Cruel Owners Discarding Their Pets Before Christmas To Avoid Paying Kennel Fees

An animal protection expert has warned that some Australians have the tendency of duping their pets in the time leading up to the Christmas holidays, so they avoid paying for someone to care for them during the time they go on vacation.

The vice president for the Australian Animal Protection Society, Sue Thompson, told media outlets that people seem to be dodging the cost of placing their pets in kennels by letting them loose and hoping they get taken to a shelter.

Some of them even try to readopt the animals once the holidays are over.

She added that most people choose to spend Christmas holidays abroad. Considering it costs a lot for the kennels, they would rather get rid of them.

In corroboration with this, Melbourne animal shelters have also noted an influx of pets being taken to their facilities recently.

Fae Pawley from the Lost Dogs Home claimed it was a trend coming up to the holidays. She stated her North Melbourne shelter is currently overcrowded with kittens and cats because the owners also failed to neuter the pets.

The owners of animals that are taken to council points can be charged as much as they would be, had they placed the pets in commercial boarding areas.

The dog owners may face fines as high as $330 for leaving their pets at large.

The dogs may cost $65 on the first day, but that figure reduces to $15 for each day after that. Cat owners are charged $30 for the first day and $15 for the days following that one.

Some of the pet owners may leave their gates open or let the dogs out intentionally, knowing the council rangers are going to pick up the animals and take them to a shelter.

Animals have to be registered with the council before it is possible to have them released from the pound.

Save a dog founder and current president; Pam Weaver claimed their shelter also noted a sharp increase in voluntary surrenders during the past few months.

She said they have no evidence of why this is happening, but they do know there has been an increase of surrenders to the shelter over a short period.

RSPCA chief executive Liz Walker cautioned pet owners that responsibility for animals did not start and stop when it is convenient.

The RSPCA also does not recommend pets as a surprise Christmas gift.