Bunnies need homes for Easter
RSPCA pleads for people to foster animals as it seeks new centre
WANTED: Tasmanians to adopt a rabbit in the lead-up to Easter.
The RSPCA is looking for land and volunteers to foster animals as it moves to establish a single, centralised Tasmanian centre to allow it to concentrate on upholding animal welfare laws.
The society announced earlier this month its Mornington centre would close.
Its Spreyton centre will take on the extra load until a new facility is built and a network of foster carers established.
The Launceston centre will operate as normal until then.
The search for land on which to construct a purposebuilt facility is under way and the Mornington property is expected to be sold after Easter.
The animals still at Mornington are being moved to Spreyton. The RSPCA is also working with Dogs’ Homes of Tasmania and 10 Lives to help rehome the dogs and cats in its care.
RSPCA Tasmania chief executive Andrew Byrne said the society now needed to find a new home for the rabbits at the Mornington centre.
“We have been reducing our intake of animals for some months and the panic has gone from the situation but there are still a number of rabbits we need to move,” Mr Byrne said.
In the longer-term, the organisation is looking to establish a much bigger network of volunteers to take on animals in foster care arrangements.
“We need to concentrate on our inspectorate role and pro- tect animals as is our charter,” he said.
“We are also looking for people with land who can foster horses.”
Mr Byrne said that worldwide there was a move away from bricks and mortar animals pounds.
“A percentage of animals cannot cope with being in a pound,’’ he said.
“To them it is like being thrown in jail and they become very scared.”
Mr Byrne said more than 1000 of the 4000 animals taken into the RSPCA’s care each year were surrendered — mostly because their owners have to move or are unable to have pets at their rental property.
The RSPCA said it would still have a presence in all areas of Tasmania and animal transfer stations in the South would take animals to the centralised care facility.
We have been reducing our intake of animals for some months
— ANDREW BYRNE