SPCA has also run advocacy campaigns aimed at promoting law changes or questioning the legality of certain practices.

The SPCA claimed tail docking was an outdated and cosmetic practice which offered no benefits but causes unnecessary pain to the animal.

[9] The New Zealand Kennel Club purported there was no scientific evidence to support any of the SPCA's claims and said tail docking should be up to owners' preference.

[11] In late 2012 an SPCA campaign which involved teaching dogs was featured on TV3 current affairs show Campbell Live.

[12][13] The campaign received international attention,[14] and was covered by The Guardian,[15] BBC News,[16] Metro UK,[17] Huffington Post,[18] and the Financial Times.

[20] One of the SPCA's recurring campaigns is an annual "List of Shame", exemplifying the worst cases of animal abuse in New Zealand.

The programme consists of four interlinked components, consisting of a portal for teachers, a portal for children, instructional reading books, and an online practice resource for social work practitioners to support the early identification of co-existing human victimisation and animal cruelty, and to address the enduring social and emotional impact of animal cruelty on children and adults.

SPCA Inspectors are appointed under the Animal Welfare Act 1999, which provides powers to investigate abuse, cruelty, neglect and abandonment.