It's raining dogs - and cats

SPCA animal attendant David Monks with some of the abandoned puppies. Picture / Brett Phibbs

The SPCA needs people to replace hot cross buns with cross-breed dogs after being hit with double its normal intake of puppies and dogs in the lead-up to Easter and the dog registration period.

Auckland SPCA's general manager, Jane Thompson, said 60 dogs had been taken into its Mangere centre in three days this week. By yesterday the centre was asking people to wait until after Easter to give up their dogs because it was running out of space.

The centre already had 45 dogs waiting for adoption, and were hoping Easter would bring new owners, not new dogs.

She said there was often a spate of dogs brought in before public holidays and also just before dog registration was due, because owners did not want the costs of registering.

Each dog has to wait in the quarantine area for 10 days, while its health is checked.

It is bad news on the cat front as well - 179 cats and kittens came in this week, of which 82 were given up by their owners and the rest were strays.

The centre is closed on Good Friday.