PAC celebrates first birthday

The Pukekohe Adoption and Education Centre is celebrating its first anniversary this weekend.

In its first year, the centre rehomed 222 dogs and transferred 29 others to rescue partners. Part of its success is due to the centres ‘walk-on’ adoption model.

This involves screening potential new owners very carefully; having conversations with them, introducing them to the dogs, and giving useful advice. This helps ensure that dogs are paired with the right owners.

Auckland Council’s centre manager Carly Triska says visitors arrive with misconceptions about shelter dogs.

“When people meet our dogs, they’re often surprised by how gentle and affectionate shelter dogs can be.

“Adopting a dog from a shelter comes with unique benefits for both pets and families. Shelter dogs often come already socialised and vetted, making it easier to find the perfect match for your lifestyle.

“Every adoption helps reduce overcrowding, supports local animal care and reminds us that love doesn’t have to be bought – it can be adopted.”

Chair of the Regulatory and Safety Committee, Councillor Josephine Bartley, says that despite the win, problem dogs are an ongoing concern that still needs fixing.

“The facility has allowed council to care for more animals, but it should not be seen as the solution to roaming and uncontrolled dogs.

“This centre has allowed us to safely house and rehome more dogs, and that’s something to be proud of.

“But let’s be clear, we shouldn’t need facilities like this on the scale we do. Too many dogs are roaming, breeding, and ending up in council care because their owners haven’t taken responsibility.

“If you own a dog, you need to step up. Desex them. Register them. Keep them contained. Train them. These are basic responsibilities, and they make our communities safer for everyone, including the dogs themselves.”

The centre is asking people to come down on Sunday, March 15, at 15 Austen Place, Pukekohe. The event will be from 11am until 1pm, and Triska says that past adoptees and their owners will be coming back to help celebrate this milestone.

“We have invited some of our previous adopters back with dogs that have been adopted from us, and it’s a way to celebrate how far we’ve come in that first year, and to see all the love, happiness, and successful adoptions that have happened.

“We will also have the shelter open, so anyone who hasn’t adopted but is interested is more than welcome, see the dogs we have available, and just enjoy the day.”

As well as meeting the dogs, there will also be fun and games, like ‘pin the rego tag on the dog’, and competitions for the dogs visiting on the day. Prizes and giveaways will also be included.

“I think it’s so important to see it, it shows the work that the Pukekohe Adoption Centre staff do. I think it’s good being able to see the dogs have been adopted, that they’ve gone out to good matches, to good homes.

“We really do try and find the dogs the right fit, so it’s important for us to see those successes,” said Triska.

• Pukekohe Adoption and Education Centre celebrations, Sunday, March 15, 11am to 1pm, 15 Austen Place, Pukekohe.