SPCA shop changes in time with national changes

Volunteers Darth Cornelius and Sandra Scott with shop dog Cozmo, an lhasa apso, in the newly refurbished SPCA Op Shop at Heretaunga St West, Hastings. Photo / Duncan Brown.

For Fiona Hislop and her devoted team of volunteers the timing for the launch of the refurbished SPCA Op Shop in central Hastings could not be better.

While it has been operating recently (to help pay the rent) it will officially be unveiled on Thursday - just a few days out from the merging of all the country's SPCA centres into one "National SPCA".

It will mean governance decisions will be made locally for individual centres, but following the protocols and procedures of the national body.

An SPCA spokesperson said with "combined forces" and accordingly a louder voice fundraising could me made easier along with the ability to attract national sponsorship agreements.

"More importantly, having one united voice of the SPCA will make the organisation more audible - when lobbying government for example (and) we believe that these changes are positive ones."

However, centres will continue to be able to fundraise for their own areas and that is where the bright new Hastings SPCA Op Shop comes into the picture.

As Ms Hislop said, the shop had been running as People For Pets for about five years under the guidance of Daileen Kensington who was passionate about doing what she could across the local animal care landscape.

"She has gifted the shop to the SPCA," Ms Hislop said.

"It is an extraordinarily generous gift."

She said Ms Kensington found it was time to move on but wanted to continue doing something to benefit the Hastings district and its animal care and welfare.

She was also very humble about her approach and sought no publicity.

"She'll probably murder me for telling you this," Ms Hislop said with a smile.

Her own connection with the shop goes back about a year when she stepped in to help out there, and was asked by Ms Kensington if she would take the reins when she gifted it as she wanted it to continue operating (to raise funds for animal welfare) the same way.

So, to coincide with the November 1 national SPCA tie-up refurbishment work on giving it a new look was kicked off back in April.

A determined team of volunteers, backed by businesses like Bunnings and Dulux paints, got stuck in and the result is a colourful and fresh-looking shop where people can pursue everything from good quality kitchen goods, bedding, clothing, collectibles, camping gear and "pretty much everything" - will all profits going to the SPCA in Hastings.

It has been completely decorated out in SPCA colours and large pictures of animals grace the walls and counter area.

Ms Hislop said apart from a couple of full-time staff there were about 25 dedicated volunteers on the books.

"But we are always looking for more," she said.