Animals stolen from Papamoa kindy

A number of animals have been taken from the centre. File photo.

Stolen guinea pigs are just the latest in a number of animal thefts at a Papamoa kindergarten.

Best Start Community Kindy Parton Rd is a childcare centre in Papamoa, which hosts animals for its students to care for.

In recent months, the kindergarten has noticed the animals disappearing and believe they are being taken.

Joint acting manager Toni Thorne says the issue is ongoing.

'Over the last six months we've had various different rabbits and recently three guinea pigs, all to which we think have been taken because there's no way they can get out.

'We have put chicken wire under the cage so they can't even dig out and we put up security cameras, but that hasn't made a difference.

'Every time we go in to feed them in the mornings and they've gone, the door's still closed with the brick there so it's just really odd that they've just disappeared.

'Someone's definitely been coming in and taking them.”

She says the disappearances have been heart breaking for students.

'It's really sad, our kids get so gutted when they're not there in the mornings.

'It's a really cool settling process when the children first come in and they're like ‘let's go see the animals'.

'They form these special bonds and relationships with the animals in the centre and then when they come in in the morning to feed them, they're gone.

'It is pretty heart wrenching for the whole center, they're part of our whanau.”

She says the centre is now unsure whether they will replace the animals.

'We've had about five or six rabbits been taken, and now three guinea pigs – so I don't know. What do we do?

'We have chickens as well but the chickens haven't been touched – I guess they make too much noise to be taken.”

Toni says they have attempted to reach out to the Papamoa community on social media about the incident.

'A little bit of feedback came back just saying that rabbits from around the community had been taken as well.

'I guess there is a serial rabbit-taker or something, I don't know.”

She says the center is now looking at reporting the incidents.

'We would like to take it further, especially since now this seems to be a continuous thing that it is happening, just to let Police know this is happening in the community.”

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3 comments

Day Stays?

Posted on 19-09-2017 07:56 | By Seriously?

That's appalling people are stealing small animals. Does make one wonder what's the matter with humanity. Is the pets staying at the kindy during the day only an option, and they get taken away/home each night?


??

Posted on 19-09-2017 10:12 | By overit

Taken for meat maybe. Its a horrible thought but there are horrible people out there.


Could be for the money

Posted on 19-09-2017 21:34 | By Papamoaner

Some of these critters are worth a guinea or two.


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