|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Love is in the air for unwanted dogs this Valentine’s Day, with a new initiative by Auckland Council.
Pukekohe Adoption and Education Centre manager Carly Triska says ‘Puppy Love’ is a new website where people looking for dogs to adopt can find one that best suits them.
“Our new initiative is a website where you can go and have a look at all the dogs available
for adoption at all our Auckland Council shelters. It’s set up almost like Tinder, where people can swipe through different photos of dogs.
“They can filter and search based on a dog’s age, breed, and what the dog needs in a home, to see whether they’re a good fit with cats, other dogs, and kids.”
The council has used social media for years to encourage people to adopt pets, but received complaints that many people could not see their posts.
The solution was to create a website dedicated to pet adoption that showcased all the dogs
available for adoption in one place for a global audience.
All dogs’ profiles are linked to the shelters where they are held, which streamlines the
adoption process.
“The more attention these dogs get, the more that are adopted, the more dogs can come
through (to the shelter). We say for every one dog adopted, it’s two dogs saved, meaning one dog goes to a new home, and another takes its place,” says Triska.
The website will launch tomorrow, Valentine’s Day, which will also be a dog adoption event from 11 am until 1pm at the Auckland Domain, where the centre will have a range of dogs from different council shelters available for adoption.
Triska says that when choosing dogs for the website criteria is based on temperament, not on their breed, and that all dogs must pass temperament tests before being included.
She noted that a pitbull has been included on the ‘Puppy Love’ website, and a Rotweiler
named Cersei has racked up 700 likes already on Facebook and other social media channels.
“This event is ‘Puppy Love’ in action. Our new website makes it easy to connect with dogs at Auckland Council shelters, giving every dog the chance to be seen, loved, and chosen.
Love is in the air at Auckland Council shelters this Valentine’s Day. ‘Puppy Love’ isn’t just a
feeling, it’s saving lives, one adoption at a time,” says Triska.
Auckland councillor Josephine Bartley says that initiatives like ‘Puppy Love’ gave
abandoned dogs a second chance at loving homes.
“It’s important because we have so many dogs in council shelters that need loving homes, and I applaud the way Animal Management has used Valentine’s Day and copied Tinder and
dating apps to get more attention. I hope people can open their hearts to these dogs that
deserve happiness.”
The council says on Valentine’s Day, if you’re tired of bad dates, single or coupled, or just ready for a love that involves muddy paws and happy greetings at the door, it recommends giving “Puppy Love” a go.
Because sometimes, the best relationships start with the wag of a tail.
