Taranaki Animal Protection Trust is inviting the community to East End Reserve on Saturday 8 November for “Claws for a Cause,” a family fun day raising funds to cover mounting vet bills.
The event runs 10am–3pm and features a bouncy slide, photo booth, candy floss, kitten cuddle lounge, cat crafts, face painting, and food trucks.
All proceeds support rescue, rehabilitation and re-homing of local cats and kittens.
North Taranaki coordinator Harlyn Wilkinson says the fundraiser comes at a critical time. “We are the largest volunteer-run cat rescue in Taranaki and save over 500 cats and kittens every year. We are struggling with huge vet bills at the moment, so we are holding a family fun day fundraiser this Saturday. Heaps of fun activities and yummy food vendors, plus you can snuggle with some of our kittens in our kitten cuddle lounge.”
Founded in 2011, Taranaki Animal Protection Trust is run entirely by volunteers, with all money directed to animal health and welfare in the region. Its work includes rescuing injured, sick, abandoned or lost animals and supporting carers across Taranaki.
The charity says it saves more than 500 cats and kittens each year and works with foster families to prepare animals for adoption. Volunteers also oversee at least a dozen community cat colonies in New Plymouth and partner with other rescues when dogs or other animals need help.
Alongside rescues and adoptions, the trust supports responsible pet ownership by helping with discounted desexing and microchipping for those who need a hand.
Cats adopted through the trust are wormed, flea-treated, desexed, microchipped and have their first vaccinations.
Ongoing fundraising includes two op shops: A Second Chance Op Shop at 129 Molesworth Street, New Plymouth, and a TAPT Charity Shop at 20 Union Street, Hāwera. Donations of saleable goods and pet supplies help keep both stores stocked and the rescue work funded.
