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SPCA CONDEMNS RETENTION OF ALBANY CHOOKS BUT OPPOSES SHOOTINGS
25 May 2008
Albany Village Business Association “behaving like a spoiled child”.
The Auckland SPCA has reaffirmed its opposition to any free-roaming chickens remaining in Albany Village and the nearby Kell Park, whilst disassociating itself from the recent shooting of some of the few remaining chickens.
In March this year, North Shore City Council’s regulatory committee voted to allow a limited number of chickens to remain, under a management plan, to be provided by the Albany Village Business Association (AVBA).
However, council made acceptance of the plan dependent on SPCA agreement. The Society subsequently ruled out acceptance of any such plan as being ineffective in addressing its concerns.
“Our sole interest in this matter was, is and will continue to be the welfare of the chooks themselves,” says Auckland SPCA’s Chief Executive, Bob Kerridge [more...]
Anastasia the axolotl
UPDATE: Anastasia has found a new home, with Anna, who contacted us very quickly last week.
Thanks to everyone else who offered to take Anastasia.
Entertainment™ Book 2008-2009 -- purchase yours now!
Purchase your brand new 2008/2009 Entertainment™ Book now to receive over $15,000 in valuable offers, valid through 1 June, 2009. At the same time, you’ll be helping Auckland SPCA fund-raising! The Entertainment™ Book is your guide to the best restaurants, hotel accommodation, attractions, sports and leisure activities... all with 25% to 50% off or 2-for-1 offers! Check it out here for more details!
WHEN THE GOING GETS TOUGH ...
 Inspectors at Auckland SPCA were issued with individually fitted anti-stab vests similar to those already worn on duty by the New Zealand Police.
These vests, purchased from a supplier on North Shore and sourced from the UK, are an unfortunate but necessary requirement for the increasingly difficult job an Animal Welfare Inspector is expected to perform within the Auckland SPCA region.
General Manager David Lloyd-Barker said, ”It is a sorry state of affairs that we have had to issue these vests but I would rather that than the alternative with one of the Inspectors being hurt.”
(photo courtesy Eastern Courier)
He added, ”Unlike the Police, the Inspectors work primarily alone many times in remote areas. They have GPS tracking on their vehicles and radios, this is just an additional safety measure.” [more...]
Volunteers Urgently Needed for Rabbit Care at Village
We urgently require rabbit volunteers for Saturdays and Sundays, on an ongoing basis. Duties involve cleaning and feeding the rabbits. Please contact the Volunteer Co-ordinator if interested: Melanie Carpenter, Admin and Volunteer Co-ordinator 09 2567304.
MANUREWA WOMAN GUILTY OF CRUELTY
Diana MATAPUKA of 31 Arbor Close, Manurewa pleaded guilty at Manukau District Court today to 3 charges of cruelty under the provisions of the Animal Welfare Act 1999 being:
Failing to provide that animal with proper and sufficient food and water.
Failing to provide that animal with proper and sufficient shelter.
Failing to ensure the animal received treatment to alleviate any unreasonable or unnecessary pain or distress.
[more...]
Starving dog's owner finally in court
A woman accused of starving her puppy for a month has finally appeared in court over what the SPCA has described as one of New Zealand's worst cases of animal neglect. Paulette Taki, 30, avoided police and SPCA inspectors for nearly six months, but was last week arrested and appeared in Auckland District Court. She pleaded not guilty to three charges under the Animal Welfare Act for starving her 11-month old Staffordshire-ridgeback-cross puppy - renamed Eve because SPCA staff rescued her on Christmas Eve [more...]
Dog groomer steps up
Christine Weight from Pampered Pooches Dog Grooming recently came to our assistance when she spent three hours doing some serious grooming work on one of our pooches who had been rescued by an SPCA Inspector. Not only that, but Christine has also offered to help us out in the future with our dog grooming requirements, too. On behalf of our furry friends, thanks Christine - we really appreciate it. Pampered Pooches Dog Grooming cover Weymouth, Papatoetoe, and the Botany area. You can contact Christine on 09 2969356 or 027 3673007.
