SPCA challenge farmers to support animal welfare

The SPCA is hoping the farming community will “get in  behind” their new incentive for next year –  The Blue Tick Programme for best practice in farming.

The programme is geared towards better treatment of animals, and farmers who go through this course will be awarded with  Blue Tick accreditation in animal treatment.

“We would really like farmers to get into this programme,” says  Funding and Events Manager from SPCA Waikato, Michelle Locke.

This is the first yearthe SPCA has had its own area at Fieldays and it has been done on a shoestring budget.
“Last year we were tacked onto the back of someone else’s stall,” says Michelle.

This year there are eight volunteers for the expo. “The volunteers are here for general cleaning jobs and even animal walking when necessary.”

The main message they want people to take away is that animal care is a privilege. “Kids coming through the exhibit are great as a lot of them will get on with the animals.”

Animal mistreatment has become a huge issue, with more than  3500 animals registered at the SPCA last year, she says.

“We have a lot of people who drop off animals for no reason, and it costs around $220 to house each animal.”
Michelle is mother to one of  the dogs bought into the SPCA, Cooper the Blue Heeler Cross.
He is nine  months old and is the puppy on the SPCA Waikato logo. “He is like a teenager he is terrible at listening,” says Michelle.