Bridge dog not ready for adoption

Charity the dog was thrown off the Wairoa Bridge and is about to go into foster home for rehabilitation. Photo/John Borren

A dog thrown off a bridge into the Wairoa River is to be placed in foster care - with the SPCA saying she is not yet ready for adoption.

The Tauranga SPCA has already received numerous offers to adopt Charity, a chocolate labrador shar pei cross, but they are not currently taking names of potential adoptees, given she will go into a foster home first.

SPCA animal welfare inspector Anna Porteous said "we will just give her time to regain her confidence and come out of her shell a bit".

The foster home will be chosen from a list of SPCA fosters, and will have experience with timid dogs.

Ms Porteous said the foster home "will work with her and say if she has any issues, and if those need to be worked through we will get in a professional trainer to work through those issues.

"Once we have her confident, we might move her to another foster home, that is better suited to taking her to parks and public places and getting her used to being around dogs and other children."

Through this process Ms Porteous says Charity will be able to be matched with the right adoptee.

The SPCA is still searching for the person responsible for throwing Charity off the bridge, and Ms Porteous urged people to help the investigation.

"If anyone still has information we would like that to be bought to our attention as the reward is still in place," Ms Porteous said.

App users click here to watch the video.

Charity was thrown from a van resembling a Toyota Estima just after 11pm on Wednesday, June 17.

If you find a lost pet:
If a pet has been found there are simple steps to be taken, as outlined by the SPCA.
Check with neighbours to make sure the dog does not belong to them
If you have found a puppy under four months of age ring the SPCA and organise to bring the puppy in
You can usually tell the age by looking at their teeth, they will have small sharp milk teeth if under 4 months of age
Any healthy stray dogs over four months of age will be picked up by your local council. Tauranga City Council 07 577 7000 or Western Bay District Council 07 571 8008