It's gonna be a dog day...
If you have a dog and want to get a lot of professional advice for your pet like training, grooming, health check, information on kennels, day care, pet insurance and much more for free, as well as to have couple of hours of fun with your pet and to support the SPCA, then come to Barkley Manor at 400-402 Great North Road, Grey Lynn on Saturday 24th of May 2008 between 2-4pm. This is a community project people that support it include Bark Busters, Sue Logan (dog training), the Dog Guru (Simon Goodall), Barkley Manor, Master Pet and more. See you there!
Call for assistance
We're in desperate need of old towels and small, towel-sized blankets for our animals. If you've got any, we'd really appreciate it if you could drop them out to our Animal Village at 50 Westney Road, Mangere.
If you're on the North Shore, you can leave them at our 'Creature Comforts' op-shop at Unit 7, 25 Anzac Road, Browns Bay. While you're there, don't forget to have a good rummage around the store when you visit, there are some great jackets to keep the winter chill out.
Equine thanks
A big thank-you goes out to everyone who has kindly given donations towards the upkeep of horses in our care. And a special thank-you to the Papatoetoe Adult Riding Club, the Papatoetoe Pony club, Barfoot & Thompson Howick and Orion Health for their generous contributions.
Media get it WRONG over funding
The SPCA is outraged over an inaccurate story circulating in the New Zealand media that wrongly claims the SPCA receives $5 million each year from Government to help enforce the Animal Welfare Act.
"This story is completely untrue and is based on misreporting," says the Royal New Zealand SPCA's National Chief Executive, Robyn Kippenberger. "The government has estimated that the services of our inspectorate are worth $5 million a year to the New Zealand taxpayer. But the government does not pay us for these services. Like all other SPCA operations, our inspectorate is financed by generous New Zealanders through donations, bequests and other fundraising. The only exception to this rule is the one-off grant of $300,000 that the Minister of Agriculture, the Hon. Jim Anderton, announced last Saturday to assist our inspectors in coping with the impact of drought conditions on farm animal welfare," she says.
RNZSPCA website
Eve's blog
Once again, we've managed to coax Eve into updating her blog.
She's doing well and is very happy with her foster family - a far cry from her condition when she first arrived here at the SPCA Village (see photo)
A warrant to arrest her 'owner' has been issued by the Auckland District Court and we're waiting for further police action.
You can check out Eve's latest blog entry here.
If you want to read her whole story, read her blog from the start here.
Animal House - It's back on again!
Series four of Animal House has started on TV One on Wednesdays at 8pm. Tune-in and learn more about the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in New Zealand [more...]
Last chance to get your SPCA Calendar for the year!
 We have a stock of stunning SPCA 2008 calendars for sale at a very special price for our friends and supporters.
Enjoy each month of this year with some of the four-legged stars of the SPCA for only $3.50 each or as a real special - five for $10 - that will allow you, our supporters, to share the animals of the SPCA with your friends, community groups and families throughout the year ahead. It's a GREAT bragain, just to get the fantastic Hannah Stewart photos that could be framed.
Your contribution also assists the SPCA with some much needed financial assistance at this time of the year. You can purchase them from the Animal Village next time you visit, or go online through our shop here. What a bargain!
Do you have any spare hay? Or know of a good supplier of hay?
Once again, we're running short on hay for our equine charges. If you know of a supplier who could offer us some at a good rate, please email our inspector here. Thank you to those who have already donated hay to us - we appreciate your generousity very much.
Now is the time to adopt a puppy or adult dog
We've gone from having no puppies to a full house; we're also full with some beautiful adult dogs needing good homes. Now is the time to come and see our fantastic selection of canines!
COWS LEG FELL OFF DUE TO NEGLECT – PUKEKAWA MAN GUILTY
18 April 2008: Responding to a call from a concerned member of the public, Inspector Vicki Border of Auckland SPCA visited the property at 596 Mercer Ferry Road, Pukewara with a large animal vet. What greeted them was a horrific sight of a Hereford Steer whose right leg was so badly injured that it needed to be put to sleep immediately. The vet administered a sedative and whilst waiting for the effects of this to take place the right leg literally fell off [more...]
