Meet Nighdee

Breed: Little River

Barking from: Hedgehog Detection Dog For Pest Free Banks Peninsula

Job Title: Border Terrier

What's up dog?

Nighdee is a very affectionate and hardworking border terrier, who is part of the Kaitorete pest free Banks Peninsula team. She is very good at finding hedgehogs, which is one of the 6 species of predators that are targeted to help the amazing biodiversity of this beautiful and special part of NZ. She is also most happy to be interviewed, filmed, patted, kissed and held in anyone’s arms while on her community engagement appointments. Where ever she goes, the people around her light up and forget to listen to the PFBP story because she just sweeps them off their feet. Her main job is detecting hedgehogs and communicating with her handler Karin about where they are. She has found many hedgehogs in her 1.5 year deployment, saving the lives of hundreds of birds, lizards, gecko’s and insects. She can work in any weather and she’s always ready to go and find some more. Nighdee is a wee hero for the biodiversity of Kaitorete and a very much loved little bitch everywhere she goes.

2024 NZ Top Dog with a Job Award

Judging and criteria

This award will be judged on:

Purpose

This award celebrates a top dog that makes a positive difference in our society for the work they do to improve human (or animal!) lives on a day-to-day basis. 

Reach

Is the dog dedicated to assisting one human, or an entire team or office? 

Impact

How big an impact does this dog have in their workplace? Explain how much your canine friend has impacted the office culture, or improved mental health at work or of those around them. Give examples of how they have made an impact.