The Star: March 07, 2019

10 Thursday March 7 2019
Latest Christchurch news at www.star.kiwi
News
Peach now perfect and ready for adoption
• By Sophie Cornish
WHEN PEACH fractured her
leg and her former owner didn’t
seek veterinary care, SPCA
Canterbury stepped in.
The puppy had
leaped over a
fence, causing an
accidental injury
that her former
owner couldn’t
afford to fix.
SPCA was
Barry Helem
then alerted
to the limping
puppy and visited her former
owner.
Said southern region general
manager Barry Helem: “The
owner couldn’t afford vet care so
agreed to sign Peach over to us.
Our vets got involved, she had
part of her bone fractured in the
lower leg and it pulled some of
the ligaments away. The bone
FIGURES released by SPCA
this week show Christchurch as
having the second highest rate
of animal welfare complaints
in the country.
It was second only to Auckland,
providing a push for the
SPCA’s annual appeal taking
place this week, its biggest
fundraiser.
In 2017, 1202 animal complaints
were lodged in the
region, in 2016, the number
dropped to 1188 and in 2015,
there were 1261 complaints.
Currently, there is no data
available for 2018.
SPCA southern region
involved was part of the growth
plate so her leg was in a cast for
five weeks, until the growth plate
DOG PADDLE: Rehabilitation played a big part in Peach’s
recovery.
‘We have had a lot more dog beatings’
general manager Barry Helem
said figures have been averaging
more than 1200 complaints
per year and this “does not
appear to be tapering off.”
“Our numbers have been
consistently siting at that 1200
mark since 2015. We saw a
huge spike post-earthquake,
about three years in. In 2014,
we had about a 58 per cent
increase, it went from 659 to
1041, and then in 2015 we had
a further 21 per cent increase.”
Mr Helem said SPCA is
dealing with “a lot more angry
people in the community.”
“We have had a lot more dog
healed.”
After extensive rehabilitation,
Peach’s leg is functioning again
and she is now up for adoption.
Mr Helem said Peach’s case
highlights an issue of education
with pet owners, who don’t know
what signs to look for.
His message for pet owners
is to think of a figure of about
$1000 a year.
“If you aren’t able to provide
that to cover the expenses of having
a pet, vet treatment, boarding
fees, food and just the general
beatings. We have had two
prosecutions in the last year
for dog beatings and possibly
more to come.”
Mr Helem believes there
may be a correlation with the
post traumatic stress disorder
in relation to the Canterbury
earthquakes.
“We are wondering if there
is some correlation between
people not coping well and
taking it out on the animals.
We are seeing more cases where
anger is the issue,” he said.
•WANT TO DONATE? Visit
everydayhero.co.nz/event/
AnnualAppeal2019
needs of a pet, then you should
seriously consider whether you
should have one.”
“It is a commitment for the life
of your animal and you need to
be prepared to make that financial
commitment, as well as the
emotional one.”
Mr Helem said if there are
signs of injury, get advice from a
vet early.
“Don’t just leave it for two or
three days and hope that things
will come right, because sometimes
they don’t.
The Star
ALL BETTER: Peach the
puppy is now up for
adoption after fracturing her
leg.
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