SPCA veteran finds cats? fate hard to take

The destruction of 18 purebred cats in Masterton has "broken the heart" of Wairarapa SPCA head Val Ball since their seizure along with almost 40 others from a Woodville farm this month.
Mrs Ball, also a national cat show judge, earlier told the Times-Age the Wairarapa branch of SPCA had received almost 60 of the 161 cats taken from the Woodville farm of David Balfour in a raid that discovered the cats in cramped, poorly ventilated and diseased quarters.
"I had to watch as every breed ever given life was put down. I found it very hard having to hold and watch over these cats ? some really sick and others too feral to touch ? and it was the biggest heartbreak of my life."
Mrs Ball said four of the surviving cats are to be homed in Auckland and the rest are to be desexed before new owners are found.
She said the euthanased animals were selected under advice from Masterton veterinarian John McLaren because the cats were "too ill or there was no real opportunity for them to be tamed".
Cats seized from the Balfour property had also been sent to SPCA facilities in Levin and Palmerston North.
Jim Boyd, national operations team leader for SPCA New Zealand, said seven SPCA staff had been gathered for the raid and 85 dogs also at the farm had been left with Mr Balfour.
Diseases identified among the seized animals included rhinotracheitis, better known as snuffles, other respiratory diseases, and possibly feline chlamydia.
Mr Boyd earlier said it was "almost an absolute certainty" Mr Balfour would face charges under the Animal Welfare Act, for failing to ensure the physical health and behavioural needs of the animals were met.