Unwanted but not unloved, the puppies just keep on arriving at the Saving Hope Foundation shelter in Auckland.
In just the first two weeks of 2019, they've taken in 24 puppies and two dogs, with another 10 expected next week.
Some of the little ones are too skinny for their age, while others had been left for dead on the side of the road.
"How do we do this, how do you run a dog over and leave a puppy on the side of the road, how do you be so cruel to pups?" says Saving Hope Foundation trustee Janine Hinton.
SPCA branches across the country are full, too, with thousands of kittens. A bumper season of the tiny fur balls has seen the Mangere SPCA adopt nearly 100 animals. Staff there are hoping some will find new homes soon to free up space.
The SPCA says failing to neuter pets is an act of cruelty. Chief Executive Andrea Midgen says it’s seen worse, including a kitten put in a shoebox and thrown from a moving car in Christchurch.
"I just think it's really sad that people can't sort of look around and say, 'What are the other options?' There's so many organisations that can help them - friends, family and neighbours. Taking on a little kitten is a wonderful experience, so they can easily find someone to take on a kitten rather than throwing it out a window which is absolutely horrendous."
Ms Hinton says animals sometimes end up in shelters if their owners are renting and have to move.
"Renting is a major issue now with people having to give their dogs away because they've got to move but they can't find anywhere to take their dog. Maybe they need to start charging something extra to cover any damage from the dogs."
The shelter is raising money so it can help treat more neglected dogs before matching them with new families.
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