A Forever Home for Kenny
Do you remember our beautiful boy Kenny? After a long journey of learning, love, and patience, Kenny has finally found his forever home — and he’s absolutely thriving!
Kenny came to Dogwatch from the Christchurch City Council Pound in January 2025. From the start, it was clear he was a special boy with a big heart — but also some big feelings. Kenny struggled with separation anxiety, finding it difficult to relax when left alone.
Over the months that followed, our team worked closely with him to build his confidence and help him feel safe. Because of his needs, Kenny spent time in a few different foster homes— and every person who cared for him helped him grow a little more comfortable with the world. He learned that humans could be trusted, and that love and consistency really do make a difference.
Then, in September 2025, the perfect match came along — Steffen and Jacinda. The connection was instant, and from that very first meeting, we knew Kenny had found his people.
Here’s what his new family had to say:
“My husband and I were not looking for a dog (I was!). We had recently lost our 14-year-old boy and wanted to wait before introducing a new pet to the house.
One day an image of a beautiful boy, Kenny, popped up on my Facebook feed. His handsome face and kind eyes had me drawn in — and it turned out all I had to do was show my husband his picture and the next week we were meeting our sweet boy.
Kenny has come into our home and made it his own — I think he has more toys than a toddler at this stage! There have been challenges, as he still gets a bit unsettled when we’re not home, but we’ve been working hard to help him feel comfortable being by himself. I’m forever grateful for the support from Dogwatch, especially Behaviour Adviser Rachel, who really cares about Kenny and is always eager to hear about his progress.
Kenny is now learning to enjoy beach walks and swims (we’re preparing him for his kayak training!), learning to be nice to sheep on walks, and living happily among the birds in our backyard. Steffen and I couldn’t have found a better dog for our wee family.”
After nine months in Dogwatch’s care, it’s hard to put into words how special it is to see Kenny finally in his forever home. His story is a beautiful reminder that sometimes the dogs who wait the longest are waiting for the perfect match — and when it comes, everything falls into place.
We’re so proud of you, Kenny. You’ve come such a long way, and your happy ending means the world to all of us.❤️
