The S.P.C.A has been operating in the North Otago area for many years, we service the area from flag swamp to Ohau to Waitaki bridge boundary. initially, the shelter was set in the private residence of the S.P.C.A. Officer at the time, with many of the animals fostered into various private homes around the district.This was not a satisfactory arrangement.

Marilyn hunt moved to North Otago in 1998 and was approached and asked by the S.P.C.A. Officer Jim McKenzie from Timaru to manage the shelter in Oamaru, she agreed and went on to successfully complete her Auxiliary officers warrant. A much caring and dedicated lady to the welfare of animals, though cats were her favourite pet. Marilyn and her friend bronnie Kitto were able to, with the consent of the Waitaki district council, rent the premises on cam st and this became the first animal shelter in North Otago for the S.P.C.A.. In 2002 the Waitaki resource recycling park was given the lease of the area in Cam street where the shelter was situated and due to rapid expansion of the project the shelter had to relocate.

Being the type of operation the S.P.C.A. is, finding a suitable building was no mean feat and all that could be found was a shop complex on Stuart street which had been vacant for many years and was in dire need of maintenance, all at the cost of the S.P.C.A.. Totally undaunted by the task of bringing this building up to standard, Marilyn and her team of volunteers; many being special needs volunteers (with whom Marilyn had a special rapport) got stuck in and cleaned, painted and fixed it up to a respectable state. The S.P.C.A. has been operating out of this building since and unfortunately it is a less than satisfactory building for the purpose of an animal shelter. R.S.P.C.A. Executive have informed us that we have to move. We have had no success whatever with finding suitable premises to rent. Therefore, our options are very limited and though Waitaki District Council has offered us land to build, the financial sustainability into the future is of concern.

The North Otago S.P.C.A. has a committee of 9 members; most of who have become involved in the last year and others who have a long history of S.P.C.A. work in other areas of new Zealand.

The Committee, shelter staff and the Junior Paws Club generate the only income for N.O.S.P.C.A. from re-homing of the animals and community fundraising. We recieve no income from either central or national government. we are the only law enforcement organization directed by government, but not funded by government.

The committee endeavours to run at least one fundraising event each month, however, it is unfortunate that large dollars are not raised. We do thank the community most sincerely for the support given in the past, but like most organizations today we are finding people just dont have the money to donate.

As we are paying rates, rent and insurance on the building we presently occupy, we are eroding our meager capital at an alarming rate.

Education is an important role of the S.P.C.A. and part of the Shelter Manager and Auxiliary Officers work is to address schools and many groups and organizations in the North Otago District.

The volunteer special needs people play an important role in the shelter, helping with the daily care of the cats and giving them the extra TLC and much needed contact. This is very important when these cats are caged for long periods of time. We have a no kill policy, but at certain times of year, due to the excessive numbers in the shelter, we have no choice but to resort to euthanasia; not a pleasant task and upsetting for all concerned.

Saturday mornings we hold the "Junior Paws Club" which is an opportunity for school aged children to come in to the shelter and help with the animals. We see it as a way of breaking the cycle of cruelty to animals and we feel by making education fun, the message will be passed on to others in the community from these caring children. We are in the process of arranging farm visits and education lessons from Vetlife practice for them.

We currently employ one Shelter manager and an Auxiliary Officer at minimal hours and hourly rate and a great percentage of their time is performed on a voluntary basis. We are in urgent need of a MAF registered inspector, as officers from NZ police have, on occassions, had to accompany our own officers to situations of complaints, next year we will send our officers for training so North Otago will have the representation it deserves.

The huge cost of our present building is financially threatening closure of the North Otago S.P.C.A. and become serviced from Dunedin R.S.P.C.A. headquarters, unless we can get our own suitable shelter.

Vetlife Oamaru have very kindly offered us use of an area beside their thames street clinic for a very generous rental. The committee voted to accept their offer, and we can't thank them enough.

The area is an empty shell but with careful planning it should accomodate our needs and secure the future of North Otago S.P.C.A.

There will be a great deal of work to be done and a lot of community fundraising to achieve this plus applying for funding from charities trusts.

We hope over the next few weeks to be able to give the community more information and to give regular progress updates.

We the committee thank the community for any donation, without the support from the community we would not be able to continue.

Kay king

President

N.O.R.S.P.C.A.