Facebook is saving dogs in Oamaru.
And it is all thanks to a Oamaru dog lover who created a social networking page to find new homes for impounded dogs.
The North Otago rehoming ex-pound page was started by animal control officer Katelin Fleming to find new owners for dogs and save them from being euthanised. About 33 dogs have been rehomed since she started the page in February.
In the previous nine months, only 14 dogs had gone to new homes.
''People are really happy someone's out there doing something,'' Miss Fleming said.
''I don't think people realise there are dogs out there being put to sleep.''
At present, the pound had two ''really lovely, really nice'' dogs which needed new homes, Miss Fleming said.
From today, Oamaru dogs will have more places to stretch their legs, leash-free. The Waitaki District Council is opening up two new off-leash dog-exercise areas as a temporary alternative to Cape Wanbrow, which is closed for logging operations.
Council recreation manager Erik van der Spek said two new routes at Fenwick Park would be opened up for dogs in addition to the Salesyards Rd area.
''One route will use the formed walking track to the top of the hill and link back down to the park via the ridge. A longer marked route will also be provided following the small creek at the base of the hill.''
Tracks in the Glens Reserve would also be opened up, but dogs would have to be kept on a leash in areas still being grazed there, he said.
Maps of the off-leash tracks were available from the council service centre and Oamaru veterinary clinics.
For information on adopting ex-pound dogs, contact the Waitaki District Council on 433-0300.
- David de Lorean.
