SPCA gets ready for influx of animals

The SPCA says around 80 animals a day will arrive at its Mangere Animal Village between Christmas Day and the second week of January.

SPCA executive director Bob Kerridge said it was the busiest time of the year for the organisation.

Mr Kerridge said owners often surrendered unwanted animals at the village before going on holiday, while SPCA staff seized other animals from neglectful owners.

"Through the holiday period we get a lot of animals that are left alone and neglected," he said.

The Herald's annual SPCA Adopt Me series kicks off today. Each day a different animal available for adoption at the SPCA will be featured in the paper. Mr Kerridge said around 1700 animals arrived at the village over the holiday period each year, and the series helped raise awareness for their plight.

"Many of the animals featured [in the series] will be animals that have been surrendered to us because they are no longer wanted," he said. "Adopting an animal from the SPCA means you are basically helping to save its life."

He said the series also helped promote "why SPCA animals are so much better than anyone else's".

SPCA animals were vaccinated, microchipped, de-sexed and put through a strict veterinary assessment, he said.

Dogs also received behavioural training before adoption.

Mr Kerridge said the series came in the middle of the "kitten season". So many kittens arrived at the village over the summer months that foster homes were needed until they were ready for adoption.

SPCA foster co-ordinator Rebecca Laird said the village was "inundated" with kittens and foster homes were desperately needed.

"At the moment we're getting about 60 kittens a day coming in."

Mr Kerridge said he believed the state of animal welfare in New Zealand was improving.

But he said the "high end of wilful cruelty" still existed.

"I think we'll always have people with that sort of mindset."

The Adopt Me series runs until January 15.

* Readers interested in fostering kittens can contact Rebecca Laird on (09)256-2525 or rebeccalaird@spca.org.nz