AN influx of cats is stretching South East Animal Welfare League resources with a waiting list in place for felines to be surrendered at the facility.
Over 20 cats are currently under the welfare league’s care, with fosters carer being used to keep cats with young litters off-site until they reach an appropriate age.
With the post-festive season busy period looming, the league is also calling for people wishing to surrender their animals to make contact ahead of time to allow the facility to adequately plan.
Three dogs remain at the Riddoch Highway facility after a busy couple of months, with 10 dogs coming into the league’s care in November, offset by the adoption of 12.
Nine cats were surrendered to the welfare during the same month with just four adoptions, leaving 16 cats in care on November 30.
December figures climbed with 19 dogs taken on by the largely volunteer-driven organisation, with 12 adopted, four pound releases and two returning to their original home.
SEAWL worker Caitlin Mellor called on residents looking to surrender a pet to not just “rock up” with cages, providing an opportunity for pre-planning to deliver the best outcome for the animal.
“We ask that people phone and make an appointment first because we do need you to,” Ms Mellor said.
“We are very busy here and we are only here at certain times.
“This is especially important over the coming months where we are expecting a lot more dogs and our cattery is fully booked out.”
Ms Mellor also predicted an increase in dogs coming into the league’s care in the coming weeks.
“In a few months time I would say we will get an increase in dogs mainly because now Christmas time is over a lot of people usually surrender their animals for different reasons,” she said.
“This may be because of time, temperament or just because they received the wrong breed for their family.
“We have had people just rock up here expecting us to take in the animal.”
While resources have been strained at times, Ms Mellor said it was a major positive that none of the animals recently taken into care had remained at the shelter for long.
