27 January, 2021

It’s a dog’s life at Mt Cambria

What started as a small group of volunteer guide-dog puppy raisers, bringing their labradors out to socialise, has grown to see up to 30 different dogs and their owners gather at Takararo / Mt Cambria Reserve every Wednesday morning.

“This group has been going for years and it’s a lovely gathering for our young dogs,” says local resident Jenni Vaile.

Vaile has been involved in giving labrador puppies a home to grow up in, before they go through formal guide dog training, for almost 10 years. With her last week was an older dog, Elle, whom she adopted after fostering the now 12-year-old through three litters.

The group used to meet on the back field at Fort Takapuna and at Woodall Park, both in Narrow Neck, before they settled on the perfect enclosed spot of Takaroro.

Devonport labrador lovers, Jill Mayo and David Noon, are also long-time volunteers. They recently had to say goodbye to their dog Peggy, who passed away. Mayo and Noon then adopted a rescue dog named Joy and they continue to join the group on Wednesdays.

Noon supplies a large bowl of water for the dogs at the gathering. “This meeting is fantastic and we love it. It’s great for the dogs and people to socialise,” he says.

“The dogs seem to know when Wednesdays come around and have lots of anticipation getting to the reserve.”

Noon said having the social network meant dogs didn’t have to go to kennels when people went on holidays, because friends made at the weekly sessions were often happy to help out.

Mayo said other positives of the gatherings was that people learned how to approach dogs and dogs learned how to socialise with each.

“One important thing is remembering to pick up the poos,” she added.

Robert Weber has been looking after a couple of one-year-old labradors named Inka and Skila. When Skila did not pass her final training as a guide dog, Weber signed up to adopt her.

Vaile said it was not uncommon for labradors to fail their guide-dog training but many of them got adopted by their volunteer raisers.

Bayswater resident Helen Ryan has been fostering labrador puppies for a few years now. “We get them when they are about eight weeks old and look after them for a year before they go into training,” she explained. Her current charge is Fern, who looks likely to pass in the guide-puppy programme.

Tania Young adopted her labrador, Flow, after she was withdrawn from the training programme and says: “The group has expanded to more than just labradors and has become a really nice community for people who love their dogs.”