RSPCA ACT’s Weston shelter is home to 280 animals at present. That’s almost double the amount at this time two years ago. The amount of animals is increasing at an unprecedented rate. At the same time, we’ve been experiencing an influx of very pregnant female dogs being surrendered to the shelter. RSPCA ACT says that backyard breeders are the main reason behind the escalating crisis. Their inaction is making an already dire situation even worse in the Australian Capital Territory (ACT).
Rhiannon Kwateng from RSPCA ACT warns of the serious risk of feline panleukopenia virus. The threat this virus poses to newborn puppies is real. “That is such a deadly virus and very difficult to treat, especially for vulnerable newborn puppies,” she stated. This ongoing financial crisis continues to drag down homes and households on various levels. As a consequence, in New Zealand today pet owners can’t afford the basics of veterinary care, including desexing surgery.
The Impact of Backyard Breeders
RSPCA ACT officials are concerned that backyard breeders are fuelling the surge of surrendered animals. They argue that these breeders have a negative effect on animal welfare. The organization has reported a recent rash of cases of puppies born with extreme deformities that are unrelated to nutrition.
Ms. Kwateng shared a troubling example, saying, “We’ve seen unfortunately a litter of puppies born where three of the puppies were born without the roof of their mouths and noses.” Sadly, even for these happy puppies, they just could not survive and had to be humanely euthanised. “Unfortunately, those puppies wouldn’t be able to thrive, and they wouldn’t be able to survive so we’ve had to kindly euthanise them,” she added.
As a small, independent non-for-profit, this has pushed RSPCA ACT’s resources to breaking point. The facility has been hit hard recently by having a portion of its kennel space unavailable. A failed underground heating system, which is important for maintaining at-risk pets warm throughout Canberra’s freezing winters, is to blame. “When you have 40 puppies plus the existing adult dogs, it is constant work from the moment the team gets here to the moment they leave,” Ms. Kwateng explained.
Rising Surrender Numbers and Adoption Efforts
We’re excited to share some great news from the RSPCA ACT! In three short weeks, three momma dogs have had 26 puppies which has only added to the large number of dogs in their care. As the lines of animals stretch, so too does the need for adoptive homes. On a happier note, these two puppies from an accidental 9 puppy litter found wonderful adopters this past Saturday.
Kane Rattley and Emma Hanlin ended up adopting one of these puppies, whom they named Hippo. Mr. Rattley expressed excitement about bringing Hippo into their home, stating, “[He’ll go] straight home, warm cuddle, heater on, cuddle up on the couch probably watching some movies getting him used to the new house.” For thousands of animals at RSPCA ACT, adoption brings a new ray of sunshine in an ever-darkening storm.
Financial Constraints Challenge Operations
Our financial crisis is the biggest barrier preventing RSPCA ACT from the ability to care for and medically treat animals in desperate situations. Ms. Kwateng remarked, “I think the biggest challenge that we’re seeing right now is the financial crisis,” highlighting that many families struggle to pay for expenses related to pet care.
On average, costs for desexing at RSPCA ACT begin at $300 and increase in price depending on the size of the dog. Prohibitive costs can lead to pet owners forgoing necessary procedures. This leads to more accidental litters, further taxing the facility’s life-saving capacity.
