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Adoption Special for this weekend 13-14 March 2010

We are full to overflowing with arounbd 190 beautiful cats and cuddly kittens, so for this weekend we are offering a 50% discount on all feline adoptions.

So if you've been thinking about getting a new furry companion to join your family, this weekend is the time to do it! So come on out and meet your new family member. In fact, why not consider getting two feline friends who will be good company for each other as well?

SPCA Auckland Animal Village, 50 Westney Road, Mangere
Tel: 09 2567300

We are open from 10.00am to 4.00pm seven days a week

SPCA LAYS CHARGES FOR WELLSFORD DOG KILLING

12 March 2010

The Auckland SPCA has completed its investigation into the shooting earlier this year of 33 dogs at a property near Wellsford.

As a result 14 Informations have been laid against each of the two defendants. They relate to the shooting and deaths of seven of the 33 dogs.

The Informations have been laid at the Warkworth District Court pursuant to Sections 28 and 29 of the Animal Welfare Act, 1999.

In accordance with legal advice, no further statements will be issued by the SPCA until the determination of these charges

CONTACT OVER THE CONTENTS OF THIS MEDIA RELEASE MAY BE MADE WITH:

Vicki Border

Acting Inspectorate Team Leader

SPCA Auckland, PO Box 43221, Mangere

Mobile: 027 2780911 Email: vicki.border@spca.org.nz

Saving Moon Bears From Torture

The Auckland SPCA would like to invite supporters and interested members of the public to attend this free talk on the plight of the moon bear by Liane and Michael Donovan.

The brother and sister duo Liane and Michael Donovan supported an SPCA campaign to rescue a Moon Bear from the horrors of bear bile farming in China and were selected to travel to Chengdu, China in 2009 to meet the bear, named Assisi.

They have both documented a beautiful account of Assisi the bear and Jill Robinson, founder of Animals Asia. Hear their moving story of Assisi's journey to freedom through a pictorial presentation and short film. Liane will also launch The Assisi Memorial Bear Kitchen Campaign and this is your opportunity to learn more about it and the ongoing support of the Moon Bear!

SATURDAY 13th MARCH 2010 @ 3:30pm - 5:00pm
The University of Auckland Business School,
Owen G Glenn Building,
12 Grafton Road, Auckland (parking available under building)

Special Discount on Cat and Kitten Adoptions from our ARC

Our thanks and gratitude to all those who adopted animals during our recent Valentines Day Adoptathon.

We are now asking you to give the animals in our care the chance to find a loving home. Due to this extremely busy time of the year our Animal Recovery Centre (ARC) is reaching critical numbers again and our wonderful foster families have been working hard to help us rehome our cats and kittens and we would love to see them find the safe and loving homes they deserve.

Therefore, we are currently discounting our ARC cats and kittens this week, from Monday 1 March to Sunday 7 March 2010 by 50% - so if you have been considering adopting a cat or kitten now may be a good time & maybe think about more than one?

Please note this offer applies to animals adopted from our ARC (Animal Recovery Centre) only.

April School Holiday Experience 2010

There are still spaces available for the April School Holiday Experience. As there are limited sessions in the April school holidays, these are filling up fast. To learn more about the sessions available please click see our programme schedule here.

If you would like to make a booking and get your child involved, please contact Kathy Turner by email kathy.turner@spca.org.nz or on (09) 256 7300 x 827. Bookings will be taken on a first received basis.

Do you have some spare pet food?

HELP! We're in need of food for the animals temporarily in our care.

Mostly, we need processed wet food for kittens. Any brand of processed wet food is welcome, such as Whiskas, Chef, etc. Please place in our Auckland SPCA Cantinas at your local supermarket, or next time you're passing our Animal Village in Westney Road, Mangere, call in to say 'Hi' and drop it off at our main reception area. Thank you for your support!

For more information please phone Rebecca Laird on 09 2562525 or email rebecca.laird@spca.org.nz

Unanimous Backing For Animal Cruelty Bill

Wellington, Feb 25 NZPA - Parliament has unanimously supported a bill that significantly increases penalties for cruelty to animals. The Government's Animal Welfare Amendment Bill passed its first reading today, with MPs praising its provisions and saying they were necessary.

