Across New Zealand more than 250,000 puppies, dogs, cats and kittens are abused and neglected. (CDANZ,2025). The SPCA is New Zealand's only government funded agency for policing animal welfare and we believe they fall woefully short. The hard working staff on the ground at the SPCA are unable to prevent suffering due to limp management and government policies and procedures. Collectively the volunteer and donation run rescues of this country support and save the lives of over 10 times the numbers of vulnerable animals than the SPCA. 

Within these numbers of animals include:

- Stray and owned cats in urban areas breeding uncontrollably

- Permanently chained dogs &  Permanently caged dogs

- Roaming and unattended dogs with behavioural concerns

- Owned cats and dogs living with the 5 freedoms unmet

- Animals being purposely bred and sold with no concern for their genetic medical outcomes, or desexing / microchipping and registrations. 

We propose the Animal Welfare act is amended to include the following:

- Mandatory desexing, chipping and registration for all companion animals.

- Laws on Dogs being permanently chained and permanently caged.

- Law changes around being able to kill a cat or a dog “humanely” if it enters your property. 

- All Animals sold from breeders to be desexed prior to leaving the breeder or with a desexing contract in place for dogs.

- Lower thresholds for the consideration of abuse and neglect to empower the SPCA to commit to more uplifts and prosecutions.

- More liberal application of ownership bans under the lower thresholds for abuse and neglect

- Fines and animal ownership bans for those who do not follow the Welfare Act rules

In addition we would like one of two events:

-For rescues to tender for the government funding given to the SPCA

-For the government to consider and recognise the local, face to face and volunteer reach rescues have to make an impact

-For government approved rescues to be given rights to uplift with legal and police support

- For the government to fund permanent low cost desex options across New Zealand for all companion animals.

OR

- For the SPCA to support, empower, educate and fund local rescues to carry out rescue work using the funds they receive for such matters.

- For these SPCA approved rescues to be supported by the SPCA to uplift and prosecute

- For the SPCA to consider and recognise the local, face to face and volunteer reach rescues have to make an impact

- For the SPCA to fund permanent low cost desex options across New Zealand for all companion animals.

 Please sign this petition to support changes in policy to allow animal suffering to end and to support the people on the ground to do the mahi they need to do.