By Jamie Salter
New data released by The Lost Dogs’ Home shows almost 14,000 animals spent time in care in the year 2020-21 while awaiting to be re-homed or re-united with families.
The new Lost Dogs’ Home 2020-21 annual report shows more than 15,000 adoption applications were received this year, with 4,758 animals adopted.
The Cranbourne based facility saw a slight decrease of animals in its care this year, with 2,880 cats and kittens, compared to 3,500 the year prior and 1,800 dogs and puppies, compared to 2,700 the previous year.
The Lost Dogs’ Home Cranbourne shelter supervisor Allie Small said the trend was a result of the coronavirus pandemic.
“With Covid-19, pet owners are seeing more value in their pets because they’re spending more time with them,” she said.
The Cranbourne shelter has a team of 25 staff members working to reunite pets with their families.
“We are a council contracted service, so strays are brought in to us and then we try to find the home the animal came from,” Ms Small said.
“We reunite about 73 per cent per cent of the dogs that come through and then any pets that are left find a new home.”
The Cranbourne site started offering dog adoptions about 12 months ago and have had 106 successful dog adoptions this year.
Ms Small said the demand outweighed the supply of dogs available for adoption.
“It’s incredibly exciting, especially for the Cranbourne shelter because we can now experience the dog adoptions, which is really motivating,” she said.
She reminded pet owners to remember the value of their furry friends when getting back to their normal routines.
Spokesperson Suzana Talevski said The Lost Dog’s Home was grateful for the support of the community during the pandemic.
“The disruptions caused by lockdown restrictions this year did make our operations more difficult in some ways, but we did have the experience from 2020 to understand how to navigate those challenges.“
