Community rallies around animal rescuers

WAG 13Oct15 - LIFE'S A ZOO: Animal rescuers Hamish and Juliet Qualtrough, with daughters Ava, left, and Lily, and dogs Bob, left, Hazel and Donald.

A couple of hours after Midweek hit letterboxes on July 7, members of the community kept appearing on animal rescuers Juliet and Hamish Qualtrough's doorstep, bearing car loads of food and blankets.

Three months later, the donations keep coming -- as do the four-legged friends needing forever homes.

Juliet and Hamish, a former animal welfare inspector and vet, set up their own home-based animal welfare centre, The Q's Zoo, after the SPCA Wairarapa centre closed in May.

Since speaking with Midweek, the couple have been "overwhelmed" -- taking in everything from dogs found locked in sheds to whole litters of puppies.

Along with the animals has come an outpouring of support from the community, with offerings of pet food, toys, disinfectant, washing powder, and a even a new computer.

"It's just blown up -- I didn't think it would get this big," Juliet said.

"At one point, we had about 30 dogs, and about 17 cats. But the community support has just been wonderful."

With requests for animal rehoming flooding in, the Qualtroughs "run a tight ship": cleaning out kennels, helping bring frightened cats out of their shell with cuddles, chasing after bouncy three-month-old pig dogs, and syringe-feeding brand new puppies.

"We have got it down to a fine art -- but sometimes the house is an absolute bomb site, because we're so busy with the animals," Juliet said.

"They key is spending quality time with them."

Some of the animals have tumultuous backgrounds -- dogs the Carterton and South Wairarapa Animal Control teams couldn't bear to put down, a dog locked inside a shed discovered following "barking complaints", and pets "kicked out" by their owner's partners.

In most cases, Hamish said, people are "doing the right thing" and handing over the pets they are unable to care for.

"We had a litter of 11 pups dropped off -- they were riddled with worms and at death's door," he said.

"Their owners were a low income family, and they kept meaning to desex their dogs, but would run out of money.

"Most people are reaching out when they realise they can't cope."

With adoptees continuing to trickle in, the Qualtroughs are advertising for volunteers to help exercise, clean up after and socialise the animals.

They have already taken on a small group of dedicated volunteers -- including a man who "walks the dogs for miles", despite having bone-on-bone arthritis -- and are sorting through applications.

"We don't want just anyone," Juliet said.

"A lot of people think it's all playing with puppies, but you will get poo sprayed in your face."

She said they have been blessed by the community's support -- which began the day they featured in Midweek, when people drove up and down their street trying to find their address.

"People even called in at Fernridge School trying to find us. Once they figured it out, they'd come bowling up -- some with about 40kg of cat and dog food," Hamish said.

The couple have also received donations from businesses -- chew toys from Carterton New World, cleaning products from Blue Bucket Cleaners, and old clothes from the Wairarapa Hospice Shop.

Wairarapa Electrical and Appliances Ltd donated a new washing machine, and a Martinborough man provided a second laptop for Juliet to keep up with paperwork and social media.

"It's absolutely brilliant -- people believe in what we do."

For more information about The Q's Zoo, go to www.facebook.com/The-Qs-Zoo, or call 06 370 2442.