Don’t gift animals this festive season

By admin On Dec 23, 2022

Seven-year-old Tug has been with foster carers awaiting his forever home for nearly six months.

He is one of many dogs in the care of Melbourne-based organisation Starting Over Dog Rescue which is facing an uphill battle to rehome animals as the number of foster carers and dogs needing temporary accommodation remains wildly unbalanced.

The volunteer group have issued a stark warning not to give dogs as Christmas presents as they are dumped at “alarming rates” after the festive period, fuelling a worsening problem across the country.

Seven-year-old Tug has been with foster carers awaiting his forever home for nearly six months. (Supplied)

Director Ruth King told 9news.com.au the group were “desperate” for foster carers and are trying to place more than two dogs each day.

“It’s so hard you have no idea. Every day we are looking for carers no matter what day it is,” King said.

“It’s nearly impossible. Things are very difficult at the moment.”

The organisation is run by unpaid volunteers who use their homes to accommodate and foster animals.

Lynda Smith, the founder and Ruth King, the director of Starting Over Dog Rescue. (Supplied)

The intake for dogs needing care has continued to rise for the group, from 581 a year in 2018 to 852 in 2022, and the year isn’t over.

Giving animals as surprise presents can have far-reaching consequences for animal rescue groups in the future.

King’s group have a rigorous adoption process to ensure their animals aren’t given as Christmas presents as they are concerned they might just come back, and need rehoming again.

Bird that lives on just one island seen for first time since 1882

“Animals are dumped at alarming rates in the country,” she said.

“We take some surrenders but we simply don’t have the capacity to take them all.

“Our foster carers do a really steady job of speaking to the people and making sure they are ready for a dog.

“We never ever give a dog as a Christmas present, it does happen with breeders.”

“We don’t want the dogs to come back to us.”

The intake for dogs needing care has continued to rise for Starting Over Dog Rescue. (Supplied)

This issue is being faced across the country.

Lost Dogs Home hit capacity at its North Melbourne and Cranbourne shelters multiple times this year.

Spokesperson Suzana Talevski warned those thinking of adopting to consider the “10-15 year commitment” they would be making before taking on an animal.

“The last thing that we want is a whole plethora of animals being returned post-Christmas,” Talevski told 9news.com.au.

“We would love all of our animals to go to home for Christmas but we want to make sure it is well-researched.

“Pets are like newborn babies, they take a while to settle into a family. It can take from three weeks to three months for a pet to settle in a new environment.”