Many hands make light work

FRIENDS IN NEED: Six-week-old Gizmo (and Heather Smith) are in desperate need of some willing hands at the SPCA's adoption centre in Awanui.

Heather Smith is hoping against hope that the truth of the old saying 'Many hands make light work' will be manifested at the SPCA adoption centre at Awanui, sooner rather than later.

Heather, who manages the centre, is in desperate need of volunteers to feed and clean for the cats every day. It took maybe three hours, she said, depending on how much time was spent engaging with the cats, and if enough people came forward no one would need to turn out more than once a week, ideally even less, but at the moment that was just a dream.

"We've got one volunteer at the moment," Heather said, "and I'm working seven days a week. Anyone who can give a little of their time to help will be very, very welcome."

Heather can be contacted on (021) 028-30156.

John Logie, manager of the Bay of Islands SPCA (which merged with Kaitaia last year), said everything was going well at the adoption centre, a safe haven for dumped and unwanted cats, kittens and puppies, apart from the shortage of voluntary manpower.

"The SPCA is meeting a real need in the community, and now we're calling on the community for help," he said.

Volunteers were needed for just a few hours a day, not at all onerous if shared around, the only real criteria being a minimum age of 16 (unless accompanied by an adult).

"We are still getting 20 to 30 cats and kittens every 10 days," John added.

"Once the kittens are eight weeks or 800gm they can be desexed and taken by the SPCA to Animates [in Auckland], who have a wonderful arrangement with the RNZSPCA and only sell SPCA kittens. They also help with puppies and older cats when they have room."

The current residents at Awanui include 6-week-old Gizmo. Still being bottle-fed, he had been found in a puddle in Kaitaia with two dead siblings, a sorry start to life that Heather said was unfortunately not uncommon.