Photo: RNZ
Some days Brad Windust's job gets repetitive: throw a ball again and again for Wero.
Wero is one of the few dogs in Aotearoa certified by the Department of Conservation to sniff out cat poo.
"He just loves to play," says Windust. "When he finds cat scat and lies down to show me where it is, then his reward is his ball, which he loves."
Windust is a trapper who travels the length of the country and offshore islands trapping feral cats and stoats for various organisations.
His dog is an essential tool and Windust is keen to make sure people understand the German short-haired pointer only detects poo, which helps Windust know where to put traps. Wero doesn't attack the cats. The muzzle Wero wears while working, along with his high-visibility coat are part of his working attire, much the same way a construction site worker always has a helmet.
Photo: RNZ
There are days where he doesn't cover much ground, as he has to stop and throw the ball for Wero so frequently.
"People don't see cats because they hunt at night, but wherever you are in this country, not far from you there's a feral cat. When you have a dog that finds scat you soon realise they are everywhere," says Windust.
He sees firsthand the damage feral cats do.
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