Her best friends: Tina Harding

Tina Harding is a name synonymous with the canine community in Canterbury.

She’s been involved with dogs since the age of 14, spending her hard-earned pocket money to buy her first canine fur-baby.

During the last 45 years, Tina has owned an assortment of pedigree and rescue dogs, and been an active participant, for four decades, in dog shows all around New Zealand. “A little bit of obedience and agility and lure coursing,” she explains.

During that time her love of dogs has also contributed to several roles with purebred dog clubs, as secretary, treasurer, newsletter editor, working committee member, and rescue officer, as well as a vet nurse for 15 years.

“I was part of K9 Rescue and Rehoming, which has since closed, picking up dogs from the pound or taking on abandoned dogs, or those people couldn’t manage, and fundraising to help desex and rehome these dogs.”

Tina is happiest caring for dogs, and supports many organisations, such as Dogwatch, in Christchurch.

“I am admin on a few pet pages, along with lost and found pets in the city. The main page is Christchurch pets with 24,000 members who share their pets, their ideas, help needed… people often just need help or reassurance. I often receive private messages requesting help with unwell pets, the need to rehome, or those looking for help with pet food. This is almost a full time job any time of the day or night!”

Tina’s top tip

“The best advice I could give anyone looking for a new dog is do your research and choose a dog that fits your lifestyle. An active dog needs an active owner, coated dogs need monthly grooming etc. Think about whether you have time available to train and exercise the dog. Do you know what’s required by way of vaccines, feeding, registration, microchipping, grooming, trainability, desexing, worming, and is that affordable for you? The biggest problem I see seems to be people taking on a dog they aren’t equipped to cope with. There’s the puppy stage then its teenage years. A dog will become a problem if it has not been brought up correctly, often ending badly for animal and owner.”