Homes needed for adopt-a-pet campaign

PLEASE TAKE ME HOME: Napier SPCA manager Bruce Wills with Bren, just one of the many cats up for adoption in Hawke's Bay this summer. PHOTO/DUNCAN BROWN

Cats, dogs and even the odd rabbit are expected to find homes this summer, with the annual adopt-a-pet campaign.

The three local SPCA shelters; Hastings and Districts, Napier and Central Hawke's Bay are inundated at this time of year with animals, with each one in desperate need of a permanent, loving home.

SPCA Napier centre manager Bruce Wills said they tend to fill up fairly quickly, with about 1200 animals coming through their doors over the year.

"It is quite an involved process to get animals to the stage of adoption. It can take up to three to four weeks before they are ready."

He believed it was "important to ensure that where possible people adopt through the SPCA".

"Firstly, you are getting an animal that is vaccinated and desexed and you are not going to perpetuate the problem.

"Also the fact that you are saving a life because these animals are the ones that are unwanted - they are the strays and neglected and the abandoned, and they deserve another chance at life."

The kitten season, which began early this month, has seen all three SPCAs struggle with a high number of newborns.

Central Hawke's Bay SPCA centre manager Renee Hickey said they had been inundated with animals leading up to Christmas.

"We are very busy right now. In the past two weeks, we have received over 50 kittens. There have been a lot that have appeared from out of nowhere."

SPCA Hastings and Districts chairwoman Daileen Kensington said "their goal was to rehome every animal, wherever we can".

"Being part of the SPCA, we see some very sad cases."

While all three SPCA shelters urge people to consider adopting a pet, they need to be aware of the commitment involved.

• Hawke's Bay Today will be featuring a daily profile of individual animals up for adoption from the Hastings and Districts, Napier and Central Hawke's Bay SPCAs, beginning today over the Christmas and New Year period.