Lifers: Dogs who may never find a home
Four abandoned dogs at Dogwatch have spent most of their short lives in the shelter waiting for a patient and understanding family to adopt them. By Carly Gooch.
They call them the “lifers”. They’re the abandoned dogs at Christchurch’s Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust who seem destined to live out their time in the shelter.
“It’s not the intention, but the reality is, if in three years, there hasn’t been a suitable adoption, you have to expect there’s not going to be,” Dogwatch general manager Bridget Paterson said.
There were dozens of dogs for families to choose from, but there were also plenty of puppies, the more desirable way to bring a companion into the home, she said.
“Puppies are easy to adopt. Often people want puppies and small breeds. Unfortunately, the vast majority ending up in pounds are bigger dogs and bull breeds. If we get a chihuahua it would be very easy to rehome; giant beasts are a lot more challenging.”
The shelter is constantly full, when one dog leaves, another is waiting in the wings to take its place. There are 36 dogs on the organisation’s books, 11 are in foster care and eight are at local council pounds, holding tight until a spot opens up. “When one goes out, the next one comes in.”
The four lifers have little to no experience of a constant companion or family to call their own and each has been there for at least two years, and one for more than three.
For the majority of their young lives, Ed, Goose, Latte and Buddy have curled up in their kennels at night on a pile of donated blankets.
Paterson admitted there were reasons why the four mixed breed lifers had been challenging to rehome – and stay rehomed.
The “beautiful, hairy beast” Ed, a beardie/ huntaway cross, was adopted last year but after having an altercation with another family dog, he was returned, she said.
Ed also has an autoimmune disease that has him on medication for life.
Those issues combined were “red flags for most people”, she said.
Four-year-old staffy/collie cross Latte is a fence jumper – “she can jump really high” – and has a high prey drive, so can’t be around cats. But she wasn’t stupid, Paterson said.
“We call her our smartest dog because she has the best range of tricks.”
Goose the 2-year-old staffy-cross is “just a bit nuts”, but a “sweetheart once you get to know him”.
Buddy doesn’t endear himself to potential adopters as he’s fearful of strangers. It would be a long process of getting to know him for anyone looking to adopt him, Paterson said.
These dogs though, and any that enter the shelter, are loved by the team and the volunteers.
Two behaviourists on staff give the dogs training to prepare for home life, and they’re given enrichment, daily walks, food and a roof over their heads. Their medical and social needs are met too.
“We’re pretty good to them,” Paterson said, though she acknowledged shelter life was not “ideal”.
“It’s stressful for a dog. They are always around other dogs, there’s always barking and it’s always a bit chaotic, which causes stress.
“They should be at a home with a family that adores them.”