Families all over Australia are enjoying the companionship of an animal that they adopted from a shelter. Justin Hedges and Sharon Ackers, two such people that opened their homes to shelter pets, are examples of successful and permanent adoptions.
Five years ago Justin Hedges and his fiancée Emma adopted Gizmo from the Animal Aid Coldstream Cattery. Gizmo was only a kitten at the time and he was very insistent on being picked out of the bunch. Justin had lived close to the shelter for many years prior to the adoption, so it was both awareness and attitude that prompted him to adopt.
“They look after the animals they’ve got. Pet shops just run a business. [Animal Aid] need the money more,” Justin said.
In regards to customer service and assistance from the shelter staff, the Cattery Attendant was “Absolutely fantastic” and Justin would recommend others consider the adoption option.
Six years ago Sharon Ackers and her family adopted Isis from the Malaga RSPCA shelter in Western Australia. Isis was a young kitten and the RSPCA staff were very patient as the family acquainted themselves with her. Sharon chose to adopt because of the awareness campaigns on television describing the high numbers of unwanted litters over the Christmas period.
“The staff were great. They answered any questions we had and they gave us a lot of time with her. When we came back to pick her up Isis had been de-sexed and micro-chipped at the shelter veterinary clinic,” Sharon said.
Based on her positive experience, Sharon would also recommend adopting from an animal shelter.
Monday, October 19, 2009
Wednesday, October 14, 2009
Pets On The Net
Adopting a new pet is a big decision but it doesn’t have to be a hard one. Animal shelters all over Australia are coming up with innovative and easy ways to bring you together with your new best friend. Most of the research can be done on the internet now; many sites like Adoptapet and Pet Rescue are utilising the world wide web to raise awareness and promote adoptions. Pictures of lovable faces are all over these kind of sites and anyone looking for a new pet can easily make that first connection from the convenience of their desktop.
The internet is wonderful way to promote shelters that do not receive government funding. The Animal Aid shelter in Coldstream, Victoria is a non-profit organisation that relies completely on the generosity of the community.
Animal Aid’s Managing Director Nell Thompson spoke about the raising awareness using the internet. “We have always just concentrated on the animals. All the money goes into the animals. All the effort goes into the animals. But we understand that we need to change that. We need to accept that we need to spend money on marketing because that’s the only way we can get the word out. So in January we launched our new website which has been incredibly successful.”
The Coldstream Animal Aid shelter has gone one step further and launched a clever and colourful "Meet your Match™" program. Developed and tested by Animal Behaviourist Dr Emily Weiss, this program matches people’s personalities and expectations to suitable animals within the shelter.
“Initially what happens is when people come into the shelter they are handed one of [our] surveys. That gives us an idea ... what category they fall into – either purple, orange or green, and that indicates to us which sort of dog that they’re after. So they are then given a colour card as to which colour they are, they go out to the kennels and on the dog’s kennel card it’ll indicate which colour they are. So we’re looking for a match. That doesn’t preclude them from adopting something that isn’t their colour, but it just opens up some conversation,” Nell explains.
Staff and volunteers from Animal Aid hope that the "Meet your Match™" program will increase the likeliness of successful and permanent placements. "Meet your Match™" has been designed to link with the SAFER™ (Safety Assessment for Evaluating Re-homing) Assessment which determines the likelihood of aggression and the level of sociability. All dogs that pass this assessment can be confidently re-homed at little to no risk to families. According to the Animal Aid website this science-based program is helping people to make good adoption choices. Each of the dogs listed on the website has their colour affixed to their profile, as well as a link to the explanation of that particular Canine-ality, i.e.: Wallflower, Go-Getter, and Teacher’s Pet. At the present time only the Canine-ality and Puppy-ality adoption programs are in effect, but Animal Aid will be soon implementing the cat equivalent: Feline-ality. For more information on Animal Aid’s "Meet your Match™" program visit their website here.
