currently open only from Monday to Friday until 5 p.m., plans to open on weekends if it can get the staff, a member of its management committee said this week.

The move is aimed at making it easier for those who work nine-to-five all week to adopt an animal, said Ms Pam Martin, whose job it is to solicit funds for the SPCA from the insurance industry.

She said one insurance company actually suggested the SPCA open longer hours.

"There is a perception that more animals could be adopted if we were open on the weekends,'' Ms Martin said. "People working during the week find it difficult to get out to the SPCA on their lunch hours.'' Ms Martin said when she approached the insurance company for funding for the SPCA's quarterly newsletter, it had said it would prefer to do something that would have a more direct effect on homeless animals.

The company offered to fund opening the SPCA on weekends, she said. Ms Martin said the SPCA has not made a decision on the offer yet but has advertised for another full time staff member.

That person may be required to work weekends, she said. Ms Martin added the SPCA had had "quite a few applicants'' for the job.

Although the SPCA is only open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m., if someone comes across an injured or stray animal they can call the society's voice mail at any time and the animal will be collected.