Too many strays to save

Press, 12 June 1984, Page 1

Too many strays to save

A group of Christchurch women who rescue dogs from death’s door have found their‘task getting out of control. For the last two years, Dog Watch, run by Mrs Estelle Win, Mrs Wendy Ross, and Mrs Peggy Van Bree has been saving homeless dogs from being destroyed at local dog pounds. Yesterday, however, was a “crunch point," according to Mrs Ross. Seven dogs were picked up from the three pounds. “We usually keep the dogs in our own homes until we find new owners for them, but today we have had to find extra temporary homes,” she said. Mrs Ross and the other women already had dogs of their own, so it was a problem trying to keep the strays, especially when one bitch was on heat. Mrs Ross said that Dog Watch worked with the council and county pounds, and were advised of the dates that the dogs were due to be destroyed. They had picked up the seven'dogs yesterday from the Paparua’ Waimairi, and Riccarton pounds. They had been paying

board for some of the dogs for a few days, she said. One reason why they had been so busy was the new regulation whereby pounds had to keep dogs for only seven days before destroying them. Mrs Ross said that Dog Watch was a purely voluntary organisation, financed by donations. The aim, eventually, was to get enough money to build proper kennels for the stray dogs so that yesterday’s problems did not arise. She said that people in Christchurch had to learn to keep their bitches locked up while on heat. This was one reason why there were so many stray dogs — people were constantly having to get rid of puppies. She explained that Dog Watch was not a place where people could leave unwanted dogs. “They can find homes for their dogs by advertising just as we do. They often worry about their pet not going to a good home, but they have every right to turn someone away." Anybody interested in providing a home for one of the dogs should telephone her at 536-638, said Mrs Ross.