Pets dying to find a new home
BY REBECCA DAVID
THE Keysborough Animal Shelter has joined a growing campaign to change state rules requiring shelters to kill animals not rehoused within 28 days.
Under Department of Primary Industry guidelines, dogs and cats selected for sale can only be held at shelters for four weeks. After that time they must be adopted or killed.
Online campaign Stop the Clock is calling for the abolition of a time limit.
Volunteer dog walker Denise Harrison said some animals needed longer to be adopted.
“It seems unfair to impose a time limit. I don’t see why anyone would think it was a bad idea to change the rule,” Ms Harrison said.
“It can take a little bit of time for shelters to find the right family and sometimes larger dogs need every one of those 28 days.”
Keysborough Animal Shelter treasurer Christine Giles said the refuge supported a rule change.
“We would like to see it changed,” Ms Giles said.
She said the shelter’s large open spaces and numerous volunteers ensured animals were well cared for.
“We have big exercise yards. Every dog gets out for exercise at least once a day,” Ms Giles said.
Victoria is the only state in Australia that imposes a limit on how long shelters can keep dogs and cats before adoption.
Animal Aid general manager Nell Thompson said the restriction did nothing to improve conditions.
“It can force shelters and rescue services into having to play an adversarial role with the community and their supporter base,” Ms Thompson said.
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