Present comes at the right time for SPCA

Rotorua's Pat Annette knew the SPCA had a full house for Christmas and wanted to do her part to help - by buying a television.

Ms Annette donated a 46-inch Sony flat screen digital television to the Rotorua SPCA, which the organisation has decided to give away in a raffle, or as SPCA fundraising and marketing manager Claire Worrall said, "giving people a chance to receive a present so the animals can forget their past".

Ms Worrall said the idea for the raffle originated in response to Ms Annette's donation.

"Pat Annette, owner of Dial-a-Maid and Desmar Cleaning, wanted to gift a significant prize to help provide us with an incentive for people in the community to support the SPCA. Her gift will feature as first prize in our raffle."

Ms Worrall said the timing of the donation was perfect as December and January were inarguably the SPCA's busiest time of the year.

"For us, quite simply, busy is not good for business. We have been inundated with cats, kittens and abandoned animals over the holiday period. This places the SPCA under considerable strain financially and with regard to space in our facilities."

Ms Worrall said she would be selling tickets at Noel Leeming on Saturday from 12pm to 2pm, on Sunday at Mitre 10 Mega from 12 to 2pm, and at the City Focus next Thursday and Friday.

Ms Annette said she knew the SPCA had a "full house" over Christmas so decided to do her bit to help.

"It was for a good cause, donating a decent prize to help sell tickets. I'm trying to get involved more and help financially if I can." She said she had been into the SPCA recently and had seen just how full the centre was.

"It's pretty sad, I think supporting the SPCA is a worthy cause. It's for the animals that we need to try and look after, you can't do that without funds."

Ms Annette said she had also visited shops around Western Heights which decided to donate prizes, and Noel Leeming also gave her a discount on the television.

"The support is there. We've put it all together now so hopefully the tickets will sell well and I will try and do it again at a later stage."

Other local businesses that donated prizes for the raffle include Wonderworld Aquarium and Pet Centre, Ambrosia Restaurant, Western Heights Motors and Mobil, Unichem Western Heights and Hill's Pet Food.

Raffle tickets cost $5 each or two for $8.

Ms Worrall said if anyone wants to support the SPCA in one of the toughest times of the year, they could either buy a ticket or help out by selling raffle books on behalf of the organisation.

The raffle will be running until January 28. Tickets and books are available at the SPCA Rotorua office on Old Taupo Rd. For more information, please contact Claire Worrall at admin@rotoruaspca.org.nz, Lisa Reedy at office@rotoruaspca.org.nz or call 07 349 2955.