SPCA announces partnership with VetSouth, closure of Gore Centre

SPCA is pleased to announce a key partnership with VetSouth across Southland and South Otago.

The MOU between SPCA and VetSouth will allow SPCA to provide services across the wider region.

The announcement ties in with the permanent closure of the SPCA Centre in Gore which has been shut most of the year, initially due to the compulsory lockdowns due to the Covid19 pandemic.

The agreement with VetSouth is the fifth such partnership across the country as SPCA continues to look at new ways to deliver the best animal welfare outcomes and to increase accessibility to SPCA services. The announcement today means more animals will be able to be taken care of, in more regions.

SPCA’s General Manager of Operations Sam Powell, says ultimately it’s the animals that will benefit.

“We know some will find it upsetting that our Centre in Gore will no longer be operating, however it was in desperate need of an overhaul to be fit for purpose. Estimates put the cost of repairs and upgrades at more than $500,000 to meet the Code of Temporary Housing of Companion Animals.”

“While we will no longer have an SPCA Centre in town, VetSouth in Gore will be able to take in any animals and from there we will transfer them to our larger and better equipped SPCA facility in Invercargill. This way, the animals can receive the best care,” Ms Powell says.

“It’s also important to note that due to our partnership with VetSouth, SPCA services across the region will now be available from 8am-5.30pm rather than the limited hours we were previously open.”

VetSouth is a progressive animal health business, looking after all animals large and small and General Manager Rachel Lock says the partnership with SPCA will simply strengthen the relationships already in place.

“We provide veterinary care to a number of SPCA’s animals in the region, offering services like desexing, microchipping and vaccinations and treating injured animals. We are delighted to have the partnership in place and I know our communities across the South will be heartened that the animals will be well taken care of.”

“SPCA do a fantastic job under some trying circumstances, so if we can work together to get better animal outcomes, it’s a win-win all around”

Other SPCA partnerships are in place in Queenstown, Alexandra, Motueka and Dannevirke.