Animal attraction obvious

Kaiah Hiko (6), Otago SPCA dog manager Lisa Gerard, Zita (7) and Poppy Lamare (9) meet  Pearl, a...
Kaiah Hiko (6), Otago SPCA dog manager Lisa Gerard, Zita (7) and Poppy Lamare (9) meet Pearl, a Staffordshire-Dalmatian puppy, at the Otago SPCA open day in Dunedin yesterday. Photo: Linda Robertson.
It was puppy love at first sight for three young girls and one smoochy pooch in Dunedin yesterday.

Zita (7) and Poppy Lamare (9) and Kaiah Hiko (6) were quickly smitten with a Staffordshire-Dalmatian puppy named Pearl, and the affection appeared to be mutual.

That left mother Kelli Lamare with something of a predicament.

"We have actually adopted two cats from here, and we have got a dog we have adopted," she said.

"We have got a full house at the moment, but you never know. There may be room for one more."

It was the kind of temptation that saw animals in demand  as about 1200 people flooded the SPCA Otago centre during  its open day yesterday.

SPCA Otago business development manager Kirsty Thomson said three cats, three dogs and two rabbits were adopted during the day,  which was "good for this time of year".

The event also raised about $5250 towards the centre’s planned $1.5 million building replacement programme.

About $825,000 had been raised since June,  from public donations, community grants and the SPCA’s own savings, she said.

The $1 pooch kissing booth was a popular attraction at yesterday’s event. 

People had different reactions to the prospect of a pooch’s slobbery affection but kisses were not compulsory, she said.

"It could be a hug as opposed to a full-on kiss."

chris.morris@odt.co.nz

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