Episode Transcript
[00:00:02] Speaker A: Welcome. I'm Alexandria, founder of the Mastery Project and your Transformation Hub. And now this podcast. And we're in Mad March and this is one of our bonus episodes this month. And I am delighted to welcome Karen, who is a community support officer and she represents the spca, which is an animal welfare charity in New Zealand. And this episode is dedicated to charity and we are going to be talking about what do we do to help animals? How is life being this support officer? What do you do? And we're going to have some wonderful laughs with Karen about the joy and the great fulfillment that she gets from working and seeing success. From homeless animals to success stories, loved and welcomed into community. Okay, well, welcome today, Karen. Thank you very much for joining me.
[00:00:56] Speaker B: Thank you so very much for inviting us here and being able to bring out the world, the SPCA of New Zealand and what we do.
[00:01:04] Speaker A: Thank you very much. Now, you are actually the local officer, aren't you? So you're for my local town, which is Napier, which is on the east coast of New Zealand.
[00:01:12] Speaker B: I am indeed. And it's definitely a widespread job. So it's really great to be able to come and have a sit down with you and put the feet up for a bit and have a little chat.
[00:01:20] Speaker A: Thank you very much. Okay, well, I just want to get straight into it. We're going to deep dive and I'd like to ask you about your personal story. So how did you find your way to the spc? What was your sort of inspiration to get into supporting and working with animal welfare?
[00:01:40] Speaker B: I was always a really big person for wanting to adopt through the spca. When we first were able to look at adopting after we bought our first home and we were blessed with a few dogs that we'd got from there. But I'd done obviously the government based job, which was a deputy registrar for our local court and doing an issuing officers job. I did a lot of search warrants for the SBCA inspectorate team and it really.
[00:02:03] Speaker A: We could just slow down that one. So when you say search warrants, you mean that was the court assisting the SPCA in reclaiming or recovering animals, is that right?
[00:02:12] Speaker B: Yes. So they investigate potentially bad owners or situations. To enter properties, you need a search warrant. They provide us with the evidence and we have to make that decision if it's lawfully for them to enter the property and potentially gain access and seize animals from a home or person.
[00:02:32] Speaker A: Right. Okay. So there's actually quite a lot of that legal and process behind it all.
[00:02:38] Speaker B: Then there is. SPCA is the only organization in New Zealand that is under the Animal Welfare act and able to obviously do that side of it for the law besides the police. So our inspector team are really, really important to how we save some animals lives.
[00:02:54] Speaker A: Excellent. Okay, good to know. Alrighty.
[00:02:58] Speaker B: Yeah, so when the job came up, I thought, why not? I thought, hey, here's a change. Here's something that, you know, brings spark to my life and a definitely fire to the belly. And I've been nothing but blessed in coming into this organization and being able to make a big difference to that and meet some amazing people along my journey.
[00:03:17] Speaker A: Right. So clearly it's quite hands on, isn't it?
[00:03:20] Speaker B: Very, very.
[00:03:21] Speaker A: I'm sitting there with paperwork all the day.
[00:03:23] Speaker B: Definitely not.
[00:03:24] Speaker A: Alrighty. Okay. Well that's beautiful. So let's just shadow you a little bit on your daily work. If I were going to walk beside you in your job, what would you actually be doing on an average day? Or is there no average day?
[00:03:38] Speaker B: Every day is different, which I think makes it that much more enjoyable, I suppose. I suppose a great way of starting it this morning was I got to go and chat to all the new kittens, all the puppies. I get to have the cuddles that I love to have. So I get to start my day off really, really well.
It can be anything from ambulance jobs which is going out for any sick or injured animals. It can be that I need to go visit homes and help out finding if they need food for some of the animals in there. So we can obviously keep educating and keeping them out of our centres. It can be anything from going to visit schools and community groups, to go and educate around what the SPCA does for us in New Zealand and just, I think just even having to deal with the centers clean up. But every day is so, so different and it's a real blessing to be able to do a variation and have such an impact on so much different things in Hawke's Bay.
[00:04:35] Speaker A: Right, okay. So you're doing quite a lot of K then in the car. You're traveling around as well?
[00:04:40] Speaker B: Certainly it is, yeah. I'm very blessed. I have a really lovely truck that I drive around in my ute that unfortunately we, we got through after the cyclone that we did experience here. That was quite a big impact for the SPCA of the animals in Hawke's Bay. So I'm really lucky to have a really purpose built ute that I can drive around in. It's nice and comfortable and also transport some animals as well in comfort too.
[00:05:05] Speaker A: Okay. If I can just Go back and touch on the educational aspects, I think. Would you agree that actually educating and prevention is really key in the job? Do you think that's an important part or is that not so important for you?
