Council to help you find your paw-fect match
Date published: 9 July 2018
Feeling lonely or having a ruff time? Why not add a pup-town girl or fur-ocious feline to your family.
Townsville City Council will begin adopting out animals from the shelter to help them find their fur-ever home.
The program – which starts today – will allow potential animal owners to browse online for that some-pawdy special and meet your doggy date or cat catch up in person.
Community Health and Environment Committee Chair Cr Ann-Maree Greaney said she hoped the community would help these dogs and cats find a new forever home.
“Rehoming groups in Townsville have had a lot of success finding homes for these pets over the past few months,” Cr Greaney said.
“Townsville City Council wants to do our part to help our furry friends find a new family.
“By making our adoptions by appointment, our officers can help make sure that every animal is adopted into a loving and caring home.”
There will be a fee to adopt from the shelter with prices ranging from $90 for cats above five months old to $350 for puppies under five months old.
“We want Townsville residents to be responsible pet owners and do everything they can to make sure their newest family member doesn’t end up back at the animal shelter,” Cr Greaney said.
“That’s why all animals adopted from the shelter will be desexed, microchipped and registered or approved before they move into their forever home.
“The adoption fee will help cover the costs of this.”
Animals will be viewable on Council’s website from today, with adoptions starting straight away.
The development of the adoption program follows changes to animal management in Council’s 2018-2019 Budget.
These changes included scrapping the animal shelter release fee for registered dogs or approved cats the first time it happens – which was previously $169.
Pensioners will also be able to register their first desexed dog free of charge. Any subsequent de-sexed dogs can be registered for only $15.50.
Council will continue to work closely with local animal foster and re-homing groups.
