Pets dumped at Christmas

Pets Haven founder, Trish Burke with Cracker whose owner gave him up at Christmas.

Kylie Kitchen

About 100 people wanting to surrender their pet for Christmas phoned Pets Haven Foundation on Christmas Eve and Christmas Day.

The Woodend animal shelter took a record number of calls in the two days from people wanting to quickly offload their cat or dog.

"Christmas Eve was one of the most horrendous days in our history that we've experienced. It was quite daunting. The reasons were really quite disturbing and we hope we never experience that again," Pets Haven founder, Trish Burke said.

Ms Burke said she was baffled at people's reasons for permanently giving up their fury friends.

"One woman rang up and said she's having family over and the dog annoys everyone by jumping on them, so she needs to 'get rid' of it now," Ms Burke said.

"Most of the callers ... they were wanting their homes to look nice or preparing to go away.

"Those that were going away didn't want to pay for boarding. Some had no care factor, thinking that their animals aren't worthy."

The Pets Haven shelter was only able to accommodate a small number of the animals before turning to their list of foster carers, even calling for extra carers via Facebook.

When the list of animal carers was exhausted, Ms Burke had no choice but to turn people away with requests to surrender animals.

Some people threatened killing their own pets. Ms Burke said such a response was among the generally abrupt manner from callers.

"We actually just had to say no to quite a few and we found there was a lot of arrogance thrown towards us," Ms Burke said.

"We were scared because we didn't know when we got these phone calls if they were really going to 'knock them on the head' as they said, or even let them go. 

"We did not know if in saying no we were giving the animals a death sentence.

"A lot of the volunteers left Pets Haven so distressed."

Ms Burke said it was daunting to have so many pet owners wanting to surrender their animals instantly at such a busy time of year.

She urges people to take their responsibility to their pets more seriously.

"When your children have behavioural issues you deal with it, it's called parenting. It's exactly the same with animals," she said.

"You don't get rid of your child, you correct their behaviour. It's called parenting and you can do that with your animals.

"You don't get rid of your child, you correct their behaviour. It's called parenting and you can do that with your animals" - Pets Haven founder, Trish Burke

"They're never too old to learn new behaviour, train it. (Bad behaviour) can easily be corrected, it's called time, patience and training."

Ms Burke asks pet owners to think carefully before surrendering an animal, and allow some time for it to be handled properly.

"If you really do need to surrender an animal you do need to put some thought into it," she said.

"Don't call on Christmas Eve or the day before to say it has to happen today because it puts a lot of pressure on us."

Pets Haven is looking for more foster carers over the holiday period who are able to temporarily care for animals in their own home.

Ms Burke is expecting, and dreading, the regular post-Christmas influx of pets in a few week's time.

"In about two weeks time, after the novelty's worn off, all those pet shop presents will be coming through," she said.

"Then a few months later, because it's school holidays and they've got this new pet that's no longer a puppy, that's when we get another influx."

Pets Haven asks pet owners to consider all options for keeping their pet first.

If your would like to volunteer as an animal foster carer call the Pets Haven volunteers on 5427 3603 or email at shelter@petshaven.com.au to register.

The surrendered cats and dogs are ready for adoption, for more information contact Pets Haven.