A Te Puke pound dog has been given the chance of a bright future and a new career as a specialist protection dog on remote Raoul Island.
Russ, an 18-month-old purebred Border Collie, is currently undergoing training to learn how to sniff out seven foreign plant invaders on New Zealand's largest marine reserve.
Russ was voluntarily surrendered to Western Bay of Plenty District Council staff last month by its owners after proving too high-energy for the family and their urban living environment. His success story comes less than a week after another story about Neo the Whio, a dog used to help preserve the population of the New Zealand blue duck.
Thanks to the talent scouting of the council's animal services officer Betty Hall, Russ has the potential of a new role as a detector dog under assignment to the Department of Conservation.
Ms Hall said it was Russ's stunning looks and obvious brain power and instant drive to fetch a ball which left her in no doubt of his potential.