Selwyn Times: June 02, 2021

Selwyn Times Wednesday June 2 2021
10
NEWS
Latest Canterbury news at starnews.co.nz
Charlie’s new home something to crow about
• By Matt Slaughter
FOUR MONTHS ago, Charlie
the rooster was abandoned–
now he has a new home in
Leeston.
About 120 days after being
found at a Rolleston early
childhood centre and taken to
the SPCA in Hornby, he was
adopted on Friday by a loving
family.
Charlie’s plight was reported
in The Star last week, which
prompted a Leeston couple with
a lifestyle block to adopt him.
The centre’s Natasha Sutton
said Charlie is sociable and will
make a great pet.
“For a rooster, he’s really quite
sweet. He’s quite friendly, he’ll
kind of come and see you when
you go and feed him.
“He’ll come over and say hello
and wait for his feed.”
Sutton said Charlie is well
behaved and does not crow as
loudly as some may expect.
She said on Saturday the
centre held an adoption day,
with 33 animals finding new
homes.
There are still more than 200
animals in need of owners at the
SPCA’s centre.
The centre has more than 100
more animals than usual for this
time of year.
It has 19 horses waiting for
ADOPTED: Natasha Sutton with Charlie the rooster, one of 33 SPCA animals finding a
home on Saturday.
PHOTOS: GEOFF SLOAN ​
homes. During normal times,
there are usually “one or two,”
Sutton said.
Said Sutton: “At the moment,
unfortunately, with the drought
that we’ve had and lack of feed,
people are struggling to feed
their horses, they’re getting really
skinny and we’re getting a lot
more in.”
She said there are more than
100 cats at the centre and this is
potentially because last breeding
season was longer due to
warmer weather.
The future of the animals at
the centre is safe and all will stay
there until they find homes.
STRUGGLE: Nineteen horses at
the SPCA’s Hornby’s centre are
looking for homes. Drought over
recent months has increased
the number of animals needing
care. Warmer weather has also
increased the number of cats
due to a long breeding season. ​
Mature Workers
Pop-up Expo
Tuesday 8 June, 9am–12pm
West Melton Community Centre
Discover employment, education and training opportunities in Selwyn.
The Mature Workers Pop-up expo is a drop in clinic run for people
aged 55+, who are receiving the unemployment benefit or national
superannuation, and are wanting to find employment.
Representatives from Ministry of Social Development, Ara,
Univentures, Tertiary Education Commission, Connected, Selwyn
District Council, Presbyterian Support and Age Concern will be on
hand to discuss what is possible.
Drop in between 9am–12pm.
selwyn.govt.nz