Central Highlands Regional Council’s rescue partnership saves pets

Ralph the Jack Russell was making his way around CQ Pet Rescue’s Stalls 4 Paws night markets with Ella and Chloe,hoping to find his new forever home. (Image cqnews.com)

The Central Highlands Regional Council could view pets as garbage – driving them to the tip, shooting them and dumping their bodies. This absolutely could be their mode of operation. And when challenged on it, they could simply tell us their community was irresponsible, their facilities ‘open admission’ and their location rural, so killing would be an unavoidable outcome.

Kill apologists would tell us to feel sorry for them. No one wants to kill. And we should all be looking at the real problem – the irresponsible community. What options do they have really? When no one wants to adopt and people keep breeding?

But they would be totally, completely and absolutely wrong.

Despite what kill apologists continue to claim, killing is not simply a necessary part of animal sheltering. When councils take an active role in implementing programs which give them alternatives to killing – including taking responsibility for their community’s pets, rather than just outsourcing their animal management to a ‘super pound’ – the pets and the community benefit.

CQ Pet Rescue has been operating for eight months, and in that time there have been no euthanisations and 125 dogs have been given a second chance in new homes.

The organisation has formed a partnership with the Central Highlands Regional Council to find caring homes for lost or abandoned pets.

CQ Pet Rescue founder Sally Hutley said the relationship had grown each month.
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“The council has been a huge support to us and we could not have gotten this far without them.”

Central Highlands Mayor Peter Maguire agreed the partnership with CQ Pet Rescue had been a success.

“This relationship has proven to be extremely successful with euthanisation statistics plummeting,” Cr Maguire said.
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Before the partnership, unclaimed pets were destined for an uncertain future – many having to be euthanased.

The pound has had a revamp this year, and is scheduled for more, with the installation of a cat holding facility and an upgrade to the exercise yard.

 

CQ Pet Rescue is looking for carers and financial support. If they are in your area, step up and show them the love. Rescue groups and pounds who appreciate them, are an unstoppable partnership for good.