[00:05:22] Speaker B: We would love to keep education being our number one key for anything. If we can keep animals within their own homes to a level where change can happen, that is very much where we'd like it to be. And sometimes it is just that little bit of lack of education around how often an animal needs to be fed, what kind of grooming they might need, what kind of shelter they might need. But ultimately it's wonderful when you get to see people changing the way that they have done it and these animals flourishing. So education is key in our world. When we can't maybe deal with it otherwise, that's when they come into our care. But ideally, we'd love to keep them all in their homes and keep them being loved by the people that obviously had chosen them in the first place.
[00:06:06] Speaker A: Right, okay. Well, that's. That's excellent. I personally believe that if people are able to understand better, that that can at least bring some major shift somewhere, if it's not immediate. But in the future, for example, do you also go into primary schools or do you get any initiatives with younger people, teach teaching them how to look after animals?
[00:06:28] Speaker B: So we'll get invited into schools. We've gone through primary schools, intermediates, we have done some kindergartens as well. They're probably. The kindergarten kids are probably the best behaved and they're honestly. Exactly. We are really. It is really fortunate that we can go in there and we're talking about things making people aware of what's around in their environment. Because I guess it can be that people live in a little bit of a bubble. So knowing what is happening next door, over the fence is important, let alone just how to approach an anim, how to keep yourself safe around different animals when you're out in public, and then even just going into adults as well, through different community groups, through that side of things has been really amazing to spread the word and get a little bit more understanding, because the SPCA in New Zealand has been around since 1872, which is a long, long time. But truly, does everybody know exactly what is required and why we are required? So. So it is really nice to be able to go and spread the word.
[00:07:27] Speaker A: Excellent. Okay, so tell me from your primary school and from younger people, what's the hardest question you've ever been asked by that audience?
[00:07:37] Speaker B: Ooh, what's the hardest? I think you always get the. What's your favourite animal?
Which is really lovely. Cause it's sort of. You think that we should answer with, it's a dog or a cat, but usually they're heading towards. Well, my favourite is a tiger or a lion. And I think, oh, I haven't seen one of those on my jobs.
[00:07:56] Speaker A: Right then, excellent. Okay, so they, they do have clearly exotic dreams about their animals.
[00:08:02] Speaker B: 100. Yes. And then they have asked me if I've ever had to take a giraffe in my car. And I said, oh, I think it's not. Definitely not big enough for that kind of thing. So.
[00:08:11] Speaker A: What, no sunroof?
[00:08:12] Speaker B: Yeah, no sunroof. I know.
[00:08:15] Speaker A: Oh, how lovely. Alrighty, so I know, obviously, clearly you're incredibly enthusiastic and it's. It's an amazing and very worthwhile job that you're doing, but what. Actually, I'm going to put you on the spot here. What is favorite part of the job?
[00:08:32] Speaker B: I mean, obviously you meant to sort of say the animals are your favorite part, and it really is. But I think being the community support side of it, really, I have met some incredible people in the community. And goodness me, I would be so blessed if some of these people were part of my family. You know, the love that they have for animals, the love they have for their own communities, just in general, just really wanting to be, I guess, aware of things and just, they just inspire me to want to come and talk to them more. They're just so interesting. And being out in the community, even with some people, that you get to learn different cultures or the different way that people think or what they've done in the past. And I think people is still everything of how the SPCA functions. The animals is what we are there for. But no matter what, without those people doing amazing things for us on the side or who I work with, that has to be my favorite part.
[00:09:34] Speaker A: Okay, lovely. So I agree, logically, we would have thought that the animals were the best, but it's actually all about the greater community, isn't it? And the animals are part of that community. Now, I work in a lot of self transformation and self realization, and I work with. I have Native American clients and with ethnic peoples, and they have a philosophy that they feel that the animals that we attract or the animals we choose to care for and have as pets reflect our character. So what do you think about that? Do you think the animals we choose to be with, whether it's the proud pooch or the kind of Heinz variety rescue, do you think that Reflects on the people that you know their character and the people who love pets.
[00:10:22] Speaker B: Oh, 100, I think 100%.
We always say that we feel like at the SPCA that we have sucker tattooed on our heads where you kind of get sucked into caring for everything that you can have. We all have quite interesting personalities in the animals that we have in our own homes that work for the spca. I do have quite a semi feral cat that thinks that he's a dog. And I know that I can be a little bit feisty when I need to be, so I do wonder if he maybe bounces a little bit off that. But, yeah, I think you do. I think if you.
I suppose you have the cat that thinks that he owns the house and you're just a servant, I don't know, maybe that's the way that you portray it. But yeah, they do. I mean, they bring us joy sometimes, don't they, with their personalities?
