Rescue dogs ‘are always there for you’

Rescue dogs are always there for you, says an Ashburton woman.

Toni Bramley has recently adopted a heading dog she has named Storm, about 18-months-old, from the district council pound.

Three dogs remain in the pound awaiting a furever home, one who has been there since January.

‘‘The benefits of a dog is they are always there for you, rescue dogs possibly more so, because they haven’t necessarily had a good life.’’

Storm was found wandering with another dog on Wakanui Rd about two months ago.

Animal control officers picked the two up. No-one claimed them. They sat in the pound, newly named Thumper and Bambi, for almost one month before Bramley adopted Thumper and changed her name.

Bambi was taken by Dogwatch in Christchurch to rehome.

Bramley said she had owned several dogs throughout her life, including three rescue dogs. Her last pet before Storm was a rescue dog named Jake. He had become elderly and passed away.

‘‘I was alone and had been looking for ages for another dog,’’ she said.

She decided to visit the pound and have a look at the dogs needing new homes, which the district council had posted about on its Facebook page.

While she had intended to look at all the dogs, when she saw Storm, there was an instant connection.

Storm was friendly and ‘‘velcroed’’ to Bramley.

Storm also knew the basic commands of sit and come, and did not show any fearful or baulking behaviour at a walking stick Bramley uses.

Bramley had only to pay Storm’s dog registration fee in order to adopt her. Storm was microchipped by the pound on her way out the door to her new home.

After one month of ownership, Bramley was thrilled with how Storm was going.

‘‘She’s always there, always wanting love, giving love.’’

One of Storm’s favourite activities was visiting the Ashburton Dog Park, where she liked to run around, and work with Bramley on agility obstacles.

Bramley recommended to others to adopt a rescue dog if they had the time and love to give to them.

‘‘Go for it. Take them out and have a walk around with them and see if you get a vibe, and give a vibe to you. They have so much to give,’’ Bramley said.

As of Monday this week, the district council pound had two males and one female awaiting adoption.

The males are Dog and Toblerone, who have been in the pound for about three and six months respectively. The female is a young black labrador found wandering on State Highway 1 on July 19.

The district council said none of the three were likely to be euthanised.

Although it did euthanise two in the year to June 31, 2024.

Group manager compliance and development Jane Donaldson said the first was in September, after its owner surrendered it following a dog attack.

The second was a dog in the pound in June, after no owner came forward and the district council and Dogwatch found it was not suitable to rehome. Suitability is based on an assessment of traits such as character, personality and health.