Animal paradise in Pohuehue

A new animal sanctuary planned for Pohuehue will go beyond caring for the residents’ feeding, watering and health needs, and seek to enhance their emotional and psychological wellbeing at the same time.

Gavin and Helen Cook gave up careers in human resources and teaching six years ago to found their Country Retreat for Dogs and Cats, which takes care of animals when their owners go on holiday.

A few months ago, they bought a further 3ha of land to realise their dream of setting up their own animal sanctuary to care for animals with nowhere to go and no one to look after them.

Already, the sanctuary has rescued four goats, two pigs, six peacocks and a clutch of ducks, chickens, dogs and cats.

The sanctuary will have dedicated areas for puppies and old dogs and, in time, the couple anticipate the range of animals will broaden to include things like donkeys and alpacas.

“It will be whatever needs looking after until they find a home,” Helen says.

Though she adds they will probably draw the line at, say, bulls, as the couple want a place that it is safe for families to visit and where children can feed the animals.   

Helen says the sanctuary will not be about sticking animals in a paddock and forgetting about them.

Instead, the couple are intent on creating a space where the creatures have plenty of things to play with and amuse themselves, and there will be lots of human interaction to encourage the animals to become as friendly as possible.

Already, the sanctuary’s enclosure for goats features lots of elevated runs and towers for the animals to climb on and run around.

Helen says goats like to be up high and also like to keep their feet dry when it is wet.   

People will be able to adopt the animals, but Helen says only after the sanctuary has established that they will be properly cared for and not eaten.

Animals that are not adopted will live out their natural lives at the sanctuary. They will not be put down.

Gavin and Helen are currently in the process of securing charitable status for their sanctuary and plan a range of fundraising activities and securing the help of volunteers to keep it going.

Info: To find out more and to help with fundraising and volunteering, phone Gavin or Helen on 425 8676.