Shane Evans and Stacey Swan with store cat Thomas and Louie the dog. Picture: MATTHEW SMITHWICK
DESPITE constant reminders about basic pet care, Albury Wodonga Animal Rescue is still burdened by people who refuse to take responsibility for their pets.
Group treasurer Stacey Swan said many people, who had purchased animals as Christmas gifts, get fed up with their young animals misbehaving in the weeks after they go back to work in the new year, and give them up.
“Dogs, especially puppies, will start to play up when they get bored,” Mrs Swan said.
“People who aren’t prepared to take proper care of them just send them over to us, it is incredibly frustrating.”
Mrs Swan said that the coming months were a peak time for people giving up on new pets.
She also said people were still not understanding the importance of having their pets desexed and microchipped.
“Not only do you have to microchip them to begin with, but you have to keep the chip up to date, especially if you have a new address or a new phone number,” Mrs Swan said.
“We once picked up a dog wandering in Albury and found it was registered in Goulburn.
“People just aren’t understanding how much of a responsibility owning dogs and cats can be.”
Mrs Swan was particularly frustrated with people not updating microchips, especially since Albury Council had offered free microchipping at the Million Paws Walk in past years.
“I’m really hopeful people will start to get the message, that these are not toys, but living creatures who have their own set of emotions,” Mrs Swan said.
In brighter news for the animal care group, PetStock, with some help from the public, has been able to donate $1750 worth of pet food, toys and other items.
Store owner Shane Evans said since his stores didn’t actually have dogs or cats in them, it was a fitting way to contribute to such an “outstanding community organisation”.
“Donating to the animal rescue has been very worthwhile for us, it’s such a great cause to enable,” Mr Evans said.