Charity prepares for adoption

The dog thrown off the Wairoa Bridge is expected to be ready for adoption as soon as next week, with plenty of people expected to line-up to be her new owners.

Charity, a chocolate coloured adult female Shar-Pei Labrador, was thrown off the bridge on June 17 by offenders who are yet to be identified.


Tauranga SPCA animal welfare inspector Anna Porteous with Charity who was thrown off the Wairoa Bridge in June. Photo: Tracy Hardy.

Since then Tauranga SPCA staff have taken the dog under their wing ensuring she is ready to make the transition to a new environment.

A process that will be long after arriving a timid and scared of humans following the ordeal, says Tauranga SPCA animal welfare inspector Anna Porteous.

'This isn't a process you want to rush. It takes some time.

'She is really good around people she knows now, but strangers she is still wary of.”

This week Charity is spending the evenings with Anna before going out for adoption. The next step after getting out and about, meeting people and going for walks with different volunteers while at the Tauranga SPCA shelter.

Anna says the SPCA would see how she is with small children to decide if she would best suit a family environment or not.

'Charity has been coming out of her shell a lot more. We are getting tail wags and bounciness. She is coming along quite nicely.

'We will be looking for a home that is going to understand [her background] and work with her because it will be a long process for her to get through everything.”

When SunLive broke the story there was an outpouring of support for Charity, many immediately offering homes for adoption.

Something Anna expects will continue once expressions of interest open, but has a word of warning.

'It's been a few weeks now and we are hoping to get good solid offers and find the right people to match her with.”

Investigations are continuing into who threw Charity off the bridge.

Anyone with any information are to call the Tauranga SPCA on 07 578 0245.

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