19% Increase In Adelaide Pet Dumpings

[samoyedman]

Pet owners blaming cost of living pressures and more stringent rental conditions are dumping animals at Adelaide shelters in sharply greater numbers, according to the Animal Welfare League.

The League's Jade Ellis said there had been a 19 per cent increase in the number of owners leaving their pets at shelters in the past six months.

Ms Ellis said the most common reasons given were cost of living pressures and changes to living circumstances, such as a moving between rental properties.

"A lot of the time it doesn't have anything to do with the animal at all ... it's more so a change in circumstance for the owner," she said.

"It is the fact that people just can't afford to care for their pets at the moment or they just didn't fully understand what's involved in taking care of a pet."

The organisation issued a reminder to people to make sure they could afford the long-term costs of an animal before they adopted or bought one.

"It's making sure they fully understand that, you know, pet is for life and that they do have the finances and resources to care for them for that time period," Ms Ellis said.

RSPCA South Australia chief executive Tim Vasudeva acknowledged tough economic times often meant people struggled to provide for their pets properly.

Pet owners blaming cost of living pressures and more stringent rental conditions are dumping animals at Adelaide shelters in sharply greater numbers, according to the Animal Welfare League.

The League's Jade Ellis said there had been a 19 per cent increase in the number of owners leaving their pets at shelters in the past six months.

Ms Ellis said the most common reasons given were cost of living pressures and changes to living circumstances, such as a moving between rental properties.

"A lot of the time it doesn't have anything to do with the animal at all ... it's more so a change in circumstance for the owner," she said.

"It is the fact that people just can't afford to care for their pets at the moment or they just didn't fully understand what's involved in taking care of a pet."

The organisation issued a reminder to people to make sure they could afford the long-term costs of an animal before they adopted or bought one.

"It's making sure they fully understand that, you know, pet is for life and that they do have the finances and resources to care for them for that time period," Ms Ellis said.

RSPCA South Australia chief executive Tim Vasudeva acknowledged tough economic times often meant people struggled to provide for their pets properly.

"It is a bit of a tough economic environment," Mr Vasudeva said.

"I think all the rescue groups and welfare groups are similar at the moment, being full of surrendered and stray pets.

"It is important we get the message out there that they would love to be in front of a fire ... instead of in our shelters."

Mr Vasudeva said owning a pet did not have to be expensive.

"One of the good things about adopting from the RSPCA or the Animal Welfare League or a good rescue group is that they'll come to you health checked, desexed, vaccinated, micro-chipped ... so all of that work is done."

The State Government is planning to amend the Dog and Cat Management Act to boost the fine for a dog wandering at large from $80 to $315.

A Citizen's Jury is also looking at whether desexing animals should become compulsory for pets owners in South Australia.

The Animal Welfare League have said it hoped both measures, if introduced, would lead to less pets ending up in their shelters.

[Dame Aussie]

People don't think things through. It's too easy to get the cute puppy then dump it.

[Guest _MADCAT_]

I know exactly how this feels. I'm paying $500 a fortnight to board my 2 dogs who have unfortunately been in the boarding kennel for 8 months because I'm struggling to find a rental that will allow them.

I'm a paid carer for my mum so that's basically half my wage right there. But I love my dogs and refuse to give them up.

Low income rentals wont allow my dogs and I don't want a run down house with bad fencing in bad areas. I get updates from them and can visit. They look and seem happy. Breaks my heart but I have to do what I have to do.

So I can see why people unfortunately give up their pets when they need a roof over their heads..