Online pet store Pet Depot is helping to raise funds for New Zealand animal welfare charity SPCA as the charity faces the prospect of a $1 million loss of income because of COVID-19-related financial pressures.

The charity has been forced to postpone all in-person fundraising activities and close its 56 op shops across the country. a valuable source of revenue, during the lockdown, despite continuing to operate.

“We remain an essential service and our Inspectors are continuing to respond to emergencies and animal welfare complaints,” said SPCA CEO Andrea Midgen.

This is where Pet Depot comes in. The online pet store, which launched in June 2019, said it is gaining strong traction with New Zealanders. Once it breaks even, which it expects to do in the next six to nine months, 30 per cent of all profits will go directly to SPCA.

“We look forward to becoming a long term and reliable source of income for this incredible charity,” said Pet Depot founder Ian Sutcliffe.

The funds raised through the partnership will go towards the running of SPCA, helping the organisation to rescue, shelter and rehome more than 40,000 injured, abandoned and abused animals each year, providing medical treatment, as well as vaccinations, microchips and de-sexing services.

“The vast array of vital services that SPCA offers to the animals couldn’t happen without the support of the generous New Zealand public,” Midgen said.

“Our request to SPCA supporters is simple: if customers are looking to buy any of the products stocked by Pet Depot, we ask that they buy them here.”

Pet Depot has been classified as an essential service by the Government and continues to operate under Alert Level 4.

A considerable number of brands stocked by the online store are not available in supermarkets, including prescription diet pet foods.