A missing dog has been relocated today after a brazen break-in at the Nelson SPCA — but two other animals remain missing.
The burglary has left staff and animals shaken.
Nelson SPCA manager Amy Sturkenboom said staff were “horrified” when they arrived at work on Monday morning. She showed 1News all of the cat cages which were open and where the animals were roaming free.
“Any area that had been accessed, the animals were out.”
Sturkenboom said staff found areas in the fences and cages that had been cut through. “There must have been some wirecutters and we actually found a leftover tool as well, that they’d obviously tried to pry open some of these cage fronts.”
CCTV showed the person came onto the property before sunset on Sunday, staying for hours, before leaving and returning again in the early hours of the morning.
Three animals were unaccounted for, although dog Simba was found this morning after a staff member responded to a call from a member of the public.
“He was running away from police, absolutely terrified. He recognised [the SPCA staffmember] and went straight up to her with some lovely tasty treats in hand.”
However, two animals remained missing and there’s been no sightings of either. Black cat Boris loves people and it’s possible he was roaming.
It was also unclear what had happened to one-year-old labrador collie cross Frankie. “He’s very very gorgeous, super high energy, super friendly,” Sturkenboom said.
Both Frankie and Boris had been up for adoption and the public were being asked to keep an eye out.
SPCA general manager of animal service Corey Regnerus-Kell says centres are often targeted, unfortunately.
“Vandalism of our property is not uncommon around the country, whether that is breaking windows spray-painting on walls, vandalising vehicles, smashing vehicle windows, defacing property.
“We regularly get threats of burning down centres, of breaking in and stealing animals.”
However, Regnerus-Kell said the number of incidents has been increasing in the last couple of years.
Police said they were making enquires and asked anyone with information to share about this incident or those involved to in touch through 105, quoting reference number 250217/1797.
