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A day in the life of Becs, at Te Puke Animal Shelter

Every dog in our animal shelters has story, but so do the people who look after them.

Becs, works part time at Te Puke Animal Shelter. She's given us a sneak peek of what it’s like to work at the shelter.

Hi I’m Becs and I’ve been working at the Te Puke Animal Shelter for just over 2.5 years.

A typical morning for me at the shelter begins with lots of happy barks, tail wags and cuddles from the dogs who can’t wait to come outside for playtime, runs and ball fetches.

Becs takes the dogs outside every morning for some exercise and fun out in the yard. Then she cleans their pen while they get some fresh air. This is Becs and Trig, a Whippet X with a heart of gold.

The majority of dogs that come into the shelter have been picked up because they’ve been roaming. Their stay can vary from a day to a few days. We occasionally get dogs surrendered to us for different reasons, which we assess and can rehome. Other dogs we get in the shelter are dogs that have been seized, which can be for a number of reasons ranging from unregistered dogs to different types of offending.

Becs and dog Neville, a pointer cross

Becs and Neville, a Pointer X. Neville got his name from one of the Animal Services Officer's who said she'd never met a mean Neville 😍

We have a really good adoption program at the shelter and it’s always nice to spend some extra time working with these dogs, getting them used to walking on a lead, teaching them simple commands and getting them ready for life back out in a new home.

My favourite part of the job is just working with the dogs, knowing that however long they are in the shelter with us for, I’ve made a positive impact in their lives. I’ve had dogs come into the shelter very timid, not knowing how to play, or just scared of the world and it’s so rewarding to see them grow confidence, learn to trust people and learn that life isn’t always cruel and scary.

Becs tidying up soft toys left on the floor inside by boisterous pups

"I spend a lot of my time cleaning" says Becs, who is tidying up some soft toys thrown around by one of the residents pups.

We get the odd fence jumper in the shelter that thinks it’s great fun to jump the 2 meter plus high fences. But my most memorable moment was when I had just put a dog outside in the exercise yard, walked back inside to clean their pen, when I heard loud noises above me on the roof. My first thought was that someone was trying to break in to get their dog back but when I went outside to see what it was, the proud, hairy face of a dog was staring back at me from on top of the roof!! It took dog roll and lots of patience to coax him back down the way he came. Thankfully uninjured.

Becs is putting dog roll into a puzzle for Neville to solve

The dogs are given puzzles and treats to ensure their minds stay active. Becs is using some pieces of dog roll to keep Neville entertained (he stole some off the bench while she wasn't looking).

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