SPCA Desexing Grant set to help more animal rescues

The overpopulation of companion animals in New Zealand is a community problem, and one which we cannot solve alone.

Desexing is key in preventing thousands more animals being born unwanted and into potential lives of neglect. Our desexing initiatives remain a priority, as we battle to reduce the number of animals that end up needing care from animal shelters and rescue groups around the country.

“It’s not just our SPCA Centres feeling the pressure with the high numbers of animals coming in,” says SPCA Desexing Programme Manager Rebecca Dobson. “All rescue groups around New Zealand are feeling the strain.”

The SPCA Desexing Grant is now open for applications. The grant exists to reduce the number of unwanted animals being born by supporting rescues and community organisations with funding for their own desexing projects.

“We’re very pleased to be able to offer this grant. We don’t receive any Government funding at all for desexing, so all of these funds come from kind-hearted donors,” says Ms Dobson. “We know there are many groups out there who are trying their best to make a difference through desexing too – together we can have a greater impact.”

SPCA’s Desexing Grant was previously managed externally by the New Zealand Companion Animal Trust (NZCAT). While this model helped establish a strong base of rescue and community desexing activity, bringing the grant in-house gives SPCA greater visibility, accountability, and flexibility in how funds are distributed.

“Bringing the Desexing Grant in-house means we can make it simpler and better connected to SPCA’s national desexing work. It also lets us open the door to more of the rescue and community groups who are out there doing incredible work, even if they are not registered charities,” says Ms Dobson.

“This change is about making sure that support gets to where it’s needed most, so together we can make a bigger dent in the number of un-desexed animals across New Zealand.”

Those groups wishing to apply for the grant need to get their applications in by Sunday 9 November. More information and instructions to apply can be found on our SPCA desexing website.

The SPCA Desexing Grant is for rescue/community groups only. If you are an individual and are looking for assistance in desexing your pet, you can visit our desexing site for more information.