A Bacchus Marsh veterinarian is encouraging animal lovers to see the beauty in the flaws when adopting pets this festive season.
Twelve-year-old Tabitha was surrendered to the Moorabool council more than a month ago but remains without a home.
Veterinarian Dr Brittany Sykes, who works with the council to care for stray animals, said Tabitha was pregnant and afraid when council officers brought her to the vet centre.
“Tabitha’s previous owners parted ways and couldn’t continue to house her,” Dr Sykes said.
“She was clearly well cared for … adores people but gets quite overwhelmed with dogs, and other cats so she is best suited to a single cat household.”
Tabitha was among the nearly 100 unwanted pets surrendered to the council throughout this year – most of them cats.
Dr Sykes said there is usually a rise in the number of kittens brought through the clinic over the Christmas period as kitten season hits its peak.
She encouraged anyone wanting to adopt pets to consider taking home an older cat or one that might be “less desirable”.
“To us they are all perfect, no matter how many legs, how many eyes, fuzzy or bald, chubby or scrawny,” Dr Sykes said.
“The older animals are often overlooked, as are animals with pre-existing conditions.
“The sad thing is that kittens are swept up and adopted as they are understandably gorgeous and sweet, but they do need a lot of work.”
She reminded potential pet owners, once the excitement of Christmas holidays fades, to continue giving as much attention and care to pets as possible.
