The Canterbury SPCA is in desperate need for more animal foster homes to help rehabilitate the influx of animals.
An increasing number of larger animals are coming to their attention and rehab is having some good results.
Walter is a ten-year-old grey thoroughbred horse who's had a tough time.
"Walt came in as a result of a complaint about a skinny horse," says SPCA Canterbury's chief animal welfare inspector, Jamie Hancock.
Photos taken of Walt when he was surrendered to the SPCA two months ago show a starving horse knocking on death's door - almost every bone in his body visible through his woolly coat.
"What we've been doing here, just under vet advice we've had a careful strict reintroduction of food, trying to put condition back on him and he's starting to look really good," Hancock says.
He's looking so good that the SPCA is now looking for a foster home to take him on.
And he's not alone. The Canterbury SPCA is noticing an increasing number of large animal neglect cases needing their intervention.
"We're getting a lot more rural large animals, a lot more variety of animals as well," says SPCA livestock foster coordinator Daisy Reeves.
"It's not just cats and dogs anymore. Turtles, goats, horses, pigs - you name it."
The paddocks at the SPCA's centre are so full they're now looking for 50 large animal foster homes.
"It's proven that being in foster homes increases the rate of healing time, it reduces their stress, they put on weight a lot quicker," Reeves says.
"It provides a lot more stable environment than we are able to provide here at the centre."
Giving large animals like Walt a second chance.
