New Zealand Warriors walk rescue dogs from the Central Coast Animal Care Facility
They are away from home, missing their families and four legged loves ones. However the Warriors have found a way to fill the gap by making friends with our local rescue dogs.
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The New Zealand Warriors have been spotted out and about on the street of Terrigal, walking, running and playing with local rescue dogs – and they are loving every minute of it.
The rugby league team are sorely missing their family, friends and pets back home, however have found a way to cope.
The Warriors football operations manager Dan Floyd said under the NRL’s biosecurity protocols, the team hasn’t been allowed to go out for walks or leave their accommodation at Star of the Sea.
“There was a clause in the protocols that if you had a dog you could take it for a walk,” Mr Floyd told the Express.
“We figured we’d see if there was a rescue place nearby which allowed people to take dogs out.”
The Warriors contacted the staff at Central Coast Animal Care Facility who drove up 12 dogs on Tuesday for the squad to walk down to The Haven.
“We had about 12 of the squad out there with the dogs we well as our head coach,” Mr Floyd said.
“They were very keen. We have a lot of boys who are missing their dogs from home. It was also a chance to get the rescue dogs out. It was a really good fit.”
He said the squad planned to continue walking the dogs regularly and can get out and about more with protocols being eased.
Central Coast Animal Care Facility director Dee Walton said she was thrilled the Warriors contacted the facility.
“It was a really nice gesture and you could see the guys really enjoyed spending time with the dogs,” she said.
“They were playing with them, running with them and telling us about their pets at home.”
She said the outing also benefited the rescue dogs, with community programs such as Work for the Dole, where people walk rescue dogs, stopping during the COVID-19 restrictions.
“It was absolutely great for everyone and is going to be a regular thing while the Warriors are here. We feel really blessed that they contacted us.”
The new friendship may also help some of the dogs find homes with images of the dogs with players up on Central Coast Animal Care Facility’s Facebook page.