Dumped pets on the raise

Tauranga SPCA is becoming a dumping ground for unwanted pets as firm economic times hit the pockets of Western Bay families. Operations manager Margaret Rawiri said cat owners regularly came in and said they did not want their adult cat anymore, particularly if it had just had kittens. "If people did not want their cat to have kittens then they should have had it de-sexed in the first place," she said. Yesterday 64 cats and kittens were being housed at the Animal shelter and 20-25 dogs, mainly puppies. There were between 20 and 30 kittens in SPCA foster homes around the region.

"People are really getting restless with us when we tell them we really don't have any spare cages and try to explain we are here for sick and injured animals, not for unwanted pets."For some people it seems their animals are dispensable items and when they don't want them anymore, because they are moving house or can't afford to care for them, they expect someone else to pick up the loose". The number of incoming pets animals this year had surpassed the number of adoptions, which had slowed down. On average between 700 and 800 dogs are impounded each year, but the retrieval rate by their owners remains stable at 80 per cent.

Bieber arguments fans to adopt pets from animal shelters

Justin Bieber jumped at the chance to spearhead a new animal espousal campaign for People for The Ethical Treatment of Animals - because he bonded with his dad at a shelter for stray cats and dogs when he was a child. The Baby singer and his pet dog Bijoux starred in an ad for PETA's youth division in 2009, urging fans to adopt strays from Animal shelters over puppies from stores - and now he's back for a new crusade, recalling the joy he had with his first pet, Sam, who he took in from a shelter.

He tells the animal rights organization's Animal Times periodical, "We moved to a city where I didn't really know anybody, so... I wanted a friend around and Sam was... that friend. "My dad and I used to go and hang out (at the shelter)... just go and visit the different animals."And Bieber is hopeless for fans to visit their local shelter before making any decisions about becoming a dog or cat owner. He adds, "It's really important that people adopt. I really encourage going out to an animal shelter or a place where you can get a dog that has been deserted or doesn't have a home."

Animal shelter offers gratis cat sterilization

Pueblo Animal Services, a division of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak province, is now offering free spay and neuter surgeries to income-qualified cat owners. Appointments are available on a first-come, first-served basis and space is limited. “Southern Colorado Community Foundation has generously given us a grant to sterilize cats for those who are in financial need," said Julie Justman, associate director of Pueblo Animal Services. “We hope this event will kick off our normal subsidized spay and spay program that we offer year around."

The subsidized spay-neuter program, which was launched in 2008, offers surgeries for dogs and cats at reduced costs for all persons and families. “Our ultimate goal is to reduce the pet overpopulation by offering a cost-effective alternative to pet guardians,” said Jan Mchugh-Smith, president and CEO of HSPPR. "Normally, clients are responsible for covering a co-pay for the service and it depends on income qualification, pet species, sex and weight. All co-pays are being waived for the free cat spay-neuter for those who are income-qualified." Spaying or neutering pets prevents unwanted litters and reduces behavioral issues; the practice creates a better lifestyle for pets animals in the community and reduces stress on owners.