GVPAR rescue co-ordinator Tillah Brooks said there were simply too many pooches with medical or behavioural issues on the service’s waiting list for its carers to rehabilitate and prepare for adoption, for it to be able to take more dogs in.
The waiting list is now more than 10, and the 20 or so carers for cats and dogs across the region normally try to keep the list at no more than a handful.
Ms Brooks said the surrendered animals were older dogs that had been with families for some time, not puppies or younger dogs that families had bought during COVID-19 lockdowns.
She said the organisation had braced for more puppy surrenders than it eventually received.
“It’s really surprising, that’s what we thought we would see,” Ms Brooks said.
“It’s older dogs, (from) people moving or going travelling or changing their lifestyle.”
She said the group had made the hard decision to put a temporary halt on fostering.
“Taking in a dog is a lot of time and effort and some of them have expensive vet bills or special needs.”
Ms Brooks said the community-run GVPAR did not have the resources other larger shelters did, but the community support following the announcement was touching.
For anyone wanting to help, she said donations were always well-received to assist with vet bills, food and more.
Head to http://www.goulburnvalleypetadoption.com.au/ for more information.
9°C