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One of the region’s principal dog rescue services, Country Retreat Animal Sanctuary, is closing due to the health of one of its owners, Helen Cook.
Husband Gavin announced the decision to close the rescue in a heartfelt social media post last Thursday, August 15.
“The last five years doing the rescue in particular has taken a toll on Helen’s physical, emotional and mental wellbeing,” he said. “What this means is that Helen has had to step back from running the sanctuary and I have made the decision to not accept any more rescues and to rehome the remaining dogs we have. Once these dogs have gone, the sanctuary will be closed.”
The decision comes just a month after the publication of Helen’s book, Good Dogs, which features some of the stars of The Dog House TV series that was filmed at Country Retreat last year, together with practical advice on keeping a dog.
Helen said at the time there was no way any rescue could keep up with the snow-balling numbers of dogs that needed rescuing and rehoming.
“In the last week of June, we took on 17 more dogs, but we had to turn away 74. It’s never-ending,” she said.
“My ideal situation would be that we’re not needed. I would love it if we didn’t have to do what we do and get home from a rescue crying my eyes out.”
Gavin said they would always remember fondly the more than 800 dogs they had saved and rehomed, and thanked all the sanctuary volunteers, donors, adopters and others involved.
“It is impossible to say how much gratitude we have for you and what you have done,” he said.
A final dog adoption day was due to be held in central Auckland last Saturday, August 17.
Gavin added that the Country Retreat boarding facility for dogs and cats would remain open at Pohuehue.
Info: Country Retreat Animal Sanctuary on Facebook or call 021 225 6940.
