Dumped puppies and kittens handed into Nelson SPCA get another chance at life

Thursday, 29 March 2018

As two dumped kittens were settling into their first few hours at the SPCA, a group of dumped puppies were being rounded up to head to the same place.

It was a busy day for the SPCA on Thursday when seven dumped animals were handed in by concerned locals.

SPCA Nelson manager Donna Walzl said a lady saw a white box closed with insulation tape on the side of the road towards Rough Island.

With holes in the side of the box, she said the lady thought it looked suspicious.

**READ MORE:

* Kittens found in bin bag handed to SPCA

* SPCA urges de-sexing cats to avoid unwanted kittens

* Desexing needed to avoid kitten overload

* Wandering on the Whangamoa Saddle: Dogs seemed dumped, says rescuer

* Nelson SPCA in need of wet canned puppy food**

She didn't expect to find two healthy, charcoal-coloured kittens inside.

The male and female kittens were estimated to be four or five months old.

Walzl said it was not an acceptable thing for pet owners to do.

'I just don't want to see this really.'

​The SPCA have experienced a number of cases of dumped kittens during kitten seasons.

In December, four kittens were found dumped in a plastic bag on a walkway in Washington Valley before being handed in and eventually re-homed.

Walzl said that was a 'particularly unpleasant' event.

'We don't want to see animals dumped in horrible ways. Theses guys have got another chance now which is fabulous.'

She said they looked relatively healthy.

'One's a bit scared, the other is a little more outgoing.'

Just hours after the kittens arrived at the organisation, two men walked in carrying five wriggling puppies.

SPCA inspector Louise Royal said the puppies were found around Talleys at Port Nelson.

She said the three boys and two girls were about five-weeks-old.

'They'll be wondering what the heck's going on and where's mum.'

They didn't look 'too bad' but their fat bellies possibly meant they had worms.

The unwanted animals shows people aren't getting the message of the importance of de-sexing.

Walzl said it was crucial to stop the litter in the first place.

'If we can really encourage people to think about how [important] desexing is part of responsible pet ownership.'

The Nelson City Council have a menacing dog scheme which allows owners to desex their dogs for $25.

Walzl said having so many animals abandoned in one day was 'heartbreaking'.

'It's sad to think they had no other option than to dump them.'