The RSPCA animal shelter in Gillies Street is almost at capacity after receiving a flood of unloved animals. 

The RSPCA’S cattery in Ballarat is full and the shelter is overflowing with stray and abandoned

rabbits.

RSPCA Pets Place assistant manager Lyn Zboril said many animals bought as Christmas presents were abandoned during this period.

Ms Zboril anticipated the animals would continue to pour in as families left home for their summer holidays.

“There is always a large increase in surrendered animals in the weeks following Christmas,” Ms Zboril said. 

“People receive an animal as a gift and they keep them for a couple of weeks but then the novelty wears off. 

“They want to go on holidays and not have to worry about a pet.

“They often don’t do the research and realise that an animal is a serious responsibility and daily commitment that you have to be prepared for.”

Looking at Ringo inside his glass cage at Ballarat’s RSPCA Pets Place, it is hard to imagine that anyone could let go of the playful staghound cross.

But two-year-old Ringo was wandering the streets of Ballarat alone for weeks before he was rescued by the RSPCA on December 8.

Ringo’s tail wags incessantly as he jumps up and excitedly presses his paws on the door of his cage to greet anyone who passes him.

“He is such a beautiful dog,” Ms Zboril said. 

“He has obviously had a hard time but he has such a loving dog with a big personality who would make a wonderful addition to a family.”

Ringo’s story is not unique.

An abundance of stray dogs like Ringo are available for adoption from the Ballarat RSPCA shelter and Pet’s Place.

The RSPCA’s not-for-profit Pets Place store has rehomed more than 1400 animals since it opened in September last year.

Ms Zboril said the need of the animals inside the store was just as great as those inside the Gilles Street animal shelter.

“We get all our animals from the shelter,” Ms Zboril said. 

“They are either stray or abandoned.

“Many of the dogs have started their lives on a puppy farm and been purchased as a gift or impulse buy and times go by and it is not what the owner thought it would be, so they surrender the animal.” 

All animals available for adoption are vaccinated, desexed, wormed and microchipped.

“Not only are you getting a loving and healthy addition to your family, but you are saving an animal’s life,” Ms Zboril said. 

Ms Zboril said the key to a successful and lifelong relationship between animals and people was compatibility. 

“Sometimes people come in looking for a dog but what they find when talking with staff is that their busy lifestyle may be better a more low-maintenance pet like a cat or rabbit,” Ms Zboril said. 

“We love our animals, so it’s very important that we get the right pet for the right family.”

melissa.cunningham@fairfaxmedia.com.au