Royal New Zealand SPCA opens 17 “new” outlets around the country

The Royal New Zealand SPCA is making a significant step to make kittens more readily available to the public, and to save animals’ lives.

The Royal New Zealand SPCA has signed an agreement with nationwide pet store Animates whereby Animates will make kittens from the SPCA available to the public. With time this might be extended to other small pets.

SPCA National President Bob Kerridge said the initiative was a key part of the SPCA’s “Saving Lives” campaign, which has the goal of removing the need to euthanase animals.

“This is the first time we have had a partnership of this sort and it’s a major step,” Mr Kerridge said. “From a kitten welfare perspective it is almost like having an additional 17 SPCAs in the main streets of New Zealand.”

Until now, people wanting kittens from the SPCA needed to go to an SPCA location. In places like Auckland this would involve, for many, travelling across the city to the SPCA’s South Auckland premises.

In addition to increasing the number of kittens that are re-homed and adopted, the partnership with the SPCA should also increase awareness and understanding of the work the SPCA does, and of responsible pet ownership.

Animates makes no profit from the sale of kittens and a $10 donation from the sale of each kitten will be made to the SPCA.

Kittens will be vet-checked, vaccinated, micro-chipped, de-sexed, wormed and flead.

Animates General Manager Richard Bowker said the association with the SPCA was good for all concerned.

“This is a very practical way to use Animates’ greatest strength to the benefit of the SPCA and the public – hundreds of thousands of New Zealanders visit our stores each year, each of whom is an animal lover,” Mr Bowker said.

“The SPCA does a fantastic job 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, and we are delighted to be able to help in their efforts and with the “Saving Lives” campaign.”

Mr Bowker said although SPCA kittens would be more readily available, Animates would maintain is current strict criteria for pet welfare and adoptions.

ENDS

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