With the easing of restrictions in most parts of Australia including the ability to travel within our own borders fully and overseas (If vaccinated, still have vaccine mandates in place) the inevitable eventuality of all the people adopting and buying pets for company during lockdowns and restrictions means they are now being surrendered en masse.
A combination of breeders, both backyard and official/registered continuing to breed puppies for the ludicrous pandemic prices, and people abandoning the pets they took on is leading to huge issues for rescuers and shelters around the country.
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During the pandemic
During covid and all its included restrictions people went mad with boredom and a lot decided to get pets. Along with the price of second-hand cars and pretty much everything else it rose to the point that puppies that would sell pre-pandemic for $400-800 were selling for $3000-4000. There was even reports of people selling their pets for a profit as rehomes because people were paying ridiculous prices for anything they could get, even a 3 year old dog would be up for adoption for up to $2000.
French Bulldogs and other sought after breeds were seen advertised for as much as $30,000.
As is generally the case if there is money to be made human greed takes over, and while plenty of people kept the pet they took on, plenty didn't.
Most rescues and shelters were fairly empty through most of the pandemic and this seemed like a positive at the time as less animals for adoption=more animals in good homes right?
Unfortunately most people knew what was to come and the aftermath of end of restrictions would not be pretty for the animals.
As restrictions ease.
As restrictions have all but disappeared in most parts of the country and even overseas travel seems to be on the cards people are now stuck with animals they either don't really want, can't look after since they're back at work or just simply want to go away and don't care about them enough so surrender them or abandon them. To people who love their pets it seems unthinkable but to many they are little more than toys. People rarely look into the breeds and get whatever dog they like regardless of how well it's suited to them leading in plenty of badly behaved, badly socialised and badly treated dogs. Cats are often seen as being capable on their own and are just left to fend for themselves or dumped which is both bad for them and devastating for wildlife.
One of the largest rescue organisations in Australia Petrescue, who manage hundreds if not thousands of volunteer foster carers and aim to adopt animals out to suitable homes is having issues and cannot offer support to their carers. Shelters that were previously near empty are full and unable to take on more animals. Pounds are full and euthanising perfectly healthy, nice animals purely because there is no space. All the while breeders continue to produce and irresponsible owners continue to allow their pets to have babies, increasing the strain.
The massive increase in cost of living recently has meant many Australians are struggling to make ends meet let alone make donations to charitable causes and when it comes to the government help for animals is few and far between. This leaves rescues struggling to care for and fund their work even though 90% are run by volunteers.
As more shut down struggling to cope the pounds will have more and more animals to euthanise and sadly no one will bat an eyelid.
What we need to do to fix the problem
I don't want to pretend I have all the answers but there are some pretty obvious things we should and need, to implement to help protect these animals that rely on us.
First
Take animal neglect cases and abuse cases seriously. I have pictures of emaciated dogs in horrid conditions being sent to the RSPCA inspector and then having them tell us the dogs are "fine".
We have cases of people who leave animals to die, starve or torture them and when it gets to court they get a fine and a ban from owning animals for 5 years.
Second
Implement some sort of system where animals going to unregistered people/non breeders are desexed. Rescues already do this but aside from that anyone can get a dog from anywhere with very little information about them. I mean even if banned I could go get a dog tomorrow if I wanted. Too many people cant be trusted to not let their dogs breed whilst not taking responsibility for the result. People will breed their pets in the hope of making money off the pups not caring for the mother and fathers wellbeing, if the pups don't sell they die.
Third
Require breeders to follow stricter requirements especially around how many litters and how often, background checking people who want to buy and just generally stop treating them as nothing more than objects to be traded around at will, no less than property.
The people who work to save these animals are struggling both mentally and financially and things will only get worse as irresponsible people all over abandon their responsibility's due to lack of care, forethought or planning.