Lockdown rush of cat, kitten adoptions
DOZENS of cats and kittens were adopted around the South just before and during the coronavirus lockdown.
SPCA Dunedin centre manager Sophie McSkimming, who is also the SPCA OtagoSouthland area manager, said about 20 cats and kittens had been adopted in March, immediately before the Level 4 lockdown began.
More than 30 others had been cared for by foster families during Level 4.
During the more recent Level 3 phase, more than 40 cats and kittens had been adopted through a ‘‘contactless’’ system involving an online application and extensive checking of wouldbe adopters by telephone.
The last step was the eventual home delivery of pets chosen from photos on the SPCA website.
Among the many adopters was SPCA Dunedin centre operations manager Hannah Hunsche, who began by caring for an initially unwell tabby cat called Sam at work and ended up taking the ‘‘cuddly wee guy’’ home.
‘‘I looked after him in isolation and just fell in love with him,’’ she said.
The Dunedin centre is open under Level 2, but entry is only by telephone appointment and most adoption work will be undertaken online.
Cat Rescue Dunedin Charitable Trust board chairwoman Debby Foster said she was ‘‘overwhelmed’’ by the generosity of adopters and donors, but was disappointed some young cats and kittens had been abandoned.
Twentytwo cats and kittens were adopted in March up to the day before Level 4; more than 30 had come in during Level 3; and most of those had since been contactlessly adopted, Mrs Foster said.
Furever Homes chairwoman Donna Hawkins, of Invercargill, said the organisation had more than 100 animals in foster care across Southland.
Seventy cats and
kittens were taken in during lockdown.
In some cases animals had come from people who had lost their homes or could not afford to keep their pet.
The charity was struggling to pay for the feed and care required to deal with the numbers, she said