A recent puppy farm awareness effort estimates that over a hundred thousand puppies and kittens are sold from pet stores each year.
And yet we often hear there aren’t enough people who want to bring a pet into their families.
Australian’s are spending more than ever on gourmet foods, treats, toys, bedding and grooming, pampering and veterinary treatment. Not to mention enrichment, day care and walking services, treating their pet like a member of the family.
And yet we often hear that Australians are irresponsible, neglectful and uncompassionate.
According to the Petcare Information and Advisory Service, rescue pet adoptions are surging; doubling in the last ten years.
And yet we often hear that there aren’t enough people willing to adopt a pet.
PetRescue has helped rehome 73,000 pets, with 75% of those being through community rescue and foster care groups. The Pedigree Adoption Drive was a huge boost to these groups, raising awareness and inspiring compassion, with over 30,000 pets finding new homes in 2010 alone.
And yet we often hear that the community doesn’t know how to care for pets, that the community has no business in animal welfare and that pets are better of dead than in the hands of the public.
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We have been duped into believing that we are the problem, not the solution to companion animal issues. We have been blamed for shelter killing. We have been lied to, as the number of animals being killed is kept hidden from us. We have been told that there are no solutions and that we must donate money and resources in ignorance, trust our animal welfare leaders and never question.
We must take back our animal welfare industry and demand it reflect our own progressive values towards companion animals.
We must take action in our own communities and fight for the right of pets to be given every chance to live and to be treated humanely whilst in care.
We all have a part to play, even if we’re not working in animal welfare, even if we’re not encouraged to do so, even if we’re told we’re wrong in wanting these things from our animal shelters.
We are the animal lovers of Australia. And we are the answer.