[00:11:09] Speaker A: Of course, I think it's very important, like you're saying that of course, everyone who goes through the center, any animal that's rehomed, any animal that's saved, they're all going to have that personality in that melting pot. Now, do people come in and say, I want a cat that does this or I want a bird that does that, or, you know, do they actually come in and ask you for the qualities of the animal that they'd like to have?
[00:11:32] Speaker B: Yes, they do. And we kind of have to giggle inside because you sort of think, well, we didn't quite ask the factory to bring us these ones here, but we do sometimes run through. All we've got is one type of cats or tabby or we've got all black and whites and we do wonder what's going on. But yes, there's people that come and ask for different, you know, things that they'd like in an animal particularly. And really, it's the luck of the draw with how some of these animals turn out. We don't know their full history. We've saved them from a ditch or we've saved them from being from, you know, a mum that's just like given birth in a bush. And so we don't know we know what their background is, but they certainly can be some of the biggest loving animals and some of them can be the biggest craziest animals as well, where they've got so much personality.
Obviously, dog, you can read them a little bit differently or you can mold them, but certainly these animals do have a mind of their own. So we can't Always dictate what it is. Or you come in wanting one thing, but you walk out with something different because you see a different connection that comes in. That's probably one of the biggest joys of watching. Especially cats, particularly. They come in for a certain color or a male or a female, and then they walk out with something completely different because that cat's made a connection with them and you just can't beat them.
[00:12:52] Speaker A: It. No, no, because that's what I feel. I mean, I personally, I travel a lot, so I can't have pets. I wouldn't ever put them in a kennel or a casserole for long, long stretches. I don't think that's fair. But I agree with you. I would come into your center, which I have done before. I rescued one of the cats from our neighborhood that I thought was a feral, but it was actually a cat with dementia. Who's. Who's, you know, this cat is. Is known to you, so it goes wandering. So it just came back to you and then you redistribute to its owner. But I feel it's definitely about that connection and how you feel.
So if I were to come to your center, I would definitely have to just walk around randomly and see what cat or what dog approached me. So that I'm really interested to hear that from you. Okay. So I'm gonna put you on the spot. Are you a cat person or a dog person?
[00:13:43] Speaker B: Oh, now that is actually a really hard one. I probably have to say. I'm probably a dog person.
My dogs bring me the biggest delight when I get home. And when I pull up, they are there. There is unconditional love and they are so excited. My cat could just look me straight in the eye and be like, ah, you're home, whatever. So they're very independent cats. Don't get me wrong, some of them are probably the most fierce, loving animals to people. But I have to say, my dogs do bring me the biggest joy. And they want to know about your day. They want to be there and they listen more. To be really honest with, they tend to want to sit down and listen or, you know, like follow where cats are. They are very much. You're working for them.
[00:14:26] Speaker A: Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. Dogs have owners. Cats have styles. Exactly. Alrighty. Now, something I'm very excited to learn something new and I love to learn every day about the SPCA is because obviously I love to have contact with animals, but I can't actually own one or have one long term. I understand that you've got A foster type of situation at the centre where people can actually help out looking after animals for short periods of time if they're not able to have one. Can you explain more about that?
[00:14:57] Speaker B: That is a huge part to what the SPCA needs from our communities, particularly so at the moment when we go through the height of our season of unwanted litters or undesexed animals giving birth, we wouldn't be able to care for the amount of animals that we do without our foster families. So I think in total we, our Napier and Hastings centres in Hawke's Bay. I do know that our Hastings centre sits around 200 to 250 cats in our care. Now, without those foster families taking on the kittens, taking on mum and kittens, we just wouldn't be able to have that many in our centres. So we have our wonder foster families that will take on any, from bottle feeding right through to when they get desexed, until they're available for adoption. And those animals and puppies as well, and even some grown dogs get to have the benefit of a loving home. And our foster family gets given everything they need, food, blankets, everything. And all they have to do is care and love for them when we just don't have the capacity within our centres. So without them, we just wouldn't have so many success stories. So they are the best in the world to us.
[00:16:11] Speaker A: Oh, how wonderful. Because I didn't know about it. I think that is such a fabulous support network for you and like you're saying, such a goodwill and supportive arrangement. But also if you're not able in long term, then you're still able to help and you're still able to have that lovely animal experience. And kittens. Oh, beyond cute. Cute overload. Alrighty. Well, that's very good to know. So my next question is, how do you feel people benefit by adopting a dog or a cat? What do you think that changes in their life fundamentally?
[00:16:46] Speaker B: I guess adopting is the next step of, I guess, being responsible as well.
