It's a ruff world out there

Ben Lakomy has seen it all - a dog with its nails so overgrown they had curled around and grown up through its feet, neglected, underweight dogs with untreated skin conditions, a cat with massive untreated wounds that became maggot infested, poisoned pigeons and birds stuck in rooftops.

As a senior animal welfare inspector for Wellington's SPCA these sorts of scenarios are an all-too familiar sight to Mr Lakomy.

And though the 25-year-old is first to admit dealing with animal neglect and abuse is heartbreaking, he tends to focus on the positives.

"It's all about saving lives. I'm in a position where I have the tools and the training to be able to make positive changes to the lives of animals that need help.

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