Retired working dogs find new homes

Retired working dog Floss, who was adopted by Helen Sheard. Photo / Supplied

A North Otago teacher is giving retired working dogs a second chance at life.

Waitaki Boys' High School agriculture teacher Elizabeth Prentice adopted her dog, Meg, after seeing her listed on the website of Retired Working Dogs.

Before retiring, the pig dog worked in pest control around the world, including Bali and Canada.

Her former owner lives in Ashhurst, near Palmerston North, and loved Meg, she said.

But when Meg slowed down and could no longer do the work required, she sulked after the other dogs went out to work, struggling to understand why she had to stay home.

Meg also took exception to the young bitch that had taken her position, forcing the decision to adopt her out.

"He was in tears when Meg left."

Meg took to retired life in Herbert and was allowed to sleep inside for the first time.

"She loves her cuddles and has got a little bit stout."

The first dog Prentice adopted from the charity was then 9-year-old whippet-cross pig dog Whippy.

She owned Whippy for three years before she had to put her down about a month ago.

The next dog she was set to adopt from the charity was sheepdog Tui.

Tui works in South Otago and was set to retire at Christmas.

The plan was for the 8-year-old dog to come to the Oamaru school to give the agriculture pupils a chance to interact with a working dog.

When she brought her dogs to school, pupils often confided in them.

Teacher Elizabeth Prentice hugs her dog Meg - who she rescued from Retired Working Dogs - in Fraser Farm at Waitaki Boys' High School in Oamaru last week. Photo / Shawn McAvinue

"They'll tell all sorts of things to dogs which they won't tell people."

People wanting to own a dog should consider adopting from the charity.

The two "wonderful" dogs she had adopted had been "loyal and loving" and were "cruisy", despite once being hard workers.

"They deserve a good retirement."

Retired Working Dogs trustee Helen Sheard, of Feilding, said she was born and raised in Otago and moved north to study veterinary science.

Whippy, a pig dog Elizabeth Prentice rescued from charity Retired Working Dogs. Photo / Supplied

She has been involved with the charity for about seven years ago and did a lot of the vet work for it.

The charity was launched in 2012 and had found homes for hundreds of dogs across New Zealand, she said.

A common reason for retired working dogs being euthanised was they worked on a big station, where shepherds had a cap on the number of dogs they could have.

Another reason was a dog being too "stiff and sore" to work and getting distressed when having to stay home, after seeing the rest of the pack go out.

Putting down a loyal working dog was hard for farmers.

"I have seen old farmers cry."

Retired Working Dogs trustee Helen Sheard does vet work for the charity. Photo / Lindsay Keats

The charity gave farmers the option of opening a new chapter for the dog.

"They love the idea of it being well looked after and being able to sleep in front of a fire for the rest of its days."

She had adopted five working dogs since being involved with the trust, including bearded collie Floss.

Floss took about a month to realise she was allowed to enter the house and sit by the fire.

"She's well happy with her retirement now."

Dogs set to reach retirement age or unable to work could be listed on retiredworkingdogs.org.nz.