COVID-19 provides opportunities to increase care and support for our own animals and to keep animals out of pounds and shelters.
AWLQ is encouraging the community to use the current restrictions to think “outside of the pound”, to prevent animals getting lost or homeless and being impounded, and to help animals already in pounds and shelters.
PREVENT LOST AND HOMELESS ANIMALS
- Help get wandering animals back to their owners and help them stay there so they don’t have to be impounded. Follow these step-by-step resources to achieve the best results with this. Council Animal Management departments may be required to reduce service provision due to COVID-19, so you can play a very important role in getting animals back home, and even perhaps offering support to owners struggling to keep their animals at home. IMPORTANT: Please ensure you are following the latest directives from public health officials.
- Use any extra time you have at home to build effective low-cost fencing or enclosures for your cat, to prevent him/her from wandering and potentially getting injured or being impounded. This will also assist to reduce workloads within vet clinics and animal management services. Find out how to build your own cat fencing or enclosure and keep your cat safe and happy in the Keeping Cats Safe Booklet. You will also have more time to get your cat used to not wandering, by providing more cuddles, play or just company – whatever your cat enjoys. Find out more about cat enrichment here.
- Check that all your animals have ID tags with current contact information and that their microchip registry contact details are up-to-date. This will help your neighbours get your pets back to you if they go missing, and prevent them from being impounded. Cats are more likely to go wandering over the fence than dogs. Don’t just assume they’re OK and will come back. Cats can get stuck somewhere or hide if scared and may be injured or impounded. To avoid this, Follow these step-by-step resources to achieve the best results with this. IMPORTANT: Please ensure you are following the latest directives from public health officials.
- Offer support to people in your street with pets. They may be struggling to provide for their pets. Phone them to find out what food their animals eat and provide some food, or offer to get it for them when you go out to get your essentials from the supermarket or order on-line. Offer to take animals for a walk or care for them for a couple of weeks if their owner is unwell, or has to go to hospital. IMPORTANT: Please ensure you are following the latest directives from public health officials.
- Seek assistance if you are struggling to care for your own animals during this difficult time. It is far better that your animals stay with you at this time, with pounds and shelters under extra pressure. So firstly, phone or email your neighbours or friends to see if they can temporarily help you care for your animal, in case it becomes necessary. Contact AWLQ on 07 5509 9000 if you need advice or assistance.