But I think I just can't imagine my life without any animals in it. I mean, we go away on holiday and you're without your own animals and I'm almost seeking out other people's animals just for that touch and feel and that, I guess, that feeling of an animal. So I can imagine that when you do have an animal in your life every day, it's. It's giving you so many benefits. I know that when I'm a bit down, you know, the dogs will come and sit next to you and have a cuddle or just being able to stroke a cat, being able to calm, just a calming feeling that you get with that one there and then the pure joy and love that you get from them, zooming around or playing a game with them. I also know that I suppose if you can't be a pet owner, just having connections out into the community, you might have friends that have a special animal that, you know, you connect with. It is always, I feel like it's always got to bring some, always a benefit to you, having that extra part in your life that just has this very unconditional love and just the, I guess the experience, even taking a dog for a walk, it gets you out, you're exercising. That's gotta be good for your mental health, having that sun on your face and a dog that's just loving life at that point as well.
[00:18:05] Speaker A: And I think pets are quite immediate, aren't they, in their appreciation? Obviously they, they could all be hitting you up for food, but they do actually give back a huge amount and are, you know, very big, supportive, sort of anti loneliness but also purpose, you know, giving you a purpose, like you're saying the exercise and a positive mental health attitude there.
And what do you think if you were to say to someone who's got that, say, you know, tweens or younger children who go, mum, I want a dog, Mum, I want a cat, you know, please, please, please or dad, what, what advice would you give to those parents who are not anti it? They might want pets in the family. But what, what way do you think is the most responsible and most helpful to kind of quiz the kids to make sure that there is a definite commitment there?
[00:18:59] Speaker B: Yeah. So I think we're really lucky. We in New Zealand with our SPCA website, we have a kids area for education and one of those parts is actually you have a budget in there and the list of jobs and the care that's required around it because it can be that really immediate. Like let's. This is going to be so much fun. And I have children and I mean they didn't choose to have some of the animals in our lives, but it has grown that there's a responsibility around it. So, you know, the dreadful job of making sure that they're fed every, you know, morning and night and potentially picking up bit of poo that you might not want to.
I think that I'd always hoped that someone would read and understand a situation of. You always have this idea of when kids are ready though, I think as well, because you see that commitment. But I Guess as parents making sure that you're also ready for when it might not quite work out the way you want to. And that animal then, you know, is you. They're part of your pack. There's a pecking order and I feel like you take on that responsibility. We have a good balance in our household with our animals. My children know where their level of responsibility is every time and the dogs soon tell them if they haven't been fed on time as well. So that's that. But as also the owners, we, we have to make sure we're financially viable to have them as, as well. So I guess going on, like I say, our website is great. It gives a good picture of what actually is required around having these animals in your home. And we'd always encourage people to Google things, even visiting friends or if you've got a friend that you could borrow a dog from if it was that case. And that's a really great way to see how it's gonna feel in your house.
[00:20:38] Speaker A: Excellent. Okay, well, there's a huge amount. Again, I didn't know about these particular resources. Obviously websites and digital information's always out there now and that's really encouraging. But equally like you're saying the other sides of it, like the financial aspects and the regularity and the sort of feeding and commitment and regimen that obviously all pets require. So that is really good to know. So we can unleash some parents in your direction with children then too get educated when they're going, mummy, Mummy, Mummy, and you're going google this, come and see us. Get hands on. Because that's what you're going to be doing.
[00:21:15] Speaker B: Yeah, 100%. And it is, it's a massive job and responsibility, but man, it pays off when you get that love back from them. So, yeah, it's just being ready and knowing when it is the right time, I guess, and to bring something into your household. Beautiful.
[00:21:31] Speaker A: Okay. Alrighty. So come on then. What is the weirdest animal that you've ever had given in to the center or that you've needed to look after? What is the vet? You know, got to get that big imaginary kind of Harry Potter Dictionary of Animals out and go, right? I don't know about this one.
[00:21:49] Speaker B: I mean, I'd love to say it was the giraffe that was asked about at the kindergarten and you kind of think, oh, what was it? And I was sitting there sort of twiddling my fingers thinking, what is the strangest. I suppose one of the rarest in a way, which is a Little bit weird. I suppose we all know that you have reptiles and bits and pieces, and there's lots of turtles around. Now, there was a tortoise that was found by some dogs. It obviously had got out of its enclosure, had wandered off. Now, they don't move. Well, they actually do move quite fast, the tortoise, because, of course, they have proper legs. They're not swimming in the water. And. And it was a delight to get the phone call saying that, oh, we think we found this turtle to turn up and then see this tortoise. Now, it was small, but it was gonna grow some more. And that was an absolute pleasure to have something like that, because I sure as hell haven't seen one that close or been able to hold one.
