There are far too many animals in need of a loving home in shelters across Victoria currently, and animal welfare organisations are teaming up to help them out.
To get as many animals as possible out of shelters, animal welfare organisations, including Coldstream’s Animal Aid, across the state are uniting for Mission Adoptable, a pet adoption promotion aiming to find homes for Victoria’s animals in need.
Increased pressures on animal welfare groups including fewer reclaims on lost pets, rising costs and a reduction in adoption applications, means higher numbers of animals need new homes.
Running from Saturday 1 o Sunday 9 October, Animal Aid, Australian Animal Protection Society, Bendigo Animal Relief Centre, Cat Protection Society, Geelong Animal Welfare Society, Greyhound Adoption Program, Lort Smith Animal Hospital, RSPCA Victoria and Second Chance Animal Rescue are all taking part in Mission Adoptable.
Animal Aid CEO, Mark Menze said it’s extremely difficult when shelters have more animals coming into care than being adopted.
“We will continue to help our community by taking lost and abandoned animals, but we need our community to open their hearts and homes and consider bringing one (or two) of our shelter animals into their family,” Mr Menze said.
Dogs, cats and a variety of small animals are currently seeking new homes in Victoria with the Mission Adoptable animal welfare groups calling for people to adopt to help ease the pressure and to make way for more animals in need.
RSPCA Victoria Rehabilitations and Adoption Manager Rupert Baker said RSPCA shelters are currently operating close to capacity.
“By joining forces with likeminded organisations, we hope our message to encourage adoptions will be heard, resulting in more animals in happy homes and more space for the animals that will come into our care in the coming months,” Mr Baker said.
If ever there was a time to adopt, it’s now. Aside from giving an animal a new chance at a happy life, there are many benefits associated with adopting a pet. Research shows pets make people physically and psychologically healthier by encouraging exercise, enhancing social connectedness and providing companionship.
Second Chance Animal Rescue CEO/Founder, Marisa Debattista said over the last few years people have faced many hardships and the need for SCAR has doubled.
“We are at capacity and animals that would have once found homes in a matter of days, have been in our care now for months. So, we stand together with our fellow animal welfare advocates as part of Mission Adoptable, doing whatever it takes until all these vulnerable cats and dogs are finally safe and happy in the arms of families who love them.
Animals adopted from animal welfare organisations are behaviour checked, microchipped, vaccinated and desexed.
Potential adopters are matched with pets based on a set of criteria including lifestyle suitability, and physical requirements.
For those who are not in a position to take a new pet into their home, foster caring is an integral part of caring for Victorian animals in need and anyone interested is encouraged to contact the organisations participating in the Mission Adoptable promotion to seek additional information.
For promotional offerings from each of the organisations participating in Mission Adoptable visit www.missionadoptable.com.au
