Cat snip and chip programme may cut out the poor and elderly

The elderly and those on low incomes could be unfairly excluded from Wellington SPCA’s cat microchipping service because it is available only online, a group rehousing abandoned cats says.

The ‘‘Snip ’n’ Chip’’ initiative, which offers desexing, microchipping and registration for just $9, is on offer across Wellington until December 15, and has been popular with cat owners. The same process can cost as much as $135 if not subsidised.

Howver, Susan McNair, of the Kitten Inn, feared many people at whom the campaign was aimed might not have either a credit card or access to online banking, especially if they were elderly or on low incomes.

‘‘We have quite a few people who come to us who don’t have computers, or even telephones,’’ she said. ‘‘Everyone should have access to deals that are online.’’

The SPCA offer – made possible by a specific bequest to the society – is limited to online voucher sales, and cannot be bought in person. Vouchers can be bought only on the SPCA shop site by credit card or online bank deposit.

The microchipping fee is being met by Wellington City Council, after councillors voted unanimously in August to adopt revised animal bylaws that include the compulsory microchipping of cats.

An SPCA spokesperson said at this stage the initiative was available online because the voucher code was generated by the online store platform.

Cats Protection League president Iona Anderson said the group, which offered its own service online or by mail, was ‘‘in full and complete support’’ of the SPCA programme.

‘‘We take cats six months and older and we make sure every one is microchipped and desexed before they go anywhere,’’ she said. She said the $9 deal was ’’absolutely amazing, and I hope it gets used everywhere’’. ‘‘I don’t think it’s a matter of fairness – this is the system they’ve managed to set up. It’s such a generous programme, I presume what will happen is if they discover lots can’t access it, may open it up further, but they need to let it run and see how it works.’’

Hannah Stuart of Central Vet Hospital, which also takes part in the programme, said she had been told that the SPCA had already done about 600 home visits to people taking advantage of the promotion. ’’People coming to our clinic are saying they are getting it done because they believe it will be made compulsory. We’ve had quite high numbers of people coming in to get the chipping done so far.’’