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A Nelson pet shelter is “devastated” after a man broke into the building twice in one night and wreaked havoc, letting animals loose and cutting a fence open in an overnight raid.
SPCA Nelson-Marlborough said it was working with police to find two cats and a dog after its Nelson shelter was invaded between Sunday night and Monday morning.
A man broke into the Nelson SPCA on two separate occasions on Sunday night, letting the dogs out of their pens and cats out of their enclosures, SPCA Nelson centre manager Amy Sturkenboom said.
Boris the cat is "friendly and loves to chat", according to the shelter. Photo / SPCA Nelson-Marlborough
She told the Herald four kittens being treated for giardia were released from their pens and were later found hiding in a storage area.
The raids were captured on CCTV footage, Sturkenboom said.
One of the missing dogs, an 8-month-old tan Bullmastiff named Simba, was found after a tip from the public.
Police said the Nelson SPCA was broken into around 2.30am Monday, with the intruder damaging items, releasing animals from crates and cages and cutting a fence open.
Frankie is "high energy, friendly and loves meeting new people". Photo / SPCA Nelson-Marlborough
Nelson Bays Area Commander Steve Collins told the Herald police were unsure whether the missing animals were stolen or wandered off.
“Police have already attended the scene to assess for forensic evidence, reviewed CCTV footage and are following good lines of enquiry.”
SPCA staff and volunteers were left shaken by the events, Sturkenboom said.
“There have been many emotional moments as we work to ensure the safety and wellbeing of our animals.”
On social media, the SPCA identified the missing animals as Frankie, an 18-month-old black-and-white Labrador-collie hybrid male, and the cat as Boris, a 5-year-old domestic black male.
Frankie was described as “high energy and friendly”, while Boris was characterised as a amiable cat who “loves to chat”.
Residents have been told not to approach Simba the bullmastiff, who is described as "shy and nervous around people". Photo / SPCA Nelson-Marlborough
“If you have any information or have seen any of these animals, please get in touch with us right away. Your help is crucial in bringing them home safely.”
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