Please help us save the life of a young dog in Rarotonga.

https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/help4dog/

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‘Gunner’ is a young stray dog in Rarotonga who needs our help to get to New Zealand so he can be safe from being shot.

On a recent holiday to Rarotonga we came across ‘Gunner’ who was sat outside a café.

Unlike most of the stray dogs at Muri Beach, Gunner is not street savvy, he does not know when he is not welcome and after receiving attention from tourists doesn't understand begging for food and chasing people on mopeds is unwanted by some of them. He is super friendly and desperately wants a family of his own, as a result he can’t be chased away like the other dogs - thus he makes a nuisance of himself at the local market, beach and holiday accommodation.

When we met this gorgeous boy, locals had had enough and the cafe owner was about to call the police to have him uplifted and shot. We just couldn't bare the idea so after debate we were allowed to take him to our accommodation where he was permitted to stay until we left. There started our mission to save the young boy. During the week he stayed with us he didn't bother any other people nor chicken nor did the children who sat on him, poking and pulling, bother him, he just enjoyed the attention.

We went out kayaking and turned around 150m from shore to find him swimming frantically behind us! So we gave him a ride, following which he would be the first in the kayak on subsequent days.

Our ‘shadow’, Gunner would wait outside shops, cafes, markets etc for us and slept outside our accommodation. If I snuck a look out at 3am he would be still on the doormat or under the bushes if raining.

We totally fell in love with this gentle wee soul and made the promise to him that we would do all we could to save his life and bring him to safety in NZ. Half of our holiday was spent trying to find him a safe haven, hiring bikes to get to the SPCA to negotiate and talking to the Esther Honey foundation about possible ways to save his life, while friends at home were talking to MPI. It was seriously touch and go right to the eleventh hour and we were distraught by the time we got on the plane. But thankfully, we received news upon arriving home that the SPCA had collected him from the streets. However they are at full capacity and unable to keep him.

The Esther Honey foundation were amazing in helping is. They provide free veterinary treatment and desexing for dogs on the Island. They agreed that Gunner wouldn't last long with his behaviour (following everyone incessantly) and we are so grateful that they are willing to hold him and arrange the necessary veterinary care and checks before helping us with his arrangements regarding export to New Zealand.

I have sourced temporary 7 day accommodation for him in Rarotonga and then he will go to the Esther Honey Foundation if funds can be raised for export. They have told us the cost will be up to five thousand dollars. If we can not raise the funds within a week he will be released back to the streets where he will be picked up and killed - all for being too friendly and wanting to be with people.

We will be fostering him on his arrival (we are currently at maximum allowed dogs for our house or we would keep him) and a charity is on standby to assist in placing him up for adoption.

Gunner is probably not yet 2 years old, looks like a retriever cross (possibly collie) and is not a large dog. He is very obedient, waits when told, social with people and other animals and lies patiently waiting and sleeping …. as long as he has a place to be.

We have put as much money as we can towards saving Gunner but we are short. Please consider making a donation to help us rescue this dog, even a $1 goes a long way towards giving him the chance to grow old …………

Please check out his facebook pictures

Thanks for taking the time to read

Sharon