Animals need friends says Rowena

Waimarino Bulletin, Volume 3, Issue 40, 18 March 1986, Page 5

Animals need friends says Rowena

A local branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals will be established next week — if there is sufficient support from the community. Rowena Brown of Waiouru, who worked for the society in Auckland for five years, is holding a meeting on Monday 24 March .at 7.30pm in the supper room of the Waiouru community centre, to form an independent branch. A minimum of 16 people have to sign up as members before a branch can be formed, so Rowena is hoping all those interested will attend. She believes there is a real need for a local branch because as the Waiouru population is so transient, many don't take their animals with them when they leave. "There are lots of cats around Waiouru which people think are wild but they're not — they're domestic ones which have turned wild out of necessity to survive," said Rowena. However, if there was an SPCA branch in the area and people were caught dumping their animals they would be liable to a fine of up to $1000 or three months imprisonment or both, under the Animals Protection Act 1960. If the branch is formed on Monday, Rowena is hoping to become an SPCA inspector which would allow her to investigate reports of cruelly treated animals. Monday's meeting will yote to accept the rules of the society and elect a committee. The branch would depend almost entirely on donations and fund-raising" as there would be no government subsidy. The boundaries of the branch would also be established at the meeting and if there was sufficient interest

in Ohakune, Raetihi and Taihape it would cover the whole area. If not it will be a Waiouru branch only. Rowena made $55 profit for the proposed branch from saies of badges, stickers and lottery tickets at the recent Desert Fair and still has more tickets in the nationwide SPCA raffle

from which a percentage would come back to a Wai- . ouru branch. Tickets are $10 each and prizes include cars, a video, camera and a microwave. The main work of the SPCA includes education on the care of animals, checking on complaints, prosecution if necessary and

sheltering abandoned animals. However, Rowena stressed the branch would not be a free veterinary service and if animals have to be looked after by members of the society, a donation would be expected. If anyone would like an SPCA branch in the area they are urged to attend the meeting next Monday.