A volunteer-run animal rescue service in Ballarat is experiencing huge demand for small animal rescue and adoption services, including a number of concerning incidents of young kittens left in a box.
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The team of rescuers and foster carers behind Chez Guy Small Animal Rescue want to spread the message that help is available for people with injured or unwanted animals.
Chez Guy Small Animal Rescue secretary Brenda Guy said a woman was driving back from Geelong through Meredith in December when she found 13 sick kittens in a box on the side of the road.
Ms Guy said they took in the kittens and estimated they were from three different litters.
The chances of them surviving if they are not found is very very slim. We would much rather people ask for help.
- Brenda Guy, Chez Guy Small Animal Rescue
"That concerned us because firstly the person either didn't know where to go for help and secondly there were potentially three mother cats who potentially are going to get pregnant and start the cycle again," she said.
Ms Guy said finding kittens dumped on the side of the road or in the bush unfortunately happened regularly.
"The following day two kittens were found in a beer box at Miners Rest on a walking track," she said.
"It is not only cats and kittens, it is also rabbits and guinea pigs that get dumped in boxes or out in the bush.
"We try to get the word out to stop people from dumping... There are other options out there like us and the Ballarat Animal Shelter.
"It brings up a whole range of emotions, everything from upset to angry to disappointed but we also try to say to people we don't judge, we are there to help.
"The chances of them surviving if they are not found is very very slim. We would much rather people ask for help."
More recently, a missing cat was sickeningly found hung at a nearby address in Sebastopol on Friday night.
Chez Guy Small Animal Rescue is operated by volunteers and rescued animals are placed in the homes of foster carers until they are well and old enough to be available for adoption.
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There are about 15 foster carers on board who can be looking after a total of up to 100 animals at any one time.
Ms Guy said she was currently caring for two rats, four birds, two rabbits and five guinea pigs.
The service has facilitated more than 600 adoptions through PETstock stores since they partnered in 2016.
Ms Guy said they were 'absolutely flat out' with both rescues and adoptions now COVID restrictions had eased.
COVID-19 lockdowns last year made adoptions more difficult and limited the number of animals they could take in.
Ms Guy said an important part of their service was helping people de-sex their cats and having all kittens through their foster care and adoption process de-sexed.
"If there is a mumma cat with a litter of kittens we offer to take the whole litter of kittens in, offer de-sexing for the mum and de-sex the kittens, putting a complete end to the cycle," she said.
Ms Guy said they were always in need of more foster carers.
"We do it for the animals," she said.
"They don't have a voice. They just want to be loved, fed and cared for. We try to speak up for them."
Visit chezguysmallanimalrescue.weebly.com/ for more information.
- On March 13, select PETstock stores across the country (including Ballarat) will play host to animal rescue organisations as part of its sixth annual National Pet Adoption Day, an initiative of its charity arm, PETstock Assist with support from PetRescue
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