Ruahine Animal Rescue

19/10/2026

When you agree to foster an animal, you prepare yourself for the goodbye. You expect a few weeks of messy paws, wet patches on floors and rugs, chewed shoes, cries in the night or a mattress on the floor next to a crate and then after all that a happy pick up or a precious drive to their forever family.

Sometimes, that goodbye comes quickly.

Other times, a foster dog or cat stays for months. Sometimes over a year. We've recently had one of our foster families pass on their foster dog to a new family. But by that time he had become a huge part of their lives.
So we are here to give a huge shout out and a hug to our long term foster families.
Because...

they are there while a shy, scared puppy learns that human hands bring meals, not harm. They stay through the vet visits, skin condition resets, post-surgery crate rest, or the slow, patient unlearning of past neglect. Foster parents watch the hollow eyes turn bright, the tail start its first hesitant wag, and the frightened cat finally step out from beneath the sofa to curl up on an open lap.

Fostering isn't just "babysitting until an adoption day." It is providing a safe harbour for animals who aren't ready for the spotlight yet. It means loving an animal so deeply that you give them the luxury of time. Time to heal, decompress, and discover who they are when they aren't afraid.

Our long-term foster parents aren't failing to let go—they are holding the line until the exact right match walks through the door. They deal with the muddy towels, vet runs, and the quiet heartbreak of watching an animal wait while others find homes faster.

Without foster homes, Ruahine Animal Rescue cannot operate. It really is that simple.

To every single foster parent at Ruahine Animal Rescue—whether you have cared for an animal for two weeks or two years—a massive, heartfelt THANK YOU. You give these dogs and cats the one thing a shelter cage never can: a real home, endless patience, and a safe place to heal. We see the love, time, and heart you pour into every single soul, and we are endlessly grateful for everything you do. 🐾❤️

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Give a shout out to our fosterers.

14/10/2026

🍯💛 HONEY HAS FOUND HER FOREVER HOME! 💛🍯

Oh, Honey! 🥹❤️ We are absolutely thrilled to share that our beautiful girl has been adopted and is off to start her next chapter with her very own family! 🏡🐾

10/10/2026

10/10/2026

Thank you to all the incredible people in this video who have opened their hearts and homes to adopt these wonderful animals, inspiring others to consider adoption and showing that love knows no bounds.

10/10/2026

🐾 Meet Poppy! 🖤🤍

Look at that polite paw tuck! Gorgeous 2-year-old Poppy is looking for a gentle forever home.

Poppy likes to take things at her own pace. When meeting new friends, she prefers to observe first from a safe, cozy vantage point—whether that’s perched high on a shelf, curled up inside a favourite cardboard box, or nestled under a warm blanket.

Once she knows she’s safe and loved, her sweet personality shines through: she becomes affectionate, wonderfully playful, and deeply devoted to her humans.

Poppy’s dream home would be a calm, cozy, low-traffic environment where she can settle without stress.

Are you that patient person or family who understands that good things take time and will give her a safe sanctuary space of her own to start with lots of cozy blankets, sunny spots, and fun boxes to explore!

If you have a quiet home and a kind heart ready to welcome this sweet girl, Poppy would love to meet you.

📍Come meet Poppy at Ruahine Animal Rescue or send a dm to Ruahine Animal Rescue today to enquire about adopting Poppy!

05/10/2026

Ollie hasn't had the best start to life, he has experienced neglect and left to figure out life on his own. He feels safe around his brother Arlo, but when on his own he is scared and lacks confidence. We have been working with him, taking it slow and showing him what life can be like with gentle love and guidance, and he's starting to figure out, that actually his future could be great!
Ollie, is learning to walk on lead and basic commands, and day by day his confidence is growing.
He gets on well with other dogs, loves people, but we are unsure of how he gets on with cats.
Ollie will need a special home. He needs someone who understands that his start to life wasn't easy and is prepared to take this slow with him. With gentle guidance and positive reinforcement, Ollie's confidence will continue to grow. He is such a sweet and special boy, we know his future is looking bright!

03/10/2026

We are so fortunate to have fantastic people like Shayna doing support events like this for us.
Check out her event page below.
We look forward to seeing you there.

https://www.facebook.com/share/1HpX2K5xhu/

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19gTzFRzgr/

03/10/2026

We had such a great time out and about today supporting the Takapau Health Centre and meeting so many wonderful people. ❤️

One of the highlights was running into people who have previously adopted from Ruahine — and sometimes getting to see their beautiful furbabies again too! 🥰 There’s nothing quite like seeing our former rescue animals happy and loved in their forever homes.

Honey, Arlo and Ollie also had some lovely meet and greets and were absolute little champions. They even handled the big truck honk-off at midday like brave little troopers! 🚛📣🐶
We met so many lovely people who were interested in what we do and keen to support our rescue work, and we really appreciate everyone who stopped by for a chat, a pat, or just to say hello.

The rain unfortunately put a dampener on the last couple of hours, but that didn’t stop us having a great day! 🌧️❤️

Thank you Takapau for having us — we had a blast! 🐾
#🐾 ‼️

01/10/2026

🍯 Take a look at our beautiful Honey. Our cuddle bug is looking for her forever home! 🐾💛
Honey is an absolute sweetheart who is ready to steal your heart! If you are looking for a loyal, affectionate girl whose favourite place in the world is right by your side, Honey might just be your perfect match.

Honey is happiest simply being part of the family pack. Whether you're pottering around the house or relaxing on the couch, she just wants to be wherever her humans are.

A few quick facts about Honey:

Lamb-approved: Currently living alongside foster orphan lambs and is fantastic with them! 🐑

Dog-friendly: Gets along wonderfully with her foster dog brothers.

Kid-friendly: Gentle, sweet, and lovely with children.

Manners & Training: Crate trained, sits politely to wait for her dinner, and lets you trim her nails without a fuss.

Out & About Champion: Recently aced a socialisation tour visiting vet clinics, strolling through town, and exploring down by the river—handled it all with calm, controlled obedience!

Things to know:
Honey is inquisitive about cats. Her foster family has been teaching her that cats are meant for "polite sniffing only," so her new family will need to keep up with that consistent guidance. She’s also a bit of a dramatic sweetheart—she can be a classic big sook when told "no" and will playfully let you know she isn’t impressed!

Honey would thrive with a family wanting a true companion or anyone looking for a devoted shadow to share everyday life with.

Could Honey be the missing piece to your family?

👉 Send Ruahine Animal Rescue a message today to learn more or fill out an adoption application! Also you can head on over to the Takapau Auto Fair and Market Day this Saturday and meet Honey and our other lovely dogs Arlo and Ollie.

01/10/2026

Caesar loving life