Mutts and Muscles on Display to Help Dogs in Need

The ultimate drool fest for dog-loving ladies will take place on June 12 when Chained Dog Awareness New Zealand (CDANZ) launches its inaugural ‘Hunks and Hounds’ fundraising calendar.

The July 2015 to December 2016 calendar features tasteful black and white images of famous and everyday canine lovers, cosied up with dogs and puppies rescued by the charity organisation.

Famous faces to grace the calendar pages include: musician Tiki Taane; Shortland Street actors Pua Magasiva, Jayden Daniel, Jarod Rawiri,Reuben Milner and Sam Bunkall; Almightly Johnsons actor Ben Barrington; Step Dave star Jono Keyton; Paralympic gold medallist Cameron Leslie, businessman Tenby Powell, professional boxer Shane Cameron and a host of other names.

Amanda Fraser-Jones, CDANZ Trustee, says the calendar showcases the range of dogs the organisation has successfully rescued and rehomed, as well as those in need of fostering and adopting.

“We’re beyond excited to have so many names supporting this cause and offering themselves up as models” says Fraser-Jones. “Just as our rescue dogs come in all shapes and sizes, so do hunky men! We’ve tried to reflect this in our calendar by matching our dogs and puppies with men from all walks of life.”

Founded in 2001 by Christine Breen, the volunteer-run organisation want a law passed in New Zealand which bans the life-chaining of dogs. Fraser-Jones says the act of permanently tethering a dog is cruel and inhumane and until a law can be enforced, her organisation will continue to be inundated with work in rescuing mistreated dogs.

“It’s heartbreaking to visit a property and see a dog chained to a post 24/7, covered in its own faeces and crying out for some kind of interaction or affection. You wouldn’t want to live like this – and neither should a dog.”

The organisation offers support and education to owners willing to accept help, including assisting with desexing, training and other costs. If a dog does not receive proper care, or is seriously ill or harmed, the organisation encourages the owners to relinquish the dog into its care.

Actor Ben Barrington, star of the calendar’s October page, says: “To condemn these intelligent, sociable and sensitive animals to an existence of solitude and neglect on the end of a chain is truly unacceptable. Life chaining is a brutal, cruel practice that mustn’t be tolerated in New Zealand...or anywhere.”

All funds raised from the calendar will support CDANZ’s life-changing work.

The calendar goes on sale on Friday June 12 and can be purchased online via www.cdanz.org or by email to cdanzfundraising@gmail.com.

For more information about fostering, adopting, volunteering or donating, visit: www.cdanz.org.

Launch event

A special launch event will take place on Friday June 12, at Aotea Square in Auckland, from 12 – 2pm. Members of the public are encouraged to come along to meet some of the calendar’s hunks and hounds - including musician Tiki Taane. Calendars will be on sale at the launch.

Tiki Taane and Haylee, pictured above.

Please contact Terri Heard at terri@communeco.com to obtain high res images from the calendar or ‘before and after’ images of CDANZ rescue dogs.