(For more Bloomberg Muse, click on MUSE lt;GOgt;.)
Feb. 8 (Bloomberg) — Smelling gas one morning, a southern Pennsylvania farmer almost passed out when he went outside to check on his bellowing cows.
One of the animals did keel over, kicking its feet in spasms. A couple of days later, a calf was fighting for its life, the farmer said. It died.
Something awful is happening over the Marcellus Shale, the vast geological formation in eastern North America where energy companies are looking for natural gas.
Hydraulic fracturing, or fracking, a process for extracting gas by injecting high volumes of water and chemicals into deep wells, has sparked complaints about ruined landscapes and fouled groundwater. Increasingly there is evidence, mostly anecdotal, that animals are suffering.
A new study by veterinarian Michelle Bamberger and Robert Oswald, a professor of veterinary medicine at Cornell University, chronicles case studies of dozens of farmers and pet owners in six states over the Marcellus Shale.
Their findings, published in New Solutions: A Journal of Environmental and Occupational Health Policy, are a harrowing account of sudden deaths of cattle, as well as reproductive and neurological problems in horses, cats, dogs and other animals.
The Pennsylvania farmers I spoke with have lost cows, calves, a horse, a couple dozen chickens. Many of the animals succumb in the same way: seizure-like symptoms, gasping for breath and a quick wasting away. A Rottweiler and a Dalmatian also fell ill and died.
Crops Lost
These farmers are getting out of the beef business, in part over concern that their animals will become delivery systems for contaminants.
An organic farmer from southeast Ohio told me he has abandoned his cash crop, ginseng, for now, concerned that contaminants would enter his product. He began noticing changes around his 20-acre property in 2007, when a fracking operation began dumping wastewater nearby. He lost quite a few deer that were drawn to the brine and antifreeze in the fluid.
Energy representatives dismiss the veterinarians study. They say that health indicators have actually improved in areas with shale development.
The paper is little more than a collection of personal testimonials that cannot be independently assessed or verified, says Steve Everley, a spokesman for industry group Energy in Depth. The paper is full of bold assertions about oil and gas development, but empty of any facts or scientific evidence to support those opinions.
Causal Link
Establishing a causal link between fracking and specific health threats is tricky. Energy companies are not required to disclose the composition of fracking fluids for proprietary reasons, so they dont.
Like a lot of people who live near fracking operations, many of the farmers I interviewed are in litigation with an energy company and wish to remain anonymous.
We dont know what the chemicals are in a lot of these cases, says Bamberger. It gets very frustrating when you start saying: What was in the tissue? What killed these animals exactly?
In 2010, the Pennsylvania Department of Agriculture quarantined 28 head of cattle after they drank wastewater from a fracking site in Tioga County. The fear was that a radioactive contaminant in the water, strontium, would end up in beef.
In December 2011, the Environmental Protection Agency linked water pollution to fracking for the first time, after examining contaminated water in central Wyoming.
Note to New York
Last month the federal agency announced it would test water in dozens of homes around Dimock, Pennsylvania, a hotbed of fracking activity. It also told New York it would need to improve safeguards for drinking water before tapping into the Marcellus Shale.
New York placed a moratorium on fracking in 2010 so it could revise the rules governing the practice. Bamberger and Oswald are among those who contributed to the tens of thousands of public comments on the draft regulations, which were closed last month.
Bamberger submitted the published study; Oswald contributed 15 pages of his own to denounce the inadequacy of the proposed rules.
There are so many flaws in the document, he says. It is unlikely to be able to protect us from the industrialization of our landscape and hydraulic fracturing.
Now, New Yorks Department of Environmental Conservation will review comments and revise regulations as necessary. It seems inevitable that the state will be fracking eventually, so the question is whether the industry can proceed safely — for humans and animals.
New Yorkers should listen to the stories of farmers, hunters and vets before making the same fracking mistakes that are being made elsewhere.
(Mike Di Paola writes on preservation and the environment for Muse, the arts and culture section of Bloomberg News. The opinions expressed are his own.)
–Editors: Jeffrey Burke, Lili Rosboch.
To contact the writer of this column: Mike Di Paola at mdipaola@nyc.rr.com.
To contact the editor responsible for this story: Manuela Hoelterhoff in New York at mhoelterhoff@bloomberg.net.
The Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine at Tufts University today announced a collaboration with Worcester Technical High School (WTHS) that will bring a low-cost primary care clinic to pets from underserved areas throughout the Greater Worcester Area.
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Located on the high schools campus on Skyline Drive in Worcester, the clinic will pair fourth-year veterinary students in the Cummings School’s Doctor of Veterinary Medicine program with students in the veterinary assistant program at WTHS. This is believed to be the first time a veterinary school has chosen a high school clinic venue to facilitate an educational and outreach partnership.
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Work has begun on the clinic space, and an opening is anticipated in late spring.
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“This collaboration represents a different way of looking at service to the community, care for needy animals, and educating compassionate, knowledgeable veterinary professionals,” said Deborah T. Kochevar, DVM, PhD, dean of the Cummings School of Veterinary Medicine., in a prepared statement.
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“Animals and their owners, and students from both schools, win with this model, she said.
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The veterinary school’s involvement in the Greater Worcester area has increased since 2009, when students and faculty began to offer an annual free vaccination and wellness clinic at Worcester Housing Authority residences. That effort has since grown to serve 200 pets each year at six WHA sites.
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“By pairing veterinary assistant students alongside professional DVM students, we will be able to do more than just treat the critically underserved pets among the neediest communities in the area,” added WTHS Principal Sheila Harrity in a prepared statement. “We will demonstrate to our students the career possibilities beyond high school while giving them hands-on education.”
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By requiring proof, for example, of government assistance or residency within a residence at the Worcester Housing Authority, the clinic will focus exclusively on individuals who do not have the means to bring their pets to another clinic in the area.
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Once approved, pet owners will have access to vaccinations, well-being visits and simple surgeries at significantly reduced fees that are just enough to cover the clinic’s costs.
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In addition to providing hands-on experience for both groups of students and pet owners from disadvantaged backgrounds, the clinic is likely to create a public health benefit by increasing the number of pets who are vaccinated against communicable diseases like rabies, as well as providing surveillance data on outbreaks of animal disease that otherwise might go undetected.
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The idea of the clinic grew over time from both sides of the collaboration, but spearheading the concept were two faculty members in the Cummings School’s Department of Clinical Sciences. Associate Professor Elizabeth A. Rozanski, DVM, and Professor John E. Rush, DVM, first conceptualized a clinic to give veterinary students more primary care clinical experience while serving needy animals.
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Students in the technical high school’s veterinary assistant program will take increasingly larger roles as they progress through the four-year curriculum, learning safety and hygiene protocols, scheduling appointments, handling transactions, helping to take histories and steady animals during exams and supervise the younger students in the program.
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By working alongside veterinary students under the supervision of WTHS and Cummings School personnel, veterinary assistant students learn valuable skills, Harrity said, and may also aspire to become veterinary technicians or veterinarians themselves.
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City Collector Lynne Huff said that in 2011, only 19 individuals
in the city acquired licenses for their dogs. The figure for cats
is worse – zero.
I just dont think people want to pay or take the time to come
down to city hall, Huff told The Missourian. They dont want to
spend the money and dont want to do the things necessary to
register them.
So far in 2012, through January, only one pet has been licensed,
Huff said.
According to Chapter 5, animals and fowl, in St. Clairs code of
ordinances, It shall be unlawful for any person in the city to
own, keep or harbor any cat or dog on or about his or her premises
unless the dog or cat is registered as provided in this
division.
And, the ordinance goes on to state that before the pet can be
registered, a valid receipt must be presented showing the animal
has been vaccinated for hydrophobia.
Owners do have to have proof of shots for rabies, Huff said.
Im sure that keeps some people away.
Fees to obtain a city pet license are $20 for the initial
registration for a dog or cat that is not spayed or neutered and $5
for one that is. After that, the annual cost is $5 for unspayed or
unneutered animals and $1 for those spayed or neutered.
Its not expensive, Huff said. But it is required by city
ordinance.
The ordinance goes on to say that it also is illegal to have a
dog or cat in the city that has not been inoculated for rabies, and
that any such pet found in the city without a proper registration
tag will be declared a nuisance and will be impounded. If an
impounded dog or cat is not claimed within three days by its owner
or others having an interest in the animal, it can be
destroyed.
