Think before you buy pets, says govt

People should think first before they pick up a pet as a Christmas present, NSW Local Government Minister Kerry Hickey has said.

More than 35,000 dogs and cats were received by the NSW RSPCA this year, an increase of more than 3,400 on last year.

"Many of these animals were surrendered or abandoned after being bought without thinking through the long-term responsibilities of being a pet owner," Mr Hickey said in a statement.

"Surprise purchases from pet shops and newspaper ads often just result in more unwanted animals landing on the RSPCA's door."

Mr Hickey also urged people planning to buy a pet to get it desexed.

Indiscriminate breeding led to pet over-population that hurt animals and created a wide range of problems in the community, he said.

Reference: http://news.ninemsn.com.au

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