They might be small, by Alfredton pooches Cookie and Layla have made a mighty impact to their new family.
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It comes at PETstock and petrescue.com.au launch their fifth annual National Pet Adoption Day on Saturday. They’re hoping to have 1000 furry friends adopted on the day.
Alfredton man Dion Collard, who is the head of marketing and communications for PETstock, adopted pups Cookie and Layla from a rescue in Echuca 12 months ago.
He said after the loss of their beloved family dog five years ago, Mr Collard and his wife finally decided it was time for their three young kids to experience pet ownership and give some dogs “a second chance”.
“We’d always said, when it was time we would go down the adoption path,” Mr Collard said.
“We sort of looked on and off for about three months, we weren’t looking for a particular breed, we knew we wanted smaller dogs to suit our lifestyle.”
Animal welfare organisations have said there’s been an massive influx of kittens this summer following the breeding season. RSPCA say they took in 531 cats and kittens in September 2018 and 1199 in December 2018.
Petrescue.com.au reports around 200,000 pets remain unclaimed in Australian pounds every year.
Cookie, a Jack Russell, and Layla, a Papillon cross breed, were spotted online after being surrendered by a family who could no longer care for them.
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“Our five-year-old was actually afraid of dogs at the time … but now he adores them,” he said.
“The two dogs will come and sit on our laps while we’re watching TV, or in the morning they’ll cuddle with the kids after they’ve woken up.
“From an exercise perspective, it’s great, because walking them gives you additional motivation to get out and active with them.”
After undertaking a lengthy three-month search, which included “frustrating” instances of a beautiful pooches being adopted before the family could meet them, he said they now “can’t imagine life without” the spirited pair.
“They really do integrate themselves into your family. It’s been incredibly rewarding,” Mr Collard said.
“Our girls are still changing, they’re much more animated when we come home and there’s little nuances you pick up on.”