The RSPCA recognises that choosing the right pet takes a lot of planning, research and time, so they have launched the Adoptapet website, an informative national site that features all of the animals being cared for in RSPCA shelters. This site takes the legwork out of adoption. Once a person has found an animal that they feel a connection towards, they can then contact the relevant shelter and discuss the animal with staff.
The website is updated every 1-3 days and there is also a Seniors Program, an initiative seeking homes for animals older than seven years. The website lists all of the benefits of more mature pets, and it also showcases all of the lovable and friendly faces that are waiting for a new family. The RSPCA website features a helpful FAQ section that answers many questions often posed by potential pet owners, and it arms an individual with as much information about their new pet as they could possibly need.
The Australian Animal Protection Society (AAPS) located in Keysborough, Victoria has also turned to the internet to raise awareness and reach out to prospective pet owners. Their website features numerous large, high quality colour pictures of each animal up for adoption and it lists all of the information that will help searchers decide. All of the forms can be downloaded and completed prior to visiting the shelter, and staff encourages that this information is forwarded to them electronically so that they can begin to match person and pet as soon as possible. For more information on the Keysborough Animal Shelter visit their fantastic site here.
There are dozens of website dedicated to the adoption of homeless animals. Any search engine will direct a person to a myriad of sites within their state, and national sites like Pet Rescue, ASPCA, the Pedigree Adoption Drive, and PetNet are also doing their part to find families for homeless animals all over Australia. The internet has brought the world closer, and it has certainly made the job easier for those that believe these animals deserve a second chance. Choosing and adopting a pet is a big decision, but with an endless source of information at your fingertips, finding that new family member has never been easier.
The internet is wonderful way to promote shelters that do not receive government funding. The Animal Aid shelter in Coldstream, Victoria is a non-profit organisation that relies completely on the generosity of the community.
Animal Aid’s Managing Director Nell Thompson spoke about the raising awareness using the internet. “We have always just concentrated on the animals. All the money goes into the animals. All the effort goes into the animals. But we understand that we need to change that. We need to accept that we need to spend money on marketing because that’s the only way we can get the word out. So in January we launched our new website which has been incredibly successful.”
The Coldstream Animal Aid shelter has gone one step further and launched a clever and colourful "Meet your Match™" program. Developed and tested by Animal Behaviourist Dr Emily Weiss, this program matches people’s personalities and expectations to suitable animals within the shelter.
“Initially what happens is when people come into the shelter they are handed one of [our] surveys. That gives us an idea ... what category they fall into – either purple, orange or green, and that indicates to us which sort of dog that they’re after. So they are then given a colour card as to which colour they are, they go out to the kennels and on the dog’s kennel card it’ll indicate which colour they are. So we’re looking for a match. That doesn’t preclude them from adopting something that isn’t their colour, but it just opens up some conversation,” Nell explains.
Staff and volunteers from Animal Aid hope that the "Meet your Match™" program will increase the likeliness of successful and permanent placements. "Meet your Match™" has been designed to link with the SAFER™ (Safety Assessment for Evaluating Re-homing) Assessment which determines the likelihood of aggression and the level of sociability. All dogs that pass this assessment can be confidently re-homed at little to no risk to families. According to the Animal Aid website this science-based program is helping people to make good adoption choices. Each of the dogs listed on the website has their colour affixed to their profile, as well as a link to the explanation of that particular Canine-ality, i.e.: Wallflower, Go-Getter, and Teacher’s Pet. At the present time only the Canine-ality and Puppy-ality adoption programs are in effect, but Animal Aid will be soon implementing the cat equivalent: Feline-ality. For more information on Animal Aid’s "Meet your Match™" program visit their website here.
The RSPCA recognises that choosing the right pet takes a lot of planning, research and time, so they have launched the Adoptapet website, an informative national site that features all of the animals being cared for in RSPCA shelters. This site takes the legwork out of adoption. Once a person has found an animal that they feel a connection towards, they can then contact the relevant shelter and discuss the animal with staff.
