Spend a few minutes scrolling Auckland Council’s Adoptable Animals Facebook page and it’s impossible not to feel your heart soften.
Who could resist James, the handsome collie/mastiff who loves people and can already shake hands? Or Poppy, the cheeky black staffy cross with a habit of getting lost under blankets? More good boys and girls are added to the page each week, most of them younger than six months, all waiting for a new best friend to take them home.
Sadly, the council’s three animal shelters have been running at capacity for the past year, thanks to a combination of factors including COVID-19, de-sexing restrictions and the cost-of-living crisis.
“We have really struggled to move our adoption dogs this year due to there being so many rescues nationally, and fewer people wanting to adopt,” says Auckland Council’s Silverdale Animal Shelter manager Kelsey Purcell.
To raise awareness and encourage adoption from our shelters, Animal Management is hosting a series of public walks throughout November where people will be able to get up close and pawsonal with some of our adoptable dogs.
“We want to showcase these dogs outside of the shelter environment for people to see how great they are, and for the team to get out and about and connect with Aucklanders,” says Kelsey.
“Often our dogs come to us after a pretty rocky start and have already been through so much uncertainty. We endeavour to match our dogs and people as best we can to ensure they are off to their forever home from here.”
Walks will be held at the following times and locations:
Thursday 3 November - 11am - 12 noon
Auckland Botanic Gardens, 102 Hill Road, Manurewa
Thursday 10 November - 11am - 12 noon
Hobsonville Point Park, 1 Buckley Ave, Hobsonville
Thursday 17 November - 11am - 12 noon
Orewa Skatepark, 214 Hibiscus Coast Highway – Te Ara Tahuna Walkway
Thursday 24 November - 11am – 12 noon
Mission Bay Fountain, Tamaki Drive
There will also be an Open Day at the Henderson Shelter on Sunday 20 November from 11am – 3pm.
Animal Management is also offering half-price adoptions for the month of November. At just $175 for a desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and registered dog, what better time to welcome Poppy, James, or one of the 62 dogs currently in our shelters into your whānau?
“Adopting a dog saves lives. Our dogs are all temperament and health checked and we will support you with any issues you may have, whether it is six weeks or several years after the adoption,” says Kelsey.
