A variety of animals are looking for a caring foster home this Christmas season.

The SPCA is asking Kiwis to foster animals so they can be in a home environment over the holiday break, as the organisation’s limits are stretched. 

There are lots of animals which need temporary homes at the SPCA centres nearest to Wanaka (in Queenstown, Oamaru, Dunedin and Invercargill).

They include kittens, cats, ducks, chickens, puppies and dogs. 

Fostering with SPCA - the country’s oldest and largest animal welfare charity - involves caring for an animal from two to six weeks and comes at no cost to the foster family. 

SPCA CEO Andrea Midgen says SPCA foster families are special people. 

“I’m always blown away by the support of our foster volunteers who open their homes and hearts to animals in need,” Andrea said. 

The SPCA supplies all food, medicine, bedding, and toys to make the animal comfortable while with their foster family.  

The same is true at Cat Rescue Wanaka, the Upper Clutha’s only dedicated rescue and care provider for stray or abandoned cats, which is also on the lookout for people who would be willing to foster a cat.

The volunteer-run charitable aims to reduce the stray cat population by socialising and rehoming them wherever possible. 

While Cat Rescue Wanaka does not currently have the same foster shortage the SPCA does, having more carers available is of ongoing benefit.

“While we aren't currently desperate, you never know when the influx is going to come,” Cat Rescue Wanaka representative Rachel Allibone said.

“We did great work with our TNVRs last year (Trap-Neuter-Vaccinate-Return) for cats unable to be socialised so we are not seeing litters from our ‘big providers’ of kittens in our first year.” 

Because some fosters’ circumstances have changed, they have lost a few fosters recently. 

Interested in fostering an animal?

Visit the SPCA website’s foster section for up-to-date information on foster animals nearest to you; alternatively, visit the Cat Rescue Wanaka website or get in touch with their volunteers to find out more about foster needs and requirements.

PHOTO: SPCA