Animal welfare charities at breaking point amid QLD rental crisis

Rental vacancies have reached critical levels across the region, animal welfare centres are at full capacity and desperate for help.

Animal Welfare League of Queensland spokesman Craig Montgomery said people needing to surrender their pet due to accommodation reasons had increased from 19 per cent to 27 per cent in the past two years

The lack of affordable, secure and pet-friendly accommodation across regional Queensland has resulted in a heartbreaking increase of pets surrendered to animal welfare charities.

There is a decrease in animal adoptions as many animal lovers are suffering the rise of living costs.

Animal Welfare League of Queensland spokesman Craig Montgomery said people needing to surrender their pet due to accommodation reasons had increased from 19 per cent to 27 per cent in the past two years.

“When you consider that we’re the last option for pet owners, it is alarming,” Mr Montgomery said.

Shelters are filling again because people can't afford everyday cost of living and rental increases, let alone the cost of a pet. Picture Glenn Hampson

“Some families and residents prefer to live in their cars rather than be separated from their pets, the community’s biggest problem is access to affordable accommodation.

“There is so much demand and not enough supply of pet-friendly options, combined with the limited changes to Queensland rental laws, we expect to see this trend only increase.

“This has a flow-on effect on the number of people we can support who need to surrender their animals. As a result, our surrender waiting list is currently sitting at 164 animals,” he said.

Kingaroy’s Karma’s Place Rescue founder Diane Ayer said her organisation was busier now than ever.

“We are collecting around 10 dogs a week and travel from the Burnett to Grafton NSW, all the way to Roma and the Fraser Coast,” Mrs Ayer said.

“Everyone else is chock-a-block so we have to go around to pounds and get them help.

“Many pet owners who once had rentals are now couch-surfing; the animals are the ones suffering,” she said.

Karma’s Place Rescue relies solely on donations to microchip, vaccinate and desex all animals they collect.

Karma Animal Rescue relies solely on donations and holds regular garage sales to raise funds.

Mrs Ayer said her charity’s monthly vet bill was more than $20,000 and they were now fundraising to buy a van to be fitted with cages for the animals they collect.

“Currently, we are driving hundreds of kilometres in my 2005 Ford station wagon that regularly breaks down,” she said.

“We need a vehicle made for long distance and are hoping to raise $5000.

“There are only four of us running the organisation and we pay for the animals care and food when they’re in foster care,” she said.

Foster carer Teresa Skilling said she had been sponsoring puppies from Karma’s Place Rescue for one year, and highly recommended it.

“It is a great way to contribute to the community without making a long term commitment,” Ms Skilling said.

“When we started fostering, the puppies would get adopted very quickly but now it’s taking longer for them to find homes.

“My kids love it and Diane from Karma is very supportive and all answers questions as soon as you ask,” she said.

RSPCA Queensland communications and media manager Emma Lagoon said people were being forced to wishing to surrender due to becoming homeless themselves, moving home and being unable to afford their pets.

“The cost-of-living impacts seem to be playing a role in the increase of surrender applications we've been receiving,” she said.

If you can donate to the Karma’s Place Rescue, click here.