ANIMALS welfare organisation RSPCA is pleading with owners to be responsible after a reported surge in creatures great and small being abandoned in Swan Hill.
An animal foster carer told The Guardian that there was typically a case every week when they took on pets that had been handed in or dumped.
In one such instance earlier this year, a mother cat and her babies were left in a box at the front door of Mallee Pet Supplies, as they were otherwise going to be shot.
“Please, do not do this,” a store spokesperson posted at the time.
“As much as we would love to find them a home, not only are we not legally allowed to sell/have them in the shop, it’s super cruel to stress out the mum and her babies like this.”
The store arranged for a rescuer to collect them to find them loving homes, but urged others not to drop animals off at the store.
“If anyone needs to find homes for their kittens, we can put you in contact with the right people.”
Local woman Michelle Singleton echoed those views and said many people were not fully educated on the responsibilities that came with owning a kitten or other animal.
Ms Singleton, who has recently adopted two cats, said more awareness was needed of the surrender process for animals so they weren’t dumped.
“People also need to understand the price involved when taking on a kitten with a cost of around $280 for a female,” she said.
Ms Singleton’s kittens were advertised on a buy, swap, sell site by a Good Samaritan.
She also noted the difficulty of finding a vet available to de-sex animals.
“I called the two local vets,” she said.
“One was not in operation and the second vet did not have available appointments for de-sexing until late May.
“I then called Kerang vets where I could get an appointment within the two-week period.
“The drive was an hour for us, we then spent a day in Kerang until our cat was ready for pick up so we did not have a second trip.”
De-sexing pets not only prevents unwanted pregnancies, but also reduces the potential stray population that can wreak havoc on native wildlife.
RSPCA Victoria particularly urged pet owners to take responsible action during the warmer parts of the year.
RSPCA Victoria received 1163 reports of abandoned animals last financial year.
Chief inspector Michael Stagg said the number of cruelty reports connected to these numbers was disappointing.
“As owners or people in charge of animals, we have a duty of care and a legal obligation to ensure they are provided with food, water, shelter and veterinary care,” he said.
“Leaving animals unattended for extended periods of time can lead to suffering and may be fatal, especially in the warmer weather when they need additional water and access to shade.
“If people find they can no longer provide adequate care for their animals, there is no shame in surrendering them and we urge those struggling to contact RSPCA Victoria for assistance and advice.”
Anyone with concerns for the welfare of animals is encouraged to contact RSPCA Victoria’s inspectorate via www.rspcavic.org/report or call 9224 2222.
