5 Aug 2025

SPCA staff facing abuse

From Checkpoint, 4:49 pm on 5 August 2025

The SPCA isn't just dealing with animal abuse its staff are increasingly in the firing line; facing verbal and physical threats. There has been 70 incidents reported so far this year, but the animal welfare protection agency believes the numbers are much higher with some staff just putting up with daily abuse. In one case a worker in Hawke's Bay had a cat thrown at them. SPCA general manager for animal services Dr Corey Regnerus-Kell spoke to Lisa Owen.