Australians are being asked for help as the country’s animal rescue organizations continue to be “overflowed” with puppies.
Kennels and rescues are being inundated with puppies in need of homes after people adopted dogs and failed to neuter them during Covid lockdowns.
Previously, many rescue organizations were unable to meet demand due to the number of Australians inquiring about puppies. Now that interest has “waned” even though thousands of dogs were surrendered.
Charitable pet food brand SavourLife and the Petbarn Foundation have teamed up to Rescue Month to encourage Australians thinking about getting a dog to visit their local animal shelter.
Petbarn Foundation director Janelle Bloxsom told FEMAIL that supply and demand for puppies in Australian rescue shelters is “completely depleted”.
Charity pet food brand SavourLife and the Petbarn Foundation have teamed up for Rescue Month to encourage Australians thinking about getting a dog to check out their local animal shelter.
Kennels and rescues are being flooded with puppies in need of homes after people adopted dogs and failed to neuter them during Covid lockdowns.
‘It’s putting a lot of pressure on bailouts. “There are beautiful animals that are going to suffer if we don’t encourage people to adopt,” he stated.
“During Covid, SaviorLife only had 1,000 dogs and the inquiry rate was through the roof, around 9,000. Now the inquiry rate is down and there are 2,400 puppies available.”
Hunter Valley Animal Facility and Rehoming Center president Peta Smith told FEMAIL rescues used to argue over who would accept a surrendered litter of puppies, but now it’s the opposite as many are over capacity.
‘Everyone had pets during Covid because they couldn’t go anywhere. “Everyone was home with them 24/7 and then when they came back to work they were kicked out into the backyard, so separation anxiety behavior problems are rife,” she explained.
“Now everyone comes back from vacation, no one did veterinary work, so desexing was a problem; now we’re seeing the consequences of that: an oversupply of puppies.”
Peta added that rescue groups are struggling to house the animals given to them because the number of foster carers has also decreased.
“Due to the cost of living and the housing crisis, many rescues have lost their foster carers, so everyone is struggling with placements at the moment because there are so many left in pounds,” she said.
Petbarn Foundation director Janelle Bloxsom (pictured) told FEMAIL that supply and demand for puppies in Australian rescue shelters is “completely depleted”.
Janelle said pounds and shelters may be forced to euthanize animals they cannot care for.
“When pounds are full of deliveries, euthanasia becomes a problem: pet care costs money and that doesn’t go away when an animal is in a pound where it can be cared for,” she said.
“It becomes a numbers game, so it’s surprising that the pound can ask for bailouts and that we can fund them.” Otherwise, it comes from ransom money and often depends on donations.’
For Rescue Month, the Petbarn Foundation has donated $300,000 to 30 different rescues across the country with the goal of rehoming 300 puppies in February.
“Part of that program is that there are councils and kennels that are in remote locations and can’t afford to care for the puppies that come to them,” Janelle said.
“So the money we have donated goes to rescues so they can go pick up those healthy animals and bring them to places where they can be adopted.”
SavourLife founder and CEO Michael McTeigue said the 2,400 dogs in need of homes can be found in his Adopt a dog platform.
“With pet surrenders increasing, rescues are facing immense pressure, we have seen the average number of dogs listed for adoption increase by 45 per cent in the last 12 months, while at the same time the number inquiries about dogs has dropped by 23 percent,” he said.
“Another challenge is finding enough foster carers to get the dogs out of the pound in time and save them from euthanasia.”
During Rescue Month, Petbarn Foundation and SavourLife encourage Australian animal lovers who want to bring a new furry friend into the family to adopt rather than buy.
There are adoption events at Petbarn stores across the country where customers can meet adorable puppies in need of a home.
All available animals have been temperament tested, health checked, fully vaccinated and neutered so you know they are ready for their forever family.