa Animal Rescue, taking up to eight dogs at a time.

Others go to people who adopted dogs from the Bay of Islands SPCA when she managed its kennels for 13 years.

"A lot of people remember me. When their dog passes away, they contact me to see what I've got."

Council field services operations manager Andrew Dowdle said shifting the pound from Kaikohe to Ms Dennis' place in 2008 was a good move.

"The facility at council headquarters had become unsuitable. It was too small and the sound of dogs barking bothered neighbours and council staff."

The council was delighted to have secured her services and impressed with the results she had achieved on its behalf.

"Her knowledge of dogs and their nature is second-to-none. She'll only ever home the right dog to the right home."

Auckland construction company owner Ben Price is thrilled with the beardie-collie-huntaway cross female he adopted a month ago after seeing an ad on Trade Me.

Mr Price said he had been looking for a dog for months but was disappointed with the selection at the SPCA's Mangere dog pound. Many had been ill-treated or were staffie or pitbull crosses.

He was happy to drive 250km to collect the dog, which is now a much-loved member of his family.

"You're going to have it for at least 12 years, so you want to be able to meet it and see what it's like. A three-hour drive is well worth it."

Phone Sue Dennis on (09) 401 9359 if you are interested in giving a dog a home.