'It's absolutely devastating': Ruahine Animal Rescue evicted from council site

Central Hawke's Bay's only animal rescue is facing closure because the local council is evicting the charity from its premises.Ruahine Animal Rescue is based in Waipukurau where the SPCA was located for 30 years, but the land was sold to the council when the SPCA closed down in 2022. The area is currently used by both the animal rescue and the dog pound.The council has given Ruahine Animal Rescue until 13 December to move out, which volunteer Grace White said is a huge shock."It's absolutely devastating. We've poured our blood sweat and tears in... we're all volunteers and we just don't want to give up."We can't see a future without a rescue in place," she said.The animal rescue is funded by donations from the community and entirely run by volunteers. Grace White said it's about so much more than just animals."I started off with the inability to walk properly and through work here I'm now without a walker, you know it just gets better and better - we see and meet people from all walks of life as well," she said.Carma Anderson.RNZ / Alexa CookThe council told RNZ it reviewed its dog pound operation in June and found there wasn't enough capacity, so it needed to use the extra space currently occupied by the animal rescue.But Ruahine Animal Rescue Chair Carma Anderson said that didn't add up."From what we see on a daily basis we don't notice their kennels are full. No one has ever come to us saying they are at capacity and can they utilise some of our kennel space," she said.However, the council's community safety and compliance manager Logan McKay told RNZ it's not just about kennel space and the pound needed three separate areas for rehoming, isolation and dogs with an unknown status."It may sound selfish, but it's not about the Ruahine Animal Rescue - it's about our ability to provide a pound, a safe space for the animals we take in and our staff," he said.Ruahine Animal Rescue has rehomed 261 animals since it opened in December 2024.RNZ / Alexa CookThe council couldn't provide RNZ with figures showing how many dogs it impounded each year, but said the data could be requested through the Local Government Official Information and Meetings Act.Instead it pointed to information collected about the number of 'dog related complaints' received every year, which had risen from 861 in 2022/23 to 1126 in 2024/25. The complaints were broken into categories such as attacks on people or other animals, barking, fouling, wandering and/or impounded."Every metric we are measuring has increased so we need to make sure we have a modern pound fit for purpose," said McKay.The dog pound.RNZ / Alexa CookSince Ruahine Animal Rescue opened in 2024 it had rehomed 261 animals, and Carma Anderson said the charity was now desperately trying to figure out its future so it could continue to save animals.She has launched a campaign to 'rescue the rescue' and was trying to raise enough funds to buy a property for the animal shelter."If I had a magic wand I would purchase an existing building and modify it for purpose and keep it in the community forever."It doesn't just provide services for animals, it fosters the spirit of voluntary service and provides opportunities for youth and connections for the elderly," said Anderson.Public challenges the mayor over council decisionA heated discussion about the future of the rescue took place at a public meeting in Waipukurau on Sunday. Locals demanded answers from mayor Will Foley about why the council was evicting the animal rescue.Mayor Will Foley answers the public's questions.RNZ / Alexa CookOne man questioned the council's decision."I would like to know ... if you can't help animals you can't help anyone. I need a reason why they want them out of there because I want to help," he said.The mayor replied, promising he was taking their concerns seriously. "I'm here today to listen and learn and help as much as we can," said Foley.Among the dozens of people attending were Nancy Neal and her friend Maureen James."I'm a ratepayer therefore I have a share in that property along with these people sitting next to me and we want to see Ruahine Animal Resuce stay there so our first question is why are you having to move?" said Neal."Why are they having to shift out of what is absolutely suitable spot and set up well for them," queried James.Nancy Neal (L) and her friend Maureen James.RNZ / Alexa CookLisa Bennett was also worried."There's a real need for it in the community. So many animals get abused and thrown away like garbage, and they don't deserve it," she said.Carma Anderson said Sunday's meeting resulted in a surge of public support."The community did not disappoint. They feel given the history of this piece of land it is right that Ruahine would continue to occupy it and are prepared to have their voices heard at the council."They [are] even asking the question about whether it'd be suitable for the council to vacate this premise and find somewhere else ... so it's ongoing, we will see," she said.When asked if there was any hope that the animal rescue may be able to stay put, the council said that was unlikely."We had the conversation this morning, but from our chief executive and from Will ... It is about safety. Safety of animals we care for, safety of people that work in this space and the safety of our community when we do remove those dogs."So at this stage we are not reviewing the review," said McKay.