SPCA Wairarapa halfway to inspectorate

DONATION: Peter Rewi from Breadcraft presents a donation towards funding an SPCA inspector for the Wairarapa to Fleur Harlick, SPCA Wairarapa Op Shop manager, on Cupcake day. PHOTO/LYNDA FERINGA

The SPCA Wairarapa Op Shop has raised over half the funds needed to re-introduce an inspectorate to oversee animal welfare complaints in the region.

Close to $11,000 has been raised through the Chapel St store since the SPCA centre on Ngamatawa Rd closed in May, including a $500 donation given yesterday by Breadcraft.

Peter Rewi, chief executive at the Masterton bread company, said the cheque was to go towards reinstating the SPCA, which was an important part of the community.

"Where there is a need we like to be involved. We'd like to see the SPCA re-established and running and fulfilling the functions it always has."

Mr Rewi said he hoped the gesture would "kick-start" other businesses to donate to the cause.

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.

"Twenty thousand dollars is a start but it will be a lot more than that. We're looking at funding from all possibilities, but if we can get it, it will give us a base."

SPCA Op Shop volunteer, Ross Nixon, said the shop and the community donations were integral for SPCA Wairarapa's reinstatement.

"Without [the SPCA] it's like having a police station with no policeman," he said.

Mr Nixon said the shop overheads were kept minimal to get the centre back up and running as soon as possible.

The money raised through the op shop, and donated funds, were kept in an account only accessible by shop manager Fleur Harlick and Mr Franklin.

"We want to be as transparent as possible," said Mr Nixon.

"We need $20,000 for the inspector and we're halfway there. That's going to be the base of the SPCA. After that's established we can look at establishing a re-homing centre.

"It needs to be done from the ground up and done really well," he said.

SPCA life member and former centre manager Val Ball was at the SPCA Op Shop yesterday when Mr Rewi presented the $500 cheque, and said she was grateful for the donation from Breadcraft.

Mrs Ball said she would ask Henley Mens Shed to replicate a smaller version of the job thermometer, which is displayed at the town hall, to display the status of the SPCA's raising funds.

"So the public can see the progress," she said.