Sunshine Coast animal care centres have applauded an increase in pet adoptions.
It’s been regarded as a successful year, with more people in the region welcoming dogs and cats to their homes.
RSPCA Noosa manager Nicole Cleary has just finished looking at the figures for 2020.
“We’ve actually done better than last year with our adoptions,” she said.
“I’m not really sure (why) but I think more people were at home (due to COVID-19 impact) and decided they could put animals in their life.”
They saw about 780 animals relocated in 2019 but about 880 were adopted in 2020.
“We’ve had so much support, and that’s also been across Queensland … it’s great.”
And she is encouraging more prospective owners to get involved.
“We’re consistently good at making sure people are adopting the right type of pet so they’re not going to be compromised long term if something doesn’t work out. We want people to be successful.”
“Being in rentals (housing) has been an interesting journey for many people and we’re making sure people are in the right type of house to be able to have a dog, especially some of the big dogs, which come with their own dilemmas.”
Like independent news? Get more direct to your inbox by subscribing to our free daily news feed: Go to SUBSCRIBE at top of this article to register.
Ms Cleary also said they’ve had fewer animals coming to the centre in 2020.
“We’ve had hardly anything coming in. It’s been super quiet for people needing help with surrenders, which is terrific.”
A large portion of their animals are transferred from other shelters. The centre currently has dogs, cats, mice and guinea pigs
Most of the dogs on the waiting list at the centre are medium to large size.
“Everyone wants a small light fluffy dog (like a Shih Tzu), but we just don’t have those to adopt.”
Ms Cleary said they welcome more potential owners, while visitors are also encouraged to say hello to the animals at the centre.
“It was hard while we were shut, because we have people visiting all the time. It’s good for the animals to consistently have visitors, even if they can’t own a pet.”
Fingers crossed for post-Christmas
Sunshine Coast Animal Refuge Centre manager Penny Brishchke said her centre also had more outgoing pets in recent months.
In the last six weeks they have taken in about 120 cats and dogs and adopted out more than 150 pets. They’ve adopted out about 850 this year.
“We’ve had a number of kittens go quickly … and we’ve been lucky enough to have some of our big breed dogs get homes, which is traditionally hard for us.”
She is prepared for a “little spike” in surrendered pets during the next few months but hopes that won’t be the case.
“We always brace ourselves for it after the Christmas and New Year period …but we cross our fingers.”
The centre currently has almost 70 animals on site and about 30 in foster homes. Most of the animals come from the local pound.