And so that was the weirdest thing to have. And we had to really set up an enclosure, get it all sorted, figure out what it needed to eat and everything like that, and go on a bit of a wild goose chase to try and get it back to its owner, which really. And we did. We got it back to its owner. That was through the miracle work of, like, Facebook and a few connections that we had here and there. But that's probably the weirdest that we've had, really, besides, you know, we get birds, goldfish we've had from the cyclone. But the tortoise was definitely the coolest.
[00:23:14] Speaker A: Right, so what's the tortoise called?
[00:23:16] Speaker B: I don't know if he actually had a name.
Yeah, I think that's what we might have called him when he probably came in, something like that, because we were like, we do name everything that comes in. So if he was only with us for just over 24 hours in the end, because we were really, really aware that someone would probably be missing him because they have a bit of value to them as well. So we knew that he would be missed. But I'm sure we would have come up with some really great name, no doubt, if he had stayed with us longer. And I'm. I. I think the girls were a bit disappointed we didn't get to keep him.
[00:23:47] Speaker A: Now, I want to ask you. So when he was getting chased. All right, then. Does the tortoise behave like your classic cartoon tortoise that just sucks in all its limbs, in its head, and then just hides, or did he run away?
[00:24:00] Speaker B: No. So this one here, he actually has this. And it was really, really interesting because, well, I didn't know this. And you learn, like you say, learning, learning, learning. This one in particular has, like, this little flap that comes over and Literally locks him down. So his whole head is actually then covered. He's protected. And that's exactly what he did. He literally just went. Pulled everything in and the dog was walking around with them in his mouth. When the owners realized that he. They had something a little bit different than just a pine cone.
So no matter what, this tortoise was actually done a favor by being found and then transported maybe a little bit, you know, differently than normal. But he soon came out of his shell once he realized he was actually safe. And it was, yeah, pretty cool to see all his legs and his head pop out. But he's was like more of a Herman one, I think they call them, where it does tuck right up and there's a. Almost this flap that comes over the top of him.
[00:24:56] Speaker A: So he's got kind of his own sort of like armor plating.
[00:24:58] Speaker B: Yeah, yeah, I know.
[00:25:00] Speaker A: How amazing. Alrighty. So when he sort of, I suppose you washed him down and got rid of the spit.
[00:25:06] Speaker B: We did. We gave him carried around by the dog. We gave him a big wash down and he actually was a beautiful color underneath because he was a bit dirty. He'd also probably hibernated slightly a little bit as well, which wasn't helping it his cause. But yeah, he was amazing.
[00:25:19] Speaker A: Right? Oh, how great. Okay. I would never have guessed that. All right then. Now, in New Zealand, obviously, we're southern hemisphere and we love our wildlife and so we've got some pretty rock and roll wildlife, have we not? We didn't get the colors that Australia got, but we got the very unusual animals, didn't we? Like we've got nocturnal birds that have. Don't fly, but are, um, very entertaining. So what's your sort of standout memory for wildlife that's being rescued or handed in?
[00:25:53] Speaker B: Oh, so wildlife, we. Yeah, there's certainly our bird side of it is a massive thing for us at the spca. So we obviously have Doc and we do have a bird rescue and Hawke's Bay as well, which we're lucky with. But we usually are the first port of call. So we do get the odd ones with, you know, the random seagull. That's the baby that's fallen off a roof and getting that back up. But we have our hawks here. They are still quite large and unfortunately do get themselves into a little bit of predicaments when they're, you know, searching for roadkill. We have had a few rescues like that and been very, very lucky to. To get them. They're certainly their beaks are one to watch. You don't want to be caught off guard with those.
And watching them be able to be, you know, healed and go back into the wild has been amazing. We've had. Had more porks, which, of course, Murray.
[00:26:46] Speaker A: They are the owls, right.
[00:26:47] Speaker B: Native owl that we have. They're not too big, but they're super impressive to see.
[00:26:53] Speaker A: They're kind of like a little owl size, if we sort of look at Northern hemisphere.
[00:26:58] Speaker B: Little. Yeah, little.
[00:26:59] Speaker A: They have that kind of gangster attitude. Are they quite sort of out there?
[00:27:03] Speaker B: I mean, I wouldn't mess with one. It still has nice big claws and has really big cute eyes, but would still probably nail you if you probably got too close.
