SPCA does roaring trade in adopting out homeless pets

Basement Jaxx, the first animal featured in the Adopt a Pet campaign, now lives with Lynne Tayler in Helensville. Picture / Paul Estcourt

The SPCA's animal village in Mangere has started 2006 in a similar record-breaking fashion as it finished last year: SPCA customer services officer Craig Montgomery said last weekend was one of the busiest ever.

"Usually on the weekend we will adopt out around 30 animals a day but last Saturday we did 52 and over 70 for the whole weekend," he said.

The Herald has been running a campaign to encourage adoptions over the holiday period. Since December 26 the SPCA has placed almost 600 animals. Cats and kittens make up 85 per cent of adoptions.

SPCA general manager Jane Thompson said the promotion had been extremely successful and generated a lot of calls and interest.

The Herald has featured 17 animals in the "Adopt Me" series over the past four weeks. New homes have been found for 14 of the animals including Dolly the Flemish giant cross-rabbit and Basement Jaxx the dog.

Dolly was featured on Wednesday and was snapped up that morning. She now lives in Mt Roskill with six other rabbits, who have "apartments within their hutches", said Ms Thompson.

Basement Jaxx was the first animal to be featured, on December 26 - he had been abandoned in a basement. He has been renamed Jaxx and has moved to Helensville with his new owners, Lynne and James Tayler.

Mrs Tayler said the labrador-cross had settled in really well. "He took a couple of days to get used to us but now he's as boisterous and mischievous as any young dog." She said he was really enjoying hour-long walks on 10-Mile Beach, north of Muriwai.

Many of the animals profiled by the Herald never even made it into print. Eleven animals were adopted out before the Herald had the chance to publish their stories.

SPCA chief executive Bob Kerridge said the organisation was grateful to members of the public who gave the village food to help feed all the animals over the Christmas break. Special mention had to go to staff and volunteers. "They have worked like trojans over a particularly busy time of year."

Ms Thompson said contrary to popular belief the SPCA did not have a policy of putting down animals after a set period.

"If an animal has been here for a long time without finding a home, we just make even more effort to ensure that particular animal is adopted. There will be a loving new home for them somewhere," said Ms Thompson.

* To make a one-off $25 donation to the Auckland SPCA, call 0900 99 SPCA (0900 997722).