‘Can’t cope’: Shelters swamped as pet owners offload Covid companions

A crippling case of post-Covid pet regret has seen the number of people returning pets to adoption shelters soar to “alarming rates”.

Warning: Graphic.

Aussies are suffering from a severe case of post-Covid pet regret as the number of people giving pets back to adoption homes soars to “alarming rates”.

For Sydney Dogs and Cats Home, calls seeking to surrender pets have shot from 10-20 a week to more than 100 since the Covid-19 lockdown ended.

The situation is so dire that it cannot take surrendered pets anymore.

“The main reasons is the animal behaviour – that they can’t cope with the animal,” general manager Melissa Penn told news.com.au.

“And that’s a big side effect of Covid — animals weren’t socialised. Now they’re not used to being alone when people return to work.”

Ms Penn said the rate of calls, which she said was being experienced across the industry in New South Wales, was alarming.

She said despite not being able to take any more animals, the home was doing its best to refer people to other organisations and offer behavioural support in hopes people would keep their pets.

“So if they have a dog, for example, that’s showing animal behaviour problems — rather than look at surrendering as the first choice, we’re trying to help them train that animal so that they can work in with their lifestyle,” Ms Penn said.

“And that can be things like staggering going back to work instead of going from being at home 24/7 to not being home at all – getting the animal used to you going away and returning.”

The embattled establishment, which was recently denied $9 million in government funding for new facilities, was already approaching breaking point before the spike.

Ms Penn said cost of living pressure and rent restrictions played a role in the increase.

NSW’s Animal Welfare League has also reported a 70 per cent increase of the amount of cats being dropped off and a 40 per cent increase in surrendered dogs.

The Leagues’ CEO, Stephen Albin, believes the rising cost of living and the community’s emergence from the Covid-19 pandemic has created the perfect storm.

“People got companion animals during the pandemic. They played a critical role in people’s mental health (but) once things started opening up, they realised the responsibilities of looking after pets, especially when working away from home,” Mr Albin told News Corp.

But for some, it seems pets are no longer needed as people head back to work and back into society.

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Three-year-old Teddy is one of a large number of surrendered dogs. Since the pandemic there has been a dramatic increase of people surrendering their animals. Picture: Animal Welfare League.

“We have seen an increased demand in our shelters and … queues to surrender,” he said.

He said the queue to surrender pets could be between 8-18 months long, with foster homes working hard to “soak up” demand.

He urged people to consider how pets match their lifestyle and living arrangements before committing.

“You wouldn’t want to have a working dog in a small unit. They are boisterous and great, but those people might want to look at a dog that’s a bit more docile and needs less exercise,” he said.

“I’m hoping the situation will stabilise. It’s most important to remember to purchase animals fitted to your lifestyle.”

Ms Penn said global trends suggested the spike wasn’t going away soon.

“We’re typically about 12 months behind what we’re seeing happen through the US and the UK in terms of post-pandemic impacts on shelters. And they certainly haven’t seen any reduction,” she said.

“I don’t think it’s going to change in the near future.”

Dumped out of desperation

Reports of pets dumped at shelters, and even council collections, have emerged during the same post-pandemic period.

In June, RSPCA appealed for information after a 10-day-old puppy was found in an Esky on the front lawn of a vacant Western Sydney property.

The puppy was reportedly dumped as part of a council clean-up in Penrith.

According to the RSPCA, it was 8C outside, with a 1C wind chill, when the puppy was found alive.

Sadly, the dog later died at an RSPCA centre.

RSPCA appealed for information after a 10-day-old puppy was found alive in an Esky as part of a council collection. The puppy later died. Picture: RSPCA

Earlier this month, charity Sydney Street Cats called out the dumping of two adult female cats and two 6-week-old kittens in Sydney’s West.

According to the group, a note was left for a woman who feeds a colony of cats which stated: “Cats for Sandra”.

“This is because Covid has seen the worst behaviour by fickle people acquiring cats and dogs, not doing the right thing by their animals by not desexing them and dumping them,” the group said.

Ms Penn also detailed the heartbreaking story of a cat left at her organisation in a backpack, an example of how desperate people really are to surrender pets.

Two adult female cats and two 6-week-old kittens were dumped in Sydney’s West earlier this month. Picture: Facebook/ Sydney Street Cats

Sydney Street Cats said Covid had made issued with dumping worse. Picture: Facebook/ Sydney Street Cats

“We had a cat recently that was dumped in a backpack at our shelter, severely unwell with a broken leg,” she said.

“That was obviously not their first choice for the animal, but they felt they had no other option.

“The owners obviously couldn’t provide the medical care that the animal needed, so they dumped the animal with us.

“That’s the unfortunate situation that we’ve got in Sydney at the moment is that desperation kicks in. And people do things that are not ideal, like dumping animals at shelters.”

Mr Albin also reported his shelters had found people were leaving animals at the gates.

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Originally published as ‘Can’t cope’: Shelters swamped as pet owners offload Covid companions