Key Points
- Hundreds of thousands of animals end up in animal shelters every year
- Animals are medically and behaviourally assessed, vaccinated, microchipped and desexed before adoption
- Foster caring is an option for those who cannot commit to long term pet ownership
Australia has one of the highest pet ownership rates in the world, with approximately 61% of households owning a pet.
Kieran Watson from the RSPCA NSW, says around 30,000 animals enter their NSW shelter every year, with cats being the highest at 15,000, followed by dogs at 10,000. Other animals include livestock such as horses, pigs, roosters, as well as rabbits, birds, and fish.
At the RSPCA, as well as most pet rescue organisations, the animals are medically and behaviourally assessed, vaccinated, microchipped and desexed before they are put up for adoption. As most of the animals at the RSPCA are "surrendered" by pet owners due to varied reasons, many of the animals are already trained.
As the organisation does not make any profit, the adoption fee is kept at a minimum to cover all the necessary medical checks and treatments.
Cats are around $200 to adopt, while to adopt a dog, the fees could range from $400-450, depending on its size and age.
The animals in the shelter are well looked after, but they are looking for "routine and stability" says Kieran.
Animals in the shelter are looking for routine and stability Source: Getty Images/Capuski
When you buy pets online or from a pet shop, you may not know their long-term issues, how they have been bred or the conditions they have been living in.
"It is really hard to tell if you are getting an animal that is in good health and is treated right" says Kieran.
"We have seen so called puppy farms where people are breeding for profit, which is sad" he added.
When you adopt from the RSPCA or any other rescue shelter, you are giving a pet a second chance, which is a great feeling to have.
To adopt a pet through the RSPCA, you can either check out their or go directly to one of their shelters.
During the adoption process a staff member will firstly talk to you about the animal and make sure it is the best match for your family and lifestyle.
It is also a good idea to check with your local council about the animals you are allowed to keep in your area, says Kieran.
"Lot of councils aren't too happy if you have a rooster in your backyard crowing and making noise all day."
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#34 Getting a pet (Med)
Local Pet Rescue Centres
You can also adopt a pet from many of the local rescue centres operating around the country.
Cari Mitchell has been an advocate for rescuing and re-homing stray cats for many years. She adopted a mother cat and her kitten through a local cat rescue four years ago.
Adopting pets can be a rewarding experience Source: Getty Images/eclipse_images
This will also mean that your cat will be medically cleared, vaccinated, and microchipped before coming home with you.
"There are hundreds of cats and kittens surrendered each year, and sadly put to sleep because they can't find homes for them, or they are so ill from living on the streets"
I just wanted to make sure that I wasn't adding to the cat breeding issue.
For some rescued cats, settling into a home with humans can take sometimes.
"You don't know what their life was like, before you get to them" says Cari.
But it was Cari's "proudest moment" when her mother cat finally sat on her lap, 18 months after adoption.
"There is a sense of achievement and nurturing in giving animals a home that would otherwise potentially have no hope," she added.
Foster Care
"When you adopt a pet, it is a commitment for the lifetime of that animal," says Kieran.
It may fit into your life now, but will it in five or even up to twenty years down the track? This is the question you must ask yourself, as some pets could live a long life.
If long-term responsibility and financial commitment of pet ownership is difficult, yet you are looking for pet companionship, then foster caring could be a great alternative.
There are many foster care programs around the country, giving temporary homes to lost and stray animals, those with medical needs, are neonates, or simply cannot cope in a shelter environment.
Foster care programs give temporary homes for animals before they go into adoption Source: Getty Images/yara duvdevan
The length of foster care could vary, depending on the animal's needs and interest for adoption, but in general, it is around two to four weeks.
"Foster carers are literal lifesavers" says Isabella Polizzi, the foster care co-coordinator of the organisation.
It's so heart-warming to see the animals grow and thrive in your care, and when you see them get adopted, it just feels like a sense of achievement.
Monica Lo Cascio is a foster carer for Sydney Dogs & Cats Home, and she looks after new dogs or puppies every few weeks.
Monica likes the flexibility to travel whilst enjoying the companion of a pet, something she could not do previously as a pet owner.
Her role involves training the animals to become "good house dogs", so that they will be adopted and have a permanent home.
"There are no bad dogs, they are just untrained" says Monica, who keeps a journal about the dogs to pass on to potential owners.
Anybody can become a foster carer. There are no requirements, but suitability will be assessed, and the animal will be carefully picked to match your lifestyle.
Things like how many hours you work (away from home), other animals in the household, and number of children will be considered, to give the best care possible to the animals.
Owning a pet is a lifetime commitment Source: Getty Images/Peter M. Fisher
Pet Insurance
Hanako Ogawa is an emergency and critical care veterinarian, working in Sydney's North Shore. Dr Ogawa says she has seen too many unfortunate cases where animals had to be put down, simply because the owners could not afford the medical bills.
When you welcome puppies and kittens into your home, you may not be able to imagine that one day they could become ill or seriously injured, says Dr Ogawa.
The medical bill may catch you by surprise.
"From the bottom of my heart I would like any pet owners to consider to get a pet insurance, if not, save up the money just for your pet so that you can be prepared for those times of need"
March is , which aims to educate and raise awareness of pet adoption and foster care placement.
If you are thinking about welcoming a pet into your family, consider adopting or fostering pets looking for a loving home.