A female dog with six puppies abandoned earlier this week is one of many casualties of Christmas 2018.
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They were left behind when their owners moved house.
The pups were so young only two survived.
They are now doing well thanks to Country Companion Animal Rescue’s Julie-ann Ehrlich who said it was a story that unfortunately happens all too often.
“I have been feeding and caring for them over Christmas,” she said.
“This is not unusual. It happens all the time”.
Ms Ehrlich said it often happened when people’s lease was up.
Many animals left behind at this time of year are often last year’s Christmas present and not so cute and cuddly any more.
So they are abandoned and replaced with a new-born puppy or kitten at the next place they live.
“It is a continuous cycle”.
Ms Ehrlich said animals are also abandoned when the pet owners were not able to secure a new lease that allows pets.
Most of the abandoned cats and dogs are between 12 and 18 months old.
At that age they cost more to feed. And as adolescents tend to be naughtier, don’t listen and need training.
Ms Ehrlich said it was not just cats and dogs that are abandoned. Birds and rabbits are among the many animals she rescues.
She said it is also harder to find new homes for pets that are a little older because many people don’t want to train an older cat or dog. Or don’t have the time.
A lot of people only like puppies and kittens. They see it as easier to get rid of last year’s Christmas present and replace them
- Julie-ann Ehrlich
Some pets are also abandoned by their owners when they who go on holidays.
Rather than put them in a boarding kennel they dump them in the bush and get a new puppy or kitten when they return.
“Some even put them in a sack. A lot of people only like puppies and kittens,” she said.
“They see it as easier to get rid of last year’s Christmas present and replace them”.
Ms Ehrlich started Country Companion Animal Rescue four years ago because she saw there was a great need.
She presently has 12 kittens seeking adoption. They were either dumped at the pound or found in backyards after their owners moved house.
“Some of them were dumped with their mum and some of them were just dumped by themselves”.
“A lot of them were probably last year’s Christmas presents that were never desexed and now they are having their own kittens”.
Country Companion Animal Rescue also rescues pets from pounds in country areas such as Walgett, West Wyalong and Lightning Ridge.