Nelson youth scheme funding slashed

BY ALICE COWDREY

A highly successful charitable trust in Nelson which brings together troubled teens and rejected dogs has had its government funding cut.

The Nelson Ark has lost $46,000 from the Ministry of Social Development's enterprising communities programme which accounts for a large chunk of the charitable trust's $100,000 annual operating costs.

The Ark operates an animal rescue shelter and uses unwanted dogs to help rehabilitate and educate young people and the elderly.

Without the funding, the trust is left to scratch around for funding from different avenues, said Ark co-founder Karen Howieson.

In a bid to keep its programmes open, the trust had requested funding from the Nelson and Tasman councils and is asking organisations which refer young people to its successful Animals, People and Rehabilitative Training  Programme (APART) for money.

Various trusts, donations, the lotteries commission and fundraisers now also had to be relied on.

APART matches six young people with six unwanted dogs in an effort to help both realise their potential.

The teenagers work with a dog trainer and assistants to prepare the dogs for adoption over a period of eight weeks.

The latest graduation of teenagers from the programme was last Friday.

Trust co-founder and educational facilitator Susan Murray-Rifici said APART gave teens confidence, empowerment and taught them to "heal themselves''.

"These six young people have got big hearts and we are all very proud of them.''

Ms Murray-Rifici said the programme had a 95 per cent attendance/success rate and had been completed by more than 40 teenagers since September 2008.

"We have had kids coming in sick because they want to be here with their dogs,'' she said.

The funding cut was "bad timing'' by the National-led Government, Ms Murray-Rifici said.

"In a recession there is more demand for social programmes.''

APART has changed the lives of many teenagers, including Jemma Wastney, 17, and Becky Polglaze, 16, who are both now studying animal care.

They are among 18 teenagers who have completed the programme but remain involved with the Ark as volunteers.

"After the programme I felt a change in myself, I don't think anyone wanted to leave when it finished, I was really lucky,'' said Becky.

 Dog trainer Marguerite Besier said the change in the animals and teenagers was remarkable.

"You see the dogs go from being almost feral to being really really well behaved.''

Kristiana Soroka, 14, graduated from the programme last Friday with Jet, a shiny black cross-breed. Jet's previous owner didn't want to pay for her to be released from the pound and said she should be shot.

Kristiana said the course had given her confidence and a new mate.

"She (Jet) was really scared of me at the start of the programme and now she does high-fives and gives me kisses everytime I see her.''

The Ark,which is temporarily based at the Nelson Kennel Association grounds, is negotiating a lease for land nearby and plans to build a new $1 million premises which will also be home to cats and horses.

- © Fairfax NZ News