Plea for owners to de-sex pets after a surge in surrendered animals to the RSPCA

ABC NEWS (Australia)

Backyard dog breeders and complacent pet owners are being put on notice after the RSPCA in Canberra was forced to euthanise puppies born with severe deformities. They've issued a plea to Canberra dog owners to de-sex their pets. After a surge in pregnant mothers being surrendered and their puppies pushing already stretched resources to the brink.

Transcript

00:00The lucky last of a litter that was never meant to be.

00:06This is little marshmallow penguin and this little brown one's Cadbury hippo.

00:11So they were part of a litter of nine that were born here.

00:15Their mother is one of three pregnant dogs

00:18surrendered to animal rescue groups in Canberra in the past three weeks alone.

00:22They've gone on to deliver 26 puppies between them.

00:27The biggest challenge that we're seeing right now is the financial crisis.

00:31A lot of people just don't have the funds to do the things like dissecting.

00:35But unplanned pregnancies and backyard breeders can produce some harmful outcomes.

00:41We've seen unfortunately a litter of puppies born where three of the puppies were born

00:45without the roots of their mouths and noses.

00:47And unfortunately those puppies wouldn't be able to thrive and they wouldn't be able to survive.

00:52So we've had to kindly use some these for them.

00:55Texting isn't cheap starting at around $500.

00:59But without it the burden falls on rescue groups where resources are wearing thin.

01:04So I'll take you through our kennels and I do apologise for the noise.

01:08Today there are 280 animals at the RSPCA's Western facilities.

01:14Hi babies!

01:16Double the number from two years ago.

01:18Some, like Merida, have been in care for months.

01:21But eventually every dog has its day.

01:25We've looked at so many previously and looked online previously

01:28and he's the only one we've gone, that's the one.

01:30You just kind of know.

01:32A home for a hippo.

01:34Straight home, warm cuddle, heat her on.

01:37Cuddled up on the couch, watching some movies, getting used to the new house.

01:41A happy ending with a warning that this could have been a very different story.

01:46CROWD

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