Charity urges people to buy mixed breed dogs to curb pedigree puppy thefts
Animal rights group SAFE is appealing to dog lovers to buy mixed breeds from shelters to deter pedigree puppy thefts.
The plea follows an apparent spike in valuable purebred dogs being stolen around the country.
Chief executive officer Debra Ashton said SAFE had seen a rise in the number of stolen pedigree pooches reported on social media.
“It's cruelty in the highest degree both for the animals and for the families that are having their dogs stolen.
“This is completely unacceptable and the community together needs to fight against it.”
Ashton recommends people go to animal charities which are “screaming out” for good loving homes instead of buying expensive pedigrees from “puppy mills”.
This could help to “nip the theft business in the bud” by reducing demand, she said.
Ashton urged people to be aware of animals being stolen for dog fighting to speak out, and to question new pet owners about where they got their pedigrees.
The price of puppies is believed to be skyrocketing due to more demand after the Covid-19 lockdown.
“I’ve heard figures of around $4000 to $8000 which is phenomenal for purchasing a dog,” Ashton said.
Cavoodle puppies – a hybrid of a cavalier king charles spaniel and a poodle – are selling on Trade Me for $6000, golden retriever puppies for $4000 and Dobermans for $3000 a pup.
Trade Me has seen 28,000 searches for puppies in the last week - a 34 per cent jump on the same time last year.
Would you prefer to buy a pedigree pooch or a mixed breed puppy?
Why?
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Poll: Should the government levy industries that contribute to financial hardship?
As reported in the Post, there’s a $30 million funding gap in financial mentoring. This has led to services closing and mentors stepping in unpaid just to keep helping people in need 🪙💰🪙
One proposed solution? Small levies on industries that profit from financial hardship — like banks, casinos, and similar companies.
So we want to hear what you think:
Should the government ask these industries to contribute?
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58.6% Yes, supporting people is important!
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25.5% No, individuals should take responsibility
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15.8% ... It is complicated
A Neighbourly Riddle! Don’t Overthink It… Or Do?😜
Do you think you know the answer? Simply 'Like' this post if you know the answer and the big reveal will be posted in the comments at 2pm on the day!
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Night-time chipsealing works on SH2
From 9 to 17 February, stop/go traffic management will be in place on SH2 between McPherson Road and Dimmock Road on multiple nights between 9pm and 5am (Sundays to Thursdays).
During the day, all lanes will be open, but speed restrictions will apply to allow the chipseal to set and to protect vehicles travelling over the newly laid surface.
There may be delays to your journey when travelling through the area. This is weather dependent so check NZTA Journey Planner before you travel.
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