Sweet as cupcakes for SPCA

TOP SELLERS: Left, Sasha Hart and Shawni Higham, both 11, spent yesterday morning selling cupcakes on Queen St. PHOTO/ANDREW BONALLACK

Cupcakes have gone to the animals.

Hundreds of the yummy morning tea treats were sold around Masterton yesterday in support of the local SPCA during the national Cupcake Day fundraiser.

Breadcraft (Wai) Ltd baked and donated 500 of the sweet treats to help the animals and groups of people were out on the streets yesterday selling beautifully decorated cupcakes to help raise money for the local animal rescue shelter.

SPCA centre manager Lloyd Warren said he was grateful to everyone for their efforts for the fundraising day. "It's lovely. It's been a real team effort. It makes it so much easier for staff ... The SPCA is integral to the community," he said.

As soon as an animal is brought into the shelter it costs about $250 to vaccinate, de-sex and treat the animal - that doesn't account for food, power and wages to keep the SPCA going.

"We lose on every animal we adopt. That's just the way it is."

If there is one thing Mr Warren has on his wish list it is a four-wheel drive vehicle for when the inspector goes out to check on animals.

On a recent callout, the Toyota loan car the centre has for about another four months, got stuck in mud on a farm, he said.

"I had to get towed by the farmer. He saw the funny side but it was really embarrassing."

Breadcraft general manager Darin McDonald said staff had donated their own time to bake the cupcakes for the SPCA with products also donated by suppliers in support of the fundraiser.

"We think it's a great cause. Most of our staff and management have dogs," he said. "We will keep supporting [SPCA] year on year. We believe in the work they do."

Lending a hand to cupcake sales on Queen St, Masterton, were Sasha Hart and Shawni Higham, both 11.

The pair had made 45 of their own cupcakes to sell, as well as stocking up with Breadcraft ones.

Sasha hoped they had made about $100 for the SPCA.