80th anniversary this weekend with an Open House.

"This, our 80th year, is indeed a milestone for us,'' said SPCA treasurer Mary Barnes. "We have just completed phase one of our renovations and will be showcasing our new office and cat room with our open house.'' Saturday's event gets underway at 10 a.m. and features a ribbon cutting ceremony at 10.30 a.m. The doors of the SPCA will remain open to the public until 2 p.m.

Each year the SPCA has cared for between 800 and 1,000 animals ranging from dogs and cats to horse and doves.

The organisation provides a lost and found service for the animals and acts as a general reference bureau for the general public in addition to providing 24-hour emergency service.

The shelter is also heavily involved in cruelty to animals cases and in the future aims to expand their involvement in this area and lobby for better animal protection legislation.

Despite annual operating costs of $22,000 per year, the non-profit organisation will begin to upgrade their dog runs thanks to a grant from the Centennial Trust. Plans will go before the Planning officials shortly to turn their indoor kennels into indoor/outdoor runs.