After struggling for funding, the Waikato SPCA has been forced to shut its doors.
"As a charity with limited resources that is almost completely reliant on donations, we have come to the stage where we simply don't have the staff or resources to deal with and provide specialist care to the animals who need us," the SPCA branch announced via its Facebook page on Friday.
As a result, it's closed to the public for the foreseeable future.
The Waikato SPCA says it's doing everything it can to make sure basic animal welfare services continue in the region, as well as SPCA inspectors continuing to attend cases.
"Our focus right now and in the future will remain the welfare of the animals in the community."
People looking to help animals in need should turn to one of Waikato's local rescue groups or to another SPCA centre, such as those in Auckland, Tauranga and Rotorua.
The centre's announcement post has had hundreds of comments from locals expressing sadness at the loss of the centre.
Newshub.
