SPCA petitions for stray cat funds

South Waikato SPCA’s claws are coming out as it prepares to lobby the South Waikato District Council for funding towards stray cats.

Chairwoman Sandra Harrington-Frost has rallied up support in the form of a petition.

Since June she has gathered more than 50 signatures and hoped for more before taking it to council in December.

The petition was formed after an application for funding in the draft 2014-15 annual plan was declined.

Harrington-Frost said it cost more than $80,000 annually to run the SWSPCA, most of which contributed towards cats.

The shop, fundraisers and donations were the only source of income and it ran thinly, she said.

A letter from the council stated stray cats were not a huge issue.

‘‘The council does not consider that there is a significant stray cat nuisance in the South Waikato District,’’ communications manager Kerry Fabrie said.

However Harrington- Frost disagreed.

‘‘They don’t seem to realise that there is a problem . . . they are a community problem not a SPCA one.’’

She said the SPCA had 80 cats at one time this year and the money was simply not there to home more.

Even with 12 cats she said they would not take more.

‘‘We literally don’t have the resources, it’s not only the financial costs, it’s the volunteers as well.’’

Volunteers have taken on a burden by being abused when they say no, she said.

Council group manager of regulatory Sharon Robinson said the council had never stated it was not a problem.

The last grant from the council was $800 in March for two new condos to complete the SPCA shelter’s transition unit.

Although there is no consistent funding the SPCA can apply through the community development grants and the rest should be up to residents, Robinson said.

‘‘Stray cats are the responsibility of the community. It is up to cat owners to ensure that their cats do not breed if they don’t have the means of looking after the litter.’’

Robinson said if the council was to help financially it would be through rates.

‘‘Council currently has neither the training nor a facility to deal with cats.’’

South Waikato SPCA chairwoman Sandra HarringtonFrost will take a petition to the council for funding towards stray cats.