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Assisting with the re-homing of dogs on the Hibiscus Coast is something that Chrissy Clements of Orewa has become rather good at, placing nearly 100 pets in new homes over the past two years.
This month she takes another of her initiatives, to improve access to de-sexing services, to the next level.
Chrissy has operated HURRAH Dog Rescue for two years and says she has been inundated by pets needing new homes. “People give us unwanted litters of puppies, the Pound comes to us for help, and we get a large number of people relinquishing their family pets for re-homing due to a change in circumstances,” she says.
Chrissy says that a key issue affecting the number of unwanted pets is that owners cannot afford to spay and neuter their pets, a standard procedure that costs in the vicinity of $200-$350. To improve access to de-sexing services for low income families, Chrissy began the Desexy Revolution in July last year and this month she is holding Auckland’s first Spay and Neuter Day, on April 12.
The aim of the day is to raise public awareness of the benefits of de-sexing, and to neuter 15 male dogs and spay five female dogs. Three vets will work on rotation for six hours, free of charge, performing the operations at CareVets in Mt Wellington.
A total of 13 vet clinics from Franklin to Dairy Flat are already part of the Desexy Revolution, and 40 operations have been performed in the past year.
Funding that Chrissy obtained from LUSH, NZ Lottery Grants Board and MSD Animal Health, has enabled her to hold the mass spay and neuter day, offering Community Services Card holders the opportunity to sign up for a free spay or neuter for their family pet, as well as a free microchip and cost price vaccinations. Once the day’s quota is filled, people can go onto a waiting list.
Auckland Council have announced an amnesty for the Spay and Neuter Day, waiving the infringement fee for owners of unregistered dogs, and offering the opportunity to gain a Responsible Dog Ownership Licence, which reduces the annual registration fee.
Info: desexyrevolution.hurrah.org.nz or look for Desexy Revolution on Facebook.
