Cairns animals in need of a home with record rates of surrenders
Animals are being dumped at shelters at record rates with numbers spiking by 50 per cent in the past year. These are the animals in desperate need of a home.
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Animals are being dumped at shelters at record rates with numbers spiking by 50 per cent in the past year, according to rescue organisations.
When work from home orders were rolled out across the country during the pandemic, lonely workers flooded animal rescues and breeders to find a furry friend to fill the loneliness.
Now the world has largely returned to normal, animal rescues are being flooded with homeless dogs, with shocking estimates that 40 per cent of pandemic pups have been either surrendered or ‘dumped’.
Cairns Animal Rescue volunteer Jodie Hargreaves said that after averaging about 300 rehomings a year from 2019 to 2021, the past year has seen numbers spike by almost 50 per cent to 428.
“There are so many dogs out there that need homes, so by adopting a dog you’re saving its life,” she said.
“You can see the happiness in the dogs’ faces when you adopt … they know they’ve found a home and they love you so dearly.
“We just need more foster families.”
Ms Hargreaves urged for people not to rehome privately.
“When people rehome privately, they haven’t been checked by the vets,” she said.
“Not only for medical reasons, but also an aggression check. People should know if they’re accepting an aggressive animal.”
With adoption facilities including RSPCA, YAPS, North Queensland Animal Rescue, Rags to Riches, Cairns Animal Rescue and Animal Rehoming Cairns and Tablelands, there is an abundance of furry pals up for grabs.
Founder of Remote Animal Assistance FNQ Jess Leeming said buying from a breeder contributed to the problem.
“I’ve bought from breeders in the past too but you slowly realise (that) by doing that you contribute to the problem of overbreeding. There are just so many dogs that need help,” she said.
“If a dog isn’t adopted then they are put down. These dogs shouldn’t have to lose a life.”
Adoption fees range between $200 and $500 and will cover the pup being vet checked, vaccinated, wormed, desexed, microchipped, and adult dogs will be heartworm tested.
To adopt a dog, call the animal shelter to arrange a meeting time. Often, the shelters require a short questionnaire to be filled beforehand.
DOG BREED: Cattle X
NAME: Flash
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: January 20, 2018
DOG BREED: Cattle X
NAME: Siska
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY December 1, 2022
DOG BREED: Cattle X
NAME: Cao
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: December 1, 2022
DOG BREED: American Bully
NAME: Bronson
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: December 15, 2018
DOG BREED: German short-haired pointer X
NAME: Mack
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: November 2, 2022
DOG BREED: German short-haired pointer
NAME: Murray
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: November 2, 2022
DOG BREED: Staffy X
NAME: Jamie
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: September 19, 2021
DOG BREED: Staffy X
NAME: Tyrion
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: September 19, 2021
DOG BREED: Mix Breed (medium size)
NAME: Zazu
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: October 15, 2022
DOG BREED: Cattle Dog X
NAME: Bandit
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: September 7, 2022
DOG BREED: Cattle Dog X
NAME: Bingo
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: September 7, 2022
DOG BREED: Mix breed (medium size)
NAME: Shenzi
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: October 15, 2022
DOG BREED: Bull arab X
NAME: Kelly
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: September 28, 2022
DOG BREED: Mastiff X
NAME: Georgie
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: September 7, 2022
DOG BREED: Mastiff x kelpie
NAME: Bobby
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: August 5, 2022
DOG BREED: Bull arab X staffy
NAME: Rafi
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: April 24, 2022
DOG BREED: Shar-Pei X
NAME: Rike
ANIMAL SHELTER: YAPS
BIRTHDAY: April 24, 2022
DOG BREED: English staff X whippet
NAME: Precious
ANIMAL SHELTER: Remote Animal Assistance
AGE: 3 years old
DOG BREED: Bull Arab
NAME: Roo
ANIMAL SHELTER: Remote Animal Assistance
AGE: 15 months
DOG BREED: American staffy brindle
NAME: Lola
ANIMAL SHELTER: Remote Animal Assistance
AGE: 4 months
DOG BREED: American staffy X
NAME: Optimus
ANIMAL SHELTER: Remote Animal Assistance FNQ
AGE: 2 years
Originally published as Cairns animals in need of a home with record rates of surrenders
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