In 2022, Donna met with other Waikato based organisations to discuss the collective future of shelters in the region and to come up with a game plan going forward.

It was decided that as part of a holistic rescue model some organisations in the region would continue to operate as a traditional ambulance at the bottom of the cliff, while others, like New Lives, would focus on working in a preventative capacity.

Since then, New Lives has run several large scale community desexing campaigns in the hopes that by supporting owners to have their pets desexed, it will reduce the number of animals entering Waikato animal shelters as time goes on.

We have also provided pet food to families experiencing temporary financial hardship where the alternative was that they surrender a much loved member of their family to a shelter.

Recognising the collaborative nature of animal welfare, New Lives is currently partially funding a new Hamilton based organisation, The Pawphanage, as they establish themselves and work towards financial sustainability.  When they have acheived this, New Lives will look to fund another similar project.