"This is what I do in my spare time, on my morning tea and lunch break, so do my staff and so do the students that come and help here." Dr Ward-McGrath said it had cost about $6000 to get the mini SPCA set up, sourcing the cages locally the week SPCA Wairarapa closed its doors mid-May.
"I decided I had to buy them and do something. I couldn't just sit around and wait for something to happen," she said.
"I'm just here to help the animals, I'm not interested in the politics."
Dr Ward-McGrath said there had been lots of discussion between groups throughout the region about how to get the SPCA back on track, with many believing money was the first and foremost way to tackle the issue.
But Dr Ward-McGrath's approach had been to "start at the helping end first".
"While people are talking about it, I'm doing it," she said.
"It doesn't cost $200,000.
"To provide an animal welfare service you just need someone that's qualified making the decisions, someone that's experienced in shelter medicine, and the goodwill of the community."
On Tuesday morning the shelter was housing five puppies and two cats.
Dr Ward-McGrath said all the kittens and puppies that had come through her shelter had been adopted out within five days of being dropped off.
"They come in, we sort it out - vet check, vaccinated then adopted."
The quickest adoption had taken place within "about three seconds" of the animal arriving.
It had been "mainly locals who were looking for a pet" adopting the animals, but people from Palmerston North and Wellington had also taken animals home from the shelter.
"My door is open and we're here to help," said Dr Ward-McGrath.
"If it's animal welfare that's your focus then I'm your girl, I'll help if your focus is right."
