People are dumping their dogs': Shelter lists grow as owners abandon pets

Due to financial reasons, tons of Australian pet owners have been intentionally leaving their doors or gates open to allow animals to flee knowing that council rangers will bring them to shelters. This method allows them to go on family holidays without having to spend money on catteries and kennels. Animal shelters in Melbourne can attest to this trend and have seen an increase in their adoption list.

“Quite often people go overseas for Christmas holidays and because it costs so much for kennels, they would prefer to get rid of them,” said Sue Thompson, who is the VP of the Australian Animal Protection Society.

She maintains that shelters experience an influx of animals that are coming in just before the Yuletide season and right after that, some pet owners even attempt to re-adopt their animal friends.

“They ring when they are back from holidays and ask if they can adopt their pet back. We would never allow that,” Ms. Thompson added.

Ms. Thompson also stated that catteries and kennels “may be expensive, but they should be included in the Christmas plan”

“They are safe. Some people leave a huge bag of food and what they think is enough water in the backyard for their dog, but it can end up nasty. A lot of people will do the same thing with cats, leaving them inside, but over the summer it can get too hot.”

The same sentiments have been expressed by Pam Weaver, who is the founder and President of Save A Dog. He maintained that the shelter “noticed an enormous increase in voluntary surrenders over the past few months”.

“We don’t have any concrete evidence why. A certain percentage of people are dumping their dogs, but it’s been growing over the past two or three months. There was no rhyme or reason to why people surrendered their dogs. Every year there is that terrible element of humanity which dispenses with their animal companions and then they get another when they come back from holidays,” she said.

According to Fae Pawley, who is a representative from the Lost Dogs Home, she stated that North Melbourne shelter is experiencing the same situation as well.

She claimed that allowing their pets to be adopted is “definitely a trend coming up to the holidays”.

“We will always take animals at this time of year. We are overloaded with cats and kittens because people don’t desex their cats. We do receive an influx of dogs as people are having events at this time of year, with gates and doors being left open. Occasionally, people let their dogs out knowing they will be picked by the council. They let them out on purpose because they don’t want to pay for the boarding fees,” she added.

However, according to Ms. Pawley, fines from councils can cost as much as if you would have just simply booked a short-term stay for your pets at catteries or kennels. In Melbourne, owners of dogs that are brought to the Lost Dogs Home are fined with $65 on the first day and $15 on the succeeding days. On the other hand, feline owners are charged $30 on the first day of adoption and $15 each day after that. Before each animal is released, they need to be microchipped and registered with the council.

Meanwhile, the dog-at-large charge at Melbourne council is $330 at night and ​$248 during the day.

Liz Walker, who is the chief executive officer at RSPCA, asserts that responsibly caring for an animal should not "start and stop when it is convenient for a pet owner”.

“It is an ongoing commitment. We would remind everyone that being a responsible pet owner is vital in ensuring the health and happiness of your companion animal throughout its lifetime,” she stated.

Furthermore, she states that RSPCA Victoria, based on their records, has not experienced such escalation of surrendered animals right before Christmas. She also doesn’t recommend giving pets as a surprise present for Christmas.

“The adoption process should be carefully considered and planned, as pet ownership is a commitment that can last 10 to 20 years. It’s important that the receiver has already expressed a strong desire for a pet. Ensure that they have the ability to be a responsible pet owner for both the type of animal and the animal’s individual needs,” said Dr. Walker.