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| Jan 29 2007, 3:47 AM EST (current) | rbr | 373 words added |
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Two puppies impounded at Blacktown Animal Holding Facility over Xmas. Photo: Isabella Lettini.
SOME irresponsible western Sydney pet owners have used the Christmas period to dump dozens of unwanted dogs and cats at the already crowded Blacktown pound. According to Blacktown City Council, 128 dogs and 82 cats were impounded at the Blacktown Holding Facility between December 25 and January 5.
Compared to the same period a year ago when 105 cats and 105 dogs were impounded, the Holding Facility received 23 more dogs and 23 fewer cats this year. However, the overall total was the same.
The animals were either dumped or surrendered by owners, or picked up as strays.
Many could have been unwanted Christmas presents or been given up over the holiday season because owners could not care for them while away from home.
National statistics released by the RSPCA, as well as recent data from DCH Animal Adoptions in Blacktown, reveal the number of abandoned, stray and surrendered pets has increased over the past two to three years.
``Our adoption homes are very full with homeless dogs and cats. We had a lot of animal surrenders just before and immediately after Christmas - especially puppies, because a lot of people aren't desexing them,'' DCH's founder Judy Findlay said.
``A lot of people haven't made arrangements for their pets when they want to go away.
``Others simply fall into the trap of impulse-buying animals without really thinking about the serious, full-time responsibilities of pet ownership,'' she said.
Volunteers at DCH are housing 40 dogs and 78 cats, 4 dogs and 32 cats more than in the same period last year.
Ms Findlay said pet owners should think carefully before they buy an animal and ask questions such as: will this animal suit my lifestyle and living space? Can I afford the weekly costs for this animal? Do I have enough time to care for it? If I go away, who can I trust to look after my pet?
``The only way we're going to start seeing a movement in the figures for pet dumpings and surrenders is if we change the social attitudes of people and introduce a desexing subsidy for everybody,'' Ms Findlay said.
