This is exciting for many reasons; but mainly because it demonstrates that large organisations are in fact made up of individuals who, if approached in a way which shows belief in their dedication, will then engage to make amazing things happen;
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RSPCA and PetRescue fly cats to Adelaide
Abandoned and unwanted kittens languishing on death row in Queensland animal shelters will be flown to South Australia for a second chance at life.
RSPCA Queensland today announced a new partnership between adoption agency PetRescue, animal transport company Jet Pets and national logistics giant Toll Priority which will see orphaned animals jet across the country to combat overcrowding.
About 12,500 unwanted cats and kittens are euthanased by the RSPCA during the main cat breeding season between October and March each year. Experts say that is increasing with warmer weather conditions and does not include the many more simply dumped int he bush.
RSPCA spokeswoman Jackie Horton said while its Cairns and Townsville shelters were bursting at the seams with orphaned kittens, its South Australian branch had room to spare and had even been turning away people wanting to adopt.
“There are currently 54 kittens waiting in foster homes in Queensland, and knowing that these little guys will now have the chance to live long and happy lives with South Australian families, is something our shelter staff are just ecstatic about,” Ms Horton said.
The first nine feline passengers will board over the next few days.
Jet Pets spokesman Scott Williams said the company had helped bring together orphaned pets with adoptive families for the past two years, donating its services three times a month for online adoption site PetRescue.
“However this is the first time a large scale, shelter to shelter program has been tried and we’re really keen to lend a hand,” he said.
The Brisbane Times
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Now critics will scoff at the idea of putting so much work into finding 9 kittens homes. However, going above and beyond to save the lives of pets isn’t only good for staff spirit and the pets themselves, but cute, good news stories present an invaluable media opportunity and chance to promote ourselves to adopters.
Along with the Brisbane Times article, this story also featured twice in newspapers in Adelaide (here and here), in the local newspaper in Gympie, nationally through the Australian and on the Channel 9 News.
These 9 kittens represent the new ‘never say kill’ movement beginning in Australia and we should celebrate when an organisation chooses to value the lives of cats as individuals worth saving.
