‘Heartbreaking’: RSPCA teams up with Bunnings in desperate bid to free up space

One Bunnings store will have something unexpected up for sale this weekend, with prices dropped in a desperate bid to entice buyers.

A desperate overcrowded animal shelter has teamed up with its local Bunnings in an urgent bid to find unwanted pets somewhere to live.

Starting Saturday October 21, RSPCA WA will operate an adoption drive with Bunnings Malaga to offer cut-price rates to anyone wanting to take a new furry friend home.

A stall will be set up inside the Bunnings store for a week, showcasing the dogs, cats, rabbits, guinea pigs and birds currently available, with surprise ‘adopt me’ in-person appearances by hopeful dogs.

People can also support the RSPCA by buying an iconic Bunnings sausage sizzle on Saturday.

With space running out, the animal shelter is desperate to find a new home for Mrs P the rabbit and her pals. Picture: RSPCA WA

5-year-old Ted is another furry friend hoping to find himself a new owner. Picture: RSPCA WA

Bunnings Malaga will host a stand for animals currently in an RSPCA shelter in a desperate bid to find the pets a new home. Picture: NCA NewsWire / Gaye Gerard

“We are at capacity at the moment, especially when it comes to dogs, without a single kennel spare,” shelter manager Emily Smith said.

“We are having to turn animals away every day because we physically don’t have anywhere to house them – it’s heartbreaking.”

As part of the initiative, until October 29 adoption fees will be reduced to $79.99 for cats, $99.99 for dogs and no fee for other

animals.

All adoption fees go towards covering the costs of housing and caring for the animals.

“Every animal is sterilised, vaccinated and microchipped, so they’ve had a lot of money spent on them,” RSPCA WA Executive Manager Media, Marketing & PR Louise Rowe told NCA NewsWire.

Buddy has been waiting for ages for a new home. Picture: RSPCA WA

Georgina the dog has been at the shelter for nearly half a year. Picture: RSPCA WA

Various factors are being blamed on the sharp rise in numbers of pets being offered up for adoption.

With cost of living and housing pressures biting, many households can simply no longer bear the financial burden of keeping a pet at home.

Nearly a third of requests RSPCA currently receive are from people who either can’t afford a pet or who have even become homeless themselves.

A shocking increase in animal cruelty cases is also adding to the problem.

In 2022-23 RSPCA investigated 7126 cases involving animal cruelty, nearly 700 more than the year before.