Swamped SPCA urges more action on de-sexing dogs

Photo / APN

The SPCA is calling for councils to take a more proactive role in controlling dog populations in their areas, as animal shelters struggle to keep up with the deluge of unwanted animals.

One weekend last month, Kaitaia SPCA received 30 puppies. Nelson is full with 29, Taupo got 17 on Thursday and Auckland is overloaded.

It is uncertain what has caused this influx, but many SPCA centres are underwhelmed by the incentives offered by their local councils to encourage owners to de-sex their dogs.

National SPCA chief executive Robyn Kippenberger says there are some great examples of proactive dog control.

"Dunedin City Council provides an annual fund that dog owners who hold community services cards can access to pay for de-sexing their animals. They then offer a discount on registration for the rest of that dog's life. Eleven years down the track, Dunedin just doesn't have a puppy problem."

Auckland SPCA runs its "De-sex and the City" campaign for cats and dogs,

The annual awareness campaign will run from August 1-19, encouraging people who feed strays to take responsibility for de-sexing them. A team of 12, including volunteer vets and vet students, will de-sex and microchip animals at the SPCA in Mangere. But they will not de-sex owned cats as local vets will offer discounts for those.

Jeanette Churchill, who has worked for Kaitaia SPCA for two years, says the Far North District Council doesn't do enough to monitor pitbulls, which are breeding out of control.

Cameron Trusler, animal manager at Taupo SPCA, says it's all about educating the public.

The SPCA national office runs a mobile clinic that travels throughout New Zealand offering free de-sexing for cats and dogs owned by low-income families. It will be in Auckland next month.

Ms Kippenberger says the SPCA will urge councils to offer a bigger difference in registration rates between entire and de-sexed dogs.

It will also suggest lifetime registration for de-sexed dogs, required permits for homes to have more than one dog, and payment for impounded dogs to be de-sexed before being released.