Animal Shelters Overflowing With Record Pet Surrenders. ABC News 2/5/23

[Deeds]

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2023-05-02/animal-shelters-overflowing-with-record-pet-surrenders/102284546

[_PL_]

Much better written article than some I've seen. 

It's really tough going at the moment. 

 

We all knew this would happen but I can't help but feel that the spike in dog attacks is also somehow related too. In particular, dogs that weren't socialised with humans because of lockdown.

And/or with owners who for any number of reasons let all the training and even containment go way down the list of obligations when making ends meet is a priority.

 

Or as they say in the article, yes people have lost interest or want to move on with their life minus dog obligations. Sad but true.

 

I try not to focus on the negative reasons for surrender inquiries (it'll just do your head in) and just think about the dog's needs.  

[tdierikx]

Probably the most evenly balanced article on the subject that I've seen to date... it appears to be well researched and is not holding back on the less tasteful reasons for surrender, nor negating the fact that there were a lot of animals bought during lockdowns which are now "extraneous to requirements", but have been poorly socialised, and are now somewhat harder to rehome due to rehabilitation needs relating to that lack of socialisation.

 

As for the rental crisis, a friend of mine recently found herself looking for a rental. She has 3 horses (had to also find a new agistment for them), 2 dogs, a cat, multiple pet/show rats, a rabbit, some chickens, and she runs a small mammal boarding business (rabbits/rats/ferrets etc). It took her approximately 2 weeks to find something suitable and affordable for her needs, and it's not some run-down shack situation either. She is on a 3/4 acre block in a 3 bedroom house that is in lovely condition... for $400/week... bargain!! She is in the NW area of Sydney in a semi-rural area, but is close enough to all the modern requirements of city living, and not too far from the freeways to get anywhere in a reasonable amount of time with little real fuss. Methinks the rental crisis applies mostly to the more urban areas if my friend's experience is anything to go by...

 

T.

[sandgrubber]

1 hour ago, tdierikx said:

As for the rental crisis, a friend of mine recently found herself looking for a rental. She has 3 horses (had to also find a new agistment for them), 2 dogs, a cat, multiple pet/show rats, a rabbit, some chickens, and she runs a small mammal boarding business (rabbits/rats/ferrets etc). It took her approximately 2 weeks to find something suitable and affordable for her needs, and it's not some run-down shack situation either. She is on a 3/4 acre block in a 3 bedroom house that is in lovely condition... for $400/week... bargain!!

I'd say your friend is either exceptionally lucky or well connected.

[coneye]

I just copied this post i made  a couple months ago

 

Posted March 22 (edited)

Well i've just been up there AGAIN terrible experience ,  talking about this shelter just made my wife say once again lets get a playmate for our dog , we have always owned 2 dogs  makes life easier   they  keep each other company if were not home .  So knowing that   i have been turned away before no people walking through policy , i done the right thing , rang the 1300 number went through 4-5 prompts  and was told  i don't need an appoinment just go up there , told we have reverted back to our old walk in policy   to try and bring the numbers down  , Great ,  i said are you sure i said  i don't want to get there and be told i need a  booking ,, No you will be fine said he lady , but go early she said  to allow yourself plenty of time with the dog if you want to adopt , so off i go .

 

I was working  80 klm away today so took the day off  left the job   and drove the 80 klm  , although i only live 5 klm away  i tdid drive 80 klm from work and arrived early , well i arrived ,  waited paitently at the front desk for approx 5 min  , then asked can i go see the dogs please  ,, to be told walking through is no longer allowed , WHAAAAT  i said i was told an hr and 8oklm ago i can  , no not here you need an appinment ,  i said thats not even what your web site says now , she answered  you want to look at a dog , look at them pics and pick one  then arrange a time to spend some time with it ,,, I said   you don't pick a dog or a pup from pics , you see whats on offer and THEY PICK YOU ,,,  well sorry but if you want one from here thats the way she said , ,  you can't pick from pics ,  you  look and see if there freindly with you  .   So i asked lets make it clear you want me to  pick a dog of the pics ,   tell you which one , and then make an arragement to meet it , YES she answered , and what about what i was just told  fro head office i can walk through  ,  and choose , don't know why she told you that was the answer , what about the 80 klm and an hours drive i just done ,  sorry she said  ,, Ok i said if i have to chose from a pic , wheres the other pics  of the other dogs ,   i asked ,, she said theres the pics on the board , i answered i don't want to choose between 6-7 staffy and bully crosses , how about pics of the other 128 dogs up for adoption , posted in the news by  this shelter , why only then half dozen dogs ,,  sorry can't help you your not allowed to walk through and look she said . So in theory if they have 120 dogs ,  i have to make an appoinment to see them all   before i say ,  lets go back to number 48 he  was really freindly and liked me

 

Guess what they can stick there dogs up there proverbial ,  i'm done with that organization , seems reading reviews i'm not the only one to come across this stupidity , no wonder there getting crowded , talk about make it hard  , its put me off getting another  , and if i do i'll definetly go to another organization

 

Which brings me to there kennels for boarding , most were empty you can see them from the road , so  why are they over crowded ,  they have around 200 boarding kennels nearly all empty , after all they are supposed to be a rescue home not a boarding kennel thats what the grants are for

[Little Gifts]

We've got a massive loose dogs issue happening where I live over the last 6 months. I'm starting to think it is related to the rental and cost of living crisis - people working longer hours to make ends meet (lonely dogs), living in not quite perfect accom for their actual needs (taking what you can get rather than what you need) and also living somewhere where you are not supposed to have pets so they can't ask for proper fence changes without getting sprung.

 

 

[coneye]

23 hours ago, Little Gifts said:

We've got a massive loose dogs issue happening where I live over the last 6 months. I'm starting to think it is related to the rental and cost of living crisis - people working longer hours to make ends meet (lonely dogs), living in not quite perfect accom for their actual needs (taking what you can get rather than what you need) and also living somewhere where you are not supposed to have pets so they can't ask for proper fence changes without getting sprung.

 

 

Probably a bit of all the above,  plus   i'm not sure of the prices now , but i think the outrages prices , demamnded and quite often recieved for dogs especielly designer dogs  ,  for a period got the dimwits thinking they can breed there staffy cross , with there mates kelpie cross and recive the same  , too dumb to relize that staffy and kelpie crosses are in abudance down the pound , and its the oodles people were paying top dollar for ,, still are  , wifes freinds daughter recently , well few months ago now , paid 7 grand for a oodle  puppy ,, which by the way is   neurotic ,, seeming impossible to house train , timid ,  and looks like its turning into a bit of  the worst kind of dog , a fear biter ,, One i suspect that will probably end up in the pound once her husband puts his big boy pants on ,  and calls her bluff  , on the  if the dog goes you go situation .

 

When there all having the mothers meetings in my kitchen and talking about the problems  with this dog , i keep my mouth shut , when i really want to say , I told ya so , i told ya to go to a proper breeder and get  a pedigree dog especielly for that price ,, facts are and theres no denying it ,  even though most dogs  well good dogs are always described in a similar fashion ,   you do have a general idea of what your going to get ,  a gaurdian , dog a working dog a herding dog  a gentle dog  whatever ,  bred correctly   you already have a general idea .

Edited May 4, 2023 by coneye