Toby Comes to Town

A simple internet-based concept could save thousands of homeless cats and dogs from "Death Row" in New Zealand's many pounds and animal shelters.

The launch of Operation Toby New Zealand - www.operationtoby.co.nz - follows the runaway success of its Australian counterpart - www.operationtoby.com.au.

A strictly non-profit venture by a group of animal lovers, Operation Toby is a funky and visually impacting web-based directory of links to every animal adoption website and online photo gallery that can be found in that country.

Operation Toby Australia, now two years old, was developed to help achieve a reduction in the 200,000 cats and dogs destroyed annually in Australia's many animal shelters and council pounds, for want of a loving home.

Meantime, here in New Zealand, the RNZSPCA currently intakes a national total of around 61,000 animals each year. Some are returned to their original owners, one third of the total animals are re-homed, with the balance destroyed . . . for simple want of a home. In addition to these figures, are the many companion animals that never make it out of New Zealand's large network of local Council-run pounds. These statistics are held on a confidential Councils database managed by the Department of Internal Affairs, who decline to disclose them to the public.

The concept has met with such success in Australia that it has been decided to develop Operation Toby New Zealand, in the hope that an increasing number of New Zealanders will check out "Toby" when looking to adopt a new pet.

Operation Toby is the brainchild of former Wellington woman Ms Jordan Kelly. Ms Kelly, now Sydney-based, has made the trip back to New Zealand to unveil Operation Toby to the media.

Stemming the Senseless Carnage

Ms Kelly decided to do something about what she describes as the "shameful and senseless carnage of thousands of loveable animals", most of whom, she says, are abandoned through no fault of their own.

"Companion animals are dumped at pounds and shelters and surrendered to rescue groups for a variety of reasons . . . anything from a change in the owner's circumstances, to irresponsible and uncontrolled breeding, to the novelty wearing off after being purchased from a pet shop window," she said.

"Dogs and cats that come from pounds and shelters are usually fantastic pets because they're so grateful to be rescued. They're not at all unaware that they've been dumped and are in a parlous situation. And far more often than not, they're really nice animals."

Ms Kelly says there are numerous breed-specific and general rescue groups, including local SPCAs, working hard to save animals from destruction when their short number of holding days are up at local pounds around New Zealand.

Call to Local Residents

"That's where Operation Toby comes in," she says. "It's a simple concept whereby we bring together all the sites we can find and promote them in one place that forms a first, or peak, port of call for people looking to adopt pets. Site visitors can then surf off to any linked site they find of interest, viewing photos of available animals from all around the country."

Ms Kelly is encouraging local residents who are aware of reputable volunteer rescue groups or shelters with websites, to email details so that they can be featured on Operation Toby.

The email address is: toby@operationtoby.co.nz

Reference: www.operationtoby.co.nz

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