Auckland’s rescue organisations under pressure as dog surrender requests soar

Auckland dog rescue organisation Saving Hope Foundation says it is facing a rehoming epidemic, after receiving 1244 requests to surrender dogs in just 10 weeks.

Saving Hope’s administrator and de-sexing projects manager, Elle Procter, volunteers full time to help the dogs and communities in need.

“It is a runaway train. There are sadly too many puppies being born.”

Last year in February, the organisation received 299 surrender requests in just 28 days.

By February 2026, that number has increased to 391 requests in the same period.

The organisation is now receiving an average of 4380 surrender requests each year.

Saving Hope Foundation typically cares for around 146 dogs and puppies at any one time.

It relies solely on volunteers to foster animals, run community events, and fundraise for de-sexing surgeries and vet care.

The SPCA is experiencing similar issues.

SPCA Mangere centre manager Graeme Ford says the organisation receives between five and 10 surrender requests every day.

“Shelters are constantly running at capacity. As soon as space becomes available, there are cases waiting to come in.”

Ford says the increase in requests has been emotionally difficult for staff.

“These conversations can be challenging, particularly when we simply do not have the space to accommodate more animals and have to turn people away,” he said.

Procter says Saving Hope volunteers are also struggling emotionally with capacity issues

“Our hearts break. There simply aren’t enough foster homes available,” she says.

Both organisations say the cost-of-living crisis and economic pressures are factors behind the increase in surrenders.

Some owners no longer have the time for their pets due to longer working hours, while others cannot afford veterinary care.

Procter says volunteers are also responding to an increase in abandoned puppies.

“We are seeing more puppies dumped in boxes at parks and beaches; their umbilical cords still attached,” she says.

“Those that survive require urgent veterinary care, specialised puppy milk, and feeding every two hours around the clock from our volunteers. This drains our resources and our team.”

Procter also says housing pressures are also contributing to the rise in surrenders.

“We are also seeing more and more people being displaced from their homes, unable to afford rent and in turn unable to keep their animals, increasing the number of adults needing re-homing alongside the epidemic of unwanted puppies.”

Saving Hope Foundation also says it has witnessed a growing number of cases involving neglect and abuse.

One recent case involved a dog named Rhea, who arrived at the rescue in extremely poor condition.

“She came to us in awful shape,” Procter says.

“She had a severe abscess under her chin, most of her fur was missing and her skin would bleed if rubbed against anything.”

Rhea was in significant pain when she arrived at the rescue.

Both the SPCA and Saving Hope Foundation say de-sexing dogs is critical to reducing the number of unwanted puppies.

Elle Procter says lack of awareness is one of the biggest challenges.

“People are unaware that their six-month-old puppy can fall pregnant on her first heat or that puppies kept from previous litters can breed with their parents or siblings," she said.

In New Zealand, 221,000 out of 851,000 dogs are not de-sexed.

Saving Hope Foundation is urging the public to de-sex their pets or reach out to projects and campaign’s run by Auckland Council or animal welfare groups for help.

The organisation is also calling for more foster volunteers and community support to help care for the growing number of dogs needing homes.

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