18 years of insights contribute to the future of pet rehoming

Here’s an exciting and important update for you. The Victorian Government is taking steps to change the future of pets!

Recently PetRescue was part of a task force that came together with unique insights to provide a snapshot of pet rehoming processes in Australia. 

Read the report here.

Why this report matters

This report is a huge step towards a safer future for pets who enter the rescue system. 

18 years of data and insights from the PetRescue adoption platform contributed to providing an accurate picture of the current state of animal management for lawmakers and lobby for effective change. 

Setting a benchmark 

The recommendations in this report will have a huge impact on ensuring that every pet that goes into the pound system has a fair chance at finding a loving new home. 

For example, did you know that there’s no universal tracking for the outcome of pets that go into pounds? This means we don’t actually know how many pets are killed, or how many go into safe homes. And this needs to change. 

Having a standardised platform that everyone can use will have a massive difference in the ability to track pets and transparency around what’s happening to the pets.

Other recommendations in the report that can change outdated animal management include:

• Every time a pet goes into a pound or shelter, their “behaviour” is assessed to determine whether they are fit for adoption and suitable to be placed in a community. These assessments are outdated and unfair to these pets who are in a high-stress environment, and the report recommends that these assessments are reviewed and investigations are made into how they can be improved so that pets are given the care they deserve.
   

• Introducing the requirement for organisations (including rescue groups and council pounds) to register so that the government can see that they’re abiding by the standards. Additionally, the report recommends that government-funded training and education be provided to groups to ensure that they’re meeting these standards.
   

• One area that wasn’t included in the initial scope, but ended up being included in the report’s recommendations because it repeatedly came up in discussions, is the desexing of urban stray cats. PetRescue strongly supports council-funded desexing programs for owned and semi-owned cats, as over 80,000 cats are killed in pounds each year in Australia.

PetRescue is changing the way pets are rehomed

PetRescue’s Home2Home program is helping to change outcomes for rescue pets, preventing them from entering the pound system by offering owners direct rehoming. This means that pets are kept safely in their homes during the rehoming process, with owners being able to select their new home as the ones who know them best. You can learn more about Home2Home here.

Read the Taskforce On Rehoming Pets Report here.

Did you have any thoughts or feedback on the report? Get involved in the conversation! Drop us an email at info@petrescue.org.au 

Image: Sage, adopted via Home2Home.