"We do like to be the last resort, but we don't want to see animals being hungry or starved because people can't afford to feed them. We'd rather take them than let them suffer."
She's urging Northland pet owners to take good care of their pets over the holiday season. "For people going away, please make sure you have someone to feed and give water to their pets while they are away."
Thankfully there were no unwanted surrendered pets that had been gifted this Christmas, she said. "People are taking more responsibility for the gifts they are giving."
The busiest day for the centre in the 15 day period was the three day lead-up to Christmas.
As a result of the influx, Whangarei SPCA is close to capacity - predominantly with cats and kittens, but also dogs, puppies, rabbits and chickens.
"We've got a lot in foster which will all come back to the centre in the next two weeks, as they've been coming in quite young."
Summer is always the busiest time of the year for the SPCA due to kitten season, which runs from approximately the beginning of November to the end of April or beginning of May, she said.
However, Ms Honeybun believed the SPCA desexing programme had helped drive down the number of kittens this year.
The centre is still appealing for public donations of tinned kitten and puppy food.
"The amount of food we've received in the two weeks prior to Christmas has been staggering.
"We'd like to thank everyone - it's been great."
