SPCA's dog day weekend

Nicholas Johnson and Bee Rahmannejad will rename Marvin to Zeus. Photo / Janna Dixon

Half-price sales usually attract hordes of bargain-hunters elbowing each other out of the way for the day's cheapest deals.

But this weekend's 50 per cent off sale at Auckland's SPCA was different. People wandered through the facility carefully choosing which cute puppy to take home.

The Mangere facility is full to capacity for dogs and adoptions are down. So to attract more dog-lovers, the society slashed adoption fees for 59 dogs that needed homes immediately.

Mt Albert couple Bee Rahmannejad and Nicholas Johnson took home mastiff cross Marvin.

"He's very cute," said Rahmannejad.

Observing the barking pack of puppies, the couple were taken by the quiet pup who hung at the back of the group.

"He stood out, he was pretty chilled out. That's what grabbed us," said Johnson.

"He's going to be big - really big. His name's Marvin at the moment but I think he's going to be called Zeus."

Auckland SPCA chief executive Christine Kalin said that in the first two hours yesterday, the society managed to find homes for 10 dogs.

Another 15 dogs had been assigned to new families, subject to approval, because prospective owners were renting, had other dogs or were unsure if their property was fit for a dog and so had to undergo checks first.

"Our absolute dream would be to have the 59 dogs homed but it's also a decision that we don't want people to rush into," said Kalin.

This weekend it costs $135 to re-home a puppy and $50 to re-home a senior dog.