A peek at the arts festival
Walzl said they are in desperate need for wet canned puppy food as the pups go through a lot of food.
On average a puppy eats half a can of 680g per day, meaning it will go through about four cans a week, Walzl said.
She said they mix the wet food with dry food to make it last longer, but the really young pups need just the wet food to keep them going.
‘‘We do have a great sponsor with Purina but that’s mostly dry and so we’re still in need for wet canned food.’’
Walzl said she asked for food donations on the Nelson SPCA’s Facebook page and has since received several super market bags full of canned food from a few people.
She said that the need for canned food was an ongoing issue and that they would need more to accommodate the pups.
’’It’s hard for us to keep taking them, when we haven’t got the resources or capacity to take them in.’’
Not all of the puppies from the two litters are ready for adoption yet, Walzl said. Adopting a puppy from the SPCA costs $250 and the dog will be desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, dewormed and will have had flee treatment.
‘‘And hopefully they’ll be really socialised,’’ Walzl said.
Walzl urged people to get their dogs desexed when they’re still young.
She said the SPCA can provide a $55 voucher to people on benefits to help with the costs of desexing. The 2016 Nelson Arts Festival programme goes public on August 4 and early bird tickets go on sale then too.
The programme will consist of music, theatre, dance, cabaret, comedy and literary talks.
This will be the 22nd year that the festival is in Nelson. From August 4 the programme can be viewed at www.nelsonartsfestival.co.nz, and the physical brochure can be picked up from Nelson City Council’s Customer Service Centre, Page & Blackmore, Theatre Royal, libraries, local cafe´s and i-SITEs.
Limited early bird discount tickets will be available until the end of August.
Founders Heritage park will be turned into an art installation, outdoor art studio and entertainment hub with the Granary Festival Cafe´ and festival mainstage.
Outside Founders, key venues include the Suter Theatre, which will re-open just before the Festival starts, and the Theatre Royal.
There will also be shows at Whakatu¯ Marae, the Free House Yurt, the Playhouse, and Neudorf Vineyard.
Nelson City Council team leader festivals Axel de Maupeou said this years festival is about the exploration of the close relationship between life and art.
‘‘This year’s festival features extraordinary real life stories to enjoy and reflect upon.’’