Sale forces animal shelter relocation

HAPPY FAMILY: Proud adopter Roberta Bernasconi and Alfie.

By Julia West

Julie Harbin has been running the Keira Animal Shelter at the top of the Brynderwyns for twenty years. The shelter houses mostly older animals that pet owners can no longer look after and they offer two weeks of respite care for those who need a break.

The shelter is located on Carter Holt Harvey land, which was sold last year, so they are now having to relocate. 

Using a bequest from a former customer, Ms Harbin has purchased 12 acres of land in Whakapirau Road. 

“It’s off the beaten track and quiet. We’ll be able to set up respite care and geriatric care for animals as well as have a bird sanctuary,” says Ms Harbin. “It will be a nicer environment and we’ll be able to change the whole concept so that all the animals can be housed inside.” 

The move is already in progress with one building relocated and refitted and a new cattery and dog pens nearing completion. They will move the hospice and cabin in the next few weeks and aim to have the relocation complete by the end of March.

Before Christmas a woman signed adoption papers for a dog called Alfie. The little white Louchen was dropped off by a breeder who used the three-and-a-half year old to breed for two years, sold 32 of his pups, and then discarded him to avoid paying for his termination. Julie and her volunteers nursed him back to health. As the youngest dog in the shelter, he was quickly snapped up for adoption. He’s going to have a new owner and a new career. 

“I’m going to take Alfie with me as my assistant when I visit stroke patients each morning,” says proud adopter, Roberta Bernasconi from Pukekohe.

Julie uses natural therapies where possible to treat the animals but admits her vet bills can be large. 

“The stress we put on animals with canned food. Dogs have teeth, they need to chew, not eat slop. I feed my dogs everything. Meat, vegetables, pulses, barley, fruit. The oldest dog we’ve had in our care was a Collie who lived to twenty-four years and five months.”

When asked how the shelter is funded, Julie replies: “John Key is out biggest supporter – he pays my pension every week. We also have loyal supporters. A wonderful family in Dunedin support us, and a lady in Atlanta, Georgia, gives us a regular donation. We also charge adoption fees for pets that are re-homed.”

Because of the relocation, they have only seven dogs and about twenty cats in residence at the moment. But they will be fully functional and accepting and re-homing animals again at 824 Whakapirau Road by early April.