Animals may be used to test legal highs under new legislation that will control such psychoactive substances for the first time. New testing requirements will prevent harmful substances reaching our shelves but there’s now also the possibility animals will suffer for our Saturday nights. The proposed Psychoactive Substances Bill, introduced on February 26, would mean [...]

 Non-profit animal rights organisation SAFE  believes it is time for a change.  The Animal Welfare Act is under review and is currently taking public submissions.       Campaign director for SAFE, Elliot Pryor, believes the current act is flawed. He is organising a six-month campaign to raise public awareness about the Act.  “It’s very reactive, [...]

The message from the SPCA is coming through loud and clear. Don’t rely on your pet to practise safe sex.  Auckland, like many parts of New Zealand, has a problem with stray animals and the SPCA is begging domestic pet owners to de-sex their pet.  Chief executive of SPCA Auckland Christine Kalin says the main [...]

A man accused of inhumanely killing 33 dogs claimed in court the dogs’ owner “begged” him to do it. Tony Campbell was giving evidence in his own defence at the Auckland District Court last week on charges of willfully mistreating 23 puppies and 10 adult dogs. Campbell and co-accused Russell Mendoza pleaded not guilty to [...]

The congregation howled and yipped at the Vicar as he bow-wow-wowed his welcome. Bunnies in baskets, hulking Bull Mastiffs, silver fern annointed donkeys and a curly-horned goat – all manner of creatures attended the SPCA’s annual service for the animals at St Matthew-in-the-City last Sunday. Maureen Thomas brought along her 15-year-old Scottie dog. “I thought [...]

It is coming to that time again. You’ll be driving down the road, windows down, enjoying the fresh spring air, when you see that line of small orange feet, stamping their way across the black road. Duckling season is fast approaching. For most of us, it simply means taking extra caution on the road, but [...]

Blog: Animal abuse is a real and serious issue in New Zealand. The number of people in this country who mistreat helpless animals each year is ridiculous. The issue is not just the amount of abuse that occurs, but who is conducting the mistreatment. Young people are among some of the worst offenders in the [...]

The SPCA warns that students are unprepared for the high costs involved with keeping a pet. The latest SPCA Companion Animals in New Zealand study shows that on average, people spend around $1500 per year on their dog. Keeping a cats costs around $460 per year. Those costs do not include emergency visits to vet clinics. [...]

People all around the country will be able to help the SPCA and their animals when they buy a cupcake today. For the third year running, the SPCA is holding Cupcake Day, with volunteers baking thousands of of the individual cakes to be sold to benefit New Zealand animals. Marketing manager of SPCA Auckland Martin [...]