I am really distressed to read about how awful some of the animal shelters are, is there anyway helping to improve these conditions, maybe volunteering to walk them and play with them, animals need mental stimulation just as human's do.

I have no idea what they are like in NZ, only the cat shelter's, and from where I got Lexie, they seem to be treated extremely well, feed high quality food, lovely bedding etc.

I would have to check it out further though to be certain.