2 minute read
Pets Corner
Kitten season
The SPCA is calling on Kiwis to become feline foster parents over the summer as centres are hit with what is expected to be one of the busiest kitten seasons ever. SPCA chief executive Andrea Midgen said centres have seen a huge influx of kittens. Last year more than 27,131 kittens and cats arrived at SPCA centres in need of help.
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‘Kitten season’ usually runs from spring with the peak in summer and often lasts right into June. Kittens make up 75 percent of all animals brought into centres. A female kitten can fall pregnant at just 16-20 weeks old and can have 12 kittens in one year on average. If the cycle continues and her offspring reproduce, 2107 kittens would be born over a period of four years. “Kitten season places a huge strain on our centres, resources and staff with so many animals being born. We rely heavily on our volunteers and foster families who help us care for so many animals through this time,” she says. Fosterers go through an interview process, and are given basic training if they are caring for animals that require special attention like neonate kittens. They
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receive a foster pack with food, bedding, toys and everything the animal needs while the SPCA team search for their forever homes. If you want to volunteer to help, contact the SPCA Whangārei Centre at 143 Kioreroa Road, Whangārei. Source: SPCA website and Stuff article ‘SPCA desperate for fosterers as one of the busiest kitten seasons ever hits’ by Emily Moorhouse
Hot dogs!
Leaving your dog trapped in a hot car can have devastating results, and is an infringeable regulatory offence under the Animal Welfare Act. Don’t risk the welfare of your pet, always take them with you when you leave the car, or if they can’t join you, leave them at home. Many pet owners don’t understand how quickly a car can heat up. In a hot car, even with the windows slightly open, panting is not enough to keep a dog’s body temperature within a safe range. On a 30°C day, the temperature inside your car can reach 39°C in less than five minutes and in 30 minutes it goes up to 49°C. This occurs even in the shade and if your windows are open. If you find a dog locked in a car in distress, please call the police or your local SPCA immediately.
