Homes wanted for long-haulers

SPCA - Lindy Magee, Nicola Iremonger and BB

A national SPCA campaign to find homes for long-stay animals could provide the impetus needed to find homes for two long-stay animals at the Gisborne SPCA Centre. A dog named BB (Big Boy)and a cat named Tom Tom have been at the Gisborne Centre for over a year and centre manager Lindy Magee wants them to find their forever homes.

Hundreds of animals are brought into the Gisborne SPCA Centre every year, and while many are successful at finding their forever home in either weeks or days, some animals are left waiting for months, and sometimes, even years.

It is a positive sign that only two animals are classified as ‘long-stays’ in Gisborne meaning the centre is doing its job of re-homing animals within a reasonable time period.

Lindy said it was sad when animals remained for a long period of time as it was only designed to be a temporary home for them.

“Our average stay for an animal is around three to six months and often people seek out the animals which have less of a chance of finding homes.

“People from all around the country watch our website to see who is available and how long they have been in our care. It is generally seen as a positive thing that they have stayed a while as it means they will be more settled,” Ms Magee says.

BB is a handsome and strong six-year old who needs a family with some experience with dogs.

“He is an incredibly sensitive boy who has the ability to read his people’s energy.

He thrives in a calm and consistent environment with a routine that he can rely on.

He would absolutely love to have another dog as a companion, so if you’ve got a dog who you’d think would like him, we can always arrange a meet and greet.”

“For BB’s overall well-being, he will need at least one good walk a day to explore the world around him. However, if you have a spacious yard filled with enriching activities and another dog to keep him company, he won’t mind if you’re away at work during the day. It’s important to note that BB can be a bit bolshy, so he is best suited to a home with older children who can understand and respect his boundaries.

“He is patiently waiting for that special family who will provide him with the love and care he deserves.”

There is also a cat named Tom Tom who Lindy describes as a farm or barn cat rather than a lap cat.

While they particularly want to find homes for the long-stays, Lindy said there were plenty of kittens and puppies ready to be adopted

at the moment too. People can check the website where they can make an application to adopt.