SPCA and Te Are Manu vets now have official legal rights to enter properties to desex or treat animals.

The warrants, which were agreed upon by the Dog Registration and Animal Control Committee (DRACC) meeting last week, means the SPCA and Te Are Manu can enter properties to do their work.

Te Are Manu vet Michael Baer said it was a step in the right direction.

“Previously, we had no legal right to do so, this just makes the work we do that much easier,” Baer said.

“Obviously, in most situations it would be our preference not to rely on using the warrant, but we will use it in the case the owners are away, and the animals need care or attention.”

“Animal welfare is at the forefront of our operations and these warrants help towards providing a much-needed service for animals in distress who require medical attention.“

Baer said Te Are Manu and the SPCA had assisted in desexing programmes for dogs over the past 18 months.

“We’ve held 20 clinics so far, we would like to host another 10 by November,” he said.

“The more desexing that we can do, the better we can control the populations of dogs on the island. We are excited to have the support of the police for our more recent desexing programmes.”

DRACC representatives include members from Te Are Manu, SPCA, Ministry of Agriculture, Cook Islands Police Services and Cook Islands Tourism and was formed to collaboratively address the dog population issues in Rarotonga.

Cook Islands Police Commissioner, Turepu James Keenan said, “The Police have some initiatives

in place to address the wild and unruly dogs around the island, however there is certainly more

that can be done to strengthen the legislative framework in order to practically manage this issue”.

Baer said it was hosting a cat desexing programme at Paws n Claws cat sanctuary from 8am to 2.30pm today.

“We’re hoping to desex as many cats as possible as we head into the high part of the kitten season,” Baer said.