Author and business guru says SPCA example of 'honourable business'
Author and business guru Hannah Samuel is advising people on how to tell "honourable" businesses from those that are not.
Ms Samuel from Birkenhead says fewer businesses practise what they preach nowadays, so people need to look for the "signs and symptoms" of an ethical business. "Actions speak louder than words and New Zealanders have just had a massive shock education in cynicism and naivety in business," Ms Samuel says [more...]
Helping those in need - do you have the right stuff?
The Auckland SPCA needs volunteer ambulance drivers weekends and weekdays. You must have a clean and full drivers licence, be over 18 and have great people skills. If you are interested in being part of this elite team please download the application form and forward to Melanie, our Volunteer Coordinator.
Long time animal abuser jailed
Martine Genet formerly of 20 Shifnal Place, Manurewa was found guilty on seven (7) charges under the Animal Welfare Act 1999 on 18th March 2008 at Manukau District Court. She was found guilty of five (5) counts of failure to alleviate pain and suffering to five kittens in her care in addition to which she was found to be in breach of two (2) previous disqualification order from owning or caring for animals imposed due to earlier convictions for neglecting animals [more...]
Olympics clean-up - Chinese style - Beijings shocking death camp for cats
Thousands of pet cats in Beijing are being abandoned by their owners and sent to die in secretive government pounds as China mounts an aggressive drive to clean up the capital in preparation for the Olympic Games. Hundreds of cats a day are being rounded and crammed into cages so small they cannot even turn around. Then they are trucked to what animal welfare groups describe as death camps on the edges of the city. The cull comes in the wake of a government campaign warning of the diseases cats carry and ordering residents to help clear the streets of them [more...]
"The greatness of a nation and its moral progress can be judged by the way its animals are treated..."
-- Mahatma Gandhi
Remember Animals When You Prepare For Emergencies
The SPCA has called on pet-owners to make arrangements in advance, to help their animals through natural disasters and other emergencies. The Society says that every household should prepare an emergency plan, a survival kit and a 'get-away' kit and that the needs of animals, along with those of other family members, should be factored in when making these preparations [more...]
Silent victims of a social sickness - by Bob Kerridge
"A stark reality faces this nation, one that we need to address together - we live in a violent society. It is a growing evil that is invading our communities, our homes and our loved ones. Much of it is headline material which shocks us every time an act of violence is revealed, as well it should. However, the full extent of cruelty in the community is not generally known. That was dramatically emphasised with the release of the annual "list of shame" detailing 50 of the most horrendous cases of animal abuse investigated by the SPCA in the first nine months of this year. In addition to some sickening cases of sheer neglect resulting in extreme animal suffering, the list also featured acts of violence of an alarming intensity..." [more...]
Only buy cruelty-free cosmetics
Beauty and cosmetic products often perform extensive animal testing on their products before releasing them onto the market. A lot of these products contain a cocktail of preservatives, colourings and fragrances that can cause reactions in humans despite the suffering of the animals, in an attempt to ensure that they are fit for human usage. Some manufacturers are bucking the trend thankfully, and some of the local creulty-free producers of fine products are Living Nature, Hema Products, Carol Priest, evolu, Antipodes Nature, Trilogy Products.
Weekday Animal Care Volunteers Needed Urgently!
To help as we prepare for the silly season at the SPCA.
If you are available weekdays and enjoy working with cats, dogs
or rabbits then please contact the Auckland SPCA
on 09 2567304, or by email to our Volunteer Co-ordinator.
Foster homes needed!
If you aren't able to to have a full-time pet, then we have the perfect solution for you - foster an SPCA animal! We are now looking for foster homes for adult cats, kittens, puppies & adult dogs. To register your interest please email our Foster Co-ordinator now. Conditions apply and to view more details, check out our Volunteer pages.
www.dinersclub.co.nz
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