SPCA Desexing Grant continues to help animal rescue groups

SPCA and other rescue groups around the country have been feeling the strain of extremely high numbers of unwanted animals in their communities.

With limited space in shelters, desexing has remained a priority.

“This overpopulation of companion animals is not a problem that any one group can solve alone,” says Heidi Olsen, SPCA National Desexing Programmes Lead. “It requires all of us to work together.

“Educating pet owners and members of the public, and helping with desexing costs however we can, remains one of our key priorities – and we’re very pleased to see that our SPCA Desexing Grant is continuing to make a noticeable impact.”

The Grant was first introduced back in 2022, with the purpose of providing financial support to help other rescue groups with desexing animals in their community.

“There are so many other rescue groups and individuals out there who are trying to make a difference through desexing projects, and we know one of the biggest barriers they face is cost,” says Heidi.

In 2025, a total of 41 grants were awarded, with $275,000 being provided to different rescue groups.

This has resulted in over 1,567 animals being desexed, preventing an estimated 5,599 unwanted animals being born.

“We’re really pleased to hear about the impact of these grants, and getting feedback from the rescues,” says Heidi. “At the end of the day, we can only achieve change by working together towards this common goal.”

Read on to hear about successful cases from just some of the recipients of the 2025 SPCA Desexing Grant.

A beautiful cat named Georgina had two litters of kittens in quick succession, and sadly they were left to roam around town. A lovely local man took them all in, and with the help of the SPCA Desexing Grant we were able to get all the kittens and the mum desexed, so she didn't have anymore.

All are now in loving homes without any risk of unwanted pregnancies. A big thank you to SPCA. 

Shadow is a dog who had a rough start to life - her mother was only 10 months old when she had the litter. Her owner reached out as there is a roaming dog issue in Tokoroa and didn’t want Shadow having a litter - but he also couldn’t afford the full cost.

He was so grateful that the SPCA Desexing Grant was available, and able to help desex his dog. Both Shadow and her dad are very grateful. 

Some of the animals supported through this grant was a group of cats named Mumma, Tucker, Truck and Tinkerbelle, living in a low-income area of Rotorua. Their guardian cared deeply for them, but faced significant barriers to desexing, including limited finances and no access to transport. 

A concerned neighbour reached out for assistance, recognising that without intervention, the cats would continue to breed, and the situation could quickly become unmanageable. The primary barrier was the cost of desexing. 

Through the SPCA Desexing Grant, we were able to remove this financial obstacle and work collaboratively with both the guardian and neighbour to arrange desexing for all four cats. By intervening at the right time, we prevented further unplanned litters and supported the long-term welfare of the cats while keeping them safely with the person who cared for them. 

This case highlights the importance of accessible desexing programmes and demonstrates how community members, rescue organisations and funding partners can work together to create meaningful, lasting change for animals and their guardians. 

We’ve had so many successes! A box of rabbits was dumped in a park, and no rabbit rescue could take them. We were advised to euthanise them. After nursing them back to health, thanks to the SPCA Desexing Grant, all six rabbits were able to be desexed. 

We paid for microchipping and vaccinations, and eventually wonderful quality homes were found for all six rabbits in six different homes, to be bonded to six lonely single widows and widower rabbits. 

It took a long time, but would not have been possible at all without the SPCA Desexing Grant. The cost of rescuing them was beyond daunting - if we hadn't had the grant, we might have bowed to the pressure to euthanise them. The grant gave us the financial base that allowed us to make the decision to try, and it was a beautiful happy ending! For this and other stories like it, we are incredibly grateful.   

Coco is a gorgeous, well-loved dog. She is three years old and very rarely gets into trouble, but decided to make a run for it this weekend - ending up in the pound. 

Luckily, she has caring owners who came to collect her straight away, but explained that, being a solo mother, her owner is unable to afford to get her desexed, although they would love to. So, I've booked her in under the SPCA Desexing Grant. Many, many thanks from a very grateful mum.

A dairy farm worker contacted us to say she had some cats hanging around their dairy shed. 

When offered desexing for all four of them, she instantly said yes. She was very helpful in trapping them early in the morning, before one of us took the long way to work to pick them up from the farm gate.

They are now living their best lives as desexed and microchipped “farm workers”!

A standout outcome from the SPCA Desexing Grant was the story of one dog whose spay procedure revealed something far more serious than expected. When the vet operated, they discovered she had a pyometra, a severe uterine infection that, if left untreated, can rapidly become fatal.

Her owner had no idea she was ill. There had been no obvious signs of sickness, and without the opportunity provided by this grant, her desexing would likely have been delayed or never carried out at all. The consequences could have been devastating. 

Thanks to the funding, this dog received life-saving treatment at exactly the right moment. What began as a routine desexing procedure turned into a rescue in the truest sense.  Her life was saved, and her owner was spared the heartbreak of losing her. 

The next round of the SPCA Desexing Grant is already underway, with 42 more grants having been awarded for 2026.

“This year, we’re providing $280,000 in funding to rescue groups,” says Heidi. “We can’t wait to see the results while we continue pushing on with our own desexing initiatives including Snip ‘n’ Chip, and utilising our Mobile Desexing Clinic.”

The Grant will next be open for applications in May 2027.