SPCA’s Mobile Desexing Clinic provides support to isolated West Coast community

SPCA’s Mobile Desexing Clinic (known to staff as ‘Snippy’) visited the South Island for the first time this year, travelling to the West Coast town of Karamea and desexing 31 cats and 8 dogs over five days. Situated about one and a half hours north of Westport, Karamea is home to a population of approximately 650 people, as well as a high number of undesexed cats and dogs.

This work will prevent an estimated further 144 kittens and puppies from being born, reducing the burden on the small town that’s already struggling with the overpopulation of strays. Many of the animals desexed were stray cats in the area, which required significant effort in trapping from the Snippy team and local residents.

“Snippy is really important for communities like this,” says SPCA National Community Outreach Programmes Manager Rebecca Dobson. “The nearest veterinarian is an hour and a half away from Karamea – so it’s three hours return for any resident to have their pet seen. That means not everyone’s able to get there, and access to desexing and regular veterinary checkups is limited.

“The great thing about Snippy is that we’re able to go into these more isolated communities and provide services for these animals, and make this kind of care more accessible.”

The Snippy team were also on hand to offer wellness check-ups to any residents in need, answering questions and performing evaluations on cats and dogs experiencing various ailments. 54 vaccinations, 42 microchips, and 139 flea and worming treatments were also distributed, providing access to care that is otherwise often difficult to acquire in more isolated regions.

Residents like Angela, Mike, and Alana took advantage of the services provided by Snippy, bringing their pets in for desexing, check-ups, and advice.

Angela brought her 16-year-old Bichon Frise, Candy, in for a wellness check. “We’ve just had the vet check her, and she’s got some little issues – so we’re going to get her some special toothpaste and some stuff for her water, and she’ll be all good,” she told us. Angela also brought her tomcat cat Meow Meow in to be desexed.

Pleased with her experience with the SPCA and Snippy team, Angela tells us she’s glad “they’ll [both] be all sorted for our little family.”

Mike, a Karamea resident, saw Snippy parked in town one weekday evening and realised he could bring his dog Taz in to be desexed. He told us he wouldn’t have been able to do it otherwise, because the closest veterinary services are too far away.

“I think it’s great what you guys are doing here,” Alana told us after bringing her dogs Jake (pictured), Sky, and Quinn in for a wellness check. “Making it affordable and easy for people with animals to come and look after them properly.”

New Zealanders looking for desexing support can find more information, and see what campaigns, vouchers, and other forms of assistance are currently available, on our desexing site. Local SPCA Centres can also be contacted for advice and support.