By Emily-Rose Toohey
Pets, particularly cats and dogs, often become an integral part of a person’s family.
They provide companionship, comfort, and will love their owners unconditionally.
But what if unforeseen circumstances force an owner to part with their pet?
Unfortunately, this is sometimes the case for cat parents who are unable to afford desexing.
Southern Downs ARK is a not-for-profit charity operating in the region that takes care of surrendered or abandoned dogs and cats.
The organisation fosters 900 cats a year from the pound and has seen the harsh consequences a lack of affordable desexing has on our feline friends.
Southern Downs ARK administrator Kate Keefe said the charity is trying hard to get the Southern Downs Regional Council (SDRC) to implement the National Desexing Network (NDN).
“NDN would make a huge difference,” Kate said.
But what exactly is the NDN?
According to the Animal Welfare League of Queensland’s (AWLQ) factsheet, it’s a targeted ongoing low-cost desexing program.
“It helps residents in need prevent abandonment and euthanasia of cats, and reduces numbers of wandering and unowned cats,” the AWLQ factsheet said.
Kate said council would need to spend a minimum of $5000 a year to subsidise cat desexing costs for people on pensions and low income earners – the NDN organises the rest.
“Desexing is very expensive and we get lots of very sad situations,” Kate said of the current increasing problem.
“Cat surrenders will never go down until it becomes low cost.”
The program’s vitality cannot be understated and the ARK has approached council about its implementation with no success.
Nonetheless, SDRC CEO Dave Burges said council has looked into it.
“We’re certainly supportive of what Southern Downs ARK does,” Mr Burges said assuredly.
Taking matters into their own hands, Kate said the ARK has started a petition urging council to sign up for the program.
It’s available for signing at Neville Produce in Applethorpe and the following locations in Warwick: Aquabird Pet Centre, Total Dog Grooming, ihear Hearing Clinic, GO VITA, The Scoop Health Foods, Tips ‘n’ Toes by Lisa, and the Warwick Golf Club bistro.
At the end of the day, the program’s purpose is simply to provide financial assistance to those who need it.
This in turn creates a better, safer life for our beloved cats, causing the number of them impounded and in foster homes to drastically reduce.
After all, Kate said the ARK going out of business is the rescue organisation’s true goal.
But for now, it’s up to council.