They are obviously protected, so it is really important that we obviously with those kind of ones, we, you know, treat them with the biggest respect ever. And we are lucky with our Department of Conservation that comes in and helps us with that. So, yeah, we get. The weird thing is, you know, we get tuis, which some of our native birds, which are beautiful with the way that they sing. But yeah, still the wildlife is big when you've got, I guess, incidents with cars, unfortunately, feral cats and just generally get them into a bit of bind sometimes. So, yeah, it's again, the sort of being able to do something a bit of variation that allows us to. Rather than just the standard cats and dogs. But man, they're amazing up close because you'd never really get to see them usually like that. So as much as they might be injured sometimes and we can get care for them, they're pretty impressive to see them that close up. Up.
[00:28:07] Speaker A: And have you had any of those what they. The golden green parrots that steal from people's backpacks.
[00:28:13] Speaker B: And also thankfully haven't had any of those. We get plenty of some of our puke ecos, which are quite known to getting into a lot of the. The fields and likes to eat the crops. Sometimes they get themselves into funny predicaments because they're also drawn to the hum of vehicles.
So they definitely make it for interesting. But no, none of those really special.
We've got. We've only ever had encounters which thankfully we've. Some of us have been lucky enough to see a kiwi that the Department of Conservation has had on them, but we've never been drawn into those ones. Unfortunately.
[00:28:51] Speaker A: They are highly protected, aren't they? So they are nocturnal. So, you know, you'd have to go out at night.
[00:28:58] Speaker B: I think that's past my hours that I'm meant to be working, but maybe not that devoted.
[00:29:03] Speaker A: So going Back to the wildlife. If someone, if our listeners in New Zealand, if they were going to go up to perhaps a hawk or a bird that's injured on the road, what would you suggest would be the best protocol to approach a wild animal like that, to help if they, you know, if they do see one that's got.
[00:29:24] Speaker B: A damaged wing, for example, some even this could spend. I spread wider, I suppose, is when you do have some of these big birds, particularly, you need to cover their heads with something soft. If you've got some clothing that just keeps them calm, you know, puts them into darkness, helps to calm them down, so obviously reducing the flapping. They also obviously protect yourself as well, because it's covering the beak up, which is most likely going to be the part that they go and try and obviously bite you because they're very vulnerable.
So you cover them up, wrap them up as best you can so you're not injuring their wings or anything like that, being really careful of their feet. And if you're not really sure, you can literally just get a box and put it over the top of them just to keep them secure. It keeps them contained and it'll keep them calm until you can reach any rescue like the SPCA Department of Conservation or the Bird and Wildlife that you might have in your local area as well.
[00:30:22] Speaker A: Excellent. Okay, that's great advice. Alrighty, so tell me from work, what's the funniest story that you've ever had?
[00:30:32] Speaker B: I mean, there's always the odd ones that you have with the animals, but this one I have to drop one of my workmates into. Unfortunately it wasn't me, but I certainly. It would have been probably quite a ride if it was. But we are very blessed to have a wonderful area in one of our centres that has a big paddock and our dogs get to run around playing, chasing, and we'll set up water, we'll set up all sorts of things for them. And this day we must have been having a. Obviously got a bit distracted with whatever we were talking about, and the two dogs that were running around decided that, you know, we won't just run off into the distance, we'll run really close to everybody that's standing there and with full force. They did run into one of my workmates kind of obviously, you know, dropped the knee, you know, where you sort of tumble slightly, but wasn't in the best position and ended up landing in the dog pool on their bum. And we kind of all just had have a really good laugh. And I think also to make it Worse, the dogs then kind of jumped in as well. So thankfully, it was a hot Hawke's Bay summer's day, so the drying off probably wasn't too bad. And it was actually a bit of a laugh rather than being freezing cold and not enjoying it.
[00:31:48] Speaker A: Oh, dear. Well, dogs are dogs, aren't they? I've got a. If I. If I could share one of my funniest dog looking after experiences, because I did spend quite a few years looking, traveling a lot and looking after other people's animals, which was a wonderful experience for me. And I had a friend who had a greyhound rescue, and this was a cruelty case that had been rehomed, which was. Was fabulous. The dog was adorable. And the owner said, you do know, you know, the dog needs to go out, so can you take it to this particular parkland? Because obviously that animal needs to run, right? So she said, just always take biscuits with you, you'll be fine. Anyway, so I took the dog out and took him and she said, yeah, just, you know, take him. So I let him go and I let him go and I just watched him and he disappeared from view. I've never seen the dog move so fast in my life. So there's me starting to go. I hope he's gonna come back.
So in the end, after 30 minutes of yelling and a bit of bisque biscuit bribery, I got him back. But I never forget that. It just went off and that was it.
[00:33:01] Speaker B: We have definitely all been there, done that with. When the ears turn off and they're like, I'm having a good time, I'm.
