A not-for-profit animal rescue organisation has headed back to Matakana Island this month to help residents overcome the barriers of desexing their cats and kittens.

The Rescue. Revive. Rehome Bay of Plenty charitable trust went to the island, with a team vets and vet nurses from Rotorua, to spend a sponsored day of desexing 22 felines from one colony back in July.

While on the island they learnt of other colonies, strays and undesexed felines roaming far and wide.

So the team returned on Wednesday, October 5, to undertake the second phase of the project – to assist those on the Island with desexing their own animals and stray cats some residents are feeding.

RRR board member and project manager Liz Proudlock says her team understand the many difficulties people often face when it comes to desexing pets – especially when multiple animals are involved.

For Matakana Island residents, the logistics of transporting pets to the vets on the barge is an added hurdle that can impact their ability to have these procedures carried out, says Liz.

'For families with six or more cats to desex, the cost of getting them off the island, waiting with them for the day, and the operating fees – it's just huge.

'There are a lot of variables to juggle, particularly if you are an elderly person.”

That's where RRR steps in, with assistance from the Barrowman Goodman Vets staff.

In July the team desexed 22 felines from one colony. 'It was amazing how that day brought out stories from other residents who'd also found themselves with colonies of cats,” says Liz.

This time RRR's second phase of the programme aimed to desex a further 50 cats, with their friends from Barrowman Goodman once again stepping up to perform the procedures.

The team will include two vets, two vet nurses, an admin person, and four RRR representatives. 'We are hoping to make a difference to both people and animals – and also to the environment – by offering this service,” says Liz.

Residents are invited to contribute a koha to Matakana Island School, who kindly loaned the use of their facilities.

R.R.R. - Rescue, Revive, Rehome is a not-for-profit animal rescue organisation based in the Bay of Plenty.

They understand the many difficulties people are often faced with when it comes to desexing their pets - especially when multiple animals are involved.

For residents of Matakana Island, the logistics of transporting their pets to the vets on the barge is an added hurdle that can impact their ability to have these procedures carried out.

'For families with six or more cats to desex, the cost of getting them off the island, waiting with them for the day, and the operating fees – it's just huge,” says RRR board member and project manager Liz Proudlock

She continues, 'There are a lot of variables to juggle, particularly if you are an elderly person.”

That's where R.R.R. steps in, with the assistance of the vets and vet nurses from Rotorua's Barrowman Goodman Vets.

In July the team spent the day on Matakana Island performing a publicly sponsored desexing of twenty-two felines from one colony.

'It was amazing how that day brought out stories from other residents who'd also found themselves with colonies of cats,” Liz says.

R.R.R. recognised the need for a second phase to this programme and are heading back to the island on October 5th for round two.

They are aiming to desex a further fifty cats this time, with their friends from Barrowman Goodman once again stepping up to perform the procedures.

Residents are invited to contribute a koha to Matakana Island School, who are kindly loaning the use of their facilities.

Donations of kitten litter and trays, dog crates, small blankets and towels are being sought for the comfort and safety of the animals on the day.

'We are hoping to make a difference to both people and animals, and also to the environment, by offering this service,” Liz shares.

The team will include two vets, two vet nurses, an admin person, and four representatives from R.R.R.

Matakana Island residents wanting to register a feline, or felines, please contact Elauise on the island.

When asked how people would find this contact, Liz smiles and says, 'Everybody knows everybody on the island. They will know how to contact her.”

Alternatively, those wishing to register their cats or wanting to donate items for the day can go to the R.R.R. Facebook page and message Liz, or contact her on 021 077 8665