SPCA Nelson

Why do I have to have my cat or dog desexed before adoption?

Nelson SPCA's policy is to desex ALL cats and dogs before rehoming. This is because the number of unwanted animals being brought into the shelter is continuing to rise, and de-sexing gets right to the source of the problem. De-sexing also has other benefits such as reducing the animal's desire to roam, reducing aggression and behaviour such as leg mounting, spraying and the frantic pacing and crying of a cat in heat.

Is the price the same for adopting all animals and if not, why not?

No, there are different prices for adopting cats and dogs, males and females and puppies and kittens.
This is a reflection of:

• Different costs for de-sexing - for example it's significantly more expensive to perform a desexing operation on a breeding age female than on a male.
• There is a greater demand for kittens and puppies (rather than older cats and dogs). Nelson SPCA is purely a voluntary organization receiving no Government funding to run our Centre. Nelson SPCA reserves the right to charge more than the standard adoption fee.

Can I go onto a waiting list for a particular type of pet?

The short answer is yes for dogs, but no for cats. However if you are wanting to adopt a particular breed of cat or dog, your best option is probably to contact a breeder see useful links. The best way for you to stay up-to-date with the new animals being brought into the Nelson SPCA shelter is through regular visits to our shelter or to our website.