About Us

Animal Rehab Central (ARC) is a newly Incorporated Society, established in early 2020 to provide care and rehabilitation for the region’s animals in need.

In 2019 the SPCA streamlined its activities in Central Otago which included shutting down its local facility that operated in conjunction with the Central Otago Feline Lodge. While in operation the facility rescued and successfully rehomed in excess of 150 animals (mainly dogs and cats) a year. Unfortunately, the SPCA’s restructure has reduced its service to the region, resulting in many animals and rescuers not receiving the care and attention required.

ARC’s board comprises 15 voluntary members of the community who, combined, offer over 60 years of animal welfare and veterinary nursing experience. Other skills include legal, accounting and business acumen. All are committed to transparency, focus and professionalism.

ARC will provide the level of service that animals and the community should expect and deserve.

Animals: This includes (within our means):

• Provide animals with shelter, care, veterinary treatment and rehabilitation before adoption.

• Provide safe and secure housing.

• Rehabilitate and rehome unwanted, neglected and/or discarded animals.

• Match animals to appropriate applicants.

• Provide quick access to animal advice and assistance.

• Provide animal welfare education programmes to schools and other interested parties.

• Ensure public responsibility and awareness by promoting good animal welfare practices within the district.

• Establish a network of suitable volunteers.

• Establish sound relationships with veterinary clinics, animal control and other relevant parties.

• Raise funds to maintain appropriate levels of service and financial viability.

Fundraising and promotion.

• Open days

• Markets

• Events such as charity galas, quizz nights, fashion parades

• Establish an opportunity shop in the district

• Seek funding and grants from local trusts

• Sponsorship

• Advertising

• Public awareness

Many adoptions fail because the animal and adopter are poorly suited. For example, an elderly and frail person would struggle with an animal that had high exercise requirements or was overly boisterous. Our adoption process will be strict and well considered.

• Ensuring all animals are assessed by qualified staff to understand the animal’s nature, abilities and behavioural traits.

• Provide a safe space for applicants to meet and interact with animals available for adoption.

• Assess the needs and capabilities of applicants to ensure a positive adoption outcome.

• Carry out property inspections to ensure suitability to animal.

• Seek landlord permission for applicants living in rental accommodation

• Thorough health checks and vaccinations by a veterinarian before adoption. This also includes worming and flea treatment and desexing.

• New owners of animals too young for desexing at the time of adoption will be given a veterinarian voucher to enable the animal to be desexed when it becomes old enough to do so.

• All animals will be micro-chipped.

• Successful applicants will receive an extensive follow up service to provide ongoing advice from our professional staff.

ARC is a fledgling Society and will take time to accrue funds and increase its capacity and abilities. While it will try to assist all animals in need, it can only work within its financial capabilities.

A charity or volunteer group can only be as strong as the support it receives from its community.

ARC will publish an annual report here to show how our donated funds and raised revenue from adoptions is put to use saving animals in your community.