The website is updated every 1-3 days and there is also a Seniors Program, an initiative seeking homes for animals older than seven years. The website lists all of the benefits of more mature pets, and it also showcases all of the lovable and friendly faces that are waiting for a new family. The RSPCA website features a helpful FAQ section that answers many questions often posed by potential pet owners, and it arms an individual with as much information about their new pet as they could possibly need.
The Australian Animal Protection Society (AAPS) located in Keysborough, Victoria has also turned to the internet to raise awareness and reach out to prospective pet owners. Their website features numerous large, high quality colour pictures of each animal up for adoption and it lists all of the information that will help searchers decide. All of the forms can be downloaded and completed prior to visiting the shelter, and staff encourages that this information is forwarded to them electronically so that they can begin to match person and pet as soon as possible. For more information on the Keysborough Animal Shelter visit their fantastic site here.
There are dozens of website dedicated to the adoption of homeless animals. Any search engine will direct a person to a myriad of sites within their state, and national sites like Pet Rescue, ASPCA, the Pedigree Adoption Drive, and PetNet are also doing their part to find families for homeless animals all over Australia. The internet has brought the world closer, and it has certainly made the job easier for those that believe these animals deserve a second chance. Choosing and adopting a pet is a big decision, but with an endless source of information at your fingertips, finding that new family member has never been easier.
Sunday, October 11, 2009
Pets As Presents This Christmas
December is approaching and many are beginning to think about the gift giving season. It may seem like a wonderful idea to buy a fluffy kitten or a beautiful puppy, wrap them in a shiny red bow and watch your child or partner squeal with delight – but a pet is a lifetime commitment, not a holiday treat.
Christmas is a busy time for animal shelters. The RSPCA can expect over 3,000 animal surrenders in December, hundreds of these on Christmas Day. Aside from the enormous pressure this places on staff, animals and resources; not all of these animals are able to be re-homed. This influx of impulsive buying has devastating consequences. Shelters are forced to destroy hundreds of animals every year because they do not have the space or resources to accommodate them.
General Manager of Animal Aid, Nell Thompson spoke about the months following the Christmas period. “What we do see a few months after Christmas are puppies coming in when they’re four, five, six months. They’re very active. They’re starting to destroy things... That coincides with winter so they’re muddy ... people don’t want them inside anymore.”
A new pet needs to be a well thought-out family decision. A pet requires considerable time and money. It will have vet bills, food bills, grooming requirements and exercise needs. It will need to be cared for when the family is away, and trained for basic obedience.
Pets do not stay cute and cuddly forever. When they grow up they will require a certain amount of attention that a working family or an individual is unwilling or incapable of providing. It is a sad fact that people grow out of their pets and consequently dump them at a nearby shelter.
Various organisations like PETstock and Pedigree have taken a stand against impulse pet purchases. Both recently announced national pet re-homing programs. PETstock has joined forces with PetRescue, Australia’s largest pet adoption website, to bring people and pets together this holiday season. These organisations are united in the hope that they can reduce the tragic number of surrendered animals.
Failure to microchip or affix an identity tag to pets is another contributor to the seasonal influx. Not all animals that find their way to shelters over Christmas are there because the sheen has faded. Some animals are loved members of the family but they have been lost or left behind whilst the family is travelling. Organisations like the RSPCA urge that pet-owners keep their information up-to-date so that their pet can be returned to them. It is a sad fact that shelters just don’t have the room to house lost pets for any extended period of time.
If you are considering a new addition to the family consider the friendly, sociable, and homeless pets desperate for a second chance. Consider your circumstances. Understand your responsibilities. And maybe save a life this Christmas.
Christmas is a busy time for animal shelters. The RSPCA can expect over 3,000 animal surrenders in December, hundreds of these on Christmas Day. Aside from the enormous pressure this places on staff, animals and resources; not all of these animals are able to be re-homed. This influx of impulsive buying has devastating consequences. Shelters are forced to destroy hundreds of animals every year because they do not have the space or resources to accommodate them.
