The SPCA is looking for a very special dog owner. The only complication is it hasn't given that person their very special dog yet.
That dog is called Banjo and she managed to survive alone in the rugged and cold Hunua Ranges south of Auckland for days, even though she's blind and deaf.
Now the SPCA wants to find Banjo a new home.
"She's a little bit lean but no worse for wear and tear - obviously a few confidence issues and that sort of thing. It's all new and scary stuff," says SPCA trainer Kevin Plowright.
Banjo was found by a member of the public and brought to the SPCA. Mr Plowright has made it his mission to train her - something that isn't easy given Banjo's impairments.
"A lot of it is touch going on, getting her to sit, guidance with the hand and utilising everything because I don't know what senses she's picking up," he says.
He's trying to give her extra skills to survive because although Banjo has already shown how tough she is, Mr Plowright reckons she was found just in time.
"It'd be unlikely that a dog in her sort of condition would survive much longer in that environment; she would plummet downhill quickly."
Mr Plowright has been looking after Banjo in his own home, but wants a member of the public to adopt her full-time.
Banjo is just one of dozens of puppies desperately in need of a home.
The problem facing the SPCA is that too often people like the idea of adopting a puppy, but don't fully understand the commitment. The SPCA wants to make sure each dog is placed in the right home.
There are 30 dogs including Banjo at the Auckland SPCA right now waiting for a new owner, and while the others aren't blind and deaf like Banjo, it's also a good bet they're not as cute.
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