Funds needed for animal shelter to save Sydney pets

Concerned animal lovers in the Hills are pushing to open their own animal shelter in a bid to save more pets from death row.

Members of the animal rescue group DCH Animal Adoptions plan to raise $800,000 to open a shelter in 2010.

The project is being driven by volunteer carer Judy Findlay, from Baulkham Hills, who said the organisation was only able to save a small percentage of the doomed pets because of lack of carers and space.

Figures compiled by the Department of Local Government show that 3448 cats and dogs were put down at Blacktown Pound in the 2006/7 financial year and 613 at the Hawkesbury Animal Shelter, the two closest council pounds to the Hills.

Last week DCH Animal Adoptions rescued its 2000th animal. Since it was set up in January 2005 volunteers have rehomed 900 dogs, 874 cats and 26 horses but it has more than 100 pets still in care waiting to be re-homed, including 17 horses.

“At the moment we are limited in how many animals we can save from death row because our 70 volunteers who care for the animals in their own homes are full,” said Mrs Findlay. “We go to the pounds once a week but we can only take a dog if a foster carer has space for one. It is heartbreaking.

“If they are microchipped they are kept for 14 days. If they are not claimed in that time or sold we are their last chance. They are euthanased on day 15.

“If they are not microchipped they have seven days. We have to go in there blinkered. There may be 60 dogs but we may only have space for one.”

She said having a DCH Animal Adoption Shelter meant that they would be able to take in more dogs and cats and quarantine them for two weeks before they went out to foster carers.

To donate to this shelter please visit the DCH Animal Adoptions website

Reference: http://hills-shire-times.whereilive.com.au

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