Cat throwing and online abuse: SPCA staff facing more threats on the job

RNZ News

3 days ago

SPCA staff say they are dealing with verbal abuse on a daily basis.
Photo:
RNZ / Angus Dreaver
SPCA staff say an increasing amount of physical and verbal threats is one of the primary reasons for leaving the job.
There have been 70 incidents of verbal and physical threats 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 told Checkpoint there had been assaults, vandalism, physical threats, vehicles attacked with batons and a lot of abuse on social media.
He said the abuse was directed at staff around the country who were just trying to do the best job they could.
"One of the primary reasons we actually see people leave is because of the abuse that they received. The team work tirelessly, making very hard decisions every day and they all want to help as much as they can, but they also know that at the end of the day they are a charity and they can only do as much as they can within those means.
"Sadly we've had to put the Christchurch centre into numerous levels of lockdown, so whether they have been real or perceived threats, we do take the safety of staff very highly at SPCA and we do want to make sure people are protected."
Regnerus-Kell said the SPCA was hoping for a bit more empathy and compassion when people contacted them to ask for help.
"If people actually listen to the help we are offering, and not just hearing 'no, we won't take them', then I think we will be on the track to success."
He said the case of a cat being thrown at staff was another instance where the organisation struggled to get across what it could and could not do.
Dr Corey Regnerus-Kell says there have been assaults, vandalism, physical threats, and attacks on vehicles.
Photo:
SPCA
Regnerus-Kell said the SPCA was there for the sick, injured and vulnerable animals in the community.
"So those animals that can't really fend for themselves, so if there is a new litter of puppies that has just been born and abandoned on the side of the road, those are the animals we would look at.
"We don't help the owned, healthy animals, and we have to be really clear that owning an animal is a responsibility, not a right. The SPCA is not here to be a rehoming service, the onus is on the owner."
He said the issue was about managing the resources it had.
"If everybody who didn't want an animal came to us there is just no way we could cope, and that's the same with every rescue group across the country.
"We're doing our best, where we can."
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