Inspector tales: “Sometimes the best way to help the animals is to help their owners too.”

Throughout April (Prevention of Cruelty to Animals month), we are shining a spotlight on some of the work we’re doing to prevent cruelty in the long term. Leading the charge is SPCA’s Inspectorate team – a group of 64 incredible individuals who are on the frontlines of animal welfare and ready to rescue animals throughout New Zealand.

Inspectors Pip and Renee are just two of this very special group. We hear from them about their work, and some of the ways they are working with communities to make impactful change for the animals (and the owners) they encounter.

I love being an Inspector – there’s no denying it’s hard sometimes, but there is no greater reward than being a part of some truly amazing outcomes.

A lot of people see what we do as black and white: bad people abuse animals, and should be taken to court. But it’s far from that simple. A number of people do get taken to court, however, a lot of people I deal with as an Inspector don’t have bad intentions. In fact, they care about their animals, but often lack the knowledge or finances to deal with the animals’ problems effectively.

On top of that, there’s the dilemma of social media, and how that can simplify often very complex situations. As SPCA Inspectors, we are a professional law enforcement agency, so we don’t and can’t engage with people on social media about specific cases. It’s so frustrating to see the misunderstandings that social media commentary can bring about, when passionate people post without knowing the full facts. Inspectors must work within the law as it is, not as we might like it to be.

As Inspectors we work within specific parameters, and our aim is to make sure as many people as possible obey the law. We do this by making sure people at least do the bare minimum when it comes to the care of their animals, by using the appropriate tools and powers we have.

Some people are really cooperative, while others need help or need to be directed. However, there are some situations where we need to be a bit tougher.

Other areas of misunderstanding can include horses and cows who we’re called out to see. Sometimes, they simply can’t be transported. A horse with a really bad leg injury, or a cow that is too skinny and weak to walk (but where humane euthanasia is not necessary) may have to stay where it is for the time being. We have to find a way to get them what they need without moving them from where they are, and as you can imagine, that means working with the owner.

We see a number of easily avoidable welfare issues with “farmed” animals on lifestyle blocks, roadsides or other urban/rural fringe grazing areas. These are often situations we can turn things around with a little education and support of owners. Taking this approach can get really positive long-term outcomes, as owners can change for the better with a little help and support from SPCA Inspectors.

Probably the most common and easily avoidable welfare issue I see with lifestyle block or roadside animals is goat tethering.

Although SPCA opposes routinely tethering animals, it is still allowed under the law. This means that if we come across an animal that is chained or tethered, we can’t necessarily intervene. We can make sure the animal’s basic needs are being met – access to food, water, shelter and making sure any injuries are treated, but anyone who fails to do these basic things is likely to receive an infringement notice or more.

Often tethering is an area we would try to work with owners to change their behaviour. This is what I did with Elvis for example – a goat who I was called to check on. I provided information, set out what needed to be done to get his needs met, and monitored Elvis on the property to make sure changes were happening. Unfortunately, this was one of the times I just couldn’t get through to the owner. After two return visits, I had to take Elvis away. It just wasn’t good enough. It’s always disappointing when I can’t get cooperation from owners but at the end of the day, the animals are my number one priority and I won’t hesitate to remove them where necessary. Elvis deserved better – and he’s since got it!

I often see this really old-school mentality and the myth that goats are solitary animals, just there to mow hedges and grasses. We need to get away from that. Goats are sentient, social, interactive creatures, they like company, they deserve to have stimulation, but it’s far too common to treat them like a lawnmower, stick a goat in a dog kennel completely alone and move it every six weeks – and that’s its whole life. They deserve to have a cool, fulfilling life as well and be in social groups as is their nature.

Elvis is currently for adoption at our Hastings Centre, and our team will make sure he goes to a forever home where he is treated the way he (and all goats) deserve!

I’ve been an SPCA Inspector for 10 years now, and I always keep an open mind when approaching jobs, as I just don’t know what is going on in that household at that time. Along with those that don’t care about their animals, I often come across people who may have lost their income, they may be going through mental health struggles, or be dealing with loss and grief, and things have all become a bit much.

Sometimes people just don’t know where to turn and the situation with their animals can become really bad. In cases like these, the best approach may not be to go in with the force of the law, potentially adding shame, guilt or punishment on top of what they are already going through. My number one concern is always the animals, but what a lot of people don’t realise is that sometimes the best way to help them is to help their owners too.

When people get into a place where they’re no longer able to provide for their animals, they usually feel like they are a failure, but I try to make people realise that rehoming their animal doesn’t mean they are failing, but actually something to be proud of – they’re putting the animal’s needs before their own feelings, and that is what true care and responsibility looks like.

I recently encountered a dog and owner in this sort of situation. Sheer – or Sheer the Sweetheart as I call her – had spent most of her short life confined to a kennel with another dog. Her owner had got themselves into a situation beyond their control through no fault of their own and they were really trying with the dogs but unfortunately, Sheer just wasn’t getting what she needed. I could have gone in there with force but I didn’t – nor did I want to. I always ask owners in these situations if they think the dog is living their best life? Usually that is enough to make caring owners realise they need to make a change.

Of course not all people we encounter as Inspectors are caring owners, and trying to converse with people like this doesn’t get us anywhere. In these cases, prosecution, infringements or other tougher options can be appropriate. But I still start every job with an open mind and only escalate as needed.

Often though, cases we deal with are incredibly complex, and there is so much more going on than we would ever discuss openly. I take my responsibility of protecting animals very seriously, but if I can help a person at the same time I help their animal, why wouldn’t I do that?

In Sheer’s case, her former owner was very thankful that I’d talked and listened to her, helped her, and not made her feel like a failure. It’s so easy to see a snapshot of what someone else is doing – which is all the public often see of these cases – and judge a person without knowing the slightest detail of what’s going on behind the scenes. My wish is that more people would trust that SPCA Inspectors like me know what we’re doing, and know that we will always make the best calls by the animals within our legal abilities.

Thanks to the approach I took with Sheer, I think we got the best outcome for both her and her former owner. I am delighted to share that this sweetheart of a dog has just had her adoption finalised, and is moving into a loving forever home!