Pegasus Post: May 06, 2021
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6 Thursday <strong>May</strong> 6 <strong>2021</strong><br />
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz<br />
PEGASUS POST<br />
Some dogs have been chained up all their life<br />
• From page 5<br />
From puppies to seniors of a<br />
variety of breeds, there was always<br />
someone for every dog – but<br />
when the time was right.<br />
Weaver said that process was<br />
often a challenge as many dogs<br />
had difficulties adjusting upon<br />
arrival at the trust.<br />
Some had been chained up in<br />
backyards all their life. They were<br />
never exposed to other dogs or<br />
people, so building trust took time.<br />
“One of the most challenging<br />
things is knowing what some of<br />
these dogs have been through<br />
and knowing that sort of thing<br />
happens in our world,” he said.<br />
“But you can’t dwell on it because<br />
it’s not good for you or the<br />
dog. You’ve just got to put that<br />
behind you and try help the dog<br />
develop other behaviours that<br />
will be better suited in a family<br />
environment.”<br />
Weaver, originally from Rotorua,<br />
was one of 80 volunteers for<br />
four years prior to his election as<br />
the trust’s new chairman towards<br />
the end of last year.<br />
It was something to do when<br />
his stint in the army reserve<br />
finally came to an end; initially<br />
joining to challenge himself.<br />
Formally known as the Territorial<br />
Force, the reserve is a<br />
component of the New Zealand<br />
CARE: The Dogwatch Sanctuary Trust rescued and rehomed 160 abandoned dogs last year.<br />
Army, and is there to “fill out”<br />
the regular force.<br />
Soldiers train part-time a few<br />
weeks each year to achieve a<br />
standard good enough to join<br />
the regular force in deployments<br />
overseas, including Civil Defence<br />
matters in NZ.<br />
Working full-time as a project<br />
director for large commercial<br />
buildings, Weaver’s employer,<br />
Calder Stewart, gave him six<br />
months off work nearly a decade<br />
ago to serve in Sinai, Egypt.<br />
In 2002, he served in East Timor,<br />
during their civil war.<br />
Said Weaver: “I ended up being<br />
the assistant operations officer<br />
working in the battalion headquarters.<br />
Because of my project<br />
management background, I was<br />
also involved in starting the<br />
rebuild of some schools and medical<br />
centres that were destroyed<br />
during the civil war.<br />
“The civil war had pretty much<br />
ended, the problems there was<br />
crime more than anything else –<br />
a lot of extortion, blackmail, that<br />
sort of stuff.”<br />
The tour in Sinai saw him as a<br />
chief instructor for the Multinational<br />
Force.<br />
Similar to the United Nations,<br />
14 countries monitor the peace<br />
treaty between Egypt and Israel<br />
and provide troops to support<br />
that mission.<br />
“My job was to organise all the<br />
training and for various troops<br />
coming in from different nations<br />
to get up to the same standard,<br />
to be able to operate the equipment.”<br />
A “fair bit of shooting” during<br />
PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN<br />
the army reserve training years<br />
influenced his love of long-range<br />
rifle shooting.<br />
Weaver’s other love – his first<br />
dog – may have been a labrador<br />
collie cross, but it was the bull<br />
breeds, specifically the staffordshires,<br />
mastiffs and pitbulls that<br />
he cherished the most.<br />
“Those sorts of dogs – they’re<br />
just absolute goofballs and they’re<br />
incredibly affectionate and playful,”<br />
he said.<br />
“They’ll keep running and<br />
playing all day – just fantastic.”<br />
Cooler weather calls for cosy footwear<br />
That noticeable chill in the air we have<br />
been feeling lately signals time to put our<br />
warm-weather footwear away for a few<br />
months and opt for items that will keep<br />
our feet feeling cosy and comfortable in<br />
the coolest of weather, no matter if we<br />
are inside or out.<br />
Podiatrist Charlotte Russell, owner of<br />
The Shoe Room in Riccarton Road at<br />
Church Corner, says they are delighted<br />
to offer customers an exciting new range<br />
of winter footwear for <strong>2021</strong>, including<br />
slippers and ankle boots.<br />
Several of the slipper styles on display<br />
have adjustable openings, so not only<br />
do they fit snugly, but they are also very<br />
easy to put on, Charlotte says. Available<br />
for men and women, many also feature<br />
a removeable liner allowing for arch<br />
support to be inserted, and sturdy rubber<br />
soles for maximum warmth and comfort.<br />
The new range of stylish, high-quality<br />
ankle boots come in several designs<br />
and colours, with brands including<br />
the popular Ziera, which has a strong<br />
following in Christchurch, Charlotte<br />
notes.<br />
The Shoe Room has a wide selection of<br />
active flats available – dressy/casual<br />
footwear that is sporty yet smart, adding<br />
that extra touch of pizazz to jeans and<br />
casual trousers. The range includes the<br />
Australian Frankie 4 brand, designed<br />
by podiatrists and incorporating arch<br />
support and cushioned fitting options for<br />
added comfort.<br />
While the majority of footwear at The<br />
Shoe Room is for women, they do cater<br />
for men too, and are currently extending<br />
their range of men’s footwear.<br />
The Shoe Room’s new online store<br />
is now live, giving customers the<br />
opportunity to browse and purchase<br />
at their convenience. The site includes<br />
photographs of the shoes taken from<br />
every angle as well as information on<br />
the designs and materials used to make<br />
them. A size guide on the website shows<br />
how to measure feet, which Charlotte<br />
encourages people to use so they can be<br />
sure of ordering the right size.<br />
For all your winter footwear, visit the<br />
website www.theshoeroom.co.nz at any<br />
time, or call in at The Shoe Room, Unit 3,<br />
355 Riccarton Road, opposite the Lone<br />
Star. Opening hours are Monday 10am-<br />
5.30pm, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday<br />
and Friday 9.30am-5.30pm and Saturday<br />
10am-4pm.<br />
Ankle boots in a<br />
range of styles and<br />
colours on display<br />
at The Shoe Room.<br />
Warm, comfortable<br />
slippers from The<br />
Shoe Room will<br />
keep your feet<br />
cosy this winter.<br />
The Shoe Room is located at Unit 3, 355 Riccarton Road, opposite the Lone Star.<br />
Opening hours are Monday 10am-5.30pm, Tuesday to Friday 9.30am-5.30pm,<br />
Saturday 10am-4pm, Tuesday late night by arrangement. Off street parking available.<br />
P. (03) 929 0927 E. info@theshoeroom.co.nz www.theshoeroom.co.nz<br />
Fashionable • Functional • Footwear