The legislation began as a member's bill drafted by National's Simon Bridges, but the Government took it over and ensured it was high on Parliament's agenda. It increases the maximum sentence for wilful ill-treatment of an animal from three years to five years. Maximum fines will double to $100,000 for an individual and $500,000 for a company. Agriculture Minister David Carter, who is in charge of the bill, said it was intended to send a clear message that serious offending against animals was unacceptable [more...]

Glue Traps

It has been reported to the Auckland SPCA recently that some of the Discount Variety Stores in the Auckland Region are selling Glue Traps, which are a restricted trap.

Glueboard traps were declared 'restricted' traps due to animal welfare concerns over the pain and distress exhibited by captured rodents, the length of time that live animals may be left on the traps and the potential for the inhumane disposal of live captured animals.

For more information, or to report where you may have seen these traps for sale, please call Auckland SPCA on 09 2567300.

As of 1 January 2010, use of these traps is illegal, unless the traps are used by:

1. commercial pest control operators;

2. people employed to conduct pest control on food production premises (excluding retail);

3. Department of Conservation employees and contractors; and

4. boat operators transporting people or goods to and from islands that are free from mammalian pests, or who are working close to these islands.

Unless the person using these traps fits within one of the above exceptions, the SPCA can initiate enforcement action.

Making A Difference For Pets In Your Neighbourhood

Thank you to everyone who supported us as part of the The Hill's SPCA Second Chance For Love Adoptathon weekend on Saturday 13th and Sunday 14th February.

118 animals now have new homes and families!

www.secondchanceforlove.co.nz

Don't forget you can still vote for your favourite participating animal shelter here!

Justice for Eve

After two years, justice has finally been served for Eve. On Friday in the Auckland Distinct Court mother of eight Paulette Taki, 41, was sentenced to prison for starving her dog in one of the worst cases of animal cruelty the SPCA had seen.

The Ridgeback cross dog who came to be known as Eve was locked under her owners home for five weeks without food or water, while she went on holiday.

When the SPCA found the dog after a tip-off on Christmas eve 2007, she was close to death, having lost half her body weight [more...]

Get your new Entertainment™ Book

Entertainment™ Books contain hundreds of 25-50% off and 2-for-1 offers from popular restaurants, cinemas, hotels, the arts, sporting events and family activities and are only available through fund-raising groups and organisations such as the Auckland SPCA.

Selling for $65 (Auckland), a portion of the proceeds from the sale of the Entertainment™ Books will help fund our continued care and shelter for sick, injured and unwanted animals. As a special bonus, and for a limited time, if you pre-order and pay for your 2010/11 Book before 19th March you’ll receive a bonus sheet of vouchers from 6 businesses new to the Entertainment Book.

Details how to order here!

SPCA STOPS CATCHA CRAY ARCADE GAMES

9 February 2009

The Auckland SPCA has taken action against the Catcha Cray outlets in the city by making the arcade games inoperable.

The arcade games, which use a mechanical claw-like device to capture live crayfish from a water-tank, have been the subject of intense investigation by the Society, involving expert species specialists and legal advice [more...]

SPCA TO LAY CHARGES FOR WELLSFORD DOG KILLING

5 February 2010

The Auckland SPCA announced today that it will proceed with charges in respect of the 33 dogs shot in what has been described as a ‘frenzied attack’ on a property near Wellsford on Monday, 25th January 2010 [read more here...]

AUCKLAND SPCA JUSTICE FUND

As a community we continue to be sickened by the number of animal cruelty cases and we must have zero tolerance for offenders who abuse and neglect animals.

Inspectors valiantly work to bring offenders to justice and in the last twelve months in Auckland alone , Auckland Inspectors investigated over 2,100 complaints and prosecuted over 28 people under the Animal Welfare Act 1999. This is a time-consuming and particularly expensive process. SPCA Inspectors spend long hours compiling evidence prior to a court appearance, and a single day in a defended trial can incur costs of up to $10,000.

While the Society is extremely lucky to have the support of a distinguished panel of Pro-Bono Prosecutors, we still must raise much-needed resource to cover costs so that prosecutions can continue as we strive to stem the tide of animal cruelty cases to hit the Auckland region. Here is the link to our Justice Fund donation page.

SPCA INCENSED AT MASS SLAUGHTER OF DOGS

28 January 2010

The shocking shooting of 33 dogs at a property near Wellsford, has horrified staff at the Auckland SPCA who describe the incident as appearing to be a frightening example of animal abuse. Executive Director Bob Kerridge said today “In my many years with the Society there have been a number of atrocities against animals but none on such a scale as this. The scene which confronted our two inspectors will leave a lasting impression on them” [more details here...]

