We Love Dogs

Wendy Richards from Volunteering New Plymouth

Have you heard of We Love Dogs Charitable Trust?
What are they about and What do they do you ask??
They are a Taranaki based charity. They believe that dogs provide positive benefits to the physical and mental health of their owners, families and the community.


The trust focuses on:
• rehoming on behalf of owners, and
• desexing dogs

due to the huge need out there in our community. Various factors result in an increase of requests to help rehome dogs and WLDs does not judge the owners on why. The focus is on the best welfare and outcome for the dog. Their fosters have been over-worked – hence the move to rehoming on behalf and seeking foster support only in dire welfare cases.

In 2023, they ceased rehoming dogs and moved to the rehome on behalf model. The process can take some time for the owners and dogs, so time needs to be allowed. This is an on-behalf process to help the owners and applicants meet and greet the dogs needing help, and ensure the new home is suitable. We Love Dogs advertise and put potential new owners in touch with the current owner.

WLD does take on puppies from time to time. They also have supported owners whose puppies need support for nutrition, vaccinations and vet checks to help in the rehoming process. The pups they help are all up for adoption, and many have attended the puppy and adolescent class with the wonderful Gabbie from Bark Off NZ.

With their desex programme WLD have received funding support from NZCat/SPCA and DIA to help implement the programme within Taranaki. WLD has organised and scheduled over 150 surgeries through the programme to date. With the support of New Plymouth Vet Group and Vets 4 Pets and other funding they plan to continue this service.

We Love Dogs is supported by volunteers who donate their time to liaise with dog owners, fundraising activities, quiz night, and Barket events.

The Barkets continue to be wonderful events with many people enjoying the amazing atmosphere. These are advised on the We Love Dogs Barket Facebook and WLD are hugely grateful for the support of Mad Media who support the trust utilising their billboard screen in Fitzroy and Liardet / Devon Street Look out for their Barkets, that help bring the dog community together.

They also need to fundraise for fuel vouchers for the foster carers and volunteers so that they are not out of pocket when they help out.

WLD have a number of programmes they would like to start but do not have the resources to do so. These includes:

• Reading to Dogs, for children to practice their reading in a non-judgemental environment
• Home visits to those who can no longer have dogs but would love a visit.
• School visits to educate children on dog body language, how to approach dogs good dog ownership etc.

The plan is to develop these programmes as the volunteer base grows and they look forward to bringing these to you.

Keep up to date with what we are doing through their website, Facebook page, and Instagram

Where can you learn more? If you are keen to learn more about, We Love Dogs , listen to Access Radio on Sunday April 13th at 2pm. This show is also available to listen to on Spotify and Apple Podcast on the Monday after the show has aired - to find this go the either Access Radio Taranaki website and these recordings can be found under Community or to Volunteering New Plymouth website and look under Volunteers and Volly Calls.

Who can you contact?
If this sounds interesting to you then contact us at Volunteering New Plymouth Wendy admin@vnp.nz or check We Love Dogs out on Facebook

If you do not have access to the internet, then contact Wendy by phoning 06 758 8986 / text 022 571 4228 for more information.

Graham Ault, Volunteering New Plymouth’s volunteer show interviewer & Marie had the privilege of having Denis Putt as a guest on our Radio show Volly Voices with Access Radio Taranaki 104.4FM which is aired on Sundays at 2pm.