SPCA and Council launch animal desexing campaign
Published on 22 March 2022
SPCA are making good on their promise to reduce the number of unwanted animals in the region, by launching a Snip ‘n’ Chip campaign in Waitaki, bringing essential desexing and microchipping services to pet owners.
From today, SPCA’s Snip ‘n’ Chip campaign will allow cat owners in the Waitaki district to desex their cat for $20.
Every month, hundreds of animals are brought into SPCA Centres nationwide and that number can balloon to thousands over the warmer months with kitten season. In a bid to make desexing and microchipping services more accessible to pet owners and reduce the number of lost animals and unwanted litters coming through SPCA doors, the animal welfare organisation is offering these procedures at a fraction of the cost.
“We know desexing and microchipping is one of the key things we can all do to make a real difference for animal welfare in New Zealand and reduce the large number of unwanted litters and lost animals we see. Thanks to our partnership with Waitaki District Council, and our participating vet clinics, we hope to make a real difference in the community,” says SPCA National Desexing Programme Manager Rebecca Dobson.
“Desexing your pet will help them lead a happier and healthier life and has so many other benefits. It ensures the cycle of unwanted litters is broken and people’s companion animals don’t unknowingly or unexpectedly reproduce more litters of animals, as well as protects our wildlife. Should your pet ever become lost or stolen, microchipping gives you the best chance of being reunited with them too,” Dobson says.
SPCA and Waitaki District Council encourages all cat owners across the district to take up this offer. The campaign is running for a limited time until Snip ‘n’ Chip vouchers sell out, and they can be booked by visiting SPCA Desexing Campaign
“Making desexing and microchipping services accessible to everyone is really important to us and Snip ‘n’ Chip is a great way for SPCA to reach out to those people who may not be able to afford it. It’s also a great opportunity for pet owners who do not currently have a local vet to get to know one in their area,” says Rebecca.
To find out more, go to the Animal Management page of this website.
Just so you know, there are 3 main categories of cats in the Waitaki district:
Feral Cats
In New Zealand, feral cats are defined as having no relationship with humans, and do not inhabit areas near humans. Feral cats are considered an important predator of wildlife in New Zealand, and much of the attention these cats receive is based on their negative impacts on native wildlife and biodiversity
Stray Cats
Unowned, semi-owned, and lost or abandoned companion cats can all be considered stray cats in New Zealand. The degree of socialisation with humans varies from full socialisation to none, with the distinction in this category that these cats are dependent on humans either directly or indirectly.
Companion Cats
Cats that live with their owners and are solely reliant on them for their welfare.There are about 1.2 million companion cats in 41% of households across New Zealand. Approximately 88% of New Zealand owners desex their cats, which is relatively high. However, there has been a downward trend from previous reports, where 93.2 and 93% of owners reported desexing their cats. Although there is a relatively high rate of desexing of companion cats in New Zealand, the age at which these cats are desexed, and if they had a litter of kittens before desexing, is unknown and may impact upon metapopulation numbers.
Stray and Feral cats have a significant impact on native and non-native wildlife. Feral cats have been linked to the decline in numbers of lizards and invertebrates in Central Otago and McKenzie Basin areas.