Reducing Our Pet Over Population
We have one of the highest rates of pet ownership in the world, with two thirds of Australian families owning at least one pet. Yet, did you know that over 200 000 unwanted, healthy cats and dogs are destroyed in Australian pounds and shelters every year because there are not enough homes available? I have written before about the important of desexing your pets and some of the common misconceptions that stop people from desexing their pets, there really is no excuse for not having your pets desexed.
Sometimes, financial difficulties can see people put off desexing their animals. The National Desexing Network is a nationwide referral service for low cost desexing. If you have a pension or concession card you can ring 1300 368 992 or visit their website and apply for a certificate that you can take to a participating vet for discount desexing of your animals. Other organisations such as the Animal Welfare leauge in your state can also help with discount desexing.
Another recent initiative to help reduce the amount of unwanted animals destroyed in NSW each year is a new bill that has been introduced by Member for Sydney, Clover Moore. The main focus of this bill is a proposal to ban the keeping and sale of mammals in pet shops, markets etc. Get behind the bill by contacting your local State Member of Parliament, let them know about the bill and ask them to support it.
Filed Under: Pets
The over-population of pets seems to be a problem her in the US too. Rarely does a day go by when you hear in the news that the Humane Society has raided yet another puppy mill and rescued litters upon litters of animals. All the animals will be checked out by a vet, spayed or neutered and placed in good homes, all at a cost for the taxpayers. It’s certainly a worthy cause to look into and support.
Irresponsible pet owners irritate me. Unless you have a pure breed & guaranteed sales of the off spring then de-sex your pet!
As a former vet nurse, I have witnessed first hand what happens when people impulse buy pets from pet stores that they aren’t equipped to, or unwilling to, care for properly. It is not pretty to say the least. Stopping pet stores selling animals won’t put an end to animal neglect and cruelty, but it will help reduce the incidences of it.
This is a subject that just sickens me.
People buying animals to use them to make money….something just doesn’t sit right about this with me.
Stricter laws need to be introduced and fast!
[...] 7..People not desexing their pets. Leigh at All for Women has a great post about this subject called Reducing out pet overpopulation. [...]