SPCA brings free desexing to East Coast communities

We are pleased to announce that the SPCA Desexing Caravan will once again be hitting the road, providing free desexing, microchipping, vaccinations and flea and worm treatments to cat and dog owners around the East Coast.

From 22 August, the Desexing Caravan will begin its journey with nine days in Ruatoria, and will continue to other locations including Te Araroa, Waihau Bay, Te Kaha, Ōpōtiki, Tokomaru Bay and Tolaga Bay over the coming weeks.

SPCA National Desexing Programme Manager Rebecca Dobson says that SPCA is offering these vital procedures free of charge to East Coast pet owners, to combat the disproportionately large numbers of cats and dogs in this region that haven’t been desexed.

“We see extremely high numbers of unwanted kittens and puppies on the East Coast. A lot of work needs to be done to combat the overpopulation of these animals,” Ms Dobson says.

“With the Desexing Caravan, we hope to desex large numbers of animals in these communities where the need is high, to bring down the rates of breeding and ultimately reduce the number of unwanted litters.”

Due to the remote nature of some of the areas around the East Coast, there is limited access to veterinary services for a large number of people.

The cost of procedures such as desexing and microchipping can be very high, setting pet owners back hundreds of dollars. The Desexing Caravan is just one of SPCA’s initiatives to make these important procedures more accessible to Kiwis who need a helping hand. Only a koha donation is asked of those who wish to use the services.

Teams of SPCA veterinarians and veterinary nurses will be making the journey from Wellington and Palmerston North, and there will also be external teams from Ōpōtiki Veterinary Centre, and East Coast Farm Vets.

This upcoming initiative will stop thousands of animals being born unwanted into a life of neglect, meaning that its impact will be felt for years to come.

Registrations are now open, and spaces are limited. If you live on the East Coast and want to see if you can book in your pet, please give us a call on 022 567 7993 or check the listings on our website here.