Hawke's Bay SPCA centres saw an "astronomical" number of adoptions prior to the lockdown. Photo / Paul Taylor
Hawke's Bay SPCA centres saw an "astronomical" number of adoptions prior to the lockdown. Photo / Paul Taylor
Big Ted is one of many SPCA animals who have found a place to go during the four-week lockdown.
The call from SPCA Napier went out on Tuesday and Ted's new foster parents picked him up on Wednesday morning.
The SPCA said there had been an "incredible" increase in adoptions throughout the country prior to the Covid-19 level 4 lockdown commencing at 11.59pm on Wednesday March 25.
An urgent call for adoption before the lockdown was put out by the SPCA on March 20 and fees were reduced.
The Napier and Hastings centres have also seen a large uptake describing numbers as "astronomical".
Throughout New Zealand 1051 animals were adopted between the afternoon of Friday March 20 and Wednesday evening, which a spokeswoman describes as "a wonderful result".
Big Ted is one of many animals which have found foster homes for the lockdown period. Photo / SPCA Napier
On Wednesday morning there were two adult cats left at the Napier centre and 10 kittens had been transferred to the Hastings centre from the Waipukurau centre.
"It is highly likely that this has since changed and that these animals have been adopted since then," a spokeswoman said.
"There has been such a huge response from our Hawke's Bay Community, and we are incredibly grateful for their support and for opening up their home to animals in need."
The SPCA Napier centre said in a Facebook post before the lockdown commenced: "this has been a challenging time, but the help and support we have received from you, our community, has been overwhelming.
"To all those who have opened their homes and their hearts to animals, both foster and forever, we see you, and we appreciate you.
"To everyone who put their hand up to help out, we couldn't do it without you".
All animals who have not been adopted will remain in the care of dedicated staff at SPCA centres or have been placed in temporary foster homes until centres are able to safely reopen to the public.
The SPCA is classified as an essential service and will continue to care for animals in their centres.
"While our doors will be closing to the public from Wednesday, we will still be taking in vulnerable animals and giving them the love and care they deserve".
SPCA inspectors will still be out on the road across the country responding to the most urgent emergency calls.
