Abandoned one minute, adopted the next - animals being cared for at the Otago SPCA's Opoho shelter have been in demand after attention was drawn to the plight of an increasing number of dumped dogs and cast-away cats.
Otago SPCA chairwoman Sharon Stark Lont said there had been an amazing turnaround in the number of people seeking to adopt kittens, cats and dogs since an Otago Daily Times article publicised the concerns of staff and volunteers.
SPCA shelters around the region have been inundated with abandoned animals during a "horrible" holiday season, which included an "unspeakable act of cruelty" at Lake Dunstan, where nine puppies were left to die in a rubbish tin.
Ms Stark Lont said the SPCA's Opoho haven had been "absolutely buzzing" in the past couple of days with visitors seeking to adopt animals.
However, despite the interest and successful placements of some kittens and cats with new owners, the SPCA remained in a "crisis situation", with many animals being looked after by foster carers.
Opoho haven manager Brenda Stuart said there had been an "overwhelming response" from people and about 14 kittens had been adopted out since the weekend.
"We only have about six in the adoption cattery at the moment, but there are many more in the shelter which are yet to undergo their vet checks and be neutered.
"They never stop coming in. It is the kitten [breeding] season and this lasts until about July," she said.
The "positive" turnaround in adoptions had boosted the morale of staff and volunteers, during what had been a tough time recently, Ms Stark Lont said.
"It has been a heart-warming response because there has been, unfortunately, a lot of dumpings.
"When you are getting lots of very thin and very, very frightened animals in, to get them cleaned up and looked after can be very taxing on our staff and volunteers," she said.
North Otago's SPCA shelter, in Oamaru, is the latest animal haven to report an increase in unwanted animals, as foster carers there also struggle to cope with the sheer numbers of animals needing attention.
Oamaru shelter manager Vicki Stoddart said the SPCA was seeking assistance in trying to find homes for a litter of nine puppies, which were left outside a vet store recently.
"Fostering one or two puppies is hard work for a volunteer, let alone nine hungry pups. They are now 7 weeks old and we need to get them out into the community to see if we can find them homes," she said.
In Alexandra, SPCA inspector Helen Faunders said a surge of interest from prospective owners wanting to care for the litter of puppies which were dumped in a rubbish tin beside Lake Dunstan had dwindled.
Two puppies had been allocated to new owners, but adoption application forms sent out in response to inquiries from several people had not amounted to anything, she said.
"We haven't had a rush of people adopting animals. There was lots of inquiries and application forms handed out, initially, but as often happens people don't always follow through," Ms Faunders said.
Central Otago's SPCA shelter, in Alexandra, was too small to house many animals, with most of them kept in private boarding facilities.
"Many people still aren't aware we are here. We will be all awash during the upcoming kitten season."
Homes needed to be found for about 14 puppies and about 16 kittens, once they had been neutered and given their necessary vet checks and other treatment, Ms Faunders said.
Ms Stark Lont said animal shelters around Otago were all struggling to cope with the "horrible" situation which had arisen during the holiday season.
However, there had been some positive outcomes, with the recent rise in adoptions in Dunedin and also a welcome financial boost from a group of supporters, who "unable to adopt pets have made donations instead", she said.
