COAST PET SAINTS IN LEAGUE OF THEIR OWN
FIFTEEN years ago, nearly a third of this little fella’s mates would have met a sad ending.
It was even worse for domesticated cats on the Gold Coast, where half of them in 2002 were euthanised.
Today, that rate has fallen to one of the lowest in Australia – to 7 per cent for both cats and dogs – and the Animal Welfare League of Queensland (AWLQ) wants to reduce it further.
The league’s Getting to Zero summit starting today in Surfers Paradise hopes to educate the community about saving our four-legged friends.
The five-day summit at Mantra on View is expected to draw around 500 people and includes a number of international speakers.
Strategic development officer Joy Verrinder said animals on the Gold Coast were euthanised only if they were beyond treatment or it posed a risk to other animals or people.
“On saving lives, we’ve been using innovative rehoming strategies. We reduce our prices during Christmas to encourage people to adopt, we match stories to animals with their unique personalities ...”
Ms Verrinder said the gradual changes meant staff needed to do extra work, including behaviour modification and working alongside rescue groups, to save the animal.
“We now save FIV cats with an immune deficiency.
“We save cats with ringworm. That’s big for a shelter because it is so contagious.”
The shelter also employs community clinics offering cheaper desexing and payment plans and gives educational talks to schools.