New role with big challenge at SPCA

Tracee Knowler (right) is back home in the Far North, and working as senior animal welfare inspector for the SPCA in the Kaitaia and Bay of Islands districts. She is pictured with current rescue centre resident Star, while Heather Smith does her best to hang on to two of her wriggling, fat-as-a-barrel puppies.

Tracee Knowler has returned to the Far North where she was born and raised, in the role of senior animal welfare inspector for SPCA in Kaitaia and Bay of Islands Districts.

The job makes good use of the skills she acquired in a 19-year career with the police, most of that time spent in Kaitaia, in uniform and as a detective. She ended up in the sole charge station at Pukenui, following a two-year stint overseas working with Red Cross.

She has taken up the position at a time when the society faces the major challenge of finding a new location for its animal shelter in the Kaitaia area, and is working alongside shelter manager Heather Smith to find a new location.

They are grateful to Jon Brennan for the use of his kennels at Awanui over the last three years, but his property has now sold, and new premises must be found by December 1.
"We have a budget available to purchase land and/or buildings, but at this stage we are having trouble finding something suitable," Ms Knowler said.

"It would be great to hear from anyone who thinks they have a piece that we could purchase, even if it means cutting a bit off a larger block. The only real proviso is that ideally it should be within a five to 10-minute drive from Kaitaia."

Although a core group of dedicated people were giving their time in both the op shop and animal shelter activities, the Kaitaia SPCA was also on the lookout for more volunteers, especially those who could spare a few hours a week on a regular basis caring for animals, and/or for foster 'parents' who would be able and willing to take in very young or injured animals in their own homes, to give them one on one attention for a short period.

Meanwhile Ms Knowler's return to the Far North coincides with the SPCA's decision to form one national organisation from what had been 45 independent centres around the country.

Chief executive Andrea Midgen said the decision had been made after two years of discussions and consultation.

"Ultimately the SPCA centres knew that our previous structure was not sustainable or fit for purpose.

"As one SPCA we can achieve more for our country's most vulnerable animals than we could do as a fragmented organisation," she said.

"We will be able to create a stronger SPCA inspectorate, and we will have one strategy and one voice.

"We will be able to access centralised funding opportunities and benefit from economies of scale, enabling us to have the resources to do more for animals."

The focus of every SPCA around the country would not change, but with consistency and collaboration, every animal would receive the best care possible, no matter where they were.

"Local support for the animals is as important as ever, and we urge New Zealanders to continue getting behind the great work of the SPCA," she said.

Anyone who is interested in volunteering, either at the shelter or by providing foster homes, is invited to contact Heather Smith on (021) 0283-0156, while anyone who may be able to help with land or premises should contact Ms Knowler on (021) 268-6920.