RSPCA ACT is pleading with Canberra dog owners to desex their pets with record numbers of pregnant mums and unwanted litters arriving at the shelter.
More than 265 puppies have arrived at the shelter this financial year, exceeding recent records and far more than any staff member can recall over the past decade.
CEO Michelle Robertson said trying to manage problem is quickly becoming untenable.
“We are receiving pregnant mums who themselves are not healthy, neo natal puppies, puppies are being born with severe deformities due to irresponsible breeding, it is quite confronting.”
“These pregnant mums often look like they were not loved or cared for. It’s as if some of these irresponsible people simply think they’re ‘someone else’s problem’ and that ‘someone else’ is us and our supporters,” she said.
Earlier this year 10 puppies who were born in the dirt beneath someone’s house arrived at the shelter, only to be gently euthanised a few days later after it was discovered they had parvo virus.
More recently, three puppies were born without noses and with deformed mouths, most likely the result of careless or irresponsible breeding. They were mercifully euthanised and spared a life of misery.
We are absolutely here for the animals, but trying to manage these horrific incidents is soul destroying for staff and volunteers.
“We have to break the cycle,” said Ms Robertson.
“Irresponsible pet owners are burdening animal shelters and the entire community and simply perpetuating cycles of neglect.”
RSPCA ACT currently has 40 puppies in care; some just a few weeks old, some slightly older and some now ready for adoption aged around nine weeks.
The shelter currently has 288 animals in care with the puppies taking up an extraordinary amount of time and effort to raise and get rehomed.
“Fortunately, we have terrific volunteers and dedicated staff, all supported by the majority of the ACT community,” said Ms Robertson.
“We will never give up and stop helping these poor puppies and their mums.”
RSPCA ACT’s vet clinic has recently started adding extra days to it’s desexing schedule in order to manage the influx of puppies and make them available for adoption as soon as possible.
Ms Robertson called on Canberra’s general public to take on difficult conversations with irresponsible and deliberate backyard breeders.
“If you hear about a friend or someone selling puppies for cheap or giving them away for free, please try to convince them to desex, or at a minimum put measures in place to avoid litters being born. Ask them to consider what happens when those puppies grow up and start having puppies.”
“If financial hardship is the key barrier to responsible pet ownership, there are some options available and services to access.”
“This is a whole of community problem, it’s getting worse each day and we’re going to need to pull together to stop it,” she said.
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Follow the link for an Electronic Press Kit featuring photos of puppies at RSPCA ACT: https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/1UZNYoOao6rce1V-61ZLD-Kps0XXC5OxC?usp=sharing
