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Why are animal shelters dealing with a ‘catastrophic’ influx of pets right now, as foster homes start to ‘come at the seams’?
- Melbourne animal shelter sees 30 per cent increase in number of animals in its care
- Increase compares to January 2022, although adoption numbers are strong
- Shelter blames seasonal and new factors, including strict conditions for renters
Australians looking for a furry friend this summer will be spoiled for choice as adoption shelters fill to the brim with unwanted animals.
Victoria’s The Lost Dogs’ Home has over 1,100 animals in its care at its shelters in Cranbourne in South East Melbourne and North Melbourne, and the number is increasing every day.
The organization has seen a 30 percent increase in the number of animals in its care this month, compared to January last year.
Victoria’s The Lost Dogs’ Home has over 1,100 animals in its care at its shelters in Cranbourne in South East Melbourne and North Melbourne, and the number is increasing every day.
Adoption fees have been reduced to $25 for cats and $100 for kittens, which make up the bulk of the animals in the organization’s care.
The Lost Dogs’ Home launched its ‘Clear the Shelters’ summer adoption campaign on Wednesday, with adoption fees for animals reduced by about 65 percent: up to $100 for dogs and $200 for puppies.
Fees have been reduced to $25 for cats and $100 for kittens, which make up the bulk of the animals in the organization’s care.
“The summer months are always a critical time for us because we are at the limit of our capacity,” said The Lost Dogs’ Home spokeswoman Suzana Talevski.
“There’s a lot of parties, there’s a lot of fireworks, there’s storms, so it culminates in this catastrophic situation with shelters all over the country where we’re dealing with overwhelming numbers of animals.”
Kitten-breeding season was in full swing because people didn’t understand the importance of neutering cats, so cats and kittens were arriving at The Lost Dogs’ Home’s door every day, Talevski said.
They also saw people coming back from vacations and changing their minds about the pets they had adopted.
As part of its ‘Clear the Shelters’ summer adoption campaign, adoption fees for animals have been reduced by about 65 percent: up to $100 for dogs and $200 for puppies.
Australians looking for a furry friend this summer will be spoiled for choice as adoption shelters fill to the brim with unwanted animals.
“We have strict policies, but sometimes people don’t tell us the truth about their living situation,” Ms. Talevski said.
In South Australia, the RSPCA has recorded a record number of adoptions in the last 12 months, with over 6,400, up 13% on the previous year.
However, record numbers of animals were coming in at the same time, with more than 1,100 animals currently in their care.
“The reason we have overcapacity and are about to burst is not because of people’s unwillingness to adopt,” a spokeswoman said.
The rental crisis was one of the reasons people were giving up their animals in South Australia, the spokeswoman said.
Many were “heartbreakingly” forced to give up their cats and dogs in order to have a roof over their heads, while there was increased interest in rabbits due to space constraints.
The Tasmanian RSPCA has seen its usual influx of cats and kittens, with up to 200 so far in their care.