General Manager of Animal Aid, Nell Thompson spoke about the months following the Christmas period. “What we do see a few months after Christmas are puppies coming in when they’re four, five, six months. They’re very active. They’re starting to destroy things... That coincides with winter so they’re muddy ... people don’t want them inside anymore.”
A new pet needs to be a well thought-out family decision. A pet requires considerable time and money. It will have vet bills, food bills, grooming requirements and exercise needs. It will need to be cared for when the family is away, and trained for basic obedience.
Pets do not stay cute and cuddly forever. When they grow up they will require a certain amount of attention that a working family or an individual is unwilling or incapable of providing. It is a sad fact that people grow out of their pets and consequently dump them at a nearby shelter.
Various organisations like PETstock and Pedigree have taken a stand against impulse pet purchases. Both recently announced national pet re-homing programs. PETstock has joined forces with PetRescue, Australia’s largest pet adoption website, to bring people and pets together this holiday season. These organisations are united in the hope that they can reduce the tragic number of surrendered animals.
Failure to microchip or affix an identity tag to pets is another contributor to the seasonal influx. Not all animals that find their way to shelters over Christmas are there because the sheen has faded. Some animals are loved members of the family but they have been lost or left behind whilst the family is travelling. Organisations like the RSPCA urge that pet-owners keep their information up-to-date so that their pet can be returned to them. It is a sad fact that shelters just don’t have the room to house lost pets for any extended period of time.
If you are considering a new addition to the family consider the friendly, sociable, and homeless pets desperate for a second chance. Consider your circumstances. Understand your responsibilities. And maybe save a life this Christmas.
PETstock’s October National In-Store Adoption Day
Animal Aid, Pet Rescue and PETstock combined forces on October 10th to bring shelter animals into the community. Following the success of earlier years, PETstock hosted a Pet Adoption Day in their Lilydale and Mitcham stores. Staff and volunteers were on hand to answer questions, sell merchandise, and showcase animals in need of a loving home.
The National In-Store Adoption Day was aimed at moving shelter animals out of their cages and into the public eye. People had the chance to speak to an adoption advisor about choosing the right pet and responsible pet ownership, and they were given the opportunity to interact with the friendly animals in a positive and pressure-free environment.
General Manager of Animal Aid, Nell Thompson, was present at the In-Store Adoption Day, and spoke about the day's aims. “It’s not about impulse buys. Our normal adoption protocols will be adhered to but it’s just about taking it out into the public arena; to say to people look at these fantastic dogs. You could have the opportunity to adopt them. Think about coming to see us.”
Animal Aid brought along a number of eager pets looking for a new family. Each of the animals had a brightly coloured profile on display and all of the dogs were wearing coloured scarves that indicated their “Canine-ality”. The staff wearing their ‘Person-ality’ colours were enthusiastic about promoting the new “Meet Your Match” program, the shelter’s new matching initiative, and the atmosphere was optimistic.
The National In-Store Adoption Day was aimed at moving shelter animals out of their cages and into the public eye. People had the chance to speak to an adoption advisor about choosing the right pet and responsible pet ownership, and they were given the opportunity to interact with the friendly animals in a positive and pressure-free environment.
General Manager of Animal Aid, Nell Thompson, was present at the In-Store Adoption Day, and spoke about the day's aims. “It’s not about impulse buys. Our normal adoption protocols will be adhered to but it’s just about taking it out into the public arena; to say to people look at these fantastic dogs. You could have the opportunity to adopt them. Think about coming to see us.”
Animal Aid brought along a number of eager pets looking for a new family. Each of the animals had a brightly coloured profile on display and all of the dogs were wearing coloured scarves that indicated their “Canine-ality”. The staff wearing their ‘Person-ality’ colours were enthusiastic about promoting the new “Meet Your Match” program, the shelter’s new matching initiative, and the atmosphere was optimistic.
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