Barking blues over

Masterton SPCA Centre manager Rebecca Johnston hopes Mickey and Fox will soon have a new home to go to. PHOTO/SUPPLIED

If a dog barking in your neighbourhood is driving you crazy, spare a thought for the staff and volunteers at the SPCA centre.

And pity all the other animals at the shelter too.

Anxious, confused or just hellbent on getting attention, when the dogs launch into full barking mode, not only is the noise deafening, it’s also bad for human health.

Imagine then the cacophony of jubilation from all and sundry at the SPCA Centre in Masterton when confirmation came through that the dog area is to be fitted-out with noise proofing.

The Trust House Foundation has approved a grant application of $11,000 to help lower the din at the facility on Ngaumutawa Road, at the south end of town.

Centre manager Rebecca Johnston says the noise proofing measures include lining the concrete walls with sound absorbing material, lowering the ceiling, and installation of a new internal door to separate the area from the rest of the centre.

For Johnston, her two part-time staff, and troop of volunteers, the news is music to their ears.

Constant barking is unsettling for all the animals in the centre, particularly other dogs which become stressed and this can lead to behavioural and psychological problems, she says.

Rebecca says, Christmas may seem a great time to adopt a pet, but it requires careful consideration.

“We want every animal to find the right home, so we will talk to people who are interested in adopting a pet to understand their particular lifestyle and needs.”

For more details on adopting a pet through the SPCA, or if you are interested in becoming a volunteer at the Masterton centre, call [04] 389-8044.