Due to the previous epidemic lockdown, many people chose to adopt a small animal to accompany them. As borders were lifted and bans relaxed, people began to gradually return to normal life. However, the pets that accompanied them did not receive thanks from their owners after the epidemic, but were abandoned!
Now, animal charities in Victoria are in urgent need of help. Due to the epidemic, more and more dog owners are returning their pets to shelters. The number of pet dogs abandoned by their owners has surged in Victoria, which has brought the number of pets in animal shelters to unprecedented levels.
In the early days of the epidemic, the number of pets adopted increased significantly, but now, the number of "epidemic pet dogs" being returned has reached a record high. Previously, around 50 dogs were sent to the Victorian branch of the animal charity RSPCA each month, but since Christmas this number has increased to 150 a month. The number of people retrieving lost dogs fostered in shelters has also dropped.
It’s not just big dogs that are being returned to shelters. Animal welfare groups have noticed an increase in puppies being returned. Nadia Peiris, manager of the animal care department of the RSPCA Victoria branch, said in an interview with Channel 9: "This has never happened before." She said the main reason for the rising number of abandoned pets is the long lockdown that Victorians have endured during the new crown pandemic. "The impact of COVID-19 has been huge." She added that while Victoria was the worst affected by the severe lockdown, other parts of Australia may have encountered similar problems. The German Shepherd Rescue of Victoria (GSRV) also faced a similar situation, and the number of sheepdogs returned to the organization increased from one a day to three a day.
This resulted in the charity having to stop accepting any more returned pets before Easter. Hayley, president of the organization "This is something we have never experienced before," Finch told Channel 9. The center wrote in a Facebook post that the decision "breaks our hearts," but "we can't quite handle the number of dogs needing our help and we are inundated with foster requests again; we know this year will be busier than ever, But it’s too much. Since the beginning of March alone, GSRV has received nearly 40 requests for help, and our foster homes are full... We simply can’t keep up, there are too many dogs in need of our help.”
In the early days of the epidemic, there was a huge increase in pet adoptions as people who were stuck at home were eager for companionship. A report from the Australian Veterinary Medicines Agency shows that 19% of all pet dog breeds in Australia were acquired during the epidemic. This is equivalent to an increase of more than 1 million dogs in Australian households since 2019.
The main reason for wanting to keep a dog is the companionship of a pet. However, during the implementation of the lockdown, it was not only difficult for people, but also for dogs. During the lockdown, people rarely took their dogs out. "Now, due to the increase in pets, animal shelters are urgently looking for fosters for returned pets.
GSRV posted on Facebook that finding fosters is a difficult task, especially considering that many of the dogs being given away "have complex behavioral issues and require experienced fosters and adopters." The RSPCA Victoria branch is also looking for help, Ms. Peiris said: "We desperately need volunteers. "
Dogs have accompanied us during the epidemic. Although there are many objective factors, the editor still hopes that everyone can be fully prepared when adopting dogs and be responsible for these little lives, instead of just coming and leaving at a moment's notice.
Source: Wei Sydney NetEase Account