By Olivia Condous
Animal adoption rates soared during lockdown as the demand for pets reached an all-time high, but with restrictions eased and life returning to normal, rescue groups are struggling to deal with stray animal populations.
Melton Paws and Claws Animal organisation owner Melanie Norman said the issue of stray cats was “really bad” in the Melton area.
“Melton is really bad for animal hoarders, who have got themselves in a situation where they try to save stray animals but they run out of funds for desexing them,” Ms Norman said.
Ms Norman said more assistance was needed from the Melton council to provide affordable veterinary services, such as desexing, to curb the number of stray cats in the area.
“There’s no education out there, apart from rescue groups on Facebook, so people don’t know the laws,” she said.
Households that own between three and 10 fertile dogs or cats and breed pets to sell are classified as a domestic animal business and must register with the local council and comply with government codes, or they are considered to be breaking the law.
“What happens is called ‘backyard breeding’, people have accidental litters from two kittens, next thing you know their home is full of 60 kittens,” Ms Norman said.
“You’ve got people who don’t want to have a litter, they want to do the right thing but they don’t have access to a cheap vet out in the western suburbs.”
The increase in demand for pets during the pandemic has also caused an increase in people using scams and illegal behaviour to sell pets.
“There’s definitely warning signs, like if they weren’t letting you come around to their home and they’d rather meet you on the side of the road because they don’t want you to see the squalor the animals are living in,” Ms Norman said.
Melton community safety manager Phil Lawson said illegal pet breeding was an ongoing challenge faced by the council.
“We have a range of incentives and measures in place to encourage residents to desex their pets, including discounted pet registration fees for desexed and microchipped animals,” Mr Lawson said.
“We currently have an agreement with a desexing clinic where council subsidises desexing of pets for all City of Melton residents.
“Council takes the issue of illegal breeding establishments seriously, and we have recently had a successful prosecution and carried out raids on properties to help stamp out this type of activity,
“We encourage residents to do their part to stop illegal breeders by only buying their pets from a reputable breeder or through rescue animal organisations.”
