They're In New Zealand!!!! Rarotongan Rescue Dogs in Desperate Need of Homes

Anyone that has ever been to Rarotonga even on a short holiday would have noticed the dogs. They are everywhere from the beaches to the town to the back roads and resorts.

Since June 15 I have been living in Rarotonga volunteering as the resident caretaker at an animal shelter. I leave in early Dec when my 6 month visa expires. I have strived to give these dogs a ‘normal’ life. The dogs had been left alone in their kennels for many hours of the day. I have worked to train them so they can now spend quality time away from the shelter running in the bush, at the beach, laying and playing around the shelter compound out of kennels during down time.

One thing I have learnt is that there are more dogs on Rarotonga than there are homes for them and the population keeps growing. Many of the dogs in the shelter have come from either abusive homes where they have been starved, mistreated, beaten and abused or found wandering the streets and beaches with untreated medical conditions.

While homes have been found for some of them, many are over looked for their age, their medical conditions or even their colour.

All this being said- What I am wanting to do is raise enough money to bring three dogs back to NZ. If I raise more money I will bring more dogs home. The price for one dog is approximately $4500-$5000. The first three dogs are spayed female’s, they have all suffered some form of abuse. All are now healthy and strong but each of them has proven hard to rehome in Rarotonga for the reasons mentioned below next to each ones profile.

Bordeaux – such a gentle wee soul. Approx. -18months to 2 years old. Bordeaux was seriously beaten to the point of having bones in her foot so smashed that her foot is permanently disfigured. She suffered from extreme fear aggression until we started working intensively with clicker training and food. She has come a long way but is still extremely fearful of most local men and children and needs ongoing extensive training to help her reach her full potential. I am very grateful to have the support of a very special lady Kim Lux at K9 Cadets in Auckland, who will help continue to rehabilitate Bordeaux if I can get her to NZ

Haley – Approx. 3-3/12 years old. Haley’s before and after photos says it all.(photo in gallery) From Starved to a Stunning dog who loves to run and run. Although Haley is a grandmother she is still young and has boundless energy now she is fit and healthy. When Haley doesn’t get the exercise she needs she get out and chases cars and motorbikes. She has a very real risk of becoming a three legged/dead dog. Haley has been over looked in the shelter just because she needs two good runs a day to keep her safe.

Muma – Approx. 4-4 1/2years old. Muma has been at the shelter for 7 months since being removed from a ‘home’ where she spent most of her time (between having puppies) at the neighbors up the road. Muma most likely had a litter of pups every heat. The puppies she had when rescued were rehomed as puppies are popular.

She is a loyal, kind and intelligent dog. I have been trying to rehome her for the time she has been in the shelter but she is often over looked as she is “just a common black and tan Raro dog". With so many dogs on the Island needing homes I would really love the opportunity to take her back to NZ where I will give her forever home.

There will be more gorgeous dogs that come into the shelter before I leave and after I go, I know some may find homes but many will not and will become long term residents of the shelter which can only take so many dogs. If I can bring dogs home to NZ there will be space created in the shelter for more needy Rarotongan dogs.

Maybe I cannot bring them all back to NZ but I would dearly love to take at least three. If I raise more money I will bring more dogs home to save them from a life of many hours of daily kenneling for months on end.

As I have been volunteering here for six months I do not have large amounts of disposable income at my finger tips to bring the dogs back to NZ – what I do have is going to this cause. The idea to start a ‘give a little’ page was suggested by two friends of mine to help make my dream a reality.

If you can help in any way, these Dogs of Rarotonga will be forever grateful as only dogs can be when Love is given to them in any form.