Donation shows passion for SPCA

GENEROUS: Jill McLean of Jill's Swim School donates $500 to SPCA. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

Another Masterton business has shown that it is passionate about getting the SPCA Wairarapa back up and running by donating $500 to the cause.

Jill McLean, from Jill's Swim School, has given the Wairarapa SPCA Op Shop a cheque to go towards reinstating an animal welfare inspector to oversee the region.

She said she had been inspired by Breadcraft's $500 donation, which Peter Rewi presented to the store on Monday, and hoped the gesture would inspire other businesses to "dig deep".

"With the need for the SPCA it's important that we all get behind it and give it a fresh start," she said.

"If I can afford it, or make myself be able to afford it for a good cause, there must be some other small businesses who can do it as well as the bigger ones."

Close to $11,000 has been raised through the Chapel St op shop since the SPCA centre on Ngamatawa Rd closed in May.

Matt Franklin, Royal New Zealand SPCA regional manager and administrator for SPCA Wairarapa, said $20,000 would be enough to "get the ball rolling" to provide limited services to the area.

He said the money should be enough to get an inspector operating for up to three months, at two days a week, but a lot more would be needed to give Wairarapa its full service back.

Ms McLean said the SPCA was critical to the area and the community needed to work together to get it back on track.

"Animal suffering needs to be followed up as soon as possible and that's only going to happen if we have an SPCA. It's crucial.

"When I heard about Breadcraft's donation I thought right, if you feel passionate about something, like I do about animals, let's make this happen.

"I challenge other small businesses, even if its not $500, it would be good to give something."