Bobby dazzler support for retired working dogs

Bobbie and Archie play.

Dog Bobbie and his brother Reggie had a difficult start in life after work. 

Rather than being retired working dog they were rescued from a property in Taumaranui. The local pound contacted the Retired Working Dogs (RWD) charity in the hopes a forever home could be found to care for the two large adolescent mutts.

Back in South Wairarapa a young family, the McKenna’s, were looking to expand their pack.

Their nine-year-old dog Harlem needed a friend and while Cat McKenna had been watching the rescue websites it was husband Cam who first saw Bobbie on Facebook. 

“Bobbie’s photo looked exactly like Harlem did at that age. We couldn’t resist and phoned Natalie (RWD’s adoption coordinator) almost immediately.”

The McKennas’, including toddler Archie, prefer to rescue their pets rather than buy a pedigree. “What would happen to all the retired or rescued dogs who need homes if everyone brought a puppy,” says Cam.

Cat and Cam were prepared to put the work in to help Bobbie settle into his new family.

“Bobbie arrived severely underweight. He would inhale his food, worried there might not be more soon. It was really hard to watch.” 

“We introduced him first to Harlem when we went to collect him from foster care in Hawkes Bay, and then to Archie and Otis (their rescued cat) on lead.”

“From the first Bobbie has been very gentle with Archie and was thrilled to meet Harlem.” 

Otis took a little longer to be convinced the family needed another dog but has accepted the situation now.

Cam and Cat recommend adopting a dog through RWD because of the detailed behaviour information they provide about each dog. 

“Knowing how a dog will be with children, cats and other dogs at the start helps decide whether this is the best dog for your lifestyle.”

Their advice when planning to adopt:

“Bringing them home, like a newborn baby, is just the beginning. Give it time, put in the effort to make them part of the family. They need to unlearn how they worked/behaved at their old place and get into the routine with a new family.”

Robbie’s brother Reggie is in foster care and looking for his own family.

 Check out www.retiredworkingdogs.org.nz to discover all the out-of-work dogs looking for new homes. 

One way to support RWD’s work is to purchase one of its calendars. Calendar sales are used to cover the considerable vet bills and other costs the charity incurs.