Cook Islands SPCA (CISPA) has seen a surge in calls after finding five distressed, sick, and starving puppies abandoned in Panama.

The puppies aged around five weeks were found by the not-for-profit organisation last week after they were alerted by someone through social media.

Another dog aged around four-months-old was also found and had to be put down.

Welfare officer Mata Nooroa Junior said the organisation believes the puppies were abandoned, as the mother dog could not be found anywhere around the area.

“The night before we had someone message us on messenger who wanted to remain anonymous, and they informed us that there were some puppies there,” said Nooroa.

“The next day we went out and had a look, and yeah, discovered the puppies pretty much on the beach under a concrete pad.

“One was very, very sick, which we had to put down and put to sleep, as she was in a bad state.

“The other (four puppies) were still healthy.” 

Nooroa said the organisation received between eight to 10 calls from people wanting to hand in their puppies or coming across abandoned or stray puppies after the organisation posted on social media, urging people to reach out and get their animals de-sexed. 

Nooroa said the surge in calls from residents had been “really good”, but that there was still a problem with some owners not bothering about de-sexing their animals.

He said having so many animals to care for is a problem for the CISPCA, as the organisation has limited space, with a limited number of foster families to care for the animals.

“Dogs are not something you can hand back.

“They (the owners) have to make sure they have the space and can manage financially.

“We have 22 puppies including older puppies, and not big dogs, which we have six of those here (at the house) at the moment.

“All of these (animals) will need homes.”

According to Nooroa, the older dogs who are between six and seven-months-old are moved up to the CISPCA shelter in Titikaveka if they haven’t been adopted, and will stay there until adoption.

The shelter, which is run by manager David Pokia has 20 kennels that can house around 20 dogs, but at times is stretched.

A group of volunteers help out at the organisation with walking and feeding the dogs, as well as giving them baths, and providing them with social interaction.

Most dogs are fed twice a day unless they have special dietary requirements, and receive a mixture of dry and wet food.

All dogs are fed between 7.30am and 9am and between 4pm and 6pm.

Given the number of animals in the organisation’s care, Nooroa said he believes there is a dog problem on Rarotonga.

However, Nooroa said it comes down to owner responsibility and people caring for their dogs.

He said it is “simple things” like training and getting dogs de-sexed that really helps.

“It’s not going to happen overnight solving the whole dog problem ... but it’s definitely that two-year plan about trying to control the population.  

“With the whole animal and welfare legislation, we are currently working on trying to renew the laws themselves but that in itself is something else that takes time.

“With the money that people pay to the Cook Islands police for registering their dogs, that money goes back to Crown Law.

“This is what we are trying to figure out, we need a good system, based on something similar to New Zealand and Australia.”

This coming Saturday, the CISPCA will head to the Punanga Nui Market to push the adoption of their puppies as well as those dogs who are housed at the shelter and in need of a loving home.

The organisation will also allow people to foster puppies as part of a “foster first, adopt later” programme as some puppies are still yet to be de-sexed.

People wanting to adopt or make a donation are encouraged to contact the organisation directly.

Donations can also be made online at https://givealittle.co.nz/cause/cook-islands-spca.