Tauranga SPCA is putting out an urgent call for donations of wool or polar fleece blankets and towels to help keep its puppies warm through the colder months.

Shelter manager Andrea Crompton said the need is particularly pressing this year, with an unusually high number of puppies in SPCA Tauranga’s care.

“We’re desperately in need of bedding and towels to help run the shelter,” Crompton said. “Our dogs and puppies need warm, cosy bedding to stay comfortable in their kennels as the temperature drops.”

Crompton says the shelter is caring for 21 puppies, ranging in age from four weeks to four months.

“It’s been a particularly big season. Often, we receive puppies that have been separated from their mothers and need extra care.”

The shelter uses large quantities of blankets and towels – not only for bedding but also for cleaning, drying surfaces and maintaining hygiene. With strict cleaning protocols in place, some blankets are discarded after use, especially when quarantining animals to prevent the spread of illness.

“We go through a lot of towels,” Crompton said. “Wool and polar fleece blankets are especially useful and very welcome if dropped off directly to the shelter.”

While the shelter is grateful for all donations, Crompton noted that duvets or blankets with stuffing are not ideal for puppies, who tend to love tearing them apart and pulling out the stuffing. Those items can instead be donated to the SPCA opportunity shops, where they will be used to support people in need.

“We try to stockpile what we can, but there’s really no such thing as too many blankets or towels,” Crompton said. “We use them year-round, but in winter the demand increases significantly.”

Anyone with clean, unwanted wool or polar fleece blankets or towels can drop them off at the Tauranga SPCA, 43 Alach St, Greerton. The shelter is open 10.30am-3pm Monday to Saturday.