Pets Haven shelter calls to be declared an essential service amid animal influx
This Woodend shelter says it has seen the number of animals being surrendered to it double in reason weeks, prompting calls for it to be declared an essential service amid potential coronavirus lockdowns.
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Staff at the Pets Haven shelter in Woodend say they are an essential service to the community and should not be closed amid COVID-19.
Pets Haven animal shelter is made up of a veterinary clinic, adoption centre and a refuge for animals rescued from death row pounds.
As of 1 April the shelter remains open, but staff say it is unclear if it will be closed when the state enters future stages of shutdown to manage coronavirus.
The shelter rescues animals across Victoria and interstate who would otherwise be put down in “death row” pounds.
Pets Haven staffer Kirstie Scicluna said in times of crisis pets are the first victims, with families needing urgent rehoming, particularly with dogs.
“What we have found is that people tend to surrender their animals to a shelter or rescue group because they are worried about how they are going to afford an animal,” she said.
“Including how they are going to afford veterinary fees, food – the basics.
“We have probably had double the amount of surrender requests in the past week.
“We are rescuing from towns no one else will go to, it’s really rural.”
When the government began announcing state wide closures of services, the shelter ran a poll online to see if the public felt they were an essential service.
Of the 4000 respondents, more than 90 per cent felt it was.
The Agricultural office of Victoria has stated that rescue shelters and veterinary clinics will remain open as they are not listed on the Federal Government’s restricted list.
They have not however, been listed as an essential service.
Greens Senator and animal welfare spokeswoman Dr Mehreen Faruqi said communities needed a guarantee vets and animal care services would continue to operate during lockdown periods.
“Animals must not be forgotten about during this public health crisis,” she said.
“The government needs to recognise these services as essential and make it crystal clear that they are not going to be forced to close.”
Ms Scicluna said if the shelter was forced to close, all animals would need to be put into foster care indefinitely and the rescuing of other animals to be euthanised across the state at other pounds would stop.
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She said one positive was with more people at home practising social distancing, the shelter had seen an increase in adoptions and foster caring.
The shelter is asking the public to donate essential items, sign up as foster carer or dog walker.
To contact Pets Haven in Woodend call 5427 3603.