Last month, Pound Paws Rescue had more than 40 dogs and pups in their care, spread across 15 foster homes, and while that number had since reduced, calls to surrender dogs were continuing.
Waimate-based Pound Paws trustee and foster mum Toni DeRooy said those inquiries were coming from all across South Canterbury as well as Otago, Southland, and Christchurch.
Ms DeRooy said the cost of living crisis might have been contributing to the rise in numbers, but it was not all down to affordability.
As well as dogs received from the pound, many of the dogs needing new homes were due to people moving to a rental which did not allow pets.
She said while people might have known for some time they were about to leave, sadly a lot of pet owners left it until the last week to surrender their dog.
While some situations where a dog was being surrendered could be avoided by assistance from the team, she said owners taking up a pet-free property usually had made up their mind.
But in other cases — where the dog was surrendered for financial reasons like being unable to afford dog food or surgery —
the organisation might be able to avoid the dog having to be rehomed.
"If it is financial we will offer assistance as able."
The group had also received animals from breeders who were having trouble selling them, and had reached out for help.
Ms DeRooy was thankful they had come to them rather than listing them for free on Trade Me.
In rural areas, there were failed farm dogs and accidental litters.
In the case of failed farm dogs, she said they translated easily from the kennel to the couch in front of the fire, and were quickly house-trained.
The most important thing was to get them the vet care they desperately needed, as many — if not most — arrived in pain.
The group hoped owners of working and hunting dogs would reconsider getting their dogs spayed and neutered.
When collecting those pups the rescue always offered to desex the parents for free, but it was often turned down.
She said there was an urban myth that desexing dogs made them lazy.
"There is no scientific evidence to support that."
A couple of weeks off work to recover from the operation saved the ongoing hassle of keeping entire dogs separate.
"Accidental litters are extremely common and completely avoidable."
She said it was still the same old advice to get dogs desexed and to be a part of the solution and not a part of the problem.
In many cases, people were wanting the dogs picked up immediately.
She felt people might be confused in thinking that Pound Paws had a facility where they could house the dogs.
"We don’t have a facility. We would love a facility, if anyone wants to give us a facility?"
If there were no foster carers free they advertised on social media for assistance, and worked hard to match up the dog to a suitable foster carer to ensure the animal was set up for success and not passed around further.
The group would not advertise dogs in the community that had not been desexed.
"We have a plan in place to ensure it is done first."
Nine times out of 10, surrendered dogs were not fixed.
"We currently have seven dogs in long-term foster care."
That could be for palliative care, medical issues or emotional and behaviour issues.
"Some are just not up to coping with the world."
She said there had been a big increase in the number of dogs needing vet care when they arrived.
Ms DeRooy has been a part of Pound Paws for eight years.
"I go to the vets’ more than the supermarket."
Her first foster had been a dog called Gypsy who had been left in a backyard for a couple of weeks.
"Adopted parents are pretty much the only people I get Christmas cards from."
She felt fostering was very addictive.
"They turn up packed with worms and packed with fleas with balloon bellies and prominent ribs, and they’ve gone through trauma.
"And then — however many weeks later — someone comes to meet them and you release the puppies and they come charging out fat and happy.
"You watch them fall in love.
"We check in, ‘how are you going?’ and you get replies like ‘oh, we went to the beach today’."
Then photos would arrive of the dog celebrating its adoption day.
"Each of us find that the most emotive and rewarding bit."
Ms DeRooy will be at Animates Timaru with some of the pups and dogs available this Sunday from 11am to 2pm.