[00:33:07] Speaker A: Leaving you behind that assumption that, you know they're going to come back because of course you're going to call their name and they're going to come back. But, you know, I think we do, as humans sometimes think, oh, we've got the power over, so it's going to happen, isn't it? And I think that's what animals teach us is don't make assumptions, get to know me, understand me, and also, if I'm naughty, then have provisions, you know.
[00:33:29] Speaker B: Oh, yeah, definitely. Or you just end up walking around a park, sort of yelling out to a dog that everybody's wondering what you're actually walking with because it's taken off on you.
[00:33:38] Speaker A: But I think that lady, when I told her about it later, she just went, oh, yeah, he is kind of attached to me. I was like, yeah, no Sherlock.
But our delightful dog, a darling dog. And as I said, they were in a previous life condition to exercise such a degree that that was a performance thing. Alrighty. Well, I'd just like to say, how do you view that charities change?
[00:34:04] Speaker B: My.
[00:34:05] Speaker A: My particular perception of this, and I could be wrong, is that I think we're turning away from, like, handouts and perhaps people feeling that sometimes they get a bit of charity lag and they get a little bit pestered. And now we're getting, with websites, obviously with social media and all of the advents of the last 20 years, we're seeing charity transforming into, taking its rightful place back in community. Do you think I'm right there? It's not just about the money, it's about the actual feeling and state of being, of giving back, pay it forward, that kind of consciousness. Do you think that's right?
[00:34:37] Speaker B: Yeah, I think it is. I think that it will definitely, I think, is even when you work for one, it very much changes the way that you see other charities as well, that are in. In the communities.
And for some of those. Those charities, I guess, is that there are things that we really, really do actually need to actually be able to function all over the place which could be, you know, for New Zealand, particularly, like our ambulance service, our fire service, our animal welfare, our hospice care, that's required. So I think when people do really give, and it can be in so many different ways to a charity, there's. We now have our charity shops, our op shops, just being able to give your, you know, unneeded goods that are good quality, that's giving without even realizing it's shopping at those shops without even realizing you're gaining something. And so are we.
I think it is. I certainly know that just knowing that you are giving of some way, if it is monetary, it might be that you're making for us, particularly like a food donation, which for you, in a grocery shop might not be a massive, you know, expense, I guess, but it is making a big difference. So I think it's just sort of thinking outside of the box a bit more with these charities of what you can really, really use. That doesn't maybe always have to be a monetary value. Obviously we, every. Every charity would like that monetary advantage because it can bring so much more to it. But it is, it should be a good feeling knowing that you potentially are helping in an area that is needed, otherwise they wouldn't exist, I guess.
But certainly I think it is. It's. It did get, I guess, like you say that real fatigue around what, you know, people just feel like you're kind of handout after handout. I think it's also Understanding the charities that you may want to give to and. And what fits with your own personal beliefs and sometimes maybe having one or two that you might want to give to. But yeah, it's really. It is a big bonus when people really, really want to support you as a charity, because it's certainly a different type to work for, understand how we have to be. And it is a business, you know, have to be run as a business to be successful, because if they're not, then the charities, you know, go under and then there's no extra monetary coming into that. And I guess in New Zealand particularly, we really, really need that support. And the community is super amazing because without particularly for the SPCA, we can run around $63 million to run us each year and we get about 8% from another government agency to help with our inspector team. But the rest of it all is funded by our wonderful community and people leaving us money potentially in their will, giving to our op shops, purchasing from our op shops, helping. And, oh, man, it's amazing when you see what the people provide for us. So we're always very, very thankful for anyone that wants to give to these worthy charities all over the world as well.
[00:37:44] Speaker A: Well, I think that's such an important sort of synopsis of everything, because I think a lot of people wouldn't think of that, that you can just pop in and give a food donation, some dog food, some dog biscuits, some cat food, whatever. I think that's a fabulous thing which. Which I've got to say, I'd forget. I'd. I'd think, oh, you know, monetary or, you know, volunteering, obviously, to help.
So I think that's really important. But obviously there's lots of ways on the website. Your website is.
[00:38:13] Speaker B: Yeah, so we, when you look us up, we obviously. Www.spca.nz and that takes it on there. We have so much information on that website. It's amazing in Sunrise as well, even if. If it's not you setting up as a community as well. And it's always a really good, fun way to do it as well. Little events as well. So we do like a cupcake day.
People do all sorts of different ways of fundraising within their schools, sausage sizzles, all sorts, and that type of thing is amazing. Even making toys for our animals is amazing because that's, you know, giving back in a different way that we can't always afford to buy these animals new toys because we might be on a, you know, a bit of a tighter budget. So people come in, they knit us mice they bring in sniff pads for the dogs. And it's just in any way that can be, I guess, helping us. It is. It's just, yeah, truly amazing. There's so many different ways. So on the website, there is a really fun area for kids. There's great ideas of how you could run events, all sorts of things.
