History
The New Zealand SPCA was formed by settlers from England in 1882, inspired by the English Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in England which formed in 1824 after the passing of the Cruel Treatment of Cattle Act 1822 and who lobbied for the Cruelty to Animals Act 1835, this law was later replaced by the Cruelty to Animals Act 1876, a law which the settlers bought with them during the colonisation of New Zealand. The English society received royal patronage in 1840.
The New Zealand society first formed in Dunedin, and was followed by the establishment of the Auckland and Wellington branches in 1883 and 1884 respectively. From this point onwards, smaller communities began to establish their own branch of the society. In 1933 the separate local societies joined together to form the national New Zealand Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals. There are now 47 individual branches across New Zealand.
In 2008 the society celebrated 125 years of continued service with a march up Auckland's Queen Street.
Read more about this topic: Royal New Zealand Society For The Prevention Of Cruelty To Animals
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