Animal rescue services are stretched to capacity, with shelters and foster networks running out of room amid the rising cost of living and increasing homelessness.
While many families may consider puppies or kittens for Christmas, 4Paws Animal Rescue encourages the community to think about adopting an adult animal.
Patron of 4Paws Ashley Robinson says that, sadly, “some people think pets are like handbags and they buy one and then don’t want it”.
“A lot of it is circumstances where people have lost their jobs, their houses or they’ve gone into a retirement village or in care. So 4Paws are there to help with that,” he says.
Adult cats and dogs often wait weeks or months for someone to notice them, yet they can make the most magical additions to a family. They are often calmer, house-trained, socialised and can form strong, loyal bonds with their new owners.
Ashley says he and his wife Sheila have been really strong, long-time supporters of 4Paws.
He praises the volunteer-based structure of the service: “The thing that really attracted me to 4Paws is they run this massive organisation with volunteers and no one’s getting paid. So, people should be generous with their time and support them as well.”
For those not ready to adopt, 4Paws also welcomes foster carers, donations or sponsorship of permanent foster animals.
“It is smarter and more productive to adopt or foster from 4Paws and organisations like them rather than go to a breeder to buy a dog or a cat,” Ashley says.
Visit 4pawsanimalrescue.org.au.