[00:39:19] Speaker A: Brilliant. Okay, well, all of those are fabulous ideas, so I'm going to put you on the spot. Now, what do you think of the top three sort of reasons for experiencing charity? And in your case, obviously, the SPCA is an animal charity, but why would you say neutrally to someone to get involved in charity? What would be your top three reasons to do so?
[00:39:42] Speaker B: Oh, I suppose the first one would be whatever you're supporting, it's really helping that organization. So for us, it's making sure that we can obviously keep supporting the vulnerable animals of New Zealand. And that could be also that you give to another charity that might mean a lot to you personally. So I think your heart obviously has got to be in it first and foremost. So that's going to fill your heart, I guess, with the kindness that you are giving that charity. The other one might be connections within, you know, again, that community connection that you start building. New people, you get to meet new, I guess. And the last one, I suppose it brings your own happiness, I suppose your fulfillment and thinking about somebody else or something else rather than yourself that you know is going to benefit from the efforts you're putting into that charity.
[00:40:35] Speaker A: In my work, I talk to a lot of people about stepping back because a lot of us, I think in our lives, we get far too close, if you will, or sort of fixated or really worried or pressured about certain circumstances in our life. And I think charity is one of the most fabulous ways to go and do something that is going to be a complete spontaneous shift that can help us like you were talking about, you know, fill our hearts with joy and keep that what goes around comes around. Energy, moving and realizing that appreciation is a very undervalued superpower, in my opinion. And I think charity gives us a lot that we can appreciate in our heart very much. Okay.
[00:41:19] Speaker B: Alrighty.
[00:41:19] Speaker A: Well, the last question I'd like to ask you today is, what's your spotlight? I know this particular episode is we're recording slightly early because it's going out in March, but what would you say if someone was going, oh, I've been thinking about a kitten, or I've been thinking about a dog, or I've been thinking about just annual animal companionship in general, what would you say is your kind of cutest opportunity or do you have like an opportunity of the week or do you have a promoted animal on the website? How do you go about sort of showing people? Because obviously you get like you're saying you get all sorts, don't you?
[00:41:56] Speaker B: So we do, we're always obviously big on, on don't shop, adopt because these guys, whatever they might be the cutest kittens or puppies, always giving them a second chance of meeting their forever homes and man, they've got some characters to them. So we do get through a really, really busy period that runs from probably September to about June nearly where we have a lot of kittens and puppies and dogs. We're really fortunate, like I say, with our wife website with the SPCA New Zealand that we can showcase all of our animals on our website. And you can, there's a drop down that says, you know, dogs, cats, farm animals, all sorts. And you can go to the different centers or you can look at every single one of them that is available for adoption in New Zealand.
So always around that we are always full. We always have a lot to offer because it is a constant need for us here in New Zealand and Hawke's Bay.
There's always something there for everyone. If it's a kitten, an adult cat, a teenage cat, puppies, you know, older dogs, small, big, medium sized, we have it all. So and there's sometimes always, you know, we have rabbits, we get guinea pigs, we get birds, we get rats, we get sheep, we have some goats at the moment, there's horses, there's, you name it, we've got it. When it comes to being available that, you know, some of them have come out of some really hard places in the world and they are all desexed, microchipped, vaccinated, all health checked and they are ready to go and usually have a lot, a lot of love to give. So yeah, we always have something that potentially could meet anyone that's ready to have a new addition to their home home and would love a pet in there as well.
[00:43:49] Speaker A: Well, that sounds like a veritable Mr. And Mrs. Noah's Ark there, didn't it? Well, that is a fabulous roundup, Karen. It's been an absolute pleasure today. Thank you very much for joining me and thank you for spreading all your stardust joy and excitement about animals because I think we can all share that our world and Mother Earth are a very, very important part of our lives lives and that we should never, ever forget that. So thank you very much for joining.
[00:44:16] Speaker B: Yeah, thank you so much. Been able to get this out to the universe. We love it as well. So, yeah, thank you, thank you, thank you.
[00:44:23] Speaker A: And thanks to Karen for a great episode and for all those wonderful initiatives with the SPCA in New Zealand. And I'd just like to say that this episode is all part of a charity global initiative which is being run currently by Podcast Thond.
So if you would like more podcast content that is related to charities from all over the world and hear about all the beautiful things that are going on, then Please go to podcastson.org to their website and to see all of the people joining in between the 15th of March and the 21st of March, 2025. I'm Alexandria and the Making of you says thank you very much for joining me and I look forward to seeing you you at our next episode. Thanks.