ANIMAL RECOVERY CENTRE (ARC) VOLUNTEERS NEEDED

We are looking for willing and capable volunteers to assist our ARC Animal Attendants in our feline adoption area in the ARC over the weekends [more details here...]

HELP MAKE A DIFFERENCE

Bunnies galore - Can you give one of our beautiful rabbits a home

Our Rabbitry is overflowing with rabbits

HONEY and MANGO are two sisters that have been in our care for nearly five months. They are now ten months old and still waiting for their turn to go to their new home. They came into the SPCA as a bonded pair but have since had to be separated because of some scabbling (though they still live next to each other). We don't know if this was because of limited space or simply because they are two females that are now grown up. They are very curious and active but don't like to be handled much & would be best suited to experienced rabbit owners who understand their needs.

We would be happy for them to be adopted together or separately. Can YOU give our special girls a loving, forever home?

Our Rabbitry is close to bursting from all the beautiful bunnies that we have available for adoption, so if you're considering adoptiong a rabbit, please come and see us. We're open between 10am and 4pm, 7-days. One of our team will be glad to answer all your questions about rabbit care, too !

You can check out some of our rabbits for adoption here

STRONG WARNING TO ANIMAL ABUSERS

The proposal of Simon Bridges, MP for Tauranga, to raise the maximum penalty for the wilful ill-treatment of animals from 3 to 5 years imprisonment has delighted the SPCA in Auckland.

“This recommendation is sending a strong signal to the community that animal abuse is simply not acceptable”, said Bob Kerridge, Executive Director of the Society. “It is time to recognise that cruelty to animals is a social sickness that is as heinous as any act of violence inflicted on fellow humans, and the two are inextricably linked”, he said.

Mr Bridges is focussing his attention on Section 28 of the Animal Welfare Act which relates to the wilful and deliberate abuse of animals usually resulting in death or permanent disability, an offence which is normally pre-meditated [more...]

Foster Programme Appeal - What a great response !

UPDATE: The Auckland SPCA cats, kittens, staff & volunteers would like to send out a heartfelt thank you to all the caring people who responded to our call for help with fostering last week.

An emergency e-mail was launched appealing to anyone able to assist us by fostering cats & kittens for us over the holiday period as we were full to bursting. The SPCA had been inundated with small kittens needing a foster home and space to hold them at the village was non existent.

The response to our e-mail and website was overwhelming and we received over 150 e-mails and hundreds of phone calls from members of the community willing to help. All the cats and kittens that were desperately waiting for a reprieve are now happily settled in their new foster homes and the situation is now under control.

The response we received was a testament to your generosity of spirit and willingness to make a difference.

Please contact our foster department via our website or phone 09 2562525 if you would like to foster for the SPCA at any time in the future and once again thank you for changing the lives of so many.

Check here for more details about our Foster Programme.

Introducing the new kids on the block

We are pleased to announce the release of our PREMIUM CAT & DOG FOOD

SPCA Premium Cat and Dog Foods are highly digestible, nutritious blends of premium ingredients including high protein levels and are fortified with essential vitamins, minerals and antioxidants. Our food has no artificial colours, flavours, hormones or antibiotics. It has been carefully formulated to provide a premium and very palatable food for your pets.

A principle objective of the SPCA is to save lives and find loving homes for those cats and dogs that come into our care. Revenue generated from the sales of SPCA pet food will contribute substantially to achieving this goal.

Ask for it at your local store or purchase online at www.charitieschoice.co.nz

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AUCKLAND SPCA

CAN YOU HELP?

Subscribe now to our quarterly magazine, Animals’ Voice, the voice for the animals. Click here for full details

Check out our Pets of the Week

Entertainment™ Books contain hundreds of 25-50% off and 2-for-1 offers from popular restaurants, cinemas, hotels, the arts, sporting events and family activities and are only available through fund-raising groups and organisations such as the Auckland SPCA.

As the result of a partnership between the SPCA and Diners Club International, we are pleased to offer the Companion Card to you which, with use, will not only provide the usual Diners Club benefits (plus a few added advantages!) but will also raise valuable funds to help the animals.

Gone but not forgotten

DIANNE HAWORTH

Di's Memorial Service page

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