​Pet Adoption: The Gift of a Second Chance

The Situation

Pet adoption and animal shelters play a crucial role in providing a second chance for stray, abandoned, and surrendered animals in Australia. Each year, thousands of animals end up in shelters, and many are ultimately adopted by loving families. However, there are also many challenges and drawbacks to the system, including the high number of animals that are euthanised each year due to overpopulation and lack of resources.

According to the RSPCA, there are an estimated 250,000 stray cats and 100,000 stray dogs in Australia. In addition, around 160,000 cats and dogs are surrendered to shelters each year. These animals may be stray, abandoned, or surrendered by their owners due to various reasons such as financial difficulties, lifestyle changes, or behavioural issues.

The benefits of adopting a pet from a shelter include the fact that animals are often already trained and socialised, and many shelters have behaviorists and trainers on staff to help with any issues. Shelters also provide a wide variety of animals to choose from, including different breeds, ages, and personalities. Furthermore, adopting a pet can provide a sense of purpose and fulfillment, and can bring companionship and joy to people’s lives.

But perhaps more importantly, by adopting a pet, you not only give that animal a loving home, but you also open up a spot in the shelter for another animal in need.

However, there are also drawbacks to adopting from a shelter. Some animals may have behavioural or medical issues due to their previous experiences, and it can take time and patience to work through these issues. In addition, some shelters may not have the resources to provide proper medical care for all of the animals in their care and may not be able to provide accurate information about an animal’s health or history.

Despite these drawbacks, the number of animals adopted from shelters is on the rise. In 2020-2021, RSPCA Australia rehomed around 73,000 animals, which includes cats, dogs, small animals and horses. However, the number of animals that are euthanised in shelters is still high. In 2020-2021, around 29,000 animals were euthanised by RSPCA Australia, primarily due to overpopulation and lack of resources.

How do we improve the situation?

There are several ways to improve the situation of pet adoption and animal shelters in Australia:

• Promote responsible pet ownership: Encouraging people to spay and neuter their pets, provide proper care and training, and be prepared for the long-term commitment of pet ownership can help reduce the number of animals ending up in shelters.
• Increase funding for shelters: Additional funding can help shelters improve the care and welfare of animals in their care, as well as increase their ability to provide medical treatment, behaviour assessments, and training.
• Foster care program: Foster care programs allow shelter animals to be placed in temporary homes, which can help reduce overcrowding in shelters and provide animals with a more comfortable environment.
• Microchip and registration: Microchipping and registering pets can help increase the chances of lost pets being reunited with their owners and reduce the number of stray animals ending up in shelters.
• Education and awareness: Increasing public awareness and education about the importance of pet adoption, responsible pet ownership, and the work of animal shelters can help encourage more people to adopt, volunteer, or support shelters financially.
• Increase collaboration between shelters and rescue groups: Many animal rescue groups have limited space and resources, and by working together with shelters they can help increase the number of animals that are rehomed.
• Encourage community involvement: Encourage local communities to get involved by providing volunteer and donation opportunities, this can help increase support for shelters and improve the welfare of animals in the community.
• No-kill shelter policy: Implementing a no-kill shelter policy, where shelters only euthanise animals that are suffering from incurable medical conditions or severe behavioural issues, can help reduce the number of healthy and adoptable animals that are euthanised.

Whilst by and large these strategies are being implemented across the country, adhering to them in a focused and deliberate way, while being open to innovation, we can help improve the situation of pet adoption and animal shelters in Australia, and ensure that more animals find loving homes.

Government Support

There is a continuous push by advocacy groups for government intervention and funding to help reduce the number of animals in shelters in Australia. Animal welfare organisations and individuals have been advocating for increased government funding for animal shelters, as well as for laws and policies that promote responsible pet ownership and animal welfare.

For example, the RSPCA in Australia is a leading animal welfare organisation that lobbies for policy and legislative change at the national and state level, and they have been pushing for increased government funding for animal shelters and animal welfare programs.

Some states and territories in Australia have implemented laws and policies that aim to reduce the number of animals in shelters. For example, in Victoria, the government has introduced several policies and programs aimed at reducing the number of animals surrendered to shelters, including mandatory microchipping and registration for cats and dogs, and funding for low-cost desexing programs.

In addition, some local governments have also implemented policies such as mandatory desexing of cats and dogs, and fines for abandoning animals, as a way to reduce the number of animals in shelters.

However, there are still many challenges and much more needs to be done to make sure that animal shelters are well-funded, and that the animals in their care are well-treated and have a higher chance of being rehomed. Therefore, the push for government intervention and funding is still ongoing, and the support from the public, animal welfare organisations and the media plays a crucial role in achieving a more effective and humane animal welfare system.

Should I adopt a pet?

If you’ve asked yourself this question, then you’ve passed the first test. It’s a sign of taking care and consideration with an important decision and being mindful of the impact adopting a pet can have on not only your life, but any prospective pet’s life as well.

Here are some further questions you should ask yourself before you adopt a pet:

• Can I afford the costs associated with pet ownership? These costs include food, veterinary care, grooming, and training.
• Do I have enough time to devote to a pet? Pets require daily attention, including feeding, exercise, and grooming.
• Do I have the space to provide a suitable living environment for a pet? Some pets require larger living spaces, while others can be comfortable in smaller spaces.
• Am I prepared to make a long-term commitment to the pet? The average lifespan of a dog is around 10-13 years, and for a cat it is around 15-20 years.
• Do I have any allergies or health conditions that would be affected by pet ownership? Some people may be allergic to certain types of pets or may have health conditions that make it difficult to care for a pet.
• Am I willing to train and socialise a pet? Pets require training and socialisation to become well-behaved and well-adjusted members of the family.
• Do I have any other pets in the house? If yes, are they well-trained and do they get along well with other animals?
• Will I be able to provide enough time and attention to the pet even if my life situation changes? For example, if you plan to have a baby, travel frequently or work long hours?
• Am I willing to seek help if the pet develops behaviour or medical issues? Pets can develop behaviour or medical issues and it's important to seek help if they do.
• Am I ready to adopt a pet with certain specific needs? For example, an older pet, a pet with special medical needs, or a pet that needs extra socialisation.

Answering these questions honestly and carefully can help you determine if you’re ready and able to provide a loving and responsible home for a pet, which can ensure a better outcome for both the pet and the adopter. Many shelters offer post-adoption support, such as training classes or behaviour counselling, to help you and your new pet adjust to living together but ultimately it will be up to you to care for and provide structure for your new pet.

In conclusion, pet adoption and animal shelters play a vital role in providing a second chance for stray, abandoned, and surrendered animals in Australia. While the benefits of adopting a shelter animal are numerous, there are also drawbacks like not having a clear view of potential behavioural and medical issues resultant from their previous history, which can cause problems in the future.

There are flaws in the system, including the high number of animals that are euthanised each year, however, by working together and increasing awareness on the importance of responsible pet ownership, we can help reduce the number of animals in shelters and ensure that more animals find loving homes.

The Jolly Pets Team