6 days ago
Certified And Cheeky: Meet Ronnie, Auckland Council's Newest Conservation Canine
Press Release – Auckland Council
This two-year-old hire is a rowdy teenager with a full-time job, and he's fully vetted to protect Hauraki Gulf's precious pest-free islands from unwanted intruders.
Recently graduated with full certification from the Conservation Dog Programme, Ronnie has officially proven he has what it takes to sniff out rats – and mice and only rats and mice – in Auckland's most sensitive native environments.
After passing rigorous training with the national programme, Ronnie is trusted to work on pest-free islands alongside our native species. This canine crusader is now the real deal.
Auckland Council's Biosecurity Advisor and handler Rochelle says Ronnie is like a cheeky teenager with a job he happens to be excellent at.
'He's playful, energetic, and sometimes tries to test the rules, but when it's time to work, he's laser focused. He's trained hard for this, and he's earned it.'
Born on Great Barrier Island, Ronnie is the son of conservation royalty. His mum, Juno, is a smooth-coated fox terrier ratter, and his dad, Tane, a scruffy Waiheke-based border terrier, bred for stoat detection. Ronnie's sleek black coat with a splash of grey on his chin and paws makes him stand out, a bit of a mystery, but unmistakably handsome.
He came into Rochelle's care at 16 months and has since lived a very social life with his mentor and canine flat mates: Rosie the seasoned 8-year-old terrier cross rat detector (whom Ronnie will eventually succeed), and Aria the retired airport beagle who, along with Rochelle's three teenage sons, keep Ronnie's feet somewhat on the ground.
A typical day for Ronnie starts with tail wags and excitement as he heads to work with Rochelle. Whether it's inspecting vehicles and gear at ferry terminals destined for Waiheke, Aotea / Great Barrier or patrolling Sandspit for visitors heading to Kawau Island, Ronnie's nose is hard at work. His mission? To stop stowaway rodents from sneaking onto these ecologically sensitive islands.
Other days are spent on-island, conducting routine checks or responding to urgent incursions.
'Ronnie's still young, but he's already proven his worth,' says Rochelle.
'His first alert on a Great Barrier Island vehicle check was rat remains on a lawnmower. This sparked a conversation with the boat's owner and helped educate them about biosecurity risks. That's a win in our book.'
Like most teens, Ronnie's still figuring some things out: he loves water but can't swim properly (yet), he's obsessed with his ball, less so with rainy weather, he's curious, sociable, and if left alone with a soft toy or bed, is known to deconstruct it with artistic flair.
'He's definitely keeping me on my toes,' laughs Rochelle.
'But he learns fast, and he loves one-on-one time. He's always ready for an early start, even if it is the worst weather.'
Earlier this year, Ronnie flew in a helicopter for the first time during an urgent deployment to Great Mercury Island / Ahuahu for a suspected mouse incursion.
'He took it all in stride,' Rochelle says. 'It was a great milestone for both of us.'
As Auckland Council and its partners continue their work to protect and restore our island ecosystems, dogs like Ronnie play a critical role. They're fast, precise, and effective, natural-born conservationists in fur coats.
Auckland Council's Pathways team manager Liz Brooks says these dogs are the ultimate weapon in the war against keeping pests off islands.
'Their noses are always on, and they have incredible detection abilities. Nothing can match their clever and sharply honed abilities to detect a pest.
'There is no other way we could check a load of gear, or even a house, going to Great Barrier, for example, without pulling it apart. Ronnie lets us speedily check and give people the green light to go, adds Ms Brooks.'
Ronnie might still be growing into his paws, but there's no doubt: this young pup is already making a big difference. And he's just getting started.