The regulations also state that every dog or cat impounded under
the provisions of the ordinance can be picked up by the owner by
paying a $10 fee for each day the animal is impounded. The pet then
will be released upon proper registration with the city.
At-large animals picked up are taken to the Franklin County
Humane Society in Union.
Thats another reason to get the dog or cat licensed, Huff
said. If it is found somewhere, we will have a record of who it
belongs to and we can notify them. Otherwise, we wouldnt know and
the owner may never get them back.
Its not that the city wants to make money on this. We dont.
Its a way to help keep track of pets in the city.
Animals at Large
The citys code of ordinances also states that it is unlawful
for any individual in the city to allow a dog or cat to run
through or across the yards, gardens or private property of
another, and all persons in the city shall confine his dog or cat
by leash, chain or proper fencing.
Punishment calls for a $15 fine for a first-time offender plus
any court costs, $30 plus court costs for a second offense and $60
for a third or any additional offense plus court costs. In
addition, the same impoundment rules apply.
For more information, contact Huff at city hall at
636-629-0333.
Statistics
If St. Clair is a typical snapshot of the United States, then
about 1,200 households in the city have a cat or dog.
If only 19 dogs were registered last year, that means only about
1.5 percent of those households had the proper paperwork filed with
the city.
According to 2010 US Census information, St. Clair has 1,908
occupied households. Information from the American Pet Products
Association states that 63 percent of American households – which
computes to the 1,200 number in St. Clair – have a canine or
feline.
In addition, the Humane Society of the United States reported
through its 2011-2012 survey that 28 percent of US households own
at least two dogs while about 17 percent have at least two
cats.
Enforcement
Statistics from the St. Clair Police Department showed that 79
animal-at-large reports were generated in 2011, 74 were made in
2010, 56 in 2009 and 50 in 2008. As far as animals not inoculated,
the report numbers were seven, two, seven and three, respectively.
And, reports about animals not being registered total 12 in 2011,
three in 2010, six in 2009 and eight in 2008.
However, the numbers are low because the local authorities do
not have time to spend chasing animals or checking them for
licenses throughout the city, Chief Bill Hammack said. The city
also does not have an animal control officer, a position that
Hammack said was cut several years ago.
If we get a call, well respond to a dog at large, he told The
Missourian. If we know whose it is, well try to contact them. If
we dont know whose it is, well take it to the humane
society.
The chief said a citation or warning will be issued if the owner
is found.
As far as cats, Hammack said usually they are not chased if
found running loose. However, he said a live cat trap can be picked
up at city hall for residents to use. They require a deposit to
make sure they are returned.
If the trap captures a stray cat, the animal will be treated the
same way as a dog, Hammack said.
Mother Nature has been unbelievably kind to us this winter, and we humans arent the only ones getting to take advantage of the above-average temperatures companion animals get in on the action, too!
Knowing that there are many fun-loving pets that live in and around our area, were anxious to see what youve been up to. Why not submit a favorite photo of your pet?
What fun activities did your pets get to enjoy this week a hike, perhaps, or a trip to the dog park?
Were willing to bet that a few pets needed a bath after some of their outings. Did you capture an image of your dog covered in mud?
Any pet or animal in the family is welcome in the slideshow we feature each Friday.
There’s no end to the number of activities out there for your pet
Last month Hilary Swank was on The Ellen DeGeneres Show, talking about her latest movie. Ellen, knowing full well that Hilary is an animal lover with a menagerie of pets at home, presented her with a gift for her fighting fish: a fish agility set.
Now, my first thought was, what a great idea! Here this sad, lonely fish sits in a tank all day, hoping to have something to do or something interesting to look at. Finally, an activity! The fish footage on Ellen was priceless: A cute little fish — goldfish, I think — swam over hurdles, went through hoops, and even navigated through weave polls. Of course, it was all a put-on.
But as doctored as the footage may have been, why not have an agility course for fish, or any other activity for that matter?
Boredom, lack of physical activity and, especially lack of mental stimulus are the causes of most of the problems we see with our pets. So it’s always important to seek out new adventures for our furry (or scaly) friends, to give them a more interesting life.
