Animal shelters overwhelmed
Image: Photo: Edwin Monk
Animal shelters in Sydney are filled to capacity as a combination of unwanted animals given as Christmas ‘gifts’, the warm weather breeding season, and people abandoning their pets combine to create a large number of homeless animals.
With hundreds of pets across Sydney needing homes, animal welfare organisations are calling on those wanting a pet to consider adopting from from a shelter rather than buying from a pet shop.
A spokesperson for RSCPA NSW said 890 animals came into their care between December 22 and January 2, including 283 dogs and 494 cats.
“This represents a 17 per cent decrease in the amount of animals that came into our care during the same period last year, which may signal that people are finally getting the message about purchasing pets as presents and securing their animals during NYE fireworks,” said the spokesperson.
“However this number is still significant and represents many loved family pets that need to be reunited with their families.”
The Cat Protection Society of NSW – a no-kill shelter based in Enmore – also reported that more people were heeding the message about not giving animals as gifts, but said the shelter was currently near capacity with over 100 cats needing new homes.
“Summer is breeding time, so we currently have lots of new kittens,” said the organisation’s CEO, Kristina Vesk.
“There are unfortunately also still people who give away their cats when they go away for their summer holidays, claiming they can’t afford boarding for their pets – even though they can afford to go on holiday,” she said.
A City of Sydney Council spokesperson said its animal shelter, operated at Taren Point in conjunction with the Sutherland Shire Council, was a also a no-kill centre.
“All animals available for adoption are micro-chipped, registered and de-sexed prior to going to their new homes,” said the spokesperson.
“If you are looking for a new pet the City urges you to give a new life to an impounded dog or cat from the shelter.”
For more information, visit:
www.rspcansw.org.au
www.catprotection.org.au
www.cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
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