‘Closing is not an option’: Christchurch dog rescue has 60 days to find new home

Friday, 10 April 2026

Christchurch Bull Breed Rescue owner Abbey van der Plas, pictured with Booger, is on the hunt for a new building for her dog rescue centre with a deadline of June 9.

A Christchurch dog rescue faces shutting down if a new space isn’t found in the next two months, but its founder says “closing is not an option”.

The Christchurch Bull Breed Rescue building in Woolston was recently sold, prompting the organisation’s lease to end on June 9.

With nowhere to go, the pressure is on to find an affordable space, its founder Abbey van der Plas said.

The facility in an industrial area in Woolston has been home to the centre for 11 years, built from scratch with help from the community.

The centre takes bully breed dogs from all over the country, including from council pounds - many needing rehabilitation before going on to foster care and, eventually, being adopted into their forever home.

Van der Plas has 14 dogs at the moment (usually averaging 20) and eight dogs on a wait list.

“Being that we are so unsure about what’s going to happen, I’m nervous to bring in new dogs.”

The search for a space isn’t a last-ditch one, she said, having started looking more than 18 months ago.

Van der Plas said she could make almost any warehouse, office space or plot of land work, with two non-negotiables.

“The biggest thing is resource consent,” meaning the dog rescue would have to be in an industrial or commercial area.

She had to consider accessibility for volunteers, donors and the community. That ruled out anywhere too rural or outside Christchurch.

Bull breeds include pit bulls, American bull dogs and staffies that have an unfair stigma and are disproportionately abandoned, abused and surrendered.

“Marshland Rd has always been my dream, it’s still so close to everything … five minutes drive from The Palms.”

Van der Plas founded the dog shelter at her home more than 16 years ago, quickly outgrowing it in six years, prompting the move to “literally an empty yard” that was built up by the community to fit out the 820sqm concrete sealed section in industrial Woolston 11 years ago.It costs $3900 per month for rent.

“People would donate a fence panel, or a kennel, or a piece of corrugated iron and it really has been dog lovers chipping in and helping.”

Abbey van der Plas is hopeful she will find a space by the deadline. “I hate to think what would happen to these dogs.”

Its services include desexing programmes, a pet food bank, teaching responsible dog ownership and supplying jackets.

“Thousands“ of dogs had been rehomed including staffies, pit bulls and American bulldogs, which had a stigma and were disproportionately abused, abandoned or surrendered, she said.

“If we were to close, I hate to think what would happen to these dogs.”

It was “heartbreaking”, she said, being “on the brink” of closure.

“This is close to 20 years of my life gone into this … but we just roll with the punches and hope for the best.

“I’m stubborn, the universe will provide and closing is not an option - we will find a way. Nothing gets me motivated like a deadline.”