June 29 - July 5, 2022 ◆ LOOKING FOR A FUREVER HOME: Lucy, Dancer, Bob and Tily are just some of the dogs needing homes at Wangaratta RSPCA. PHOTO: Kurt Hickling
More hounds than homes
By BELINDA HARRISON
THE Wangaratta RSPCA is having to turn people away who need to surrender dogs due to a recent influx and few adoption applications being received. “We have had an overwhelming number of dogs come into the shelter for various reasons in the past few months,” Foster co-ordinator Nicole Oats said. “These are all loving dogs that just need a second chance with a family that will show them love, kindness and acceptance.” Dogs come into RSPCA care for various reasons - they
may have been removed from an unsafe environment, surrounded by their owners, or strays that never find their way home. “From the minute they walk in our door we are preparing them for adoption, we start with basic medical care, flea, worming vaccination and health checks,” Nicole said. “They are fed high quality food, given a warm, safe place to sleep and lots of love and gentle encouragement to shine. “A shelter is a stressful place for an animal and we are often understaffed and over capacity, but we do our best to
BOOK NOOK
ANIMAL CARE
WINE E TALK K
with LOUIS
with RSPCA
with ANITA
YOUR HEALTH with EMMA
work through behavioural issues taking time to understand each dog’s personality so we can match them to a suitable forever home they can thrive in. “They are then de-sexed and prepared for adoption, sometimes spending weeks waiting for their forever person to find them.” The Wangaratta RSPCA staff are passionate and often tears are shed when one of the dogs walk out that shelter gate one last time into their forever home.
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