This weekend the Royal New Zealand SPCA held its annual conference at Te Papa in Wellington.

Not only was the conference jam-packed with fantastic speakers it was a chance for representatives from SPCAs across the country to get together and to celebrate their successes over the last year.

This year’s conference also had a bit of a different twist with a number of awards being presented in recognition and praise of the work of SPCAs across the country successfully putting the Saving Lives initiative into practice.

And, we’re very proud to announce that we were winners! Nicholas Taylor, our Animal Care and Adoptions Manager received the award on behalf of all the Wellington SPCA team, for our achievements in maximising adoptions.

Check out some of the pups giving their lick of approval for our award here [video]!

This award was mainly in recognition of our successes in adopting animals outside of the centre environment – primarily through our off-site adoption events. Since the end of 2008, we have found homes for approximately 1,500 animals at adoption events held in community centres, church halls, scout clubs and even surf clubs!

Particular recognition was given to our Free Feline Friday event when we found homes for 350 cats and kittens over one weekend last year.

We are so pleased and honoured to receive this acknowledgement for the efforts we have been making to implement the entire Saving Lives initiative and it will only inspire us to continue achieving amazing outcomes for the animals in our community.

You can check out some of our upcoming off-site adoptions on our Facebook page.