Kittens and puppies are cute, but when they roam the streets with nowhere to call home, they often have a short and sad life, a Dunedin veterinary nurse says.
The 22-year-old spent last weekend neutering and spaying more than 20 cats for selected Dunedin clients who could not afford the procedure.
"It was a great way to help out the community and the overpopulation of cats, and all of the funds raised will go to South Pacific Animal Welfare."
Miss Fraser said to win the competition, all she had to do was raise the most money.
But competing against staff from large Auckland veterinary clinics would be challenging, and she hoped her target of $4000 would be enough to win the two-week trip to the Spaw Clinic in Tonga in June.
She said there were hundreds of stray animals roaming the streets in Tonga.
"These animals are not desexed and can have litters of up to 10 newborns twice a year. Those litters can each have litters of a further four to 10, and so on.
"It is an endless cycle that usually ends in a sad and often short life.
"By desexing these animals, we can help end that cycle and further educate people about why they should neuter their pets.
"The great thing about this cause is that, if I win, I will get to put my nursing skills to work in an environment I am not used to, and gain invaluable experience.
"But [even] if I don't win, all of the donations go to this amazing organisation."
