Homeless dog happy after diet and learning English

GISBORNE - A homeless Gisborne dog that used to understand only Chinese language, has learned English, lost 40kg, and found a loving family to live with.

Last September, labrador-cross John-Boy was grieving, overweight and without an owner after a life of luxury with his 86-year-old owner Fong Wong came to an abrupt end.

Mr Wong had a stroke and was forced to move to a rest home in Auckland, leaving his beloved pet behind. John-Boy saved his life two years ago after his first stroke in the shower - the dog kept him warm for two to three days until someone found him.

Mr Wong's nephew, Gisborne Mayor Meng Foon, said John-Boy was Mr Wong's baby. He did not have any children and did not marry.

He did not want John-Boy to be put down and gave the SPCA a sizable donation to help look after him and home him.

The dog used to lie in bed with Mr Wong and there would be two TVs going - one for him and one for the dog.

He had also been over-indulged with food, eating sponge cake for morning and afternoon tea.

The SPCA put him on a diet and started English as second language lessons. But getting used to life without the luxuries he had become accustomed to was hard, said SPCA manager Lesley Lousich.

"He was a quick learner but he was really in grief. It was so hard for him. He had that sad, depressed look in his eyes."

SPCA efforts to find him a new home were fruitless until Rachael and Damon Bellamy approached them two months ago looking for a guard dog because their Gisborne home had been burgled a few times.

"We were a bit hesitant at first because he had been so spoiled but the thing that clinched it was that he barked at people walking past the front fence," Mrs Bellamy said.

"The mandarin tree would normally have been stripped by people helping themselves but it's still loaded now we have John-Boy in the yard.

"He is so good with our kids. We have eight children and one grandchild between us and he is great with them.

"He is really fitting in with us and doing exactly what we want him to do ... be a good guard dog."

When Ms Lousich saw John-Boy last week, she was amazed at the change in him.

"Rachael brought him out and you could see there is such a difference, not just in his health ... you can see the grief is gone from his eyes."

- NZPA