Kind-hearted South Australians have rallied to RSPCA's call for help to reduce the number of animals in care at its Lonsdale shelter, with 80 animals adopted since the call went out last Friday.
An additional 101 animals have gone out to foster homes, taking the total number of animals now living in the homes of the charity's volunteer foster carers to 528.
The community's heart-warming response is helping to ease pressure on the shelter's staff and volunteers, who are now caring for 577 animals on the site - a 20% drop on the 723 they were caring for before Friday's decision to restrict intakes.
The shelter is still housing numbers that are above its capacity-to-care model, and intakes remain limited to animals coming in via RSPCA SA's inspectorate and rescue team, as well as animal management officers from Onkaparinga, Marion and Holdfast Bay councils, with whom the charity has contractual arrangements.
A 16-year-old cat named Bond was among the 56 adult cats adopted in the past five days. The handsome feline with fetching green eyes was surrendered to RSPCA in January 2022, after his owner passed away. He found a new home - at last - on Monday, and Jenny Sherring from RSPCA SA's cat-care team was among his many fans sending him off.
"There were lots of happy tears," Jenny said.
"He's such a loving, affectionate fella, he deserves a happy home to live out his golden years."
The current restrictions on intakes will remain in place until numbers are down to manageable levels. People wishing to surrender animals have the option to go on a waiting list. (Further advice on options can be found at – https://www.rspcasa.org.au/services/pet-surrender/)
