Shaun Harris runs a Pet Ambulance Service and regularly looks after strays. 71141 Picture: DAMJAN JANEVSKI
By Charlene Gatt
ALMOST one stray or lost animal is put down each day in the City of Maribyrnong.
Maribyrnong City Council figures show that 34 stray and lost cats and 23 dogs have been put to death between 1 July and 31 August this year, with numbers expected to climb as breeding season starts.
Only eight of the municipality’s 48 impounded cats had been recovered by their owners, while a further five found new homes.
The figures read better for lost and stray dogs, with 46 of the 90 impounded recovered and 23 re-housed.
The council could not provide records for last year, but in 2009/10, 576 cats and 125 dogs were put down.
Stray and lost animals at the council’s contracted pound at the Lost Dogs Home are kept for eight days before they are put down.
There are currently 6517 dogs and 2994 cats registered in the municipality.
Mayor Sarah Carter said micro-chipping pets greatly increased the council’s ability to reunite pets with their owners.
Braybrook resident Shaun Harris, who runs the Pet Ambulance Service, said he regularly picked up lots of stray cats, dogs and other animals, including a duck.
Recently, the Pet Ambulance Service had rescued and found good homes for a total of 129 pregnant cats that had been surrendered to vets.
“It’s crazy, it’s absolutely crazy,” Mr Harris said.
“Where we are in Braybrook, three out of every five cats I see are pregnant.
“That’s what owners and the council have to deal with. Cats can have up to seven or eight kittens. It is a problem, especially with stray cats, because they breed like rabbits.”
Mr Harris said there was not enough focus on looking after cats and their offspring during breeding season.
