SPCA slams 'irresponsible pet ownership'

SPCA Otago office manager Brenda Stuart, of Dunedin, holds a litter of kittens which were dumped...
SPCA Otago office manager Brenda Stuart, of Dunedin, holds a litter of kittens which were dumped at the Opoho haven on New Year's Eve, placing additional pressure on an overloaded facility which is caring for about 200 abandoned animals. Photo by Stephen Jaquiery.
Abandoned animals at SPCA facilities around Otago have left staff and voluntary carers struggling to comprehend why owners will not take responsibility for their pets, after a horrible holiday season.

SPCA Otago chief inspector Virginia Pine, of Alexandra, said there had been an increase in the number of abandoned animals in the wake of an act of "unspeakable cruelty" near Lake Dunstan on December 23.

Nine 5-week-old puppies had been left to die in an iron rubbish tin on a scorching day.

"We seem to have experienced an unusually high number of incidents of abandonments for this time of the year," Ms Pine said.

SPCA inspectors were called to an empty house in Cromwell this week to find three cats and two litters consisting of nine kittens, left behind after tenants moved off the property.

"We're unsure how long they were left there. It's lucky a window was left open, because this meant the mums could get out to scavenge around the neighbourhood," she said.

The cats were all "looking pretty thin" and have been taken into care, adding to an already under-pressure SPCA facility in Alexandra, Ms Pine said.

Police are also assisting the SPCA in Central Otago to try to track down the owners of a vehicle, who are believed to be involved with an incident on New Year's Day when a puppy was picked up and hurled against a parked car on the main street of Alexandra, Ms Pine said.

Meanwhile, in Dunedin, two boxes of kittens and their mothers were dumped on the doorstep of the Opoho care haven on New Year's Eve.

The facility was unattended at the time and the first box of kittens was discovered on a "chance visit" by SPCA Otago board chairwoman Sharon Stark Lont.

After she had brought the first box of abandoned moggies inside, Ms Stark Lont went to leave the facility only to discover a second box of cats at the gate.

Dunedin SPCA office manager Brenda Stuart said more than 200 animals were in the care of the facility at Opoho.

"We've been busting at the seams and are fortunate to have some people who are prepared to foster animals," she said.

Abandoned felines were the most prevalent issue for the SPCA. About 83 cats and 98 kittens were in the cattery.

The Dunedin haven has 14 dogs in care, and other animals, such as rabbits, ducks, rats, and birds, are being looked after.

Ms Pine said people often made excuses for abandoning animals and blamed hard times, money pressures, and outside factors, such as the recession.

"We have been inundated with animals this holiday and it is down to one thing only. It comes back to totally irresponsible pet ownership.

"People need to take responsibility and look after their pets. It is not good enough," she said.

- matthew.haggart@odt.co.nz

 

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