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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

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