For those who haven’t gotten the memo, doggy dock diving has hit South Florida. The “doggy beach” where the fun happens is located in Hollywood, on Ravenswood, just west of I-95. The facility has a big manmade lake in which dogs can swim — and a dock that dogs are allowed to dive off! If you haven’t seen dock diving for dogs, it’s quite exciting. Jumps are measured in distance or height, usually with an emphasis on distance. Generally it is for toy-driven dogs that like the water.
Many owners start teaching their dogs to jump by tossing a toy into the water for the dog to go after. Small tosses lead to bigger tosses, and the dogs are enthusiastically encouraged to jump. The dock dive and water dog park is currently open Saturdays and Wednesdays from 10:00 am to 1:00 pm “Performance Pups,” a South Florida group dedicated to bringing you more activities for your dog is at the helm of this wonderful enterprise (www.p-pups.com).
Can your dog catch a Frisbee? “Disc dogging” is another fun activity that has gained tremendous popularity. There are even national and international competitions where the best of the best compete. “Freestyle” is where you develop a choreographed routine of disc catches, tricks, and fancy dance moves all set to music.
The distance competition, on the other hand, is just that: You need to throw the Frisbee a certain distance, and your dog must catch it and bring it back to you as many times as possible in the allotted amount of time.
For this, owners must acquire a skill as well — that of learning to throw the disc properly so your dog can catch it. Competitions and clinics are held several times a year and, as luck (and our weather) would have it, some of the best competing “disc doggers” reside in South Florida. Check it out when you can, or just take the leap and get your dog involved.
Perhaps your dog isn’t a jock, but very friendly, well behaved, and brings smiles to all he meets? Being a therapy dog may be his calling. Therapy dogs come in all shapes and sizes, but some of the best are with the Canine Assisted Therapy Program, or “CAT” for short.
With CAT, dogs must pass the American Kennel Club’s Canine Good Citizen (CGC) test before moving on to more advanced training and testing specifically for therapy dogs. Dogs are evaluated for their strengths and special areas where they might excel. For example, some dogs do better with children, while others might work better with the elderly.
There are tests to see how well the dogs listen to their owner, and how they handle wheelchairs, people with disabilities, and anything else that may come into play. “Team building” with your dog is emphasized, which is at the forefront of all training, obedience and sports included. To find out more about Canine Assisted Therapy or get on their mailing list, contact them at www.cat-dogs.com.
They may not learn to rub two sticks together to make a fire, but believe it or not, there are “Dog Scout” troops across the country, including in Florida. Dog Scouts can earn badges just like Boy or Girl Scouts can. Scout owners must agree to adhere to rules of conduct, such as always setting a good example (picking up poop, following leash laws) and being kind to dogs and other dog owners in public.
They even have drill teams where dogs perform obedience behaviors in tandem. The best place for more information on Dog Scouts of America is the parent website, www.dogscouts.org.
Agility competitions are probably the fastest-growing and most addicting animal sport in the country. An agility field is set up with different obstacles in a different order every time. The dog handler is allowed to walk the course beforehand and strategize on the best and fastest way to lure the dog through, as speed and accuracy are judged.
All of this takes time to learn and much practice for the dog and handler to feel comfortable and confident enough to take on the various obstacles, such as jumping through hoops, running through chutes, and walking over dog walks.
But agility is not just for dogs. Cats enjoy it, too, and are usually lured by a shiny toy the owner shakes over the obstacles. I have also seen pet pigs tackle agility courses, and I am sure other pet versions are not far behind.
Whatever your pet’s strengths or weaknesses, there is an activity out there for you and your furry friend that will strengthen the relationship between you and provide lots of fun in the process.
Lisa Hartman is a dog-friendly trainer, behavior specialist, and author of Dial a Dynamite Dog. You can reach her at
This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
, or visit www.pawsitivelypetsonline.com.
Feedback:
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Hospice of San Luis Obispo County launched the Pet Peace of Mind
program in August. It’s only one of three Hospice agencies in the
state to have such a program.
There are 140 similar programs run by Hospice agencies across the
nation.
The new program allows Hospice clients locally to keep their pets
for as long as possible, and also know their animals will be
well-cared for after they die.
Once the client dies or is moved into a long-term care situation,
their companion animals are placed in a foster home until Hospice
can find a permanent home for the pets.
Hospice clients can opt to participate in the program at any point
during their illness.
The all-volunteer agency is looking for a permanent home for a
2-year-old male cat, whose owner recently died.
Lebron now is being fostered at Primary Care Dog and Cat Hospital
on the Nipomo Mesa. He is active, healthy, current on his
vaccination and ready for a new home.
For more information about adopting Lebron, call the vet clinic at
489-4307.
More information about the Pet Peace of Mind program can be viewed
at www.hospiceslo.org or by calling Hospice at 544-2266.
The Heavy Pets celebrated New Years Eve at Ft. Lauderdale, FLs Culture Room. As previously reported, Soulive/Lettuce guitarist Eric Krasno spun between sets under his DJ alias Kraz, while Aquaphonics provided direct support duties. Krasno also sat in with The Heavy Pets on three songs during their performance: “Nautilus,” “Keep Me Running” and “Dew Point. Later in the night, he also made a surprise return to the stage for The Pets second encore, which consisted of a 25-minute exploratory take on “So Thank You Music.” The evening also included sets by Beat Thief Inc. (featuring Jessiah Weston of Aquaphonics on drums), DJ Milky and DJ Hi-Grade.
Heres a look at The Heavy Pets New Years Eve setlist
Chew, Hedi Sigismondi > 3am, Country Road, Holy Holy > Till the World Ends Jam (Britney Spears) > Holy Holy, Nautilus (*), Keep Me Running (*), Dew Point (*#)
E: Better> Jackie Bones
E2: So Thank You Music (*)
(*) w/ Eric Krasno
(#) w/ Alan Martinke (Aquaphonics)
Navy Lt. j.g Kirsten Davis greets her dog, Tressel, in Norfolk, Va., after returning home from a two-month deployment aboard the amphibious dock landing ship USS Gunston Hall in March 2011. US Navy photo by Petty Officer 3rd Class Kayla Jo Guthrie
(Click photo for screen-resolution image);high-resolution image available.
“Growing up as an Army ‘brat,’ I moved every three years from state to state and to Europe and back twice,” Kari Mendoza, owner of Island Pet Movers in Hawaii, told me. “We always had pets and our parents taught us that pets are part of the family.
“I served four years in the Navy,” she added, “and I can tell you it was hard to find an apartment off-base that would allow me to take my cat, but giving him up was never an option.”
Fortunately, many resources are available to ensure your pet stays with your military family and isn’t surrendered to a shelter, or given away.
A first step is to go online and research the pet policies at your next duty station. A quick call to your sponsor, family-service center or veterinarian at the next installation can help you better understand pet policies in housing, animal laws in that state or country, pet-friendly hotels and any transport requirements. For example, many states and countries are considered “rabies-free,” so you may have to start the process of preparing to ship your family pet several months in advance.
Now that you have fully researched information such as applicable breed bans and base pet policies, consider calling local airlines to see if there are flight restrictions for your pet, including months when your pet is restricted from flight. For example, some dogs have respiratory issues due to the structure of their face, making breathing at sea-level difficult.
Because of these restrictions, many airlines impose a “pet embargo” on certain dog breeds between May 15 and Sept. 15, which means you will have to ship your pet outside of this time frame. A visit to the airline’s pet transport Web page should give you information such as cabin temperature, weight requirements, approved airline crates, and what stickers and labels should be on the carrier.
Since all pets are transported for hours, or even more than a day, in a crate, it’s a must that all military pets are crate trained. It can take months to get an animal adjusted to the crate environment, and will be the best way to ensure the animal doesn’t get stressed in transport.
Air Mobility Command offers space-available flight, commonly known as Space-A travel, for pets, but you may only take two pets and a 14-day travel window is required. Space-A is a service that allows military service members, their families and service retirees fill seats on military air transport flights that otherwise would be left empty. Some duty stations don’t fly commercial airliners, so you can only book these flights to a destination that has these capabilities.
Are your certificates in order? Two are provided by military veterinarians. The first is a veterinary health certificate, DD 2209, which must be issued within 10 days of your departure. It’s advisable to schedule the pet’s flights a few days before yours so that if there is a last-minute issue, you are there to take the animal back.
The second documentation is a rabies vaccination certificate, DD 2208. The rabies certificate is issued at least 30 days prior to your departure, but in some states it can’t be more than a year old. It’s best to research the policies in the state or country to ensure the required documentation is in order.
When you reach your destination, or if your pet must be quarantined, you may be able to get some money reimbursed. Check with your personnel office to find out more about this opportunity. Finally, check with your tax-filing office to see if some of your pet-moving expenses can be written off when filing income taxes.
For more detailed information, visit Military OneSource. They have numerous checklists and samples of a military pet care plan. Another great resource is your military legal office, where you can include the family pet in your will and power-of-attorney forms. As with any other member of your family, it’s best to always be prepared for the unexpected when caring for your pet, a lifetime commitment.
(Guest blogger Navy Lt. Theresa Donnelly, of US Pacific Command, is the owner of Hawaii Military Pets, a one-stop resource on Hawaii military pet information. She’s offered to share her pet-related knowledge in a series of blogs for Family Matters.)
lt;span class=subheadgt;Kendalllt;/pgt;lt;pgt;lt;/spangt; lt;span class=boldgt;Age:lt;/spangt; About 1 yearlt;/pgt;lt;pgt; lt;span class=boldgt;Breed:lt;/spangt; Terrier mixlt;/pgt;lt;pgt; lt;span class=boldgt;Sex:lt;/spangt; Femalelt;/pgt;lt;pgt; lt;span class=boldgt;Description: lt;/spangt; This is Kendall, who is, according to EVERYONE who meets her, a fabulous dog! Kendall is the perfect size, under 50 pounds, with an engaging and fun personality. She is housetrained and loves people of all ages, gets along great with other dogs and respects cats.lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;lt;span class=subheadgt;Rosalielt;/pgt;lt;pgt;lt;/spangt; lt;span class=boldgt;Age:lt;/spangt; 2 to 4 yearslt;/pgt;lt;pgt; lt;span class=boldgt;Breed:lt;/spangt; Domestic long-hair blacklt;/pgt;lt;pgt; lt;span class=boldgt;Sex: lt;/spangt;Femalelt;/pgt;lt;pgt; lt;span class=boldgt;Description: lt;/spangt;Rosalie often gets overlooked at the shelter which is a shame because shes a cool cat. Shes very royal and thinks she deserves much more than a suite at the shelter and we couldnt agree more! Rosalie is a kitty with a big heart who just needs someone to pick her to be their best bud. She enjoys playing with string and likes attention.lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;amp;#x2007;lt;/pgt;lt;pgt; lt;span class=boldgt;Adoption information:lt;/spangt; The Friends of Parkville Animal Shelter, 1356 N. Missouri 9 in Parkville, is run by volunteers, so please call 816-587- 0918 to schedule an appointment, send e-mail to friendsofparkville@hotmail.com, or go to www.parkvilleshelter.com. lt;/pgt;lt;pgt;Fees of $125 for dogs and $100 for cats include spaying/neutering, shots and microchips. Volunteers also take pets for adoption to Petco in North Kansas City on Saturdays.
ANIMAL shelters in the Bendigo region have been inundated with pets over the New Year period.
A higher-than-average number of pets were surrendered by their owners between Christmas and New Year’s, while others were turned away because of a lack of cages.
RSPCA Bendigo shelter supervisor Mark Goodwin said it was the busiest time of the year.
“We’ve had a high influx over the New Year,” he said.
“This time of year our pound is already full.
“A lot of animals come in from people that have to surrender their pets and others from inspectors that find stray pets.”
Pets Haven Shelter founder Trish Burke said the number of calls the Woodend shelter recieved had increased by 15 to 20 a day.
“It just doesn’t stop,” she said. “People were here on Christmas Day wanting to surrender their animals. On New Year’s Day we had one lady wanting to give 10 kittens.
“We had no spare cages, I’m not sure where they could have gone or what happened to them.
“Another person came in to abandon their eight-year-old dog because they were going to their holiday house for three weeks.
“They’ve had the dog for eight years and it’s just horrible they abandon it so they don’t have to take it on holidays.”
The spike in the number of animals given away is typical of the post-Christmas period, when new pets are surrendered and pet owners decide to travel.
A lot of dogs were also collected by the pound after running away from the noise of New Year’s Eve fireworks.
RSPCA Victoria animal shelters manager Allie Jalbert said dogs were especially susceptible to the noise.
“Sadly this New Year’s there have been a lot of dogs strayed and